Introduction: Wastewater-based genomic surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) provides a comprehensive approach to characterize evolutionary patterns and distribution of viral types in a population. This study documents the molecular epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2, in Northern South Africa, from January 2021 to May 2022.
Methodology: A total of 487 wastewater samples were collected from the influent of eight wastewater treatment facilities and tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).
Coronaviruses, re-emerging in human populations, cause mild or severe acute respiratory diseases, and occasionally epidemics. This study systematically reviewed human coronavirus (HCoVs) infections in Africa prior to the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Forty studies on the prevalence or molecular epidemiology of HCoVs were available from 13/54 African countries (24%).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Malaria remains a global health concern and is endemic in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu Natal Provinces of South Africa, which aims to eliminate malaria by 2025. Community engagement plays a significant role in improving the acceptability and effectiveness of programmes aimed at reducing malaria transmission. The success of such intervention efforts depends on the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of the community, and understanding the KAP of community residents may support malaria control efforts in the locality.
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