Swine Flu has many in bed in eMalahleni
Doctors' rooms are full, and pharmacists are running around trying to fill everyone's prescriptions.
More than 10 years after the 2009 pandemic, Swine Flu, officially called Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, continues to appear in South Africa during the cold, dry winter months.
Though many people now think of it as just another seasonal illness, health experts warn that it can still be serious, especially for those at higher risk.
Professor Cheryl Cohen, a South African expert in respiratory viruses, explained, 'Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 is one of the three main types of seasonal flu. Even though it originally came from pigs, the version we see today spreads easily from one person to another and is fully adapted to humans.'
Since the 2009 outbreak, H1N1 has become a regular part of the flu season. The symptoms are like a strong cold: fever, chills, body aches, tiredness, and a dry cough. But in some people, the illness can quickly get worse.
'It can cause serious problems like pneumonia,' said Cohen. 'Most people get better, but people with other health problems or weak immune systems are much more likely to end up in hospital or worse.'
People most at risk include the elderly, young children, those with heart or lung diseases, and individuals with compromised immune systems, especially people living with HIV/AIDS. In communities where access to healthcare is limited, the virus can become life-threatening.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) urges people, especially those in high-risk groups, to get vaccinated annually. The flu vaccine, which includes protection against H1N1, is available at public health clinics and private pharmacies across the country. It is free for children, the elderly, and people with chronic conditions at government clinics.
Simple preventive measures can make a big difference: Get vaccinated every year. Wash your hands regularly. Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing. Avoid close contact with sick individuals. Stay home if you are unwell. Seek medical attention if symptoms worsen.
Local resident Renate Viljoen, who is currently recovering from the flu, said, 'It started with body aches and a fever, and I thought it was nothing. But by the next day, I could hardly get out of bed. People must not wait; go to the clinic early.'
Breaking news at your fingertips … Follow WITBANK NEWS our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok
Chat to us: info@witbanknews.co.za
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
42 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Women's Month and the silenced voices of disabled women: A global and South African reckoning
SEDIBENG.- Women's Month is often reflected as a celebration of resilience, leadership, and progress. In South Africa, it commemorates the 1956 march of 20,000 women to the Union Buildings in Tshwane, protesting the apartheid regime's pass laws. This is also seen as a historic act of defiance that laid the foundation for gender justice. Yet, amid the speeches, campaigns, and corporate slogans, one group remains consistently overlooked: disabled women. Their voices, particularly within the disability and gender sectors, are often drowned out by ableist assumptions, patriarchal neglect, and systemic exclusion. Globally and locally, disabled women continue to face profound violations of their rights. Among the most egregious is forced sterilisation, a practice that persists not as a relic of the past but as a present-day human rights crisis. Across continents, disabled girls and women are sterilised without their consent, often under the guise of 'protection,' 'menstrual management,' or 'incapacity to parent.' These justifications are steeped in eugenic ideologies and patriarchal control, where disabled bodies are deemed unfit for reproduction. The practice is not only medically unethical, it is a violent denial of reproductive justice. In South Africa, reports from the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) and civil society organisations have exposed cases where disabled and HIV-positive women were sterilised in public hospitals without informed consent. Despite the Sterilisation Act of 1998, which criminalises non-consensual sterilisation, enforcement remains weak, and accountability elusive. The law exists, but justice does not. This is not just a medical issue, it is a political failure. It reflects the inability of states to uphold the rights of disabled women, and the broader societal belief that some women are less worthy of autonomy, dignity, and motherhood. Forced sterilisation is not a one-time procedure, it is a lifelong sentence. It strips disabled women of their reproductive agency, undermines their identity, and reinforces societal narratives that they are incapable of nurturing, loving, or leading. The psychological trauma, compounded by social stigma, often leads to isolation, depression, and diminished self-worth. These women are not only denied the right to parent, they are denied the right to be seen as full human beings. Their bodies become battlegrounds for control, their futures shaped by decisions made without their voice. Politically, forced sterilisation entrenches exclusion. Disabled women are denied the right to participate fully in society, not just as mothers, but as citizens. Their absence from leadership roles, employment, and policy-making spaces is not incidental; it is the result of systemic erasure. As Lana Roy from Afrika Tikkun notes, disabled women face a 'double burden: gender and disability discrimination,' often being the last considered and the first ignored. This double marginalisation is compounded by race, class, and geography, making disabled women in rural and impoverished areas even more vulnerable. Globally, disabled women's movements have rallied under the banner 'Nothing About Us Without Us,' demanding inclusion in policy and advocacy. In South Africa, women like Lungi Mkwani, qualified, skilled, and determined, continue to be denied employment due to ableist hiring practices. Their stories expose the gap between rhetoric and reality during Women's Month celebrations. Organisations like the Her Rights Initiative and Afrika Tikkun are working to amplify these voices, offering support, vocational training, and platforms for advocacy. But systemic change requires more than charity, it demands political will, legal reform, and cultural transformation. We must move beyond tokenism and performative inclusion. Disabled women must be at the centre of policy design, healthcare reform, and employment equity. Their lived experiences must inform the laws that govern their bodies and futures. To honour Women's Month authentically, we must confront uncomfortable truths. Celebrating women's empowerment while ignoring the sterilisation of disabled girls is not progress, it is hypocrisy. Inclusion must be radical, intersectional, and unapologetic. Disabled women are not passive victims, they are agents of resistance. Their stories, often buried beneath layers of discrimination, must be unearthed and amplified. As we mark Women's Month, let it be a call not just to celebrate, but to reckon. To dismantle the systems that sterilise, silence, and sideline, and to build a future where every woman, regardless of ability, is free to choose, to lead, and to thrive. (Lucky Tumahole is a Diabled Persons Advocate, and the above is his opinion)
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Strict SA rules keep botox treatments safe, expert says
In South Africa, as botulinum toxin injections become increasingly popular for aesthetic treatments, a recent incident in the United States has sparked renewed concerns about their potential risks. It is revealed that a mother of three from Georgia suffered partial paralysis following what was presumed to be a routine procedure, highlighting the critical importance of seeking qualified medical professionals for these treatments. The woman developed severe migraines shortly after her injections, and within a day, she was hospitalised and unable to speak or function. Medical professionals later determined that she had experienced small strokes as a result of the procedure. While such extreme complications are exceedingly rare, this case has underscored the necessity of ensuring that injectable procedures are performed only by qualified and experienced practitioners in reputable clinics. Dr JD Erasmus, MBChB, BSc, a medical doctor specialising in aesthetics, pointed out that concerns about the safety of botulinum toxin are usually unnecessary, as long as the right procedures are followed. 'People hear the word 'toxin' and understandably get nervous. But iatrogenic botulism (caused by a medical treatment) after aesthetic treatments is extremely rare in medical clinics with qualified doctors who follow proper protocols and only inject trusted products from regulated manufacturers,' he explained. Erasmus elaborated on the extensive research supporting botulinum toxin as one of the most studied anti-ageing treatments in aesthetic medicine, demonstrating its efficacy in relaxing targeted facial muscles, rejuvenating the skin, and even alleviating tension headaches. 'In cosmetic treatments, it's used in very small, highly controlled doses by trained professionals. When done correctly, it stays where it's injected, does its job, and your body naturally breaks it down over time,' he assured. Incidences of iatrogenic botulism are uncommon, with the toxin generally staying localised to treatment areas. Overall, botulism in all its forms occurs in less than one in every 100 000 cases. Dr Erasmus said that globally, thousands undergo botulinum toxin procedures safely each day, with no recorded instances linked to aesthetic treatments in South Africa as of now. However, the risks of such complications escalate in regions with weaker regulations. Just two years ago, Turkey witnessed an extreme case where 71 individuals developed iatrogenic botulism from treatments at a single clinic, calling attention to the dangers of medical tourism in poorly regulated markets. 'That's the danger of medical or cosmetic tourism to locations with less stringent safety standards,' Dr Erasmus warned. 'You may not know what product is being used or who is injecting it, and following up with your practitioner can be challenging.' South African regulations help mitigate the risks often seen abroad. Botulinum toxin injections are classified as Schedule 4 medicines regulated by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). Only licensed doctors registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) can administer these procedures, and strict guidelines are enforced regarding the purchase and use of these products. Clinics such as the Longevity Centre at RXME prioritise patient safety through rigorous protocols, this encompasses precise temperature-controlled storage of vials, sterilisation during mixing, and thorough documentation of each product's usage. Licensed practitioners are expected to evaluate patient suitability, accurately calculate doses for optimal results, and utilise only approved products sourced from authorised suppliers. Erasmus further emphasised the importance of patients doing their due diligence prior to treatment: 'Check your practitioner's HPCSA registration, ensure that the unopened product will be used in front of you, note the lot number, and establish a clear follow-up plan.' He reassured that ethical clinics encourage such inquiries, understanding the significance of informed patients. 'Ultimately, news stories from overseas should serve as lessons about the dangers of taking shortcuts rather than prompts for panic. Botulinum toxin boasts one of the best safety records in aesthetic medicine. In South Africa, selecting a qualified doctor and a reputable clinic virtually eliminates the risk of serious complications,' Erasmus concluded. [email protected] Saturday Star
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Botox treatments in South Africa: what you need to know about safety
Botox is widely used as an anti-ageing treatment, but there are risks if patients opt for budget deals with unregistered clinics. Image: Cottonbro studio / Pexels A South African cosmetic treatment expert says there's no need for panic here following global concerns over a recent case in the United States where a woman was left partially paralysed after having routine botulinum toxin anti-ageing injections, commonly known as Botox. And while the mother of three survived from what doctors later said was a mild stroke, it set off warning bells among thousands of people who are increasingly turning to the treatment that targets facial muscles, tightens and rejuvenates the skin. Dr J D Erasmus, a general practitioner with a special interest in aesthetics and the Head of Aesthetics at the Longevity Centre at RXME, says fears of botulism from Botox injections are largely misplaced. Dr J D Erasmus says South Africans need to be more discerning when choosing where to have cosmetic treatments. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'People hear the word 'toxin' and understandably get nervous. But iatrogenic botulism (caused by a medical treatment) after aesthetic treatments is extremely rare in medical clinics with qualified doctors who follow proper protocols and only inject trusted products from regulated manufacturers,' he says. He adds that botulinum toxin is one of the most extensively studied anti-ageing treatments in aesthetic medicine. In addition to smoothing lines and wrinkles, the treatment is also known to relieve tension headaches. 'In cosmetic treatments, it's used in very small, highly controlled doses by trained professionals. When done correctly, it stays where it's injected, does its job, and your body naturally breaks it down over time. "The horror stories we hear are almost always linked to unqualified practitioners, dangerously high doses, and fake or unregistered products, and are not the work of reputable doctors in South Africa.' In cases of iatrogenic botulism from botulinum toxin injections, the toxin moves further than the treatment area and causes muscle weakness, which is an unusual complication rarely seen in aesthetic injections, he says. 'Globally, thousands of people undergo botulinum toxin procedures safely every day. According to our research, there have not been any recorded cases linked to aesthetic treatments in South Africa. 'Overseas, however, the risks increase where regulations are weaker. "In one extreme case in Turkey two years ago, 71 people developed iatrogenic botulism from botulinum toxin injections in just over a month, and 66 of those cases were traced to the same clinic." Erasmus says this latest scare highlights the dangers associated with medical or cosmetic tourism that's poorly regulated. 'You don't always know what product is being used, who is injecting it, or whether proper safety standards are being followed, and you can't always follow up with your practitioner if you have any concerns after the procedure. 'These types of incidents are important reminders to take your health seriously and choose a clinic you can trust. Before booking a treatment, check your practitioner's qualifications and reputation and make sure that the facility follows stringent product quality and safety regulations.'
