Latest news with #Haupt
IOL News
08-07-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Dorothy Jacobs: The woman behind South Africa's second heart transplant
Dorothy Jacobs, previously Haupt, died at the age of 81. Image: supplied The woman who played a significant role in South African history after she granted permission for her coloured husband's heart to be used for the world's second heart transplant, on a white doctor during apartheid, has died. Dorothy Jacobs, previously Haupt, 81, passed away on July 1 and is expected to be laid to rest next week. The Cape Argus spoke with her only child, Angelo Jacobs, 51, and his wife, Bronwyn Jacobs, 48, from Mitchell's Plain, who relayed the pivotal role she played in history. Jacobs was married to Clive Haupt in 1968 for three months and lived in Salt River. They were both factory workers. During a visit to Fish Hoek beach, Haupt suffered a stroke and later died. His body was taken to Groote Schuur Hospital where Dr Barnard had performed the world's first human heart transplant just a year earlier, in 1967, on Louis Washkansky. Haupt had a strong heart that could be harvested for a second recipient, Dr Philip Blaiberg. According to historical news reports about the day in question, Barnard had asked Blaiberg whether he would agree to receiving a 'coloured man's heart", to which he agreed and permission had to be granted from Jacobs. The transplant itself went on to make history with Blaiberg having lived for 563 days post surgery. Barnard honoured Haupt by attending his funeral and walked alongside his widow, Jacobs, captured on video footage which is still available today. Jacobs was also previously commended by the Western Cape Health Department for playing a role in organ donations. Angelo told the Cape Argus that while growing up his mother would often show him newspaper clippings of the history made. 'She traveled with Barnard to Argentina where she received a medal,' he said. 'She always had newspaper clippings where she would tell us what happened. Dorothy Jacobs, formerly Haupt, with her then husband, Clive Haupt on their wedding day in 1968. Image: Historical Images 'It was a big issue back then because it was apartheid and this was a coloured man and a white man receiving his heart but these are the things one never reads about in our history books so we do not want people to forget. 'She made an impact in history because of the decision she had to make." Angelo said following Haupt's passing, his mother, with a broken heart went to find new love - his father, Alexander Jacobs, who died in 2016. 'My dad worked at the Palace Bioscope (cinema) in Salt River and that was where my parents met one another. 'I was born in 1974 and my dad went on to become a bus driver for Golden Arrow.' Angelo said his father displayed a heroic act during his time as a driver when he delivered a baby and also made news headlines. Bronwyn said her mother-in-law was a humble woman who had an impact on their lives. 'She was always smiling and had a lot of love to share.' Jacobs's passing comes as the country continues to make advancements in organ transplant, with Stellenbosch medical students launching the country's first transplant support unit at Tygerberg Hospital. The dedicated specialised support unit for organ donors – dubbed the 'Life Pod' – was officially launched at the Tygerberg Hospital on July 4. The first of its kind in Africa, is the flagship achievement of Save7, a non-profit organisation established and managed by medical students at Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. The Life Pod will provide specialised care for consented organ donors, maintaining their organs' viability during the critical 12 to 36-hour period before transplant surgery. This dedicated space addresses a fundamental bottleneck in South Africa's transplant system: a shortage of ICU beds that often forces potential donors to be transferred to morgues before their organs can be used to save lives.
The Citizen
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
‘I have never won anything in my life' – SPAR car competition winner
'I have never won anything in my life' – SPAR car competition winner SINGING and laughter filled the atmosphere at the Hillcrest KWIK SPAR as they handed over a Hyundai Grand i10 to a lucky shopper earlier today (Friday, June 20) The winner, Frederick Haupt, said, 'It feels fantastic, I did not expect it. I have never won anything in my life.' Haupt said he often drives from Bluff to visit his son and his family. 'Whenever we go to their house, we stop at this SPAR to get snacks, I just swipe my card or give my number to get rewards, I never expected to win a car.' Also read: Road closures ahead of Durban SPAR Women's Challenge The store owner Mike Egling said he and his wife Leigh-Anne, with whom he co-owns the store, feel privileged to be able to give away a prize of this magnitude to someone in the community. 'As everybody knows, SPAR owners generally live and breathe the communities that they serve because we generally live in the communities and we have the community's best interests at heart. 'So to be able to give away a prize of this magnitude is life-changing for many and it's great that our store, the Hillcrest KWIK SPAR, had someone that won.' Egling said all that the shoppers need to do is to buy the products that are associated with the competition, swipe their card and automatically go into the draw. The competition closes this Sunday, June 22. He conveyed his gratitude to all their suppliers and sponsors, especially the SPAR corporate office for arranging this handover. 'At SPAR, we don't have suppliers, we have supply partners that have the best interest of our businesses and really help us to succeed. So we are privileged to to be associated with both the brand and a competition like this.' For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
After a record flu season, cases are beginning to decline in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's current flu season has been one of its worst in the past decade, though recent Wisconsin Department of Health Services data shows statewide activity is beginning to decline. The severe flu season follows a nationwide trend. Lagging vaccination rates, more severe viral strains and holiday travel are all to blame for the record spread, experts say. All regions across the state are still experiencing high flu activity, though DHS' surveillance measures are showing a "gradual decline," DHS Respiratory Disease Epidemiologist Tom Haupt told the Journal Sentinel in an email Wednesday. For the week ending March 1, DHS data shows a similar trend for general respiratory illness activity levels statewide. DHS laboratory test data for the week of Feb. 16 to Feb. 22 showed 4,899 positive flu tests — 29% of the 16,895 total tests run. The following week, from Feb. 23 to March 1, there were 4,567 positive tests, or 25.2% of the 18,108 tests run. There were 533 reported hospitalizations for the week ending March 1, down from 653 reported for the week ending Feb. 22, according to the new DHS hospitalization data webpage. Haupt confirmed influenza type A is still the dominant viral strain spreading in Wisconsin. Here's what to know: The two most common — and most severe — flu strains are A and B, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Type A is known to cause more severe illness. Flu A typically starts in the fall and peaks around February or March, though it can last through April. More: Flu cases are high in Wisconsin. What's the difference between flu A and flu B? Here's a look at influenza activity by region, according to DHS data: Northeastern region: Very high activity but decreasing Northern region: High activity but decreasing Southeastern region: High activity but decreasing Southern region: High activity but decreasing Western region: Very high activity but decreasing More: Wisconsin is seeing among its worst flu seasons of the past decade. Here's why Haupt emphasized it is "never too late" to get vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19, as well as RSV for infants — and adults meeting eligibility requirements. To schedule a vaccination appointment, you can reach out to your primary care provider, local or Tribal health departments and community clinics. You can also visit or call 211 or 877-947-2211. If you don't have health insurance, you can check your eligibility for the state's free vaccine programs for children and adults, according to DHS. You can also visit for more options. To protect yourself from such illnesses, you should also: Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces Avoid being around those who are ill Gather outside when possible Wear a high-quality mask In addition to the above, if you end up catching a respiratory illness, DHS says you should: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then disposing of the tissue Stay home when symptomatic, except if you need medical care Maia Pandey contributed to this report. More: Two states have reported recent measles outbreaks. Is Wisconsin at risk? This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Flu season 2025: Activity is still high, but decreasing in Wisconsin
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Wisconsin flu hospitalizations are at the 'highest weekly total' since January 2018, DHS says
The rise in respiratory illnesses continues across Wisconsin with "very high" overall activity levels, recent Wisconsin Department of Health Services data shows — less than a month after health officials put out a memo urging Wisconsinites to take preventative measures amid the uptick. For the week ending Jan. 25, DHS data indicates specific viruses have varying activity levels despite "very high" overall activity. COVID-19 activity is "moderate" but "decreasing" while respiratory syncytial virus activity is "high" but "stable." Influenza, however, is a different story. DHS data shows activity is "very high" and "increasing" — and DHS Respiratory Disease Epidemiologist Tom Haupt told the Journal Sentinel in an email influenza type A is the "predominant virus" spreading across the state. Approximately 19,033 flu tests were conducted statewide for the week of Jan. 19 to Jan. 25, 7,000 — or 36.8% — of which were positive, DHS data shows. There were also 1,349 positive Covid-19 tests and 1,371 positive RSV tests for the same time period. Hospitalizations for the flu are also high, with 2,018 cases reported for the current season, according to Haupt. He added that "over 600 hospitalizations" were reported for the week ending Jan. 25 "This is the highest weekly total since January 2018," he said. Respiratory illnesses are usually more common in winter, and Haupt said it is "hard to pinpoint any specific factors" contributing to the current uptick. Haupt said DHS encourages Wisconsinites to get vaccinated against respiratory illnesses. "It is not too late," he said. To schedule a vaccination appointment, you can reach out to your primary care provider, local or Tribal health departments and community clinics. You can also visit or call 211 or 877-947-2211. If you don't have health insurance, you can check your eligibility for the state's free vaccine programs for children and adults, according to DHS. You can also visit for more options. To protect yourself from such illnesses, you should also: Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces Avoid being around those who are ill Gather outside when possible Wear a high-quality mask In addition to the above, if you end up catching a respiratory illness, DHS says you should: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then disposing of the tissue Stay home when symptomatic, except if you need medical care More: Wisconsinites urged to protect themselves with respiratory illnesses on the rise More: Is it safe to eat eggs as bird flu spreads in Wisconsin? Here are some food safety tips This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Flu, respiratory illness levels 'very high' in Wisconsin, DHS says
