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TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- Health
- TimesLIVE
Top 5 things to know as chikungunya spreads to holiday hotspots
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has urged South Africans, especially travellers, to be alert to the risks of chikungunya fever as outbreaks continue in several popular holiday destinations. Chikungunya is a category 3 notifiable medical condition in South Africa and is caused by the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus transmitted mainly by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. While the disease is endemic in parts of Africa, Asia, the Americas and the Pacific, sporadic cases in South Africa are mostly linked to travellers returning from outbreak areas. 1. Imported cases in 2025 Between December 2024 and July 28, South Africa recorded 10 laboratory-confirmed cases of chikungunya, all in returning travellers. Travel histories showed: four cases from Mauritius; one from Kenya; one from India and the Himalayas; one from La Réunion; one from Seychelles; and two cases from Madagascar. 2. Global outbreak hotspots 'By May 2025, the Americas reported the highest number of chikungunya cases globally — 135,654, including 54,377 confirmed infections,' said the NICD. Outbreaks have been reported in La Réunion, Mayotte, Mauritius, Madagascar, Kenya, Somalia and Sri Lanka. La Réunion has seen more than 47,500 cases and 12 deaths this year. 3. How the virus spreads Chikungunya is not spread person-to-person. Local outbreaks can occur when a viremic traveller is bitten by an Aedes mosquito which then transmits the virus to other residents. 'The presence of Aedes aegypti in urban areas means the risk of potential local outbreaks should be considered, especially along the east coast, in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, and in Gauteng,' the NICD warned. 4. Symptoms and diagnosis Common symptoms include fever, muscle aches, rash, joint pain (arthralgia) and arthritis. Though usually self-limiting, the illness can be severe and occasionally lead to chronic arthritis. Diagnosis is based on symptoms, travel history and confirmed through RT-PCR or serology testing available at the NICD/NHLS and private labs. 5. Prevention and travel advice The NICD advised people to 'prevent mosquito bites, especially during the day and late afternoon.' Recommended measures include: using insect repellent on exposed skin; wearing long-sleeved clothing and trousers; and staying in air-conditioned or screened environments. Pregnant women are advised to reconsider travel to outbreak areas due to possible health risks. There is no widely available vaccine for chikungunya and none is available in South Africa. The NICD said travellers should seek medical care if they experience fever, joint pain, headache, muscle aches, swelling or rash within 14 days of returning from an affected region.
IOL News
6 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Glenmore's R2bn claims against health service providers dismissed by Competition Tribunal
The decision comes after the Tribunal upheld exceptions filed by both the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and AfroCentric Health, citing multiple deficiencies in Glenmore's case. Image: Supplied The Competition Tribunal has ruled against Glenmore Capital, dismissing its complaint regarding the alleged exclusion of its COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits from the South African public and private sectors. The decision comes after the Tribunal upheld exceptions filed by both the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and AfroCentric Health, citing multiple deficiencies in Glenmore's case. Glenmore's complaint, originally lodged with the Competition Commission in August 2022, sought damages nearing R2 billion, claiming that NHLS and AfroCentric engaged in exclusionary practices that barred it from entering the market for COVID-19 test kits. The Commission, however, chose not to pursue the case, citing Glenmore's struggle to achieve market acceptance as a result of commercial factors, including delays in regulatory approval and a decrease in demand as the COVID-19 pandemic waned. Frustrated with the Commission's decision, Glenmore escalated the matter to the Tribunal. At a pre-hearing in December 2024, Glenmore was afforded an opportunity to amend its founding affidavit to address the concerns raised by NHLS and AfroCentric. Despite making amendments, both defendants argued that Glenmore's case remained fundamentally flawed. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ In its defence, NHLS and AfroCentric articulated four primary exceptions, asserting that Glenmore's complaint lacked a valid cause of action, failed to properly identify the legal entities involved, lacked a clear market definition, and exceeded the Tribunal's jurisdiction due to the nature of the claims made. No valid cause of action: Glenmore's complaint failed to establish a legal basis under the Competition Act, lacking both legal and factual foundation. Glenmore's complaint failed to establish a legal basis under the Competition Act, lacking both legal and factual foundation. Improper citation of entities: Glenmore did not adequately identify which legal entity allegedly contravened the Act, despite having been given several opportunities to rectify this. Lack of proper market definition: The complaint failed to clarify the relevant market, with Glenmore shifting references between disparate health products without defining a cohesive product or geographic market. The complaint failed to clarify the relevant market, with Glenmore shifting references between disparate health products without defining a cohesive product or geographic market. Lack of jurisdiction and procedural issues: The Tribunal highlighted that it cannot award damages unless under consent orders and noted allegations outside the ambit of competition law, such as irregular procurement and insider trading. The Tribunal noted that Glenmore had been granted ample opportunity to clarify and bolster its case but ultimately failed to provide a coherent argument. With the exceptions upheld, Glenmore's complaint referral was dismissed in its entirety. BUSINESS REPORT
