You Could Get HIV from the Barber Shop, Study Finds
Michael Gwarisa A South African study has concluded that a person could be exposed to blood borne infections during a haircut or shave at a public barber shop, raising renewed concerns about hygiene standards in informal grooming spaces. The study, published in the South African Medical Journal, found that 42 percent of barber clippers were
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ECDC issues guidance on doxycycline for STI prevention
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has published public health considerations regarding the use of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as doxy-PEP, for the prevention of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The guidance provides public health considerations on the use of doxy-PEP amidst the ongoing rise in bacterial STIs across the European
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Africa CDC Secures Strategic Partnership with Informa Markets to Scale CPHIA and Other Flagship Events
Michael Gwarisa The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Informa Markets, a London-listed global leader in events and knowledge services. The partnership will strengthen the planning, delivery, and sustainability of the Africa CDC International Conference on Public Health in Africa
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Scientists Make Breakthrough Toward Full Cure for HIV
Researchers say they’ve taken a major step toward finding a cure for HIV. As The Guardian reports, scientists at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne found a way to make the HIV virus visible, potentially laying the groundwork for ways to banish it from the body altogether. As detailed in a paper published
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Flu Deaths in the United States Surpass Seven Thousand, CDC Reports
By Staff Reporter Preliminary data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that seasonal influenza continues to cause significant illness across the United States. So far this season, the CDC estimates at least fifteen million flu cases, one hundred eighty thousand hospitalizations, and seven thousand four hundred deaths. Health officials stress that
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As Schools Open, Harare Health Officials Call for Isolation of Infected Children as HFMD Cases Near 3,000
By Michael Gwarisa The Harare City Health Department has urged parents with children exhibiting symptoms of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), a viral infection that mainly affects children, to isolate them at home to prevent further spread of the disease. The warning follows indications of a surge in new infections, with an estimated 2,600
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Blood Crisis Deepens as Zimbabwe Faces Shortages Across All Blood Groups
By Michael Gwarisa Unlike in previous periods when blood group O was the most affected, Zimbabwe’s blood bank is currently running critically low on stocks across all blood types, a development that could cripple the health sector if the shortages are not addressed in time. The National Blood Service of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) has since launched
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IShowSpeed Reminds Zimbabwean Children That Child Safety Is Paramount No Matter What
By Staff Reporter American YouTuber and content creator IShowSpeed is currently in Zimbabwe as part of his ongoing Speed Does Africa tour, livestreaming his experiences to millions of fans around the world. Known online as Darren Watkins Jr., he has become one of the most watched and talked-about internet personalities today, attracting massive viewership across
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What are the biggest vaccine breakthroughs coming in 2026? We asked five experts
Maria Elena Bottazzi Co-Director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, US As we move into 2026, the vaccine development landscape is entering a period of remarkable transformation driven by scientific breakthroughs and global collaboration. Messenger RNA (mRNA) platforms are expanding beyond their initial applications, opening new possibilities
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South Africa Pulls Popular Infant Formula From Shelves Over Safety Concerns
By Staff Reporter South Africa’s National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued an urgent recall of NAN Special Pro HA Infant Formula 800g after a potential food safety risk was identified, raising concerns among parents and caregivers of infants. In a media statement released on January 7, 2026, the NCC said the recall affects NAN Special
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