The 76th World Health Assembly is a significant event for the global health community. The Assembly provides member states with an opportunity to come together and discuss healthcare delivery, public health, and the challenges faced by countries worldwide, especially those related to the COVID19 pandemic.
According to the National Institute for Communicable Disease (NICD), South Africa is currently experiencing a mumps outbreak which has raised concerns. The infection is caused by the rubavirus and is most commonly found in children between the ages of 5 and 9; however, it can infect individuals of all ages. The symptoms of mumps include painful swelling of the salivary glands, which can occur on one or both sides of the face.
South African farmers have been facing the consequences of drought for the past few years, and the current shortage of animal vaccines poses more threats to their livelihood. The Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Ivan Meyer, emphasized the urgency of the situation in response to a statement from the Red Meat Producers Organization’s National Chairperson, James Faber.