In South Africa, there is a problem where thousands of people live with viral hepatitis without realizing they are infected. World Hepatitis Day is observed annually on July 28th, drawing attention to one of the deadliest infectious diseases that often goes unnoticed for years.
The condition is a serious concern because it can put people at risk of developing severe liver disease, liver cancer, and premature death. The main difficulty is that hepatitis often progresses without symptoms or with minimal signs before significant liver damage occurs.
Hepatitis is defined as inflammation of the liver. Although it can be caused by alcohol consumption, certain medications, or autoimmune diseases, viral hepatitis remains the most common cause worldwide. There are five main types of hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D, and E. Hepatitis B and C are responsible for the vast majority of serious cases and deaths because they can cause chronic infections.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), viral hepatitis causes approximately 1.3 million deaths globally each year, comparable to the number of deaths from tuberculosis. One reason for the danger of hepatitis is that it is often called a 'silent disease.' Many people infected with hepatitis B or C may feel completely healthy for many years while the virus slowly damages the liver.
When symptoms do appear, they can include fatigue, fever, nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite, dark urine, pale stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), and abdominal pain. By the time these signs appear, liver damage may already be in an advanced stage.
South Africans continue to bear the burden of viral hepatitis, especially hepatitis B. In 1995, the country included hepatitis B vaccination in the childhood immunization program, which significantly reduced infection rates among the younger generation. Nevertheless, many adults born before the vaccine became regularly available remain at high risk. Public health experts suggest that hundreds of thousands of South Africans suffer from chronic hepatitis B, many of whom have never been tested or diagnosed. Although hepatitis C is less common than hepatitis B, it remains a problem in the general population. With early diagnosis, hepatitis C is now curable with modern antiviral drugs.
Different hepatitis viruses are transmitted through different routes. Hepatitis A and E are usually transmitted through contaminated food or water and typically cause a short-term illness. Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with infected blood and body fluids. This can happen through unprotected sexual intercourse, sharing needles or syringes, mother-to-child transmission during childbirth, and unsafe medical or cosmetic procedures using non-sterile equipment. Hepatitis C is primarily transmitted through blood-to-blood contact, including sharing injection equipment, and less frequently through unsafe medical procedures. It is important to note that viruses are not transmitted through casual contact, such as hugging, sharing food, coughing, or sneezing.
Healthcare workers advise testing individuals who were born before routine hepatitis B vaccination was introduced, have a relative suffering from hepatitis B, have had multiple sexual partners, use drugs intravenously or previously shared needles, have received blood transfusions or certain medical procedures before improved screening methods were implemented, live with HIV, and work in medical facilities with potential blood exposure. Furthermore, pregnant women are regularly screened for hepatitis B in many medical institutions to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to the infant.
The good news is that viral hepatitis can be prevented and, in some cases, cured. Vaccines are available for hepatitis A and hepatitis B, with hepatitis B vaccination included in South Africa's Expanded Immunization Program. Currently, there are no vaccines for hepatitis C, but highly effective direct antiviral drugs can cure over 95% of infections if treatment starts in time. For people living with chronic hepatitis B, antiviral therapy can suppress the virus, reduce liver damage, and lower the risk of liver cancer. Simple blood tests allow for the diagnosis of hepatitis, giving patients the opportunity for monitoring or treatment before complications develop.
The feeling of exhaustion mid-year goes beyond ordinary tiredness. Professionals, parents, and entrepreneurs across South Africa feel overwhelmed by overflowing inboxes and constant mental activity. This mid-year slump is a viral phenomenon that cannot be cured by a simple long weekend.
South Africans are experiencing a strong wave of fatigue—a state where one is simultaneously 'on but tired.' Anya van Beek, a leadership strategist and workplace coach, explains that this phenomenon has both biological and human roots.
Since life in the Southern Hemisphere means mid-year coincides with winter, shorter daylight hours and reduced sun exposure lead to lower serotonin levels and increased melatonin, causing natural lethargy. Van Beek notes that bodies react according to nature, yet people continue to expect performance levels characteristic of spring.
The nervous system registers expended effort. The motivational boost from January helped navigate the first and second quarters, but six months of continuous adaptation, problem-solving, and active engagement take a significant toll. The result is a 'recovery debt'—a biological deficit that occurs when expended energy consistently exceeds recovered energy.
This debt accumulates through daily habits: sleeping an hour less to check emails, combining work with lunch under the guise of multitasking, being constantly available on messengers after work hours, and skipping workouts or postponing deserved vacations.
The brain relies on dopamine, which is stimulated by achieving new goals in January. By July, novelty disappears: projects drag on, routine becomes monotonous, and the gap between January expectations and July reality leads to emotional burnout, self-criticism, and cognitive fatigue.
By mid-year, the 'stress reservoir' is full. Managing work changes, personal finances, family care, and absorbing societal uncertainty creates an invisible cognitive load. Difficulty concentrating or irritability over minor issues does not indicate decreased resilience, but complete mental exhaustion.
Attempts to combat burnout often focus on improving calendar planning, but time management is meaningless without energy management. High-drain factors, such as unresolved conflicts, back-to-back meetings, perfectionism, and endless notifications, deplete the battery by midday.
Many professionals take short five-day breaks but return to work with the same level of fatigue. Van Beek emphasizes that six months of depletion cannot be compensated for in five days. True recovery requires complete psychological detachment from work, quality sleep, meaningful connections, movement, and rest, rather than just changing workplaces.
For many working adults, especially women, fatigue extends beyond the office. Many belong to the 'sandwich generation,' simultaneously supporting growing children and caring for elderly parents. Coordinating medical appointments, managing household logistics, and providing emotional support while maintaining a career causes immense cognitive overload.
It is important to understand that mid-year fatigue does not signify failure, insufficient commitment, or inability. It is merely proof that for a long time, a person has carried heavy responsibilities without enough time for recovery. Before moving into the third quarter, it is necessary to pause and conduct a self-assessment:
Physically: How are sleep, nutrition, and daily activity?
Mentally: Where is cognitive overload occurring? What boundaries need to be set?
Emotionally: Which unresolved stresses or relationships require attention?
Energetically: What is currently giving energy, and what is draining it?
Achieving sustainable productivity should not be an individual feat. It is necessary to allow oneself to shed some burden, set time limits, and seek help where it is most needed.
Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with a delegation from Saudi Arabia, headed by Minister of Health Fahad bin Abdulrahman Al-Jaladjel, on July 28. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss issues of medical cooperation and prepare for the launch of new joint projects.
At the beginning of the negotiations, the minister conveyed greetings and best wishes to the Uzbek President from the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, as well as from the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.
The parties noted the active development of bilateral interaction in recent years. The successful implementation of major joint projects with the Saudi company ACWA was emphasized.
During the visit, discussions were also held with leaders of leading Saudi companies, which led to the conclusion of relevant agreements. The main focus of the meeting was on the digitalization and modernization of Uzbekistan's healthcare system, the regulation of the pharmaceutical sector, and the training of qualified specialists. Additionally, the construction of a multi-profile clinic in Uzbekistan was discussed.
As a result of the negotiations, the parties agreed to develop and adopt a 'roadmap' that will define the plan for implementing new initiatives and joint projects.
A woman reported that a 18-centimeter surgical forceps remained in her abdominal cavity for three months following a hysterectomy. The operation was performed at the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Bragança Paulista hospital, located in São Paulo, Brazil.
Erica Cristina Bannai Von Hunholtz stated that the medical instrument was in her abdomen for three months and was only discovered in April. This case was covered by the Brazilian website g1, which accessed X-rays showing a 'Kelly clamp,' resembling scissors, inside the woman's body.
Erica described her condition, saying she arrived from the hospital in complete distress due to pain. Despite medication, the pain and vomiting persisted, causing despair as it seemed something was trying to come out of her.
On April 11, the woman was urgently taken to the hospital where a new operation was performed. During this procedure, doctors found the forceps and realized that part of her small intestine had died.
In total, the woman underwent four surgeries: the first was a hysterectomy, the second was the removal of the 'Kelly clamp,' the third was hernia correction and intestinal abscess drainage, and the last was treatment for a liver abscess.
According to Erica herself, after the incident, the healthcare facility acknowledged the situation and began providing her with medical assistance, covering consultations. She noted that the hospital provides support for everything related to the instrument and ensures psychological monitoring for her children.
Erica also informed g1 that two days after the forceps were removed, lawyers representing the doctor responsible for the operation contacted her with a proposal for a settlement, but negotiations did not continue. Although the healthcare facility tried to arrange a meeting between the woman and the doctor's representatives, Erica declined further talks.
Furthermore, she revealed that the doctor offered her cosmetic surgery to remove excess skin and fat from her abdomen for a private fee of 8,500 reais. Erica's case is also being investigated by criminal authorities, and the process is ongoing.
When the Brazilian website contacted Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Bragança Paulista, the hospital stated that in accordance with its duty to observe patient confidentiality, privacy, and data protection legislation, it would not publicly comment on specific cases. Nevertheless, the hospital stated its readiness to provide clarifications to competent authorities through official channels.
