Medical team manages to save 23 sperm cells in teenager who survived testicular cancer

The largest registered outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) on commercial pig farms in South Africa has been successfully localized. Farms affected by the outbreak north of Pretoria have been depopulated, and they are expected to return to full production capacity within the next 12–18 months.

Nevertheless, the South African Pork Producers Organisation (Sappo) warned that ASF remains a constant threat, especially in small and informal pig farming systems where recurrent outbreaks pose significant financial and biosecurity risks.

Carla Zitsman, General Manager of Sappo, noted that while the commercial outbreak is contained, producers cannot afford to become complacent. In an interview with Food For Mzansi, she provided more detailed information on the state of the industry.

Zitsman specified that the ASF outbreak in commercial pig farms north of Pretoria in 2025/26 was the largest in South African history. This outbreak has been eliminated, and all affected pig complexes have been depopulated. These facilities are expected to be repopulated and reach full capacity within a period of 12 to 18 months.

However, ASF remains a persistent risk as outbreaks continue in small and informal settings. In such cases, the financial consequences of quarantine, production losses, and restocking can be difficult to absorb.

Previously, disease outbreaks caused significant uncertainty regarding local pork supply. Due to reduced production capacity and disruption of the normal market cycle, imports increased to compensate for potential shortages. Simultaneously, concerns over reduced local production led to a rise in wholesale pork prices from approximately R32/kg to around R40/kg.

Currently, as commercial farms recover and imported products enter the market, supply exceeds demand, leading to a decrease in wholesale prices back to around R30/kg. Sappo forecasts a gradual market normalization rather than sharp price fluctuations; as local production and demand balance out, prices are likely to stabilize closer to the long-term average of around R32/kg.

Consumers can be assured of the safety of pork sold through official retail channels. Neither African Swine Fever (ASF) nor Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) poses a threat to human health, as these are animal diseases not transmitted to humans through pork consumption.

South Africa operates robust meat control and food safety systems at every stage of the supply chain. Animals are inspected before slaughter, carcasses undergo thorough checks, and only meat meeting established food safety standards reaches the retail market.

Biosecurity remains the most effective defense against both ASF and FMD. Every producer, regardless of scale, must consistently implement the following measures:

• Maintain isolation of pigs from other pigs and, if possible, from other quadrupeds, ensuring sufficient distance and secure fencing.
• Avoid purchasing pigs from high-risk sources, such as auctions or farms with unknown or poor biosecurity practices.
• Limit visitors to the farm and ensure that necessary guests adhere to strict biosecurity protocols.
• Require the use of dedicated farm clothing and footwear, with footwear being changed before entering pig housing and used exclusively on the farm.
• Never feed pigs untreated waste or kitchen scraps containing meat products. Waste should only be used after proper thermal treatment in accordance with regulations.
• Thoroughly clean and disinfect livestock transport vehicles before loading and after unloading pigs.

Regarding the impact of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) on pig farming, although it usually causes relatively low mortality among pigs, its economic impact on the pork industry is significant. Outbreaks lead to movement restrictions that disrupt the normal flow of pigs through the production and processing chain, causing sudden regional shortages in some areas and surpluses in others.

One key lesson learned from these outbreaks is that preparedness for diseases extends far beyond the farm gate. Strong biosecurity, rapid disease detection and reporting, effective traceability, and close collaboration between producers, veterinarians, industry bodies, and government are essential prerequisites for limiting the consequences of future outbreaks.

Sinola Jafta, a batter for the Proteas Women team, openly discussed her struggle with alcoholism and expressed gratitude to Cricket South Africa (CSA) for the vital support she received in mental health and rehabilitation.

Jafta shared her experience, noting that when she finally admitted the problem, she was told: 'We will support you.' She emphasized that CSA's help in directing her to a rehabilitation center is something she will always be grateful for.

In 2022, Jafta took a break from play to undergo alcohol treatment, despite only four months remaining until the Cricket World Cup. However, she realized she had reached a critical point, and immediate intervention was the only way out. CSA was there to support her.

Jafta recalled: 'They weren't obligated to do it, but they literally said: 'We see something.' They allowed me to spend about two months away from the outside world, and they gave me a second chance,' she shared.

She also noted that in sports, when players face mental difficulties, whether it is addiction or anything else, seeking help is the first step toward recovery. Jafta admitted that she was afraid to seek support for a long time, holding onto that fear for a year.

The recent situation regarding the mental health of sports stars gained widespread attention following the tragic death of Bafana Bafana player Jayden Adams at the age of 25, just weeks after participating in the Football World Cup. Although the official circumstances of Adams' death are still under investigation, the police have launched a formal inquiry into the matter.

For Jafta herself, the most difficult aspect of the journey was admitting the reality of her situation. She recounted that she initially denied her addiction. She previously stated that it took her a year to realize she was an alcoholic. At that time, a doctor and head coach contacted her and said: 'Jaft, we think we have a problem here,' but it still took her a year to get help.

The Gauteng Department of Health strongly recommends that parents return signed consent forms to ensure that eligible students receive the HPV vaccine during the upcoming school vaccination campaign.

The Department has appealed to parents, guardians, and custodians to sign and return consent forms for the forthcoming Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign. This is because over 24,000 forms were not returned during the previous campaign, which affected vaccination coverage in some educational institutions.

The Department noted that various difficulties impacted vaccination coverage, particularly in private schools. These issues included schools refusing access to vaccination teams, student absences on vaccination days, which affected 1,830 learners, and the non-receipt of 24,327 parental consent forms.

According to the Department, the campaign, which is part of the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP), will run from August 3 to October 9, 2026, in participating private primary schools across Gauteng. Following this, vaccination teams will visit remaining public primary and special schools to cover eligible students who might have been missed during the early campaign, as most public schools were covered earlier this year.

Cervical Cancer Prevention

Department representative Steve Mabona stated that the HPV vaccine will be offered to all eligible Grade 5 girls aged 9 and older, including those who may have missed previous vaccination opportunities. He emphasized that a single dose of the vaccine provides effective protection against HPV infection and significantly reduces the risk of developing cervical cancer in the future.

Mabona reminded that cervical cancer remains one of the most common types of cancer among women in South Africa, but it is largely preventable through HPV vaccination and regular screenings.

He specified that HPV is a common virus affecting both men and women. Although there are over 200 HPV types, types 16 and 18 are responsible for over 70% of cervical cancer cases. The Cervarix vaccine is used in the public health program, which is safe and highly effective against these high-risk strains.

Mabona reported that the Department's HPV vaccination campaign achieved significant coverage in public and private schools during the 2025/26 period. Out of 1,500 targeted public schools, 1,498 were covered, leading to the vaccination of 72,249 Grade 5 girls. In the private school sector, 530 out of 664 targeted schools were covered (79.8%), and 9,740 Grade 5 girls were vaccinated.

It was noted that the student coverage rate in public schools was 80%, compared to 37.7% in private schools. Mabona also pointed out that misinformation and vaccine hesitancy contributed to lower rates in some schools.

Nevertheless, to overcome these obstacles, the department, in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Education, has strengthened stakeholder engagement, intensified public awareness efforts, and improved cooperation with schools to boost participation and vaccination coverage.

A recent study published in The Lancet Global Health found that the HPV vaccination program in South African schools reduced infections caused by HPV types 16 and 18 by 83% among young women, including those living with HIV. These results demonstrate the substantial public health benefit of achieving high HPV vaccination coverage.

Mabona concluded that the success of this campaign depends on the support of parents and the community. He stressed that no student will be vaccinated without a signed consent form, although students aged 12 and older may provide their own consent in accordance with national health guidelines. Nevertheless, the department urges parents and guardians to actively participate in this important health intervention by reading information provided by schools, completing consent forms, and returning them promptly to ensure protection against cervical cancer.