News and analysis

Experts say the vast sum spent by Sylvia Lucas on unhealthy food is indicative of a big fat problem.

Sputnik V manufacturers could not produce any data to show that the vaccine is safe to use in a country with a high HIV infection rate.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases can run hundreds of tests at the same time but ultimately the number of tests South Africa will be able to carry out for the new coronavirus depends on the machines, people and testing supplies available.

The sphere of the politics of science is intense and complex — the larger the problem, the bigger the payoff to solve it.

Africa is building up a genomic surveillance network of 12 regional hubs that will help the continent to prepare for future pandemics.

This mother asked doctors to allow her to save her child. Read how she did it.

The youngest children are the ones most at risk — and less likely to report it.

Rural provinces such the Eastern Cape and Limpopo are winning South Africa’s vaccination race. Here are the problems the far-flung vaccine sites have faced and how they were solved.

The active ingredient in magic mushrooms could help treat depression in people who have had no success with traditional treatments.

Two drugs to treat COVID-19 have recently become available. These aren’t substitutes for a vaccine, but they could help at-risk people from developing severe disease. Here’s what you need to know about the new pills on offer.

Fully vaccinated adults in South Africa will be able to choose whether to get the Johnson & Johnson or the Pfizer vaccine when they queue for a booster dose.

Children who are exposed to lead — a metal found in certain paints and batteries — can face a series of problems as they grow up, ranging from heart problems to violent behaviour. While the government has introduced laws to combat lead exposure, experts worry that they aren’t effectively implemented or enforced.

Industry influence and government spats stalled regulations that could have curbed harmful alcohol use in South Africa nearly a decade ago.

One in three South African boys have experienced some form of sexual abuse in their lifetime.

Fast-tracking unregistered healthcare workers into the system isn’t without its risks, but it’s not without its solutions either, say foreign-trained doctors.

Public health experts worry that a cholera outbreak could be brewing in large townships like Diepsloot and Alexandra, where sewage runs through streets and rivers.