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03.18.10
New TB Booster Shows Promise

A booster shot appears to improve tuberculosis (TB) resistance in previously vaccinated adults, according to new research in South Africa. The study has been published online ahead of print publication in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. "The world urgently needs new, better vaccines against TB," said Willem Hanekom, M.B.Ch.B...

01.15.10
Atlantic Examines Drug-Resistant TB Control Worldwide

The Atlantic examines the emergence of drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis around the world, with a look at the situation in South Africa. "[T]he resurgence of tuberculosis is not limited to South Africa...

11.03.09
Zuma Calls For Renewed Effort In Fight Against HIV/AIDS

South African President Jacob Zuma on Thursday called for a renewed effort in the country's fight against HIV/AIDS, the Star/Independent Online reports. During a

10.29.09
African Scientist Wins Award For HIV And TB Co-infection Research

A scientist who is helping to treat thousands of people living with HIV and tuberculosis (TB) in South Africa was awarded the Royal Society Pfizer Award at a ceremony last night (27 October). Dr Linda-Gail Bekker's research looks at how TB epidemiology has changed in the HIV era. Researchers estimate that more than one in ten of all South Africans over 2 years old were living with HIV in 2008. South Africa has also seen a six fold increase in tuberculosis rates in the last 20 years.

07.02.09
African Institutions Lead International Consortia In $49 Million Initiative

More than fifty institutions from eighteen African countries - from Senegal to Sudan to South Africa - are to participate in international consortia under a £30 million initiative from the Wellcome Trust to strengthen research capacity on the continent. Africa is affected by some of the world's deadliest diseases, including HIV, malaria and tuberculosis.

07.02.09
African Institutions Lead International Consortia In $49 Million Initiative

More than fifty institutions from eighteen African countries - from Senegal to Sudan to South Africa - are to participate in international consortia under a £30 million initiative from the Wellcome Trust to strengthen research capacity on the continent. Africa is affected by some of the world's deadliest diseases, including HIV, malaria and tuberculosis.

07.02.09
Also In Global Health News: HIV & TB; ITN Program; DRC's Health System

HIV-Positive Babies More Likely To Contract Deadly TB If Given BCG A three-year study in South Africa found that babies who were born HIV-positive had a higher risk of contracting a deadly form of tuberculosis if given the widely used BCG vaccine, the

06.09.09
South African President Addresses Increased Access To Antiretrovirals, Reduction In HIV Incidence

South African President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday said he wants to have 80 percent of HIV-positive South Africans who need antiretrovirals (ARVs) on them by 2011, BuaNews reports (BuaNews/allAfrica.com, 6/3). The announcement was part of Zuma's first

06.08.09
TB Booster Vaccine Trials To Begin Next Month In South Africa

A new two-year trial to test a tuberculosis vaccine aimed at boosting the efficacy of the BCG vaccine is scheduled to begin soon in South Africa, IRIN reports (IRIN, 6/4). The vaccine candidate, called MVA85A, will be tested next month in 2,874 children younger than age one.

03.30.09
PBS Program Examines HIV/AIDS, TB In South Africa

PBS' "News Hour With Jim Lehrer" recently aired a three-part series examining various issues surrounding HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in South Africa. Summaries of the three segments appear below.