Coronavirus host genetics South Africa (COHG-SA) database—a variant database for gene regions associated with SARS-CoV-2 outcomes

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is responsible for the COVID-19 global public health emergency, and the disease it causes is highly variable in its clinical presentation. Clinical phenotypes are heterogeneous both in terms of presentation of symptoms in the host and response to therapy. Several studies and initiatives have been established to analyse and review host genetic epidemiology associated with COVID-19. Our research group curated these articles into a web-based database using the python applicationserver framework Django. The database provides a searchable research tool describing current literature surrounding COVID-19 host genetic factors associated with disease outcome. This paper describes the COHG-SA database and provides an overview of the analyses that can be derived from these data.The South African Medical Research Council through its Division of Research Capacity Development under the SAMRC Internship Scholarship Programme from funding received from the South African National Treasury; the CIDRI-Africa Wellcome Trust grant; the NIH H3ABioNET award; the UKRI/MRC and the University of Pretoria through the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine.https://www.nature.com/ejhgam2023BiochemistryGeneticsImmunologyMicrobiology and Plant Patholog

Fight against cholera outbreak, efforts and challenges in Malawi

Abstract Cholera is endemic in many African countries with recurrent seasonal outbreaks in parts of the region. Malawi has been experiencing seasonal outbreaks of Cholera since 1998, and it is one of the major public health problems. The current cholera outbreak is one of Malawi's worst cholera outbreaks in the past 10 years. Since the beginning of the outbreak about 56,090 cumulative cases of cholera have been reported with 1712 deaths representing a case fatality rate of 3.1%. This is happening when the country is recovering from the COVID‐19 epidemic, the devastating effects of tropical storms, and is also tackling the polio outbreak. Clearly, the Malawian health system is overstretched. Nevertheless, the country has taken a positive step in responding to the current cholera outbreak. Setting up treatment facilities, stepping up Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives in impacted areas, and improving the surveillance system for early case detection and treatment are some of the actions taken. As the fight against cholera continues there is a need to significantly increase monitoring in all districts, particularly at the community level for early detection and control of the cholera. Considering there are some cross‐border cases from neighboring countries such as Mozambique, good collaboration between the two countries in strengthening surveillance and hygiene practices in the borders will help in controlling the spread of the disease. While it is commendable that dozens of oral cholera vaccines have been given, it should be noted that this provides short‐term prevention. In addressing the nation's ongoing and recurrent cholera outbreaks, we advise prioritizing WASH efforts in addition to oral cholera vaccine administration