Akebe Luther King Abia

A computer illustration of bacteria of different shapes. Getty Images

November 18, 2024

Antibiotic resistance threatens to “undo a century of medical progress”: 5 essential reads

Nadine Dreyer, The Conversation

Ten million people could die in 2050 if there are no decisive efforts to contain antibiotic resistance.

Sub-Saharan African countries don’t have enough wastewater treatment plants. John Wessels/AFP via Getty Images

May 24, 2023

Wastewater is a valuable source of information – Africa’s scientists need to use it to find drug‑resistant bacteria

Akebe Luther King Abia, University of KwaZulu-Natal; Afsatou Ndama Traore, University of Venda, and Natasha Potgieter, University of Venda

Wastewater treatment plants receive wastewater from a variety of sources. This makes them useful proxies for determining the burden of antimicrobial resistance in communities.

Apies river downstream of the informal settlement and the village of Hammanskraal. Author supplied

November 24, 2020

River of bacteria: a South African study pinpoints what’s polluting the water

Akebe Luther King Abia, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Water at informal settlements, where sanitation and waste management facilities were absent, had high bacteria levels.

shutterstock.

April 1, 2020

COVID‑19 in Africa: fewer cases so far, and more preparation needed

Akebe Luther King Abia, University of KwaZulu-Natal

African countries need to strengthen their capacity for identifying new cases.

Decomposing bodies can add bacteria to the soil. Shutterstock

March 5, 2020

Graveyards can be a reservoir for antibiotic resistant bacteria

Akebe Luther King Abia, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Bacteria and other toxic biological waste arising from decomposing bodies can contaminate water sources, representing a public health concern.

A worker disinfects the cabin of an Ethiopian Airlines’ aircraft at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. STR/EPA/EU

February 28, 2020

Plans to fight coronavirus must pay attention to the environment

Akebe Luther King Abia, University of KwaZulu-Natal

A key component of how the coronavirus could be spreading is the environment.

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Antibiotic resistance threatens to “undo a century of medical progress”: 5 essential reads

Wastewater is a valuable source of information – Africa’s scientists need to use it to find drug‑resistant bacteria

River of bacteria: a South African study pinpoints what’s polluting the water

COVID‑19 in Africa: fewer cases so far, and more preparation needed

Graveyards can be a reservoir for antibiotic resistant bacteria

Plans to fight coronavirus must pay attention to the environment

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