Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Catch-up Programme - Centre for Health Protection

South Africa introduced a vaccination for human papillomavirus (HPV) in public schools in 2014. The programme offered the vaccination to grade 4 girls aged nine years and older. Uptake was high from the start. About 87% of eligible girls received at least one dose during the first year. Almost all cervical cancers are caused by persistent infection with HPV, a very common virus transmitted through sexual contact. Most HPV infections clear naturally, but some high-risk types can persist and can eventually lead to cervical cancer. HPV types 16 and 18 alone are responsible for around 70% of cervical cancer cases worldwide.

Infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) is extremely common and, in the vast majority of cases, clears up on its own. However, in some people, the infection persists and can develop into precancerous lesions or even cancer. How can these high-risk situations be identified at an early stage? This is the central question of a study conducted by Michael Herfs’s team at the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Center GIGA’s Laboratory of Experimental Pathology at the University of Liège, published in Trends in Molecular Medicine. For several decades, researchers have sought to identify biomarkers capable of accurately predicting the outcome of an infection with a high-risk oncogenic HPV type. Despite significant advances, no viral, immune-related, or molecular marker can currently and reliably predict which infections will regress spontaneously and which will progress to more severe disease.

Neutrophils are white blood cells that form part of the body's first line of defence. Researchers have now demonstrated for the first time that neutrophils are found in many tissues during embryonic development, and that they can perform the same functions as adult neutrophils. The findings warrant further study on the role of embryonic neutrophils in tissue development and in responding to infections in fetuses and newborns. Neutrophils are part of innate immune defence. When inflammation occurs, they rapidly migrate from the bloodstream into tissues to eliminate harmful microbes. Their role is well understood in adults, but remarkably little is known about embryonic neutrophils.

The meeting covered several topics in eye care, including how artificial intelligence (AI) can play a part in eye care. The AAO 2026 annual meeting, held in New Orleans, Louisiana, from October 10 to October 12, 2026, was a weekend that provided eye care professionals an opportunity to learn how health care changes are affecting eye care. With the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care, AI was a particular touching point throughout the meeting, but also notably in how it could help in addressing the equity in eye health. During a session held on October 11, Grayson W. Armstrong, MD, MPH, Director of Ophthalmology Emergency Services at Mass General Brigham, gave a presentation on how AI could be used to advance health equity in ophthalmology, primarily using case studies to demonstrate its usefulness. Armstrong talked about how he had previously done fellowships in telemedicine and medical retina. “And in doing all those things in a city like Boston, you would assume that there are enough doctors and enough technology to tackle the health disparities that come our way,” he said.

Urban residents with more greenery within 100 meters of their homes have a lower risk of developing dementia over time. This is the finding of a new study from Stockholm University and Karolinska Institute, which followed nearly 3,000 older adults for 16 years. Published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, the study highlights the importance of greenspace in the immediate surroundings of the home for sustainable urban planning that supports brain health. The study results show that more greenery in the immediate residential environment is associated with a 20 per cent lower risk of developing dementia over time.