A new medical investigation by GenPath Africa colleagues Christoffel Johannes Opperman, Sarishna Singh, and Wynand Goosen from the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and Stellenbosch University, highlights the diagnostic challenges posed by severe infections of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in vulnerable patients. Their research underscores the need for precise testing to ensure patients with complex infections receive the correct treatment. 

In a new technical report, GenPath Africa colleagues Stepfan de Villiers, Kerwin Liedeman, Lucious Chabuka, Eduan Wilkinson, Cheryl Baxter, and Tulio De Oliveira from the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University and the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP) describe an optimized workflow for sequencing the entire genomes of several major respiratory and mosquito-borne viruses. Their refined method makes it easier and more affordable for laboratories to monitor viral threats like COVID-19, RSV, and Dengue fever. 

In a new technical report, GenPath Africa colleagues Kerwin Liedeman, Stepfan de Villiers, Lucious Chabuka, Eduan Wilkinson, Cheryl Baxter, Lavanya Singh, and Tulio De Oliveira from the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University and the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), describe an optimized method for sequencing the entire genomes of influenza viruses. Their refined protocol makes it more affordable and reliable for laboratories to monitor seasonal flu and emerging pandemic threats.

In a major new study, GenPath Africa colleagues Abisola Okunola, Johannes Loubser, Giovanni Ghielmetti, Rachiel Gumbo, Elizabeth M. Streicher, Pamela Ncube, Wynand J. Goosen, Robin M. Warren, Andre G. Loxton, Michele A. Miller, and Tanya J. Kerr from the South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research and Stellenbosch University, investigated how animal tuberculosis (TB) spreads across different regions and species in South Africa. Their research provides the most detailed look to date at the genetic diversity and movement of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) within complex wildlife ecosystems.

A new study by GenPath Africa consortium members Abhinav Sharma, Monika Moir, Cheryl Baxter, Tulio de Oliveira, Carla N. Mavian, and Eduan Wilkinson at Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), in collaboration with the University of Florida, introduces CholeraSeq - a powerful new tool designed to speed up the global response to cholera outbreaks.

A new study by GenPath Africa consortium members Emilyn Costa Conceição, Felicia Wells, Abhinav Sharma, Túlio de Oliveira, Gian Van der Spuy, and Rob Warren at Stellenbosch University, and Miguel de Diego Fuertes, Vincent Rennie, Anzaan Dippenaar​ and Annelies Van Rie at University of Antwerp, provides the evidence and guidance needed to help countries adopt genomic surveillance of tuberculosis (TB) more confidently.

During this year’s World AMR Awareness Week, PARR-TB study co-leads Annelies van Rie (University of Antwerp) and Rob Warren (Stellenbosch University) discuss how GenPath Affrica is harnessing genomic sequencing to combat drug-resistant TB.

The Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS) has unveiled a ten-year plan to develop integrated genomic systems to strengthen Mozambique’s public health efforts. The plan draws on insights from the GenPath Africa team’s ongoing work at INS.

In a new study by our GenPath Africa colleagues Tulio de Oliveira, Cheryl Baxter and Eduan Wilkinson (Stellenbosch University), researchers analysed a decade of dengue disease burden in Africa and warn that dengue cases could increase significantly in the future.

A recent study by our GenPath Africa colleagues Tulio de Oliveira, Cheryl Baxter, Eduan Wilkinson and Abhinav Sharma at Stellenbosch University (SU) traced Malawi’s 2022–2023 cholera outbreak to bacteria from Pakistan and revealed how travel and climate-driven floods can fuel epidemics.

In July 2025, members of the GenPath Africa consortium organised two hands-on trainings in Mozambique and South Africa to strengthen genomic surveillance capacities and public health efforts across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The 12th EDCTP Forum provided a powerful platform for advancing global health research. GenPath Africa was proudly represented by Prof Tulio de Oliveira, whose contributions highlighted the vital link between genomics, climate change, and public health in Africa.

On June 4-5, 2025, the GenPath Africa consortium convened in Antwerp, Belgium for its second annual meeting to share progress updates and align efforts to strengthen genomic epidemiology in Africa.

A new study by our GenPath Africa colleagues Sam Oyola and John Juma from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) provides a targeted sequencing approach of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) on the portable MinION platform and marks a significant innovation in RVFV genomic surveillance.

Meet Nália Ismael, one of GenPath Africa’s young scientists, who recently earned her PhD from Stellenbosch University. She represents the GenPath Africa consortium at Mozambique’s Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), where she leads efforts to increase genomic surveillance to improve the country’s response to public health threats.

On World TB Day, GenPath Africa’s PARR-TB team highlights its ongoing efforts to reduce the burden of drug-resistant TB in South Africa by integrating next-generation sequencing (NGS) into routine healthcare.

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) recently organised a stakeholder workshop on wastewater environmental surveillance, followed by a week-long training on wastewater genomic surveillance in Nairobi, Kenya.

A recent study by our GenPath Africa colleagues Michele Miller, Wynand Goosen, Rob Warren and Tanya Kerr from Stellenbosch University (SU) found evidence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex bacteria in water sources shared by animals and humans in rural South Africa.

Together with members of the EpiGen Ethiopia consortium, our GenPath Africa colleagues Tulio de Oliveira, Cheryl Baxter and Eduan Wilkinson from Stellenbosch University (SU) examined the genetic diversity of a recent dengue virus outbreak in Ethiopia.

To celebrate this year’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we spoke to some of the inspiring women who are part of the GenPath Africa consortium about their work and what advice they would give to the next generation of women in science.