New case definitions and thresholds for environmental notifiable medical conditions in South Africa: Pesticide, lead and mercury poisoning

Authors

  • A Mathee Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, and Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6830-8314
  • C Stephen Poisons Information Centre, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, and Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa
  • S A Nzenze Division of Public Health Surveillance and Response, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • L Chandu Division of Public Health Surveillance and Response, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2025.v115i11.2565

Keywords:

notifiable, medical, conditions, lead, mercury, pesticides, South Africa, stock remedies

Abstract

Notifiable medical conditions (NMCs) are diseases that pose significant public health risks, and may result in outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics with high morbidity and mortality rates. The World Health Organization provides an overarching framework for countries to meet obligations related to data collection, processing and notification of and rapid response to, as needed, cases of NMCs. South Africa has recently introduced new case definitions for the three NMCs related to environmental exposures: poisoning by agricultural or stock remedies (pesticides), lead and mercury. In this article, the revised case definitions and processes for reporting of NMCs are outlined. We also discuss the benefits and challenges of processing and using NMC data, and urge more widespread and effective participation in the process of notifying these important environmental medical conditions.

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Published

2025-12-08

Issue

SAMJ Vol. 115 No. 11

Section

In Practice

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Copyright (c) 2025 A Mathee, C Stephen, S A Nzenze, L Chandu

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How to Cite

1.
Mathee A, Stephen C, Nzenze SA, Chandu L. New case definitions and thresholds for environmental notifiable medical conditions in South Africa: Pesticide, lead and mercury poisoning. S Afr Med J [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 8 [cited 2026 Apr. 19];115(11):e2565. Available from: https://www.samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/2565

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