Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Months
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Previous Archive
02 October 2018 | Story UFS | Photo Supplied
Better yourself at Adelaide Tambo Public Library
According to Dr Magteld Smith the American Space in the Adelaide Tambo Public Library provides an opportunity for visitors to connect and learn about the US.
The new and upgraded American Corner at the Adelaide Tambo Public Library in Bloemfontein is a must visit for all driven individuals who are looking to better themselves. 

"The opportunity the American Corner provides is something all teachers, students and pupils must know about," said Dr Magteld Smith a lecturer and researcher in otorhinolaryngology in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS). The library, on the corner of Charles and West Burger streets, was renovated recently. As part of the overall renovation project, the US Consulate General in Johannesburg refurbished the Corner and provided new computers and audio/visual equipment to enhance its educational and cultural programmes. It is equipped with the very best audio and online technology for audio- and e-books with free Wi-Fi, said Dr Smith.

The US Consulate General in Johannesburg and the Mangaung Metro Municipality renewed their partnership when the Executive Mayor of Mangaung Metro Cllr. Olly Mlamleli and US Consul General Michael McCarthy signed an agreement for the American Corner Mangaung at the library.

The American Space in the library provides an opportunity for visitors to connect and learn about the US through books, movies, and magazines. It provides a space for information and engagement on issues such as educational advice for those who want to study in the US, workshops on a range of topics from career skills to English language learning and the introduction of 21st-century digital skills, and academic resources for visitors.

Dr Smith said it was essential that teachers, pupils and scholars make use of these opportunities and facilities at the Adelaide Tambo Public Library.

"Very few people know of this," she said.

Dr Smith, who is deaf, was a fellow at the University of Minnesota, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, through the US Department of State.

News Archive

Researchers receive study grant for research into Congo Fever
2015-03-10

UFS researchers will be contributing significantly to the search for a vaccine against the deadly tick-borne disease known as Congo Fever.

Prof Felicity Burt from the Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology was recently awarded a research grant by the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) to study candidate vaccines for Crimean-Congo heamorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus and other arboviruses.

Arboviruses are viruses transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, or other arthropods.

Prof Burt is an internationally-recognised expert on the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF). The Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus is a tick-borne virus that is associated with severe haemorrhagic disease in South Africa and other parts of Africa, Asia, and eastern Europe. Her interests focus on medically significant viruses that are transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes. Her research group is involved in determining the immune responses that are induced by different viral proteins.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus, a tick- borne virus found in Africa, Asia, the Balkans, and eastern Europe, causes severe viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks.

Although a number of tick species are capable of becoming infected with CCHF virus, ticks of the genus Hyalomma, commonly referred to in SA as the “bont-legged ticks”, are the principal vector. The ticks have distinctive brown and white bands on their legs.

In February 1981, the first case of CCHF was recognised in South Africa (SA). To date, there have been nearly 200 cases of CCHF infection in SA with a 20% fatality rate. The majority of cases occurring in SA were in patients from the Northern Cape and Free State provinces.

“The funding that has been awarded will be used to profile immune responses against CCHF viral proteins, and investigate mechanisms and strategies to enhance these immune responses. We hope that the study will contribute knowledge towards the development of a vaccine against this medically significant virus.”

For more information or enquiries contact news@ufs.ac.za.

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept