• WHO’s first-ever position paper on RSV immunization provides guidance for two preventive measures: a maternal vaccine (RSVpreF) and a long-acting monoclonal antibody (nirsevimab). RSV is responsible for around 0.1 million deaths and 3.6 million hospital admissions each year in under-5 children; nearly half of these deaths occur in infants younger than six months, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries where supportive care is limited.

  • Maternal vaccine (RSVpreF): Administered during the third trimester, thereby sending protective antibodies to the fetus. It received WHO prequalification in March 2025, allowing procurement by UN agencies.

  • Monoclonal antibody (nirsevimab): Given as a single injection to newborns—ideally before hospital discharge or at the first postnatal visit—nirsevimab provides at least five months of protection, covering a typical RSV season. In areas with defined seasonality, infants up to 12 months can receive one dose before their first RSV season.

• WHO advises every country to introduce either the maternal vaccine or nirsevimab, based on health system capacity, cost-effectiveness, and expected coverage. WHO highlights that these immunization strategies can significantly reduce RSV-related hospitalizations and deaths.

• This position paper will guide policymakers, immunization program managers, and funding bodies on integrating RSV prevention into existing schedules.

• The main aim is to develop a spatio-temporal machine learning model for predicting acute malnutrition in children, using DHIS2 data.

• Main objectives of this study are improving the prediction rates through the collective use of all indicators, such as signals derived from satellite images, and forecasting acute malnutrition at various severity levels across different time periods of 1, 3, and 6 months.

• The study used routinely collected health data from DHIS2 alongwith remotely sensed satellite data, mainly Gross Primary Productivity measurements, of 5 years.

• Window average model has been used as a baseline and it is compared with the new machine learning model. The performance was evaluated using Area Under Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC).

• The machine learning models with AUC of 0.86 for 6 months period, performed much superior than the Window Average baseline of AUC 0.73 in forecasting sub-county malnutrition rates.

• The machine learning models displayed high accuracy of AUC >0.9 in predicting extreme acute malnutrition risk across all assessed time periods.

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• Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh addressed the "International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology" (ICGEB) Board Meeting of Governors on May 14, 2025.

• He emphasized India's growing role in the global biotech community, promoting the creation of the first "DST-ICGEB Bio-Foundry" with public funding and the expansion of its bioeconomy from $10 billion in 2014 to $165.7 billion in 2024.

• The country's biotech achievements were as highlighted:

  • By 2024, its bioeconomy will have grown from $10 billion in 2014 to $165.7 billion.

  • More than 10,000 biotech startups are based in India, which is ranked third in Asia-Pacific and 12th globally for biotech.

  • India developed the world's first DNA-based vaccine, introduced Nafithromycin, and developed diagnostic kits for Dengue and HIV.

  • The BioE3 Policy, approved in August 2024, aims to build a resilient ecosystem for bio-based products and enhance biomanufacturing.

  • India plays a significant role in ICGEB, with 105 international PhDs and 112 postdoctoral researchers trained in New Delhi.

• India has five priority areas for biotech growth: bioenergy, bio-industrial, bio-plantation, biomedical, and biomanufacturing. With visionary leadership, India is set to steer towards becoming a global bioeconomic leader.

• Climate change is increasingly linked to the risk of pregnancy related complications worldwide due to greater exposure to extreme heat.

• A recent analysis by the U.S based group Climate Central examined the levels of heat exposure faced by pregnant women since 2020 and determined the extent to which climate change is responsible.

• The study’s findings indicate that heatwave exposure may increase the likelihood of pregnancy complications by 1.25 times.

• In the past five years, the number of heat-risk days affecting pregnant women in India has risen by an average of six days annually. Among the most impacted states are Sikkim with 32 such days, Goa with 24, and Kerala with 18. Panaji led the cities in terms of impact, with 39 days, trailed by Thiruvananthapuram at 36 days.

• Worldwide, climate change has caused the number of high-risk heat days for pregnant women to at least double in 222 of 247 countries.

• Experts emphasize the urgent need for action, including reducing fossil fuel emissions, increasing  urban green spaces, and incorporating pregnancy-specific heat warnings in public health initiatives.

• Niloufer Hospital in Hyderabad became the first institution to roll out a new AI based diagnostic tool called Amruth Swastha Bharat developed by Quick Vitals, a trademark by Bisam Pharmaceuticals Private Limited to provide non invasive diagnostic blood and vitals testing.

• The app uses smartphone or tablet cameras to test for various parameters in the body using the principle of Photoplethysmography (PPG) which detects the changes in the spectrum of light emitted by blood due to movement and pressure on the vessel walls.

• The app can assess the hemoglobin level, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, HbA1c, stress levels and autonomic system activity.

• Tested against FDA controlled diagnostic devices, the app has received approval from the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana.

• It is aimed at women and children in primary healthcare settings to ensure rapid diagnosis (within 20-60 seconds) for conditions like anemia.

• The company is planning to test the tool in Maharashtra in collaboration with the state government to further scale up the access to AI based diagnostic tools.

• Researchers from Public Health Scotland and University of Edinburgh conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study to assess the impact of HPV vaccination on invasive cervical cancer incidence.

• The evaluation was done on women born in the following years:

  • 1988–1990 – not eligible for vaccination

  • 1991–1994 – eligible for the catch-up vaccination program in 2008 and 2009 (immunized at 14 to 22 years)

  • 1995–1996 – routine cervical cancer vaccination (immunized at 12–13 years)

• Data on screening, immunization, and cancer incidence were retrieved from the Scottish Cancer Registry till August 2022.

• Findings:

  • Those vaccinated at 12–13 years had zero incidence of invasive cervical cancer.

  • Among those vaccinated at 14–22 years, women who received 3 doses had a significantly lower incidence of invasive cervical cancer (3.2 / 1 lakh person-years, 95% CI [2.1–4.2]) compared to those who received none (8.4 / 1 lakh person-years, 95% CI [7.2–9.6]).

  • Women belonging to the most deprived category based on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation had a significantly lower incidence of invasive cervical cancer when they had received 3 doses of the vaccine (2.29 / 1 lakh person-years, 95% CI [0.62–5.86]) compared to those with no vaccination (13.1 / 1 lakh person-years, 95% CI [9.95–16.9]).

• The authors recommend continued screening and assessment of outcomes, as information on different vaccine dosages and schedules, along with longitudinal outcome assessment, will help develop HPV vaccination schedule guidelines.

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• A recent large-scale study conducted in Singapore, published in Clinical Microbiology and Infection, highlights the serious long-term health risks faced by adults after dengue infection. Tracking 55,870 adult dengue patients from 2017 to 2023 and comparing them with over 3.1 million controls, researchers found a significantly elevated risk of death, hospitalization, and multi-organ complications well beyond the acute phase of illness.

• Dengue survivors had a two-fold higher risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.08) and a 22% increased risk of all-cause hospitalization. The risk of developing multi-organ complications rose by 19%, affecting critical systems:

  • Cardiovascular: aHR 1.46, including heart attacks, arrhythmias, and ischemic disease

  • Neurological/Psychiatric: aHR 1.29, with cognitive decline, stress, and anxiety disorders

  • Gastrointestinal: aHR 1.42, notably gastritis and a 3.66-fold increase in hepatitis/cirrhosis

  • Renal: aHR 2.30, indicating a major rise in kidney disorders

  • Autoimmune/Endocrine: aHR 1.37 and 1.19, respectively, with a 2.43-fold increase in connective tissue diseases

• Both hospitalized and non-hospitalized dengue patients were affected, with older adults (≥61 years), males, and those with pre-existing conditions or infection by DENV-2 or DENV-3 serotypes being more vulnerable.

• The findings signify the urgent need for long-term post-dengue monitoring and multidisciplinary care strategies to detect and manage chronic health impacts. As global dengue incidence rises, this research stresses that recovery from acute infection does not signal the end of health risks.

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• A recent randomized controlled trial conducted in rural Uganda revealed that substituting kerosene or charcoal lighting with solar lights significantly improved indoor air quality and health. 

• Among the women involved in the study, the incidence of respiratory symptoms decreased from 57.1% to 36.1% following the switch. 

• The researchers also observed significant changes in gut microbiota diversity, including bacteria, viruses, archaea, and eukaryotes, emphasizing a "gut-lung axis." These microbiome alterations were linked to a 32% reduction in the risk of respiratory symptoms. 

• The study, led by Dr. Peggy Lai and Joseph Allen published on May 21 in Environmental Health Perspectives, indicates that the negative effects of indoor air pollution may extend beyond respiratory issues, potentially affecting gut health. 

• The results advocate for the use of cleaner energy sources not only to improve respiratory health but also to promote a healthier microbiome, suggesting that future interventions might focus on gut health to mitigate the impacts of pollution.

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• The government has launched Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2025, India’s largest rural sanitation survey, to evaluate and rank cleanliness across the nation.

• The survey will assess sanitation conditions in 21,000 villages throughout 761 districts to provide a complete overview of rural cleanliness.

• The teams will conduct on-ground checks of public places, verify the functionality of waste management facilities, and assess household cleanliness.

• Public feedback/“Jan Bhagidhaari” is a key component, gathered through a dedicated mobile app and direct interactions during the survey.

• This initiative reinforces that ‘sanitation is a continuous journey, not a one-time achievement’, aiming to sustain progress toward a "Clean India."

• At the 78th World Health Assembly, India reinforced its commitment to blending traditional medicine with modern healthcare. The nation endorsed the new WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, promoting an evidence-based approach to global traditional health.

• India has backed the WHO’s new ten-year plan to strengthen and regulate traditional medicine systems worldwide.

• A new agreement will create a global classification system for traditional therapies like AYUSH by standardising the treatments, boosting their scientific credibility and recognition

• India demonstrated its commitment by establishing the WHO’s first-ever Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

• As stated, “these initiatives to integrate safe and effective traditional practices aim to help achieve universal health coverage worldwide”.

• Nutrition scientists have refuted claims that refined seed oils like canola, corn, soybean, sunflower, safflower, grapeseed, cottonseed and rice bran harm health. These oils contain essential polyunsaturated fats including linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3), which in moderation benefit cardiovascular and metabolic health.

• A 2019 meta-analysis of 68,000 participants across 30 studies found higher blood linoleic acid levels correlated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, showing a 35% lower diabetes risk.

• Trials have shown linoleic acid lowers LDL cholesterol, increases HDL cholesterol and may reduce blood pressure.

• Concerns about omega-6 causing inflammation or hexane residues are unfounded, as inflammatory metabolite conversion in humans is minimal. Experts recommend whole foods and plant oils over saturated fat alternatives for heart health.

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• Born in Bradford is a longitudinal cohort of a multi-ethnic maternal population recruited between 2007 and 2010, who have been followed up over the years to study the effects of environmental, genetic, and other factors on maternal and child health. This study aims to investigate the relationship between maternal BMI and infections in their children later in life.

• Over 9,500 singleton births were followed up from birth to over 15 years of age. Multilevel regression models with clustering at the level of mother and child were used. When hospital admissions over time were observed, an interaction between maternal BMI and age at analysis was included.

• The study found that:

  • Over 56% of the mothers belonged to overweight or obese categories.

  • There was a significant association between women with high BMI (obesity grades 2–3) and increased hospital admission rates for infection, with the association increasing with age:

    • Adjusted OR 1.41 (1.13, 1.77) for infants

    • Adjusted OR 1.53 (1.19, 1.98) for age 5–15 years

  • Infections were categorized into lower and upper respiratory infections, gastrointestinal infections, multisystem viral infections, among others. There was a significantly higher incidence of these four infection categories among children of mothers with BMI in obesity grades 2–3.

  • Adjustment for socioeconomic status, ethnic group, parity, mode of birth, and smoking during pregnancy was done. However, factors predisposing to infections also need to be considered as potential confounders.

• The potential of obesity during pregnancy to increase the risk of immune dysregulation and microbiome alterations, subsequently influencing the long-term health of the developing fetus, needs to be explored further.

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