• Sand and dust storms (SDS) pose significant challenges to sustainable development, affecting economic, social, and environmental dimensions. 

• These storms, driven by natural and human-induced factors like climate change and unsustainable land use, impact health, agriculture, livelihoods, and global socio-economic well-being. 

• Approximately 2 million tonnes of sand and dust enter the atmosphere annually, originating primarily in dry, desert regions but traveling vast distances. 

• SDS can cause respiratory and heart diseases, disrupt transportation, and impact agriculture, contributing to desertification. 

• Recognizing the international concern over these impacts, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 12 July the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms. 

• Implementing sustainable water and land management practices is essential to mitigate these effects and achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2, 3, 6, 8, 11, 13, and 15.

Click here to read more.

• There have been several global pandemics, but sporadic cases of bubonic plague, particularly in the United States, are still occurring. 

• This July, one case of Bubonic Plague was also reported in Colorado.

• The plague was introduced to the United States in 1900 via rat-infested steamships, leading to urban epidemics, the last of which occurred in Los Angeles from 1924-1925. 

• Since then, plague has spread to rural rodents in the western U.S., posing a significant risk to those living there. 

• Most human cases have been reported in northern New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, California, Oregon, and Nevada.

• Over 80% of cases are bubonic, with an average of seven cases annually. 

• Plague affects all ages, with 50% of cases in individuals aged 12-45, and is slightly more common in men due to increased outdoor exposure.

• One case of the Bubonic Plague was reported from Colorado in July 2024, and the investigation is ongoing.

Click here to read more.

• Workplace safety is an often discussed issue in Public Health.

• When it comes to healthcare professionals, it mostly concerns protection from biological, chemical and radiological agents.

• The inhumane and shocking circumstances around the death of a second-year postgraduate student inside a Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal, forces us to redefine what constitutes workplace safety not just for doctors but also every other health care professionals.

• In response to the notice released by the Federation of Residents Doctors Association India (FORDA) following the incident, the country witnessed a cease of elective services in hospitals across India as a mark of solidarity.

• The following were the demands by FORDA:

1. Immediate acceptance of the demand of the doctors belonging to the RG Kar Medical College, where the incident took place.

2. Justice for the victim

3. Ratification of the Healthcare Protection Act by formation of a committee of healthcare professionals.

4. Release and implementation of security protocol for healthcare workers.

• It is deeply distressing that a doctor has to endure such a heinous crime; this raises serious concerns about the safety of any individual in an organized workplace, not to mention those in unorganized sectors.

• It’s high time that we acknowledge and address this aspect of workplace safety with priority.

• Participants with irregular sleep patterns (where day-to-day sleep duration varied by more than 60 minutes) had a 34% higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes compared to those with regular sleep.

• Even after accounting for lifestyle, comorbidities, family history, and obesity indicators, the risk persisted, emphasising on the point that consistent sleep patterns are crucial for reducing diabetes risk.

• The study discovered a nonlinear connection (p nonlinearity 0.0002), with a 34% higher incidence of diabetes (95% CI 1.22, 1.47) in those whose sleep length SD was >60 min as opposed to ≤60 min.

• The within-person standard deviation of the 7-day sleep duration recorded by wrist-worn accelerometers was used to quantify the variability in sleep lengths.

• Those with greater sleep duration (P interaction < 0.0009) and a lower diabetes polygenic risk score (PRS; P interaction ≤ 0.0264) showed a stronger connection irrespective of genetic predisposition.

• The study identified consistent sleep as a strategy to lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, and it can help mitigate risks like reducing swings in hormones, including cortisol, which affect blood sugar levels.

Click here to read more.

• Colistin is among the few antibiotics that are still useful in treating illnesses like pneumonia and eliminating microbes. 

• The World Health Organisation considers it to be extremely significant for human medicine.

• The study, recently published in Nature Communications Journal,  surveys the presence of mobile colistin resistance gene (mcr) genes in Nigeria, a country with limited clinical use of colistin.

• 4907 rectal swabs were collected from mothers and neonates across three hospital sites in Nigeria, 47 of which (40 from mothers and seven from neonates) carried mcr genes across a range of bacterial species.

• The mcr genes were found in 46 Enterobacter species, and single isolates of Shigella, E. coli, and Klebsiella quasipneumoniae.

• Although the prevalence during the 2015-2016 collection was low, the diversity of mcr-gene types and the range of bacterial species are concerning. 

• The introduction of colistin in medical settings could rapidly select and expand resistant isolates.

Click here to read more.

• The Government of India's ABHA-based Scan and Share system, launched in October 2022, is significantly enhancing outpatient department (OPD) registrations across the country.

• The initiative has  benefited over 3.87 crore patients by streamlining the registration process through QR codes at hospitals registered on the Health Facility Registry (HFR).

• More than 5,800 public healthcare institutions have adopted this system, with over 2,400 hospitals actively using it to serve 1.80 lakh patients daily.

• To support this digital transformation, the National Health Authority (NHA) and state governments have provided training, financial incentives, and patient awareness campaigns.

• The initiative is further strengthened by the introduction of a "Scan and Pay" feature, currently being piloted, allowing patients to pay for diagnostic services via mobile applications and a unified health record linkage system .

• Additionally, diagnostic labs are integrating with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) to deliver lab reports digitally, ensuring patients can access their results remotely, thus reducing logistical and financial burdens.

• This ongoing effort not only aims to  enhances the efficiency of OPD services but also contributes to the broader goal of making public healthcare more accessible and affordable for all.

Click here to read more.

• A new software application has been developed by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to improve diabetes care at the basic healthcare level, which is based on the Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS).

• This software can provide treatment recommendations based on patient data, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.

• Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) are computer tools that help doctors make better patient care decisions by analyzing patient data and offering evidence-based recommendations.

• They've proven effective in improving cardiovascular care by aiding in screening, treatment, and patient education.

• A nine-year study involving over 1,100 patients demonstrated the software's effectiveness in reducing diabetes complications. 

• Patients using the software achieved better blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol control than those receiving standard care.

• The software is intended to be used by healthcare providers in areas with limited access to specialized diabetes care. 

• The software is designed to work with electronic health records and can be operated by non-medical staff with basic computer skills.

• As part of its commitment to advancing the digitization of healthcare throughout the nation, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission is supporting this important project. 

• All ABDM-enabled HMISs will be free to integrate with the CDSS, making it accessible at all ABDM-enabled healthcare facilities nationwide.

• The doctor-population ratio in India is 1:836, which surpasses the WHO standard of 1:1000.

• As of July 2024, 13,86,136 allopathic doctors and around 5.65 lakh AYUSH doctors were registered with the National Medical Commission (NMC) and State Medical Councils.

• India has 731 medical colleges, offering 72,627 PG seats and 1,12,112 MBBS seats annually.

• India also has around 38.49 lakh registered nurses.

• The government has taken measures to improve medical education facilities, considering both the quality of healthcare services and the quantity of healthcare professionals :

1. Approving new medical colleges and increasing MBBS and PG seats

2. Upgrading and strengthening the existing ones.

3. Recognition of DNB qualification.

• However, this ratio varies significantly across countries due to differences in healthcare systems, population density, and other factors. 

• For instance, in the United States, it is approximately 1:400, China has 1:1500, and Cuba remarkably maintains a ratio of 1:170.

Click here to read more.

• On the 14th National Organ Day 2024, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoHFW) awarded Telangana State the title of best state for organ donation and transplantation.

•  In 2023, the state's donation rate reached 5.48 per million population (pmp), surpassing India's average donation rate of 0.8 pmp by a substantial margin.

• The Jeevandan Cadaver Transplantation Programme, started by the Telangana state Government in 2013, contributed significantly to this accomplishment.

• Since its establishment in January 2013, Jeevandan has enabled the collection of 5,541 organs and tissues from 1,465 deceased donors.

• Also, Yashoda Hospital, Secunderabad, was recognized as the best private hospital with the highest cadaver donation.

• As of July 2024, there are 40 recognized facilities in Telangana that are authorized to perform cadaver transplants.

• Every transplantation has the potential to save up to 8 lives, underscoring the urgency to enhance the nation's capability for cadaver transplantations.

• The first two cases of monkeypox (Mpox) have been identified in Uganda, in the towns of Mpondwe and neighboring Bwera, in Kasese's western border district. 

• This follows the rise in cases in the provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

• The African Union has allotted $10.4 million in financing to tackle the outbreak throughout the continent. 

• The DRC was the site of the first human cases of monkeypox in 1970. 

• It primarily spreads from infected animals to people and affects some countries in West and Central Africa.

• The global outbreak of Mpox infections that started in 2022 was caused by Clade II, which was sexually transmitted. 

• The World Health Organization proclaimed a public health emergency of international concern, which was resolved in May 2023.

• Out of over 90,000 cases in 111 countries, about 140 people died.

• A novel variation of Mpox, formerly referred to as monkeypox, has been detected in the DRC and its adjacent nations. 

• This strain's Clade Ib subclade is more deadly and contagious, resulting in skin rashes all over the body.

• The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also initiated efforts such as improved vaccination access, testing, data gathering, and monitoring.

• India has identified three primary categories for climate adaptation priorities:

1. Knowledge Systems: Enhancing understanding of climate change risks and adaptation strategies.

2. Risk Exposure Reduction: Implementing measures to decrease vulnerability to climate-related risks.

3. Resilience and Adaptive Capacity: Strengthening the ability to withstand and adapt to climate impacts.

• To support these priorities, India has enacted the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which establishes a comprehensive framework for climate initiatives through various national missions.

• Each State and Union Territory has developed its own State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC) tailored to address specific regional climate and disaster management challenges.

• In August 2022, India revised its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to bolster its commitment to the global response to climate change, as outlined in the Paris Agreement. 

• A key feature of the updated NDC is the introduction of the Mission ‘LiFE’ (Lifestyle for Environment), aimed at encouraging responsible consumption by influencing the behaviors and attitudes of individuals and communities.

Click here to read more.

• The Government of India has unveiled an ‘Action Plan for Managing Zika Virus Disease,’ outlining comprehensive public health strategies for combating outbreaks.

• The plan includes technical guidelines for vector management and community engagement. 

• Under the National Health Mission, funds are allocated to states for preventive measures like breeding checkers, fogging, and training.

• Under the action plan, the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) will monitor and respond to Zika outbreaks and the other 33 outbreak-prone diseases. 

• Each state will have designated labs, such as DPHLs and SRLs, for disease investigation and surveillance.

• From 2017 to July 2024, India reported 537 Zika cases. 

• The recent updates show 13 cases in 2024, with the state-wise distribution as follows:

1. Maharashtra-10

2. Karnataka-3

• From 2017 to 2024, the key states with the highest burden include Madhya Pradesh (260), Kerala (97), and Uttar Pradesh (150).

• Additionally, the Ministry supports state health infrastructure and provides technical assistance and integration with various schemes.

Click here to read more.