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Public Health Chronicle
Latest public health news and updates of the world
Public Health News Snippets 22-31st October, 2023
WHO highlights the importance of a PRET workforce
A Safetnet scientific conference was held in Australia in September 2023, bringing together FTEP directors from regional as well as global levels to discuss the scenario of pandemic planning and control initiatives.
The head of the WHO global initiative PRET highlighted that the organization encourages all nations to enhance their pandemic preparedness.
WHO suggests all nations develop a multi-sectoral and multi-level strategy to tackle any future pandemics and minimize their impact on society.
In this regard, WHO suggests training and retraining programs for field epidemiologists with leadership modules, pandemic response training, and simulation exercises to equip a robust public health workforce.
WHO proposed that its PRET team contribute to planning training curricula focused on pandemic response.
WHO also proposed to strengthen collaborations between health systems and field epidemiology stakeholders
Content Editor: Dr. Himabindu Reddy
WHO News Section
Source :
Published on :
October 31, 2023
Global health, WHO, epidemiology, Health emergency, Health planning, PRET
WHO's urgent call: Safeguarding health, easing suffering in Gaza
WHO has requested Israel to revoke the order for the mass evacuation of Gaza, as doing so could have disastrous health implications.
According to information provided to WHO by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, patients who require life support or who are seriously injured cannot be evacuated while conflicts continue, putting the lives of the vulnerable in jeopardy.
WHO is also working to immediately create a humanitarian corridor so that supplies can be safely transported to Gaza's medical institutions.
This could possibly be through Rafah, which is just 20 minutes from the WHO logistics hub, which is stocked with enough supplies for 300,00 patients with a variety of wounds and diseases.
After meeting with WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros on October 9, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi agreed to expedite the transportation of medical supplies and other humanitarian aid from WHO to Gaza through the Rafah crossing.
Content Editor: Dr. Himabindu Reddy
WHO News Section
Source :
Published on :
October 31, 2023
Global health, WHO, Humanittarian aid, Israel-gaza conflict
French Botulism outbreak report sounds alarms
Bordeaux University Hospital, on September 6, reported the first case of botulism.
Botulism is an uncommon but serious food-borne illness caused by the consumption of ineffectively processed home-canned, preserved, or fermented foods.
The case was initially managed as a case of Guillain–Barré syndrome.
This patient needed mechanical ventilation due to respiratory muscle paralysis and also experienced severe symptoms like impaired swallowing and oculomotor palsy.
Two more patients with similar neuro-ophthalmic involvement needing ICU care were received at the hospital in the same week.
All three patients, upon investigation, were revealed to be visitors to France and had consumed canned sardines in the same restaurant in Bordeaux.
In total, this outbreak affected 15 people, all of whom reported eating sardines at the same restaurant.
Physicians all around France have been advised to check for botulism symptoms in patients who have recently visited Bordeaux.
France recorded 82 cases of foodborne botulism between 2008 and 2018, out of which 159 were classified as outbreaks.
The highest number of individuals engaged in a single epidemic was six, making the current outbreak the biggest in the country.
Content Editor: Dr. Himabindu Reddy
Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Policy
Source :
Published on :
October 31, 2023
Global health, Communicable disease, Food-borne disease, Outbreak, Public health
Chad battles its first-ever Dengue outbreak
The 2023 dengue outbreak in Chad is the country's first encounter with the disease.
The serotype responsible hasn't been confirmed yet.
The age group of 15 to 34 years old accounts for 27% of the confirmed cases, making them the most impacted by this outbreak.
With assistance from the WHO, the Ministry of Public Health and Prevention has launched several significant response initiatives, as follows:
Mobilizing resources and managing logistics of drugs and samples
Enhancing entomological surveillance, active case finding, and in-depth epidemiological investigations
Developing SOPs for the treatment of suspected and confirmed dengue cases
Community mobilization to spread essential knowledge about dengue transmission and management, including integrated vector control strategies
Content Editor: Dr. Himabindu Reddy
WHO Disease outbreak news
Source :
Published on :
October 31, 2023
Disease outbreak, Public health, Global health, WHO, Communicable diseases
International organizations unite in humanitarian aid pledge to Gaza
After nearly two weeks of nonstop bombing, a great deal of Gaza's civilian infrastructure has been damaged or completely destroyed.
Twenty trucks carrying the first limited consignment of life-saving humanitarian aid from the UN and the Egyptian Red Crescent crossed the Rafah Crossing into Gaza on October 21.
Even prior to the Gaza conflict, about one-third of the Palestinian population experienced food insecurity, which has further worsened with the recent situation.
Casualties are piling up in hospitals.
Health facilities are currently operating on limited amounts of locally secured fuel as they are without fuel.
The capacity to produce water is only 5% of what it typically is.
Humanitarian supplies that were prepositioned have already run out.
In this dire situation, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO issued a joint statement calling for a ceasefire and immediate, unrestricted access to Gaza so that much-needed humanitarian aid can be delivered to the vulnerable population of Gaza.
They also called for respect for humanitarian laws, protecting civilians and frontline workers, and access to safe water, food, and healthcare.
Content Editor: Dr. Himabindu Reddy
WHO News Section
Source :
Published on :
October 31, 2023
Global health, Public health, Healthcare access, WHO
WHOeyes: One step closer to Universal Health Coverage
At least 2.2 billion people worldwide have a near or far vision impairment.
At least one billion of these instances could have been avoided or treated easily with eyewear or cataract surgery.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched "WHOeyes," a free app for the public to test how well they can see things close up and at a distance.
This app will also help them learn how to safeguard their eyes.
The app assesses visual acuity, which is the most often used assessment of visual function.
It is a basic, non-invasive test used to assess if someone has a vision impairment.
WHOeyes aims to reach out to the entire population over the age of eight, encouraging people to seek out eye care.
All six UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish) are supported in this app.
Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal
WHO News Section
Source :
Published on :
October 30, 2023
WHO, Eye health, Universal Health Coverage
Highly pathogenic avian flu finds its course to Antarctica
The British Antarctic Survey released the results of the tests on October 23, 2023.
This survey maintains two research stations in South Georgia, including one on Bird Island.
It is unclear how the virus will affect the South Georgia fauna.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) issued a report in August 2023 warning about the potential of H5N1 avian flu spreading to Antarctica's wildlife populations.
WOAH and the FAO predicted that it would travel south to Antarctica with the migration of birds from South America, where it was detected in October 2022.
The groups cautioned that the impact on animals in the region might be enormous due to:
Their vulnerability to the virus
Their habit of living in dense colonies
Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal
Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Policy
Source :
Published on :
October 30, 2023
Influenza, International health
Kerala strives to empower and educate their older adults
As per the India Ageing Report 2023, the old age dependency ratio is highest, at 19.4%, in the south (constituting Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu) as compared to other regions.
Kerala is projected to constitute around 23% of the older (>60 years) population in India by 2036.
The Minister of Higher Education and Social Justice is taking steps consecutively to address the welfare issues of older adults.
Initiatives like:
Memory clinics
Vayomithram project (provision of free medicines)
Vayojana Park program.
The Naipunya Nagaram programme (a digital literacy program for the elderly)
Content Editor: Dr Urmimala Maiti
UNFPA India
Source :
Published on :
October 30, 2023
Population health, Older adults, Healthy and active ageing
Greening Delhi's waste: Miyawaki Magic to transform landfills
The Department of Environment Management Services (DEMS) is soon going to undertake afforestation around the three landfills of Delhi (Bhalswa, Okhla, and Ghazipur) as per the National Green Tribunal (Oct 2022) direction.
The technique of Miyawaki afforestation (biofencing), i.e., planting indigenous, fast-growing plants to form a green belt 5-10m around the periphery of landfills, will help limit the spread of toxic gases, dust, and pollutants.
The horticulture department aims to plant around 52 indigenous plant varieties.
After the bio-remediation of the years-old legacy wastes, the process will soon start.
This project will be implemented by an NGO named Green Yatra.
Content Editor: Dr Urmimala Maiti
Green Yatra
Source :
Published on :
Monday, October 30, 2023
Public Health laws and regulations, Environmental Health, Solid Waste Management
DBT in partnership with WIPO launches Global Health Innovation Fellowship
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have collaborated to launch a Global Health Innovation Fellowship to boost MedTech startups and innovations among youth.
This fellowship will be implemented across various DBT bio-design centers in India, including those at IIT Delhi, AIIMS, IITB, Hinduja Hospital, and Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai.
Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister for Science and Technology, presided over the event’s launch, highlighting that it aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to find scientific solutions for unmet health-related needs and challenges.
The program received 157 applications from young professionals worldwide, including from low- and middle-income countries.
Recently, the DBT partnered with more than 20 technical and medical colleges nationwide to expand the Biodesign program.
India's biotech sector is expanding exponentially, as it incorporates three biotech startups daily intending to provide viable technological solutions and contribute to the "Make in India" initiative.
It is anticipated to create more than 10 million jobs by 2025.
Furthermore, DBT, with its PSU-BIRAC, is working synergistically with various stakeholders to promote the growth of biotech startups in India.
Content Editor: Dr. Jasmin Nilima Panda
Press Information Bureau
Source :
Published on :
Monday, October 30, 2023
Global Health, Health Technology, Health Innovation, Public Health
Drones slash medication delivery time in Lahaul & Spiti: 100 units in just 26 minutes
Drones are becoming increasingly crucial in healthcare for delivering supplies to remote areas quickly.
ICMR aims to streamline medical provisions' distribution from regional hospitals in Keylong to over eight primary health centers (PHCs) in the region.
The inaugural flight successfully transported medications and diagnostic samples, significantly reducing the time compared to road transport.
The drone swiftly covered 20 kilometers in just 26 minutes, a significant time reduction from the previous 120 minutes.
ICMR plans to conduct more test flights in the coming days.
This initiative is seen as a game-changer for healthcare in remote and challenging geographical areas.
It also offers the potential to save lives in emergencies and challenging conditions.
The research will provide insights into the utility of drones in these regions and whether they can complement traditional medical supply methods in difficult terrain.
The project received support from state health authorities and local administrative officials.
Content Editor: Dr. Manjeet Mohanty
Indian Council of Medical Research
Source :
Published on :
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Innovations in Health care
HealthPlix's new expansion: Offline EMR platform tailored for doctors
HealthPlix is a digital health platform empowered with AI technologies.
It aids in clinical decision-making and thereby creates detailed patient profiles and efficient prescriptions.
The offline Electronic Medical Record (EMR) of HealthPlix is the first in India that is available 24/7, and the speed is 48% faster than the previous version.
The improvised productivity can help doctors attend to 10% more patients each day.
Doctors can practice without an internet connection and later sync the data to the cloud.
The data sync is fast, i.e., within 5 minutes, and secure, thus ensuring zero loss of information.
It ensures flexibility by having online capabilities and being able to switch between both modes automatically.
HealthPlix's “AI-powered EMR on Mobile” is available on Android and iOS smartphones.
It provides real-time access to patient’s information without any limitation of time or place.
It ensures an increased reach to over 12,000 doctors in more than 100 cities in India with uninterrupted access to patient data, even in areas without or with unreliable internet connectivity.
It currently serves 2.5% of the Indian population and can act as a ladder for the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
Content Editor: Dr. Priyasha Panda
HealthPlix
Source :
Published on :
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Digital Health, Electronic Medical Record, Artificial Intelligence
Poshan Tracker: Nourishing lives with real-time precision
International organizations like UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank have praised the Poshan Tracker for its impact on nutrition.
The platform was operationalized with the collaboration of the World Bank and UNICEF.
WHO recognizes it as a model for collecting administrative nutrition data.
India's G-20 Presidency highlighted the Poshan Tracker's role in digitizing data for real-time monitoring and targeted interventions.
Since April 2023, child measurement data on the Poshan Tracker has steadily risen from 63.4 million to 72.4 million children.
Child wasting rates recorded on the platform have consistently stayed below 7.2%, in contrast to the 18.7% used in the Global Hunger Index 2023.
However, the Global Hunger Index's accuracy is disputed.
A 2023 report ranks India 111 out of 125 countries and is criticized for methodological flaws.
It relies on a small sample size for one of its key indicators, leading to misleading results.
In contrast, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates India's proportion of the undernourished population at 16.6%.
However, even this figure is questioned for its methodology and potential bias due to the limited sample size.
Content Editor: Dr. Manjeet Mohanty
Press Information Bureau
Source :
Published on :
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Malnutrition, Poshan Abhiyan, Innovative technology
National mental health conclave: A pivotal event in commemoration of world mental health day
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, participated in the National Mental Health Conclave held in observance of World Mental Health Day.
Dr. Mandaviya praised efforts to make mental health care accessible nationwide, particularly in remote areas.
He commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
He highlighted the importance of the National Mental Health Survey, which revealed that 10% of the population grapples with mental health issues, placing a significant burden on individuals, society, and the economy.
He emphasized the role of technology in mental health care, citing the success of the National Tele-Mental Health Program (Tele-MANAS).
The program has counseled over 350,000 people and currently serves 2,000 individuals through 44 TeleManas Cells.
Dr. Mandaviya inaugurated the Tele-MANAS logo and unveiled new facilities at NIMHANS.
He also discussed integrating mental health services with primary health services through Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers and district-level initiatives.
In total, there are 47 government mental health hospitals in the country.
Content Editor: Dr. Manjeet Mohanty
Press Information Bureau
Source :
Published on :
Saturday, October 28, 2023
National Days, Mental Health
Passport to earning program: Paving the way for sustainable development
UNICEF, on the UN International Day of the Girl Child (October 11, 2023), organized an online program to commemorate the innovative venture of the passport-to-earning program.
This venture provides certificates to young Indians in the fields of financial literacy and digital productivity.
In collaboration with National Education Policy 2020, India is offering courses to obtain certificates in the realms of:
Digital productivity
Financial literacy
Employability skills
Other Job ready skills
This program aims to deliver perpetual vocational skills to 5 million youth aged 14-29 by 2024.
According to Cyntia McCaffrey, this program, in association with our ‘Nari Shakthi’ program, shall arm the women and girls of our country so as to conquer the sustainable skills to lead the world to Agenda 2030.
Dr. K. K. Dwivedi has also highlighted the remark of the Honorable Prime Minister regarding the need for skill development among the youth so as to link the government, private, and civil sectors for a vibrant, well-equipped team of youngsters for the holistic development of the nation.
Content Editor: Akhila Nandan
Press Information Bureau
Source :
Published on :
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Public Health program, Sustainable development, Empowerment
India's hunger index battle: The disputed ranking unveiled
India is ranked 111 out of 125 countries in the 2023 Global Hunger Index, with progress against hunger nearly stagnant since 2015.
To assess hunger, the GHI considers multiple indicators, including undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality.
The GHI score for India is 28.7 out of 100, categorizing the severity of hunger as "serious."
For the third year in a row, the Ministry of Women and Child Development in India has challenged the country's Global Hunger Index (GHI) position, asserting that the methodology used is fundamentally imprecise.
The ministry pointed to a significant disparity between its Poshan Tracker portal's data and the GHI's figures for child wasting prevalence.
The GHI emphasizes using consistent data sources and methodologies for international comparisons, which can be the reason behind the disparity.
Content Editor: Dr Sumana Mukhopadhyay
The Hindu
Source :
Published on :
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Global health, malnutrition
Charting vulnerabilities in improper waste handling
The NCR of Delhi produces around 11.36 tons per day (TPD) of hazardous industrial waste.
The hazardous waste generated is supposed to be channeled to the treatment, storage, and disposal facility (TSDF) at the Bawana industrial area.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee pinned down 164 vulnerable industrial sites practicing improper waste disposal.
The identified spots dump the waste on vacant grounds and burn it illegally.
The Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and the DPCC will undergo weekly monitoring of these sites to prevent any unauthorized dumping of waste.
Content Editor: Dr Urmimala Maiti
The Times of India
Source :
Published on :
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Environmental Health, Public health laws and regulations
Kerala's health bill sparks clash between government and governor
The Kerala government is facing resistance from Governor Arif Mohammed Khan regarding the Kerala Public Health Bill, 2021.
Traditional medicine practitioners also raised concerns about the bill, citing bias and disruption to their medical practices.
The Governor holds the power to take one of three actions under Article 200 of the Constitution in such cases.
State Principal Secretary, A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish, warned that entertaining these objections could set a concerning precedent and potentially breach the principle of separation of powers.
The Kerala government is considering seeking Supreme Court intervention to direct the Governor to address pending bills.
The clash revolves around the governor's role in relation to legislative matters, creating tensions between the executive and legislative branches.
Content Editor: Dr Sumana Mukhopadhyay
The Hindu
Source :
Published on :
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Health legislation
Genetically modified pig kidneys – transplantation triumphs
A recent study in Nature reports on the successful transplantation of kidney grafts from genetically modified pigs into non-human primates.
The genetic modifications in pigs for kidney transplantation involved:
Removing antigen-coding genes
Introducing human genes
Eliminating pig viruses
The transplanted kidneys exhibited long-term survival in the monkey recipients.
This breakthrough in preclinical research brings the potential of using genetically modified pig kidneys for human transplantation.
Xenotransplantation, involving the transplantation of animal organs into humans, offers a solution to the global organ shortage.
Overcoming obstacles like organ rejection and the risk of zoonosis is crucial for clinical viability.
One of the main reasons behind this graft survival was found to be the introduction of 69 genomic edits into donor pigs.
These promising results and immunosuppressive treatment offer hope for the future use of pig organs in human transplantations.
Content Editor: Dr Sumana Mukhopadhyay
The Hindu
Source :
Published on :
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Genetic research, Organ Transplantation
The Green War Room: An environment-based monitoring system
In order to track the sources of air pollution concerns and record them, the Green War Room system collaborates continuously with local and federal policymakers.
Through the program, members of the public can file complaints about air pollution, which will be further investigated and resolved by specialists.
Key features of the green war room include:
17 specialists headed by Nandita Moitra, an environmental scientist.
Real-time 24/7 AQI data from 40 stations in Delhi
15-point action plan with a customized strategy for 13 hotspots
Strict monitoring of dust, emissions, and open garbage burning
Emphasis on tree plantation, dust regulation at construction sites, and e-waste handling
Proper execution of the graded response action plan
A stringent restriction on firecracker production, use, and sale
Content Editor: Dr Sumana Mukhopadhyay
The times of india
Source :
Published on :
October 25, 2023
Environmental health, Air pollution, Health technology
Inflation's grip on global child hunger: A growing crisis
A survey of 16 countries commissioned by the humanitarian group World Vision International came ahead of World Food Day.
It has polled more than 14,000 people of all income levels on child hunger.
Results showed that, among respondents who said their children went to sleep hungry, 46% cited inflation and living costs as the main reasons.
The other two most common reasons cited were low household income (39%) and insufficient government focus on ending hunger (25%).
It has also revealed that the percentage of children going to bed hungry increased to 38% in low-income countries.
Content Editor: Dr. Immanuel Joshua E
Reuters
Source :
Published on :
October 25, 2023
Nutrition, World Hunger, Food Insecurity
Air pollution: A clouded sky over solar dreams
A recently published study reported India’s photovoltaic potential.
The study was titled “India’s photovoltaic potential amidst air pollution and land constraints.”
According to the report, just 29.3% of India's landmass can currently be used for solar photovoltaic energy harvesting.
This landmass, which mainly expands over southern and western regions, is further declining by 0.21% annually.
This, in turn, causes a presumptive loss of 50 GW of solar potential.
According to the study, aerosols have a major impact on solar resources over approximately 98% of the Indian Landmass, clouds impact 40% of it, and clouds and aerosols impact 39% of it.
Therefore, alleviating two decades of aerosol burden will make an additional 8% area suitable for effective solar photovoltaics.
Content Editor: Dr. Immanuel Joshua E
Journal iScience by Elsevier
Source :
Published on :
October 24, 2023
Environment Health, Solar Energy, Green Energy
Clean up your act: Kerala's waste management ordinance 2023
The Ordinance on Waste Management, passed in Kerala, places major responsibility for waste management on the Gram Panchayat.
Some key measures are as follows:
Fine up to ₹10,000 on commercial establishments that do not segregate the generated waste
Segregation of wastes before disposal at hotels, hospitals, and other establishments.
Executive power to the panchayat to decide on the user fee for waste generators at various stages, from segregation and collection to its disposal.
Door-to-door collection of segregated wastes.
Reporting events of littering and unscientific disposal methods by people in the community
Punishment for diversion of wastewater and sewage into public drains.
Content Editor: Dr Urmimala Maiti
The Hindu
Source :
Published on :
October 24, 2023
Waste Management, Sanitation, Public health laws and regulations
Healthy milestone: Nagaland welcomes Its very first medical college
Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR) in Kohima.
This became the 1st medical college in the state.
NIMSR will act not just as a teaching institute but also as a research institute.
NIMSR Kohima's goal is to offer a well-rounded medical education to MBBS students who are part of the NIMSR program.
Additionally, it aims to provide comprehensive healthcare services to patients through a combination of hospital-based and community outreach programs.
It also aims to support research efforts within and outside the institution.
NIMSR Kohima maintains an affiliation with Nagaland University.
Content Editor: Dr. Manjeet Mohanty
Press Information Bureau
Source :
Published on :
October 24, 2023
Medical Education
Pandemic paradox: Unmasking the silent surge of OHCA cases
According to a new study that was published in the JAMA Network Open journal, there were more deadly and frequent out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) during the pandemic.
The study's results were made based on information gathered from people evaluated by Emergency Medical Services in Seattle and King County, Washington, between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2021.
64.6% of the study patients were men, with a mean age of 64.
On the other hand, 3,142 happened during the pandemic years, while 2,837 happened during pre-pandemic years.
This indicates an increase in OHCA of 10.8%.
When comparing the pandemic to the pre-pandemic period, the unadjusted odds ratio of survival to hospital discharge was 0.77 (95% confidence interval, 0.67 to 0.88).
The authors came to the conclusion that indirect factors made OHCA prevention more difficult than the pandemic itself.
Content Editor: Dr. Himabindu Reddy
Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Policy
Source :
Published on :
October 24, 2023
Non communicable disease, Covid-19, Public health, Research findings
WHO checklist for the institutionalization of EPIM: A pilot project
To pilot a checklist to institutionalize evidence-informed policy-making (EPIM), the following organizations are teaming up:
The World Health Organization (WHO)
The Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Coordination Centre (EPPI-Centre) at University College London
The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR)
This WHO project aims to improve policy-making procedures in addition to other areas.
The project aims at increasing their efficacy, equity, and efficiency.
In the first phase, a thorough scenario analysis akin to an exploration mission will be conducted with the help of:
Scoping review
Focus groups discussions
Key informant interviews
A participatory workshop will be hosted in each nation as the focal point in the second phase.
The checklist will be piloted in two countries in the WHO European region and the American region from October 2023 to September 2024.
By the end of this project, each nation will have:
A cooperative plan
An analysis of the facilitators and barriers to the institutionalization of EIPM
Content Editor: Dr. Himabindu Reddy
WHO News Section
Source :
Published on :
October 23, 2023
Global health, WHO, Public health, Health systems research
COVID-19 in the USA: Rollercoaster of hope and challenge
From January to August 2023, the COVID-19–Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET) assessed the following rates in 13 US states:
COVID-related hospitalization
In-hospital mortality
Vaccination status among persons 65 years of age and older
The study found that adults aged 65 or older contributed to:
Nearly 90% of in-hospital deaths
60% of ICU admissions
60% of COVID-19 hospitalizations
The majority of those aged 65 or older had several chronic conditions.
Only around 25% of hospitalized patients had gotten the required bivalent (two-strain) vaccine, and 16% had not received any COVID-19 vaccine at all.
The study's authors advised at-risk adults to lower their risk of developing severe COVID-19 by:
Taking the necessary immunizations
Obtaining timely antiviral therapy in the event of a positive test.
Content Editor: Dr. Himabindu Reddy
Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Policy
Source :
Published on :
October 23, 2023
COVID, Geriatric health, Public health, Infectious diseases
Clearing the air: Delhi's battle for clean skies demands a stronger action plan
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is an autonomous body entrusted with air quality improvement in Delhi and its adjoining areas.
In response to the dip in air quality and a shift to the "poor" category, the CAQM released a revised Graded Action Plan (GRAP) on October 6, 2023.
It highlighted the necessity for strict implementation of dust mitigation measures.
It bans the use of coal in hotels and restaurants.
The bench of judges' acknowledged the views of a senior advocate serving as an amicus curiae and recommended that CAQM submit a study on the decline in air quality that occurs in the winter, after festivals, and from burning crop leftovers.
Content Editor: Dr Urmimala Maiti
Times of India
Source :
Published on :
October 23, 2023
Environmental Health, Air pollution, Public Health Laws and Regulations
Battling the rising tide of mental disorders
India has a severe shortage of psychiatrists, with only 0.7 professionals for every 1,00,000 population.
However, the standard guidelines recommend that there should be at least 3/100,000 population.
To fill this gap, there have been suggestions to increase the number of postgraduate seats in psychiatry.
Also, there is a felt need to train healthcare workers in AB-HWCs to counsel people suffering from common mental health disorders.
This should be supported by a timely referral to a higher center.
Tele-Manas, the government-run tele-mental health helpline, is a force multiplier that provides counseling through Tele Manas Cells.
Content Editor: Dr. Immanuel Joshua E
Times of India
Source :
Published on :
October 23, 2023
Mental Health, Non-communicable diseases
Discover your skin's health: WHO unveils revamped app for neglected tropical diseases
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released an enhanced version of its Skin NTDs App.
This app aims to aid front-line health workers in diagnosing and managing skin-related neglected tropical diseases.
The updated app, available on Android and iOS devices, now includes a logical, offline algorithm for accurate diagnosis and treatment decisions.
It also offers multilingual support, with plans for further translations.
Additionally, the app provides learning resources and incorporates cutting-edge AI integration (in beta) for instant classification of skin lesions.
It has been developed in collaboration with Until No Leprosy Remains (NLR).
This comprehensive resource aligns with the latest WHO recommendations.
The users are encouraged to download, share, and provide feedback for continued improvements.
This development marks a significant stride in combating skin-related NTDs.
Content Editor: Dr. Sangya Chaudhary
World Health Organization
Source :
Published on :
October 23, 2023
Neglected Tropical Diseases, International Health