Bivalent conjugate vaccine against paratyphoid A and typhoid Content Editor: Dr. Swathi Shenoy April 9, 2024 at 2:00:00 PM Typhoid, Vaccinations, Infections To address the most common cause of enteric fever, a study was conducted to assess the safety and immunogenicity of a new bivalent paratyphoid A- typhoid conjugate vaccine (Sii- PTCV ). The study was a phase 1, double-blind study among 60 participants , who were randomized into 2 groups. The intervention group received a single intramuscular injection of Sii-PTCV, whereas the control group received a single intramuscular injection of Typbar TCV. The safety of the intervention was assessed at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months. The immunogenicity was assessed at 1 month and 6 months using the following: Against typhoid: Anti-capsular polysaccharide antigen Vi (anti-Vi) IgG and IgA. Against paratyphoid A: Anti-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) IgG and functional antibody. The most common solicited side effects were pain and myalgia , which were comparable among the two groups. The study did not report any unsolicited adverse events. The two vaccines had comparable immunogenicity against typhoid, whereas Sii-PTCV showed 100% seroconversion for anti-LPS IgG at day 29. However, further trials are needed to strengthen the evidence. Click here to read more Previous Next

WHO Adds Spatial Repellents to Global Malaria Prevention Strategies WHO Adds Spatial Repellents to Global Malaria Prevention Strategies Content Editor :Dr. Sudeep September 20, 2025 World Health Organization Mosquito, vector control, WHO, spatial emanators Spatial emanators are expected to augment the existing vector control measures by offering another layer of protection against mosquitoes. They are expected to work in tandem with insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), indoor residual spraying and other existing methods. Spatial emanators have an extra advantage over ITN’s, as they protect the human host during daytime as well, when they are not sleeping under the net, thus protecting against day-time biters. WHO has also pre-qualified 2 NEW spatial emanator products - Mosquito Shield and Guardian (made by SC J & S). These new products release the active emanator - Transfluthrin, which has been shown to repel, disorient and kill malaria transmitters and remain effective for upto 12 months. Although these products are still new and research continues regarding their solo efficacy and their potency to eliminate insecticide-resistant mosquitoes. For further reading, click here

Public Health Daily News Snippets WHO Bulletin Releases Special Edition on Traditional Medicine Ahead of Global Summit The WHO Bulletin published its first special issue on traditional medicine since 1977, featuring research and policy analyses. This release precedes the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine scheduled for December 2025 in New Delhi. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Global Health, Traditional Medicine Integration Read More Global Summit in Geneva Intensified Efforts to Curb Toxic Mercury Pollution A major international conference was held in Geneva from 3rd to 7th November 2025 to strengthen the global fight against mercury pollution . Delegates collaborated to accelerate the phase-out of this toxic metal from products and industrial processes, aiming to protect human health and the environment. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : United Nations Environmental Health, International Policy Read More Fitness & Nation-Building: Insights from the National Fitness & Wellness Conclave 2025 The first-ever National Fitness & Wellness Conclave 2025 in Mumbai brought together policymakers, athletes, and industry leaders to reaffirm one message: India’s progress towards becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047 depends on how seriously we take fitness today. With icons from sports and cinema joining the conversation, the conclave highlighted fitness as both a cultural shift and a public health necessity. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fit India Movement, Physical Activity, Non-Communicable Diseases, Viksit Bharat Read More Global Evidence Review of the Inequality- Pandemic Cycle: UNAIDS report The UNAIDS established the “Global Council on Inequality, AIDS and Pandemic ” in 2023. Its report “Breaking the inequality-pandemic cycle ” released in November 2025 is based on evidence from more than 1500 peer-reviewed literature and reports from government agencies and research institutions across multiple pandemics and its own empirical studies over the past 2 years. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), 2025 Pandemic preparedness, Social inequality, Global Health Read More Decomposition Analysis of Factors Driving Global Maternal Mortality Reduction A new Lancet Global Health paper highlights evidence that combining family planning with quality maternity services has driven a 41% global decline in maternal deaths since 2000. The study shows how contraception alone prevented more than 77,000 maternal deaths in 2023. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : The Lancet Global Health Maternal Health, Reproductive & Sexual Health, Gender Equality, Family Planning, Declining Global Maternal Mortality Read More Delhi’s Air Quality Sees Noticeable Improvement: CAQM 2025 Report The 2025 update from the C ommission for A ir Q uality M anagement (CAQM ) highlights significant enhancements in Delhi's air quality and a marked reduction in stubble-burning incidents in nearby states. The report offers data-backed evidence of collaborative efforts to reduce pollution through the use of cleaner fuels, improved waste management, and more stringent regulatory measures. Published on : Tuesday, November 18, 2025 Source : Press Information Bureau, New Delhi Air Pollution, Environmental Health, Public Health Policy Read More Genomic Collaboration for a Safer Future: India and Italy Unite for Pandemic Preparedness The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) round table in New Delhi emphasized the power of genomic research and collaboration in strengthening pandemic preparedness. Experts called for sustained global surveillance and rapid translation of genomic data to safeguard public health. Published on : Friday, November 14, 2025 Source : Press Information Bureau, New Delhi Genomic Surveillance, Pandemic Readiness Read More WHO Unveils Global Agenda to Strengthen Paediatric Clinical Trials The World Health Organization has unveiled a new global research agenda to close gaps in evidence on child health. It prioritizes equitable, high-impact paediatric trials to ensure that treatments for children are safe, effective, and grounded in sound science. Published on : Friday, November 14, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Health Research, Pediatric Health, Clinical Trials Read More WHO refutes Tylenol-Autism Link: Urges Evidence-Based Care A statement by the current US President, which linked Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism, prompted an immediate response from the World Health Organization. The WHO clarified that no scientific evidence supports this claim and urged reliance on medical guidance. Published on : Friday, November 14, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Maternal and Child Health, Health Communication, Global Health Governance Read More 2025 Lancet Countdown Report on Climate Change and Health Impacts of climate inaction have led to a 23% increase in heat-related deaths since the 1990s. Food insecurity affected 124 million more people due to extreme weather in 2023, with losses reaching $1.35 trillion. Addressing climate change has prevented 160,000 premature deaths from coal pollution and supported 16 million jobs in renewable energy. With COP30 ahead, WHO, along with member states, plans to emphasize climate action and a swift transition away from fossil fuels. Published on : Friday, November 7, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Climate change, food insecurity, Sustainability Read More WHO Introduces New Global Framework to Enhance National Health Emergency Response The World Health Organization has unveiled a new global guide, the National Health Emergency Alert and Response Framework, to bolster countries' readiness for health crises. Developed from lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, it provides a standardized approach for managing emergencies. Published on : Friday, November 7, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Global Health Security, Emergency Preparedness Read More Training Modules to Strengthen Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Response in India The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has introduced three specialized training modules to enhance India’s capacity for managing chemical emergencies. This initiative aims to build a skilled, coordinated response system across healthcare and disaster management sectors. 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UN agencies warns worsening of acute food insecurity in 18 'hotspots' across 22 countries Content Editor: Dr. Jasmin Nilima Panda June 6, 2023 at 7:00:00 PM Global Health, Food Insecurity, FAO, Sudan War An FAO report on food insecurity listed the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Pakistan, and Syria as hotspots with very high concern . Countries on the highest alert are Sudan, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Mali, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen. Some major drivers of worsening food insecurity include: Conflict in Sudan Economic shocks and stressors post COVID-19 and Ukraine war . : Stepping up support: In Sudan, WFP (World Food Programme) staff have begun providing food assistance since after the violence started six weeks ago. Since the beginning of operations, it has scaled up to provide emergency food and nutrition support to 13 of Sudan's 18 states and is expanding to reach out to 5.9 million people nationwide. Previous Next

New Security Mechanism for Aadhaar Identification Content Editor : Dr. Sangya Chaudhary March 6, 2023 at 9:07:39 AM Government of India, AADHAAR, UIDAI The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has developed a new security mechanism for Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication to detect spoofing attempts . The mechanism uses a combination of finger minutiae and finger images to check the liveness of the fingerprint captured, making Aadhaar authentication more robust and secure. The new two-factor authentication validates the genuineness of the fingerprint, reducing the chances of spoofing attempts . The new security mechanism is expected to benefit the banking, financial, telecom, and government sectors, and strengthen the Aadhaar-enabled payment system . The adoption of Aadhaar-based authentication transactions has been witnessing an upward trend, with the cumulative number of Aadhaar authentication transactions crossing 88.29 billion by the end of December 2022, and clocking an average per day transactions of 70 million. For further reading, click here Previous Next

The panchayat development index: To monitor the LSDGs The panchayat development index: To monitor the LSDGs Content Editor: Dr.Sivanthiga February 2, 2024 Press Information Bureau Health system, Panchayats Ministry of Panchayati Raj, to achieve the “Agenda of Sustainable Development by 2030” introduced the concept of Localized Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) The Panchayat Development Index will be used to compare the panchayats in the country. The index will cover factors such as: Infrastructure Availability of health and education facilities Economic indicators Social indicators Indicators related to governance and administration Environmental stability It includes the following areas to monitor progress: 9 themes of LSGDs 577 indicators 642 unique data points 144 targets PDI across themes and composite PDIs shall be used for comparison among panchayats and the good practices will be disseminated by setting up Panchayat Learning Centres. The Ministry is also providing National Panchayat Awards based on the performance, to increase the performance of all the panchayats.

Government Strengthens Cancer Care Through Ayushman Bharat and AMRIT Pharmacies Content Editor: Dr M Kasif March 22, 2025 at 2:16:04 PM Cancer, NPNCD, Ayushman Bharat, AIIMS With cancer incidence in India rising to 1.45 million new cases annually, the need for localised and accessible care has never been greater. To address this, the Indian government is strengthening affordable cancer treatment through the A yushman B harat i nsurance s cheme, which covers 219 treatment packages, ensuring timely access to care. Additionally, AMRIT pharmacies are making 289 oncology drugs more accessible by offering them at up to 50% lower prices, easing the financial burden on patients. Recognizing the growing complexity of cancer treatment, ₹3,000 crore has been invested in 19 state cancer institutes and 20 tertiary care centers, enhancing diagnostic and treatment capabilities nationwide. Further, to reduce the need for long-distance travel, the government has announced the establishment of 200 cancer daycare centres at district hospitals. Previous Next

Serum Institute Restarts Covishield Production as Precautionary Measure Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases Serum Institute Restarts Covishield Production as Precautionary Measure Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases Content Editor: Dr. Deepika Bishnoi April 18, 2023 The Hindu Vaccination, Covid 19 In light of an increase in cases of COVID-19 sub variant from 21.6% in February to 35.8% in March, India is seeing increasing trends of over 7800 COVID cases in a day. Covishield production was halted by the business in December 2021. CEO Adar Poonawalla announced on Wednesday that the company has resumed production of the COVID-19 vaccine Covishield. In response to rumours of a shortage of COVID-19 vaccines, he stated that although manufacturers have supplies on hand, there hasn't been any demand. Just as a precaution , they have restarted the manufacturing of the vaccine so that people have Covishield as a choice if they want it, said Mr. Poonawalla. He mentions that there are now 6 million booster doses of the Covovax vaccine available from the firm and urges individuals to get the booster shot.

Homeownership and its association with prevalence of chronic health conditions: Study findings Homeownership and its association with prevalence of chronic health conditions: Study findings Content Editor: Dr. Manjeet May 30, 2024 Center for Disease Control and Prevention Research finding, Chronic disease, Socioeconomic status Researchers analyzed data from the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, including 401,958 participants. They assessed the association between homeownership and self-reported diagnoses of diabetes, asthma, cancer, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and kidney disease. Logistic regression was used to adjust for variables such as age, sex, race and ethnicity, education, employment, and income, computing odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The results of the analysis are as follows: Influencing Factors: Age, marital status, education, and income significantly influenced homeownership. Odds of Homeownership: Increased with age, peaking at 17.45 (95% CI, 16.21–18.79) for adults aged 65 or older. Non-Hispanic White adults had the highest odds (OR = 3.34; 95% CI, 3.18–3.52). Chronic Health Conditions: Homeowners had a lower prevalence of chronic health conditions, especially among those aged 45 to 64 years. After accounting for age, sex, race and ethnicity, renters were more likely to have chronic health conditions compared to homeowners. The study reveals that- homeownership predicts the lower prevalence of several chronic health conditions . Public health initiatives should prioritize housing-related interventions to improve overall population health. Click here to read more.

NDMC on its toes to curb the rising air pollution Content Editor: Dr Urmimala Maiti November 9, 2023 at 1:30:00 PM Environmental Health, Air pollution New Delhi Municipal Corporation is actively taking the following steps to curb the rising air pollution: Designation of 14 sites for dumping and demolition of construction wastes . Deployment of seven GPS- enabled Mechanical road sweepers to cover 280-330 km/day to ensure mandatory cleaning Installation of 18 water sprinklers Operationalization of 67 of the 100 electric vehicles , for cutting down on air pollutants. Plantation of more tree saplings and shrubs. Implementation of the revised Graded Response Action Plan under stage II (‘Very Poor’ Air Quality), as per the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) order, is under action from 21st October 2023. Previous Next