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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Will household-level interventions help combat the problem of TB and NCDs? Content Editor: Dr. Swathi Shenoy March 26, 2024 at 2:00:00 PM Tobacco, Tuberculosis, NCD Recently, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the bi-directional linkage between NCD and NCD risk factors among TB contacts. The SRMA included national and sub-national TB surveys which included at least one NCD or NCD risk factor. The results were presented as participants with NCD or NCD risk factors and were divided into 3 groups as follows: People with TB Members of households with a TB patient Members of households with no TB patient The outcome variable was the prevalence of NCD or NCD risk factors , which included smoking, alcohol intake, DM, hypertension, and BMI. The findings of the SRMA are as follows: The members of households with TB had a higher chance of smoking when compared to those with no TB On sensitivity analysis, the members of households with TB had higher odds of alcohol use when compared to those with no TB There was no significant association between the other NCD such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension However, the study underscores that the national-level surveys included self-reporting of NCDs, which might have led to the underreporting of NCDs and hence the findings. The study concluded that household-level interventions addressing smoking can help reduce the risk of NCD and TB in households. Click here to r ead more Previous Next

Consumption of antioxidant nutrients, fruits and vegetables linked to mitigation of impact of air pollution caused acute respiratory infections and anemia Content Editor: Dr. Manu May 23, 2025 at 3:33:23 PM Nutrition, Respiratory Infections, Air Pollution, Anemia A recent study conducted by researchers in India and the USA, used geocoded data from the National Family Health Survey - 4 (NFHS-4) and the 68th round of the National Sample Survey (NSS) to assess the mitigatory impacts, if any, of micronutrients and fruits and vegetable consumption on Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) and anemia caused by PM2.5 pollution . Data collected from the two surveys using geocoded data about the status of ARIs and anemia in children along with the amount of micronutrients consumed by the children and fruits and vegetables eaten by them, was used to retrospectively analyse the protective effect of this diet. Individual level confounders like sex of the child, mother's education level etc. and household level confounders like socioeconomic status, type of cooking fuel, household size etc. were adjusted for. The data showed that for children between 6 - 59 months, 208,782 had valid ARI information while 197,289 had valid Hb estimation status. Out of these, the prevalence of ARIs and anemia was 2.8% and 57.6%, respectively. The results showed that consumption of selenium, vitamin D and vitamin C showed a significant reduction in the effect of PM2.5 on ARI prevalence whereas all six micronutrients (Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Zinc, Selenium, Vitamin B12) showed a protective effect for anemia caused by increased PM2.5 exposure . Meanwhile, increased consumption of fruits and vegetables also showed a potential protective effect as the primary source of these nutrients in the diet. Thus, the researchers proposed that the study shows the health benefits of a healthy diet and can influence policy makers to focus on promoting a healthy, balanced diet rich in diverse fruits and vegetables. Previous Next

The FDA approved two breakthrough gene therapies for management of Sickle Cell Disease. The FDA approved two breakthrough gene therapies for management of Sickle Cell Disease. Content Editor: Dr Himabindu Reddy December 13, 2023 USFDA USFDA, Genomics, Sickle cell disease, Child Health Recently USFDA approved for use two breakthrough gene therapies for the management of Sickle Cell Disease in children aged 12 and above. Casgevy is the first FDA-approved drug to use a revolutionary genome editing method , signifying a milestone in the area of cell-based gene therapy. On the other hand, Lyfgenia involves genetically modifying the patient's blood stem cells to create HbAT87Q , a gene-therapy-produced haemoglobin that works similarly to haemoglobin A. HbAT87Q-containing red blood cells have a decreased risk of sickling and occluding blood flow. Both products are created from patients' own blood stem cells that have been changed and are given back as a one-time , single-dose infusion transplant.

New COVID-19 Guidelines for international arrivals Content Editor: Dr. Sangya Chaudhary August 1, 2023 at 12:30:00 PM COVID 19, Guidelines, Health regulations The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has updated its 'Guidelines for International Arrivals' in response to the observed decline in the COVID-19 pandemic. These guidelines apply to international travelers and entry points (airports, seaports, and land borders) from July 20, 2023 . Travelers are advised to be fully immunized against COVID-19 according to their country's primary vaccination schedule . During flights and at all entry points, announcements should be made about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and precautionary measures (such as mask use and physical separation). Any traveler exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms will be isolated, required to wear a mask, and separated from other passengers . They will be transferred to an isolation facility for further care. Physical distance should be maintained during debarking. At the entry point, health officials will conduct thermal screenings on all passengers . Previous Next

Human Rights Day 2024: “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now” Human Rights Day 2024: “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now” Content Editor: Dr. Anamika December 18, 2024 Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India Human Rights Day 2024, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) celebrated Human Rights Day at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on 10 December 2024, marking seventy-seven years since the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This year’s theme was “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now” The Honorable President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu was the Chief Guest on this occasion. On this Human Right Days, multiple publications were released, included journals and a book on NHRC advisories to safeguard human rights. About NHRC - The NHRC plays a vital role in promoting human rights through advisories, conferences, and capacity-building programs, as well through advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and other initiatives, NHRC’s recent initiatives include addressing the rights of vulnerable groups, women’s safety, mental health, and the elderly. Special Rapporteurs and Monitors from NHRC conduct visits to institutions like prisons, shelter homes, and schools to ensure rights protection. Click here to read more

Education Ministry Renews Push for Tobacco-Free Schools Content Editor: Dr. Shayari June 12, 2025 at 5:45:53 PM COTPA, Tobacco, Education The Ministry of Education is intensifying its efforts to establish Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) through a new nationwide enforcement drive. This initiative, prompted by recent high-level discussions of the Narco Coordination Centre / National Narcotic Coordination Portal (NCORD) chaired by the Home Secretary, aims to bolster existing regulations that protect students from substance abuse. The drive focuses on the strict implementation of existing laws, like banning tobacco sales within 100 yards of schools and to minors. It addresses rising tobacco use among young people, recognising them as a crucial demographic for India's future. The Ministry of Education had launched an "Implementation Manual of ToFEI" in May 2024. This new drive is about actively putting that manual and its nine specific activities (such as marking yellow lines and ensuring no shops) into practice with renewed vigor. Running from 31st May 2025 to 26th June 2025, the initiative will focus on implementing Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) guidelines. Previous Next

Marburg Virus outbreak in Africa - High Case Fatality Content Editor: Dr. Siddharth Singh April 3, 2023 at 4:04:22 PM Global Health, Outbreak Marburg Virus outbreak in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, the first ever outbreak of the disease in the countries. WHO estimated "very high" risk of spread of disease . The countries are responding to the outbreak through contact tracing and restricting movements. Marburg Virus, first identified in 1967 in Germany during outbreaks in Germany and Serbia. It causes severe and fatal viral hemorrhagic fevers. It is closely related to Ebola and is rated as "High Risk" pathogen by the WHO. It spreads to humans through contact with fruits bats and further human to human transmission through direct contact with bodily fluids of patients or contaminated surface , similar to Ebola. There has been previous outbreaks of the Virus. Notably, 1975, 2021, 2022, and 2023 within African countries being most affected and often with high fatalities. There is no approved vaccines, antiviral or monoclonal antibodies for the Virus. Case detection through contact tracing, molecular diagnosis, and quarantine is central to managing the spread of disease. With recent outbreaks in different parts of the world, the concept of "One Health" is increasingly taking center stage. Previous Next

Death toll crossed 6000 in Turkey Earthquake - Rescue ongoing February 13, 2023 at 1:41:47 PM Earthquake, Disaster Management, Emergency Response Team The devastating Earthquake of 7.8 magnitude has caused damage over a wide area and the relief operation team is finding it hard to reach many places. Assistance and rescue aids flow into Turkey and Syria in the backdrop of the devastating Earthquake the 2 countries have faced. According to World Health Organization, the Quake in Turkey and Syria is likely to affect up to 23 million people, as this has damaged civilian and health infrastructure. Rescuers are working in freezing temperatures with their bare hands to search for survivors and rescue them. The death toll has passed 6200 and is expected to increase further. Previous Next