Novel AI tool for diagnosis of acute otitis media Novel AI tool for diagnosis of acute otitis media Content Editor: Dr. Prachi Goswami March 13, 2024 Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Policy AI in Healthcare, Diagnostic tests, Infections Acute otitis media is one of the most common ear conditions in children for which antibiotics are prescribed. Its diagnosis is mostly clinical but diagnostic accuracy is low overall leading to inappropriate antibiotic usage. A new AI tool using a deep residual-recurrent neural network algorithm has been developed at the University of Pittsburgh, US. The tool has a sensitivity of 93.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 92.6% to 95.0%) and a specificity of 93.3% (95% CI, 92.5% to 94.1%). This could help in use by trained paramedical staff, documentation for records, and discussion with parents. Improved diagnosis can help reduce inappropriate use of antimicrobials for this common condition. The drawbacks of the study include the following: The selection of the training and testing data The gold standard used for comparison was the opinion of the expert otoscopists, rather than myringotomy and tympanocentesis (since they are invasive procedures).

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. Published on : Friday, November 7, 2025 Source : PIB Delhi Chemical Emergencies Preparedness, IHR, Disaster management Read More Daily News Snippets Monthly Archives 01-10 February, 2024 View More 14-20 January, 2024 View More 19-25th November, 2024 (26) View More 23-31stOctober, 2023 (18) View More 28-31 January, 2024 View More 7-13 January, 2024 View More 5-11th November, 2023 (5) View More 15-21st October, 2023 (12) View More 21-27 January, 2024 View More 26-30th November, 2024 (20) View More 01-04th November, 2023(4) View More 08-14th October, 2023 (5) View More March 27 - 31, 2023 (15) View More March 6 - 12, 2023 (24) View More February 23 - 25, 2023 (3) View More February 15 - 16, 2023 (8) View More March 20 - 25, 2023 (18) View More March 1 - 5, 2023 (8) View More February 20 - 22, 2023 (2) View More February 07 - 14, 2023 (5) View More March 13 - 18, 2023 (8) View More February 26 - 28, 2023 (15) View More February 17 - 19, 2023 (3) View More February 01 - 06, 2023 (5) View More Subscribe to get Latest Public Health Updates SUBSCRIBE

New drug for treatment of leishmaniasis enters phase II trial New drug for treatment of leishmaniasis enters phase II trial Content Editor: Dr. Chinmay Kelkar May 2, 2024 Drugs for Neglected Drugs Initiative Kala-azar, WHO, International health news, New drug trial Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar , is the deadliest parasitic disease after malaria that affects millions of people globally, particularly in Eastern Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. A promising new oral drug to treat visceral leishmaniasis has entered Phase II clinical trials in Ethiopia . Another trial is ongoing in India to account for regional variations in patient response. The medication is called LXE408 and is developed through a partnership between the non-profit Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) and Novartis. The drug is being tested as a potentially safer, more effective, and easier-to-access treatment option compared to current toxic intravenous medications that require hospitalization. If proven successful, LXE408 could help reduce the estimated 50,000-90,000 new visceral leishmaniasis cases reported annually. Hence this will help achieve WHO's 2030 target of eliminating the disease as a public health threat in East Africa and beyond. Click here to read more.

06. Plastic Recycling Targets under Extended Producer Responsibility December 24, 2022 at 4:39:42 AM Environment & Climate Change Unmanaged and littered plastic waste including plastic packaging waste has adverse impacts on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility for plastic packaging under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, in the Gazette of India on 16th February 2022. Previous Next

Vaccination linked to 58% lower risk of long COVID Content Editor: Dr. Manu Goel December 25, 2023 at 12:30:00 PM Vaccination, COVID-19 In Sweden, University of Gothenburg researchers led an observational evaluation of the efficacy of primary COVID-19 vaccination (two doses followed by a booster) against long COVID among adults. Of all participants vaccinated before infection, compared with the unvaccinated peers, a nearly four-fold difference was noticed (0.4% vs 1.4%). In another study conducted in Pakistan , Aga Khan University researchers analyzed rates of persistent symptoms among 481 COVID-19-infected adults admitted to the university hospital from February to June 2021, with telephonic follow-up at 1 year. Overall, 29.9% of patients had symptoms of long-term COVID-19 , which were more common in those with severe or critical illness (35.5%) and the unvaccinated (37.9%). Previous Next

World AMR awareness week 2024: "Educate. Advocate. Act Now." PHC Editor November 16, 2024 at 2:23:51 PM AMR Awareness Week, Antimicrobial resistance, Global health, Education, advocacy World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR ) Awareness Week is scheduled for November 18–24, 2024. 2024 Theme : The theme "Educate. Advocate. Act Now." emphasizes the urgent need for global education, advocacy, and action to combat AMR. Global Health Threat : AMR poses a significant threat to human and animal health, food production, and the environment, necessitating immediate and coordinated efforts. The campaign urges stakeholders to educate communities about AMR, advocate for strong commitments, and implement concrete measures to address this pressing issue. The 2024 United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on AMR and the fourth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR present critical opportunities for political and financial commitments to tackle AMR. Previous Next

Impact of community mobilization on climate change response generation Content Editor: Dr Tanya Tanu February 22, 2024 at 1:30:00 PM Climate Change, Community Participation, Global warming The study is a part of the compendium prepared by the Centre for Environmental and Occupational Health, Climate Change and Health, National Centre for Disease Control. The gap Analysis study used Participatory Learning Approaches to: Provide space for people to reflect on their experiences Share observations from various life domains Facilitate discussions on local climate vulnerabilities and health linkages was conducted by Prayas, a Non-Profit Organization based in Pune, India. Immediate outcomes of the study included mapping contextual vulnerabilities such as: Degradation of land with changing climate and Increasing use of fertilizers Chronic water scarcity Increased salinity of water Delayed and unpredictable monsoons Vector and water-borne diseases in villages The study also explained pictorial tools for waterborne disease interventions due to climate change impacts, water scarcity, and unsafe water. These significant findings could be further extrapolated as an Action Plan for entire communities. Previous Next

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. Published on : Friday, November 7, 2025 Source : PIB Delhi Chemical Emergencies Preparedness, IHR, Disaster management Read More Daily News Snippets Monthly Archives 01-10 February, 2024 View More 14-20 January, 2024 View More 19-25th November, 2024 (26) View More 23-31stOctober, 2023 (18) View More 28-31 January, 2024 View More 7-13 January, 2024 View More 5-11th November, 2023 (5) View More 15-21st October, 2023 (12) View More 21-27 January, 2024 View More 26-30th November, 2024 (20) View More 01-04th November, 2023(4) View More 08-14th October, 2023 (5) View More March 27 - 31, 2023 (15) View More March 6 - 12, 2023 (24) View More February 23 - 25, 2023 (3) View More February 15 - 16, 2023 (8) View More March 20 - 25, 2023 (18) View More March 1 - 5, 2023 (8) View More February 20 - 22, 2023 (2) View More February 07 - 14, 2023 (5) View More March 13 - 18, 2023 (8) View More February 26 - 28, 2023 (15) View More February 17 - 19, 2023 (3) View More February 01 - 06, 2023 (5) View More Subscribe to get Latest Public Health Updates SUBSCRIBE

2-Headlines of the day (All) Public Health Headlines 15 -16th February, 2023 Unique Nano-Composite coating to prevent Surgical Site Infections (SSI) Post-operative surgical site infections (SSIs) affect 11% of patients in low and middle-income countries. Development of antibiotic resistance due to biofilm formation on the incision site or in the soft tissue inside, is one of the major causes. Researchers from ARCI, Hyderabad, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have developed a nanocomposite coating (named as ATL) by combining water repellent (hydrophobic) and biocidal properties using a combinatorial approach. The ATL-coated sutures have demonstrated Higher percentage of biofilm inhibition Non- cytotoxicity when compared to triclosan-coated antibacterial sutures, which have shown cytotoxic properties. Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : Thursday, February 16, 2023 Research, Infection prevention Updated Free Diagnostics Service Initiative (FDSI) programme under National Health Mission. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India supports ‘Free Diagnostics Service Initiative’ (FDSI) programme under National Health Mission. FDSI was launched with the aim to provide accessible and affordable pathological and radiological diagnostics services closer to the community which in turn reduces the Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE). Number of essential medicines and essential diagnostics at AB-HWCs have been increased i.e. HWC-PHC - 171 essential medicines and 63 essential diagnostics, HWC- Subcentre - 105 essential medicines and 14 essential diagnostics. To increase the outpatients in Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness Centre (AB- HWCs), this measure was taken along with an expanded package of 12 services for patients. Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : Wednesday, February 15, 2023 National Health Mission, AB-HWC, OOPE What is New in Updated ICD-11 2023? ICD-11 came into in effect in January 2022 for the national and international recording and reporting of causes of illness, death and more. Currently 64 Member States are in different stages of ICD-11 implementation. The 2023 release is the result of extensive input from early adopters, translators, scientists, and partners with over 500 proposals processed since 2022. What is new in ICD-11 2023 release? ICD-11 is multilingual. ICD-11 also has new and improved coding support and the maintenance platform has been upgraded. ICD-11 mapping tables have been updated for more accuracy. ICD-11 2023 release version includes content updates such as the list of current COVID-19 vaccines and SARS-COV-2 subtypes. ICD-11 has also been updated with a name change "mpox". ICD-11's reference guide has been updated with feedback from translators and users. WHO News section Source : Published on : Wednesday, February 15, 2023 Global Health, Health Informatics, ICD-11 Update Sea level rise a ‘Threat multiplier’ - It will affect almost 900 million people The World Meteorological Organization (WMO’s) provisional state of the Global Climate report says, sea level has risen by nearly 10 mm since January 2020 to a new record high in 2022. The past two and a half years alone accounted for 10% of the overall rise in sea level since the satellite measurements started nearly 30 years ago. Sea level rise will affect some 900 million people living in coastal zones in Bangladesh, China, India and the Netherlands. The population potentially exposed to 100-year coastal floods is projected to increase about 20% if the global mean sea level rises by 0.15 meters relative to 2020 levels. Saltwater intrusion can cause damage to agriculture, fisheries and tourism industries destroying vital infrastructures. WMO - Global Climate Report Source : Published on : Wednesday, February 15, 2023 Climate change, Environmental Health

Three times rise in Test Positivity Rate due to increase in Covid cases Content Editor: Dr. Rajat Sharma April 1, 2023 at 6:08:46 PM Covid-19 According to the recent official data, there are now 32 districts spanning 14 states and UTs with a weekly test positivity rate (TPR) of 10% or more, a 3.5% increase in just two weeks . This indicates a continuing spread of Covid-19 infections throughout the nation. The TPR is the proportion of all samples that tested positive for Covid. Four Delhi districts—south (13.8%), east (13.1%), northeast (12.3%), and central (10.4%)—were on the list of those having the highest weekly TPR. Others were Ahmedabad (10. 7%), Wayanad (14. 8%), and Kottayam (10. 5%) in Kerala, as well as Sangli (14.6%) and Pune (11.1%) in Maharashtra. Previous Next