66-Headlines of the day (All) Public Health News Snippets 15 - 20th April, 2024 Pop culture as a weapon for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) The caricature, born from a co-design workshop at the Dutch Embassy last November, draws inspiration from Pac-Man and features AMR superheroes combating superbugs in a dynamic battleground, unveiled by Ambassador Marisa Gerards last Thursday. Antimicrobial resistance(AMR) is one of the top 10 worldwide health challenges of the twenty-first century, according to the World Health Organization. "AMR, a growing health concern, resulted in over 1.2 million deaths worldwide in 2019 due to antibiotic misuse in healthcare and agriculture, with antibiotic residues detected in the environment, water, and food, complicating treatment for severe infections," highlighted Gerards. This event is one example of community ownership for health promotion. Content Editor: Dr. Sakshi Aggarwal Social Trends Source : Published on : April 30, 2024 AMR, Health Promotion Asia's climate situation in 2023 Key climate change indicators, including sea level rise, glacier retreat, and surface temperature, have been rising faster than expected, according to the State of the Climate in Asia 2023 study. The mean temperature over Asia in 2023 was 0.91 °C higher than the reference period of 1991–2020, making it the second warmest on record. In the last forty years, the mass of the glaciers in High Mountain Asia has decreased significantly and at an accelerated rate, which was made worse in 2023 by record-breaking high temperatures and dry weather in the Tien Shan mountain range and the Eastern Himalayas. South-west China and the Hindu Kush region experienced severe drought conditions, with below-normal precipitation levels throughout the year. Asia faced a significant number of hydrometeorological hazards, primarily floods and storms, resulting in over 2,000 fatalities and impacting more than 9 million people. 80% of WMO Asia Members provide disaster risk reduction services, but less than 50% in Regional Association II offer vital climate projections, hindering effective adaptation to climate change. Click here to read more . Content Editor: Dr. Sakshi Aggarwal World Meteorological Organization Source : Published on : April 29, 2024 Climate change, Disasters, Hazards Do poor WASH facilities in hospitals create a huge health and economic burden? A recent report by WaterAid exposes the serious effects of insufficient water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities in healthcare centers across seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa. These included- Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia. The study estimated alarming figure s- In 2022, 2.6 billion healthcare-linked infections (HCAIs) occurred due to poor WASH, resulting in 277,160 additional deaths. Over half (50%) of these infections were likely caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The economic burden is massive, costing these countries 2.5% to 10.9% of their healthcare budgets. The lost productivity from infections equates to an extra 0.4% to 2.9% loss in GDP. WaterAid cautions that the problem will intensify with increasing antibiotic resistance. They highlight the cost-effectiveness of improving WASH, estimating the investment required is under US$1 per person —a small amount compared to the savings from reduced HAI costs. The report urges several actions: National governments in these countries should allocate specific budgets for WASH in healthcare facilities. The donors, G7 countries, and international financial organizations should prioritize WASH when supporting healthcare development in low- and middle-income countries. Click here to read more. Content Editor: Dr. Chinmay Kelkar WaterAid Source : Published on : April 29, 2024 Antimicrobial stewardship, Healthcare-associated infections U.S. Strategy: Protecting American and global communities from emerging threats The White House released the United States Government Global Health Security Strategy (GHSS) 2024 to keep Americans safe from future pandemics, emphasizing the importance of worldwide collaboration to achieve global health security. The CDC is crucial in these strategies: Coordinate domestic and global health security programs. Offer scientific expertise to partners and policymakers. Lead in addressing infectious disease outbreaks. Utilize data for real-time outbreak response. Maintain international staff for collaborative efforts and early detection of overseas health threats. CDC has a long history of supporting partner governments through initiatives such as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to improve their ability to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging health threats. Click here to read more. Content Editor: Dr. Rashmi Verma Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Source : Published on : April 29, 2024 Emerging Health Threats, International health Need to empower doctors against medicolegal cases Experts demand an increased focus on Medicolegal cases and legal knowledge for doctors to defend themselves in court as the need for strong legal knowledge has increased. The Medical Council of India receives around 100 medicolegal cases every year. As there is an increase in cases of patients dragging doctors to court, framing fictitious cases of negligence, and patients attacking doctors, the Medical Fraternity wants urgent reforms in the medical curriculum. The training will also prepare future doctors to face every situation in this dynamic world of medicine. The NMC and the Ethics Medical Registration Board, in partnership with state medical councils, are urged to provide training to medical practitioners on defending themselves in legal cases. A Health Ministry official says, doctors must have a basic idea of medicolegal cases, as they have ethical and legal obligations. If patients are aware of their rights, doctors should also be empowered. People use the law as a weapon to strong-arm doctors, they should be empowered enough to defend themselves from these false cases. Content Editor: Dr. Aishwarya Social Trends Source : Published on : April 29, 2024 Medico legal cases, Medical Ethics Health concerns spark recall: Carcinogens found in spice mixes Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety (CSF) , on 5th April, revealed that they discovered Ethylene oxide, a pesticide in the following Indian brand spice mixes during their regular food surveillance program: MDH Madras curry powder MDH sambar masala MDH curry mixed powder Everest fish curry masala The distributors have started the process for recalls of the impacted products, and the public has been warned not to consume these. Two weeks later the Singapore food agency also issued a recall notice for Everest masala due to the same reason. While there is no immediate effect due to the consumption of this pesticide residue, extended consumption can lead to the formation of cancer cells Click here to read more. Content Editor: Dr. Himabindu Reddy Centre for Food safety, Government of Hong Kong Source : Published on : April 29, 2024 Food safety, Cancer, Nutrition, Food regulation, Carcinogen, Pesticide residues Expansion of the insurance coverage It will now be possible for senior citizens to purchase health insurance, regardless of any underlying medical concerns, even if they are 80 or 90 years old. This comes after the ruling party declared that "everyone over the age of 70 years" would be covered by the government's Ayushman Bharat health insurance program in its election manifesto. Under the previous regulations, people could only get new insurance coverage up until the age of 65. But now that the recent modification is in place and will take effect on April 1st, anyone can get a new health insurance policy, regardless of age. Insurers must provide policies to individuals regardless of severe medical conditions, offer premium payments in installments, and allow AYUSH treatment coverage without limits. Benefit-based policyholders can file multiple claims, while senior citizens' complaints and claims will be handled through a specialized channel for better responsiveness. Content Editor: Dr. Sakshi Aggarwal Social Trends Source : Published on : April 27, 2024 Health Insurance, Ayushman Bharat How effective are antibiotics in providing cough relief among patients with LRTI? The study found that 29% of the LRTI patients enrolled in the study were prescribed at least one of these antibiotics - amoxicillin-clavulanate, azithromycin, doxycycline, and amoxicillin. These patients on antibiotics were likely to be further along in their illness, had a more severe illness, and were more likely to receive systemic corticosteroids and albuterol inhalers. Patients with viral and bacterial infections on antibiotics had coughs for significantly longer duration. The study revealed that physicians probably overestimate the percentage of LRTI infections that are bacterial and overestimate their ability to distinguish bacterial from viral LRTI. The prescription of antibiotics for LRTIs may be reduced even further. Educating patients about how long the symptoms of LRTI typically last, could avoid requests for antibiotics. Further research is required to determine the role of antibiotics in patients with a cough. Click here to read more Content Editor: Dr. Niharika Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy Source : Published on : April 27, 2024 International health, Respiratory infections, Communicable diseases, Lower Respiratory Tract Infections Barriers to Mammograms: A finding from CDC Vital signs study A recent CDC Vital Signs report reveals that only about 65% of women aged 50-74 with multiple health-related social needs are current with their mammograms. These health-related social needs, including factors like food insecurity and unreliable transportation , significantly hinder access to healthcare. Data from the 2022 behavioral risk factor surveillance system shows that the greater the number of social barriers a woman faces, the less likely she is to receive a mammogram. Primary obstacles include healthcare costs, social isolation, unstable employment and not having dependable transportation. Furthermore, uninsured women, who have low income or lack a regular healthcare provider are less likely to undergo regular mammograms. Click here to read more. Content Editor: Dr. Ghurumourty Center for Disease Control Source : Published on : April 27, 2024 Cancer, Non-communicable diseases, Mammography, Screening Update on concomitant treatment of Hepatitis C and tuberculosis Evidence suggests that concurrent therapy for HCV and MDR/RR-TB is feasible, with potential benefits outweighing the hazards. Co-administration may improve MDR/RR-TB treatment success while decreasing failures, loss to follow-up, and fatalities. These details are provided in the new edition of WHO unified guidelines for the treatment of TB and drug-resistant tuberculosis, with its accompanying Operational Handbook on Tuberculosis: Module 4: therapy. While short-course oral d irect-a cting a ntivirals (DAAs ) have revolutionized HCV treatment , with over 90% sustained virologic response rates, managing chronic HCV in MDR/RR-TB patients remains a difficulty due to differing national policies. This new update further encourages countries to take unified national policies regarding the same. Click here to read more. Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal WHO News Section Source : Published on : April 27, 2024 Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, Treatment guidelines Revision of the pesticide limits in spices and herbs. A recent advisory released by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) raised the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) of pesticides in India in spices and herbs to 0.1 mg/kg from 0.01 mg/kg . This change is said to be guided by data from field trials conducted by the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) . Due to the lack of field trial data in countries like India, the MRLs will be fixed based on data generated from the Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level (MPRNL) by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. In case the pesticide is registered with CIB&RC, and the MRLs are specified for food commodities other than spices and culinary herbs, the standards set in the Codex Alimentarius , approved by the WHO and FAO will apply. If the MRLs are not specified in the codex or the pesticide is not registered with the CIB&RC, the MRL of 0.1 mg/kg will apply . Click here to read more. Content Editor: Dr. Manu Goel Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Source : Published on : April 25, 2024 Food Safety, Pesticide levels, FSSAI DRONE- the innovative technology In a revolutionary step in innovative research, the pilot testing of DRONE technology for transferring pathological specimens mid-surgery was conducted recently. DRONE technology stands for “Deployment of a Robust Need-based aerial healthcare delivery system. This initiative was undertaken as a collaborative effort between ICMR and Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. This technology transferred the specimen across 37 km, reducing the waiting period from 60 to 15 minutes. This study aims to evaluate the potential use of such technology to transport specimens from secondary to tertiary care centers. This innovative approach would enable faster decisions during surgery and improved access to high-level health care for patients in peripheral hospitals Click here to read more. Content Editor: Dr. Swathi Shenoy Indian Council of Medical Research Source : Published on : April 27, 2024 Innovation, Research, and Technology DNS22 DNS 2 DNS Is there any association between stroke and climate change? Data from the World Bank climate database “Climatic Research Unit Gridded Time Series” and the “Global Burden of Disease Study” were analyzed to estimate the burden of stroke globally and its association with different climate conditions. The study found that more than 5 lakh deaths and 9 million DALYs (Disability Adjusted Life Years) due to stroke were attributable to non-optimal temperature exposure. The age-standardized mortality rate was found to be higher in men (ASMR -7.70) compared to women (ASMR - 5.89). Central Asia has the highest-burden at a regional level. The stroke burden due to low temperatures was more prevalent than high temperatures , but the burden of higher temperatures has increased over the years with disproportionate effects on the lower socio-demographic index areas of Africa, and Central Asia. The study draws attention to the impact of climate change on stroke and the need for policy actions towards it. Content Editor: Dr. Urmimala American Academy of Neurology Source : Published on : April 13, 2024 Research findings, Climate Change, Neuroepidemiology Meghayan 2024: At the frontline of climate action World Meteorological Day is celebrated each year on March 23rd to commemorate the origin of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In India, the School of Naval Oceanology & Meteorology (SNOM) and Indian Naval Meteorological Analysis Centre (INMAC) celebrated the day with a seminar on ‘At the Frontline of Climate Action’. Admiral R.R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, commented on the harsh reality of climate change and the need to work together globally for 'Achieving a Climate Smart Society'. He also shared the Navy’s commitment to adopting long-term sustainable policies and integrating climate change factors into security techniques. There was also a panel discussion on the ‘Effect of Weather and Climate Change on Naval Operations’ by those specializing in the field. An Indian-made application, INDRA (Indian Naval Dynamic Resource for Weather Analysis) , was launched to help in rapid and precise weather forecasting for Navy operations. Content Editor: Dr. Prachi Goswami Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : April 13, 2024 Climate change, healthcare technology Maternal diet and childhood obesity: Insights from a secondary analysis in Australia Childhood obesity and overweight are pressing global concerns, with Australia witnessing a 24% prevalence among children recently. Fetal malnutrition is linked to later obesity risk, influenced by prenatal and postnatal environments. A secondary analysis of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) dataset was conducted to identify modifiable risk factors, like maternal dietary habits during pregnancy. BMI z-score and weight status were outcome variables, while prenatal maternal dietary exclusion (PMDE) and supplement use were risk and moderator variables. No direct association was found between PMDE and the child's BMI z-score. PMDE of certain foods had varied effects on weight status, with fish and egg exclusion associated with higher odds of unhealthy weight. Prenatal dietary supplement use, especially folate and iron, moderated some associations, often increasing BMI z-scores and overweight/obesity risk. Dietary supplements alone didn't significantly impact childhood obesity risk, potentially depending on the mother’s overall diet. These findings stress the importance of maternal nutrition during pregnancy and suggest possible adjustments to dietary recommendations for better child health outcomes. Click here to read more Content Editor: Dr Sumana Mukhopadhyay PLOS One Source : Published on : April 13, 2024 Nutrition, Maternal and child health India at the 2nd Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting in Brasilia The 2nd EWG meeting encompassed discussions on: Promotion of quality employment Addressing smooth transition amidst digital and energy transformations. Utilization of technology to improve quality of life Emphasizing gender equity The Government of India took the following steps to promote gender equity in the workplace: Occupational Safety Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 : allows women to be employed in all establishments for all types of work with their consent at night. This provision has already been implemented in underground mines. The Revised Maternity Benefit Act, 2017 :increased' maternity leave with pay protection' from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for all women working in establishments employing 10 or more workers. This is expected to reduce the motherhood pay gap among working mothers. One Nation, One Ration Card : allows migrants to access their entitled food grains from anywhere in the Public Distribution System network in the country. e-Shram portal : launched to create a national database of unorganized workers, especially migrant and construction workers. This initiative, providing the e-Shram card, enables access to benefits under various social security schemes. Click here to read more Content Editor: Dr. Tanya Tanu Social Trends Source : Published on : April 13, 2024 Occupational Health, Employment Working Group Introduction of new criminal laws in India: Implications and changes The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nakrik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 introduced three new criminal laws , which will be effective from July 1, 2024. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 replaces the Indian Penal Code 1860 , necessitating awareness among healthcare practitioners to avoid medicolegal issues. The new criminal laws are currently being communicated to all states and Union Territories. States and Union Territories are urged to conduct awareness campaigns to effectively communicate the key provisions of the three new criminal laws concerning medicolegal cases to all medical practitioners across clinical establishments within their jurisdiction. Previously, IPC 304A addressed negligent acts resulting in death, punishable by up to 2 years in prison. IPC 336 and 337 covered acts endangering human life or safety, carrying penalties of up to 2 and 6 months of imprisonment, respectively. IPC 338 dealt with causing harm due to negligence, with penalties of up to 6 months of imprisonment. However, revisions under the new laws have altered these penalties. Under the new Act, Section 106 addresses causing death by negligence, extending the punishment to 5 years with fines, particularly emphasizing a 2-year imprisonment for registered medical practitioners. Retaining the punishment of Section 304A for doctors, the new law extends liability to 5 years for others. Content Editor: Dr Sumana Mukhopadhyay Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Source : Published on : April 13, 2024 Public health law, Penal code Solar power as an important form of renewable energy In a mission to combat climate change, the CJI, Dr. D.Y.Chandrachud, discussed the following in his recent judgment on the protection of Endangered Species:- The rising poor air quality associated with fossil fuels and reducing reliance on them will bring down greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing energy security by harnessing solar photovoltaic power in the Indian peninsula, with emphasis on regions positioned as prime areas such as Gujarat and Rajasthan (4-7 kWh per sq m per day). Multiple initiatives taken by the country are as follows: ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid’ Green Grids Initiative International Solar Alliance (COP21, Paris 2015), plans to achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2070. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) states India has the 4th largest installed capacity of renewable energy. The National Action Plan on Climate Change includes the National Solar Mission as a key to reducing reliance on fossil fuels by at least 50%. Click here to read more Content Editor: Dr. Shubham Gupta Supreme Court Proceedings Source : Published on : April 11, 2024 Renewable Energy, Air Pollution Avian influenza (H5N1): An outbreak report The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) mentioned in its epidemiological outbreak report mentioned cases of avian influenza. They also emphasized the need to establish measures for prevention and response to curtail the spread. An outbreak of cases was seen in Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, the Falkland Islands, Mexico, Peru, and the United States. The report was published at the end of March 2024 and emphasized the need for: Intersectoral coordination to promote epidemiological and virological investigations Preparedness for emergencies and especially for the pandemic potential of the outbreak Delegation of teams for Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCE) and collecting relevant information to look for patterns Public messaging and social communication for preventive behavior change Surveillance of Severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and Influenza Syndrome (ILI) Click here to read more Content Editor: Dr. Shubham Gupta Pan American Health Organisation Source : Published on : April 11, 2024 International Health, Outbreak, Surveillance Medicine price regulations: Insights into drug price control order Drug Price Control Orders (DPCO) 2013 categorize drugs into scheduled and non-scheduled formulations. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) annually revises the ceiling prices of scheduled medicines based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI). Recent media reports falsely claimed a significant 12% hike in medicine prices starting in April 2024. However, for 2023 , WPI (Wholesale Price Index) increased by a negligible 0.00551%, resulting in no change in ceiling prices for 782 medicines up to 31.3.2025. Fifty-four medicines may see a small hike of Rs. 0.01, but companies may choose not to implement it. Manufacturers of non-scheduled formulations cannot increase MRP by more than 10% in the preceding 12 months under DPCO 2013. Click here to read more Content Editor: Dr. Sumana Mukhopadhyay Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : April 11, 2024 Drug Costing, Inflation, Health Economics India's fight against drug demand The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, leads efforts to reduce drug demand through the N ational A ction P lan for D rug D emand R eduction (NAPDDR ), providing financial aid to states, NGOs, and hospitals. NAPDDR supports various initiatives, including: Integrated Rehabilitation Centers for Addicts (IRCAs), Community-based Peer-led Intervention (CPLI) programs, Outreach and Drop-In Centers (ODICs), Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs), District De-Addiction Centers (DDACs). Activities include- Geo-tagging facilities for easy access, A toll-free helpline (14446) for counseling and referral purposes , and The development of Navchetna modules for education . The N asha M ukt B harat A bhiyaan (NMBA ), launched in 2020, aims to raise awareness across all districts, targeting educational institutions, vulnerable populations, and service providers. Achievements include sensitizing over 10.73 crore people, involving 3.29 lakh educational institutions, and training over 8,000 Master Volunteers (MVs). Partnerships with spiritual/social service organizations further support NMBA's goals, with recent initiatives enhancing its impact. Outreach efforts, including social media campaigns, a mobile application, and a national online pledge, have successfully relayed the message. Click here to read more Content Editor: Dr. Sumana Mukhopadhyay Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : April 10, 2024 Deaddiction, Substance abuse Raising awareness about heat-related illness: The need of the hour The Union health minister stressed the importance of continuity in IEC efforts to prevent and better manage heat-related illnesses. Dr Mandaviya also remarked on the lack of requisite data and the need to create a central database recording heat wave pattern distribution, and cases of heat-related illnesses and deaths . This will thus help policymakers create a realistic picture of the health situation to manage. States and district-level authorities were asked to take the following steps to ensure adequate management: Implement SOPs for Heatstroke Surveillance Re-evaluate local-level preparedness, stock of essential medicines, ice packs, and ORS sachets at public health facilities. Click here to read more. Content Editor: Dr. KH Reddy Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : April 10, 2024 Heat Wave, Heat Related Illness, Health Promotion, Public Health, MoHFW Boreal Pox: Unveiling Alaska's enigmatic virus While Boreal pox was first identified in Fairbanks Alaska, the Department of Health of Alaska wanted the terminology of the virus to reflect the scope of identification outside of Alaska. Hence, after coordination with the CDC and WHO, from April 2024, Alaska pox will be referred to by its new name, Boreal Pox. The first six cases were from Fairbanks itself, while the latest was reported this year from the Kenai region of Alaska. No human-to-human transmission has been observed with Boreal pox but epidemiologists report that canine and feline pets may have a role in its transmission. Symptoms of this infection include skin lesions like pustules, swollen lymph nodes, and joint/muscle pain. Click here to read more. Content Editor: Dr. KH Reddy Alaska Department of Health Source : Published on : April 10, 2024 Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology, Orthopoxvirus, Global Health Cadaveric organ donations: A review by ZTCC Mumbai ZTCC (Z onal T ransplant C oordination C entre) was set up in Mumbai by the state government in 1999 , which promotes brain-dead donor donations and coordinates the distribution of deceased donors between various hospitals. So far, there have been 659 brain-dead donors who have benefitted 1884 patients in Mumbai. However, a 24-year review of cadaver or deceased organ donations in Mumbai shows that only 10% of those registered (18,226 patients) for a transplant could get an organ. Almost 70% of them needed a kidney. ZTCC advises people to have a signed donor card. It also concluded that cadaveric donations can be increased by having new regulations and the appointment of transplant coordinators. Click here to read more Content Editor: Dr. Immanual Joshua ZTCC Mumbai Source : Published on : April 10, 2024 Organ donation, Transplant Green cover: A dust mitigation strategy. MCD recommends planting of trees in schools, open areas and on the roadside this year. The horticulture department has released notices for the zonal offices to detail on their specific measures to implement the task. MCD also aims to carpet or repair 50km of internal roads by Oct as part of dust mitigation measures. Work is being implemented under non-plan head, funds received from MLAs or M ukhyamantri S adak P unarniraman Y ojna, said by officials. Water sprinklers, jet machines and anti-smog guns are being sprayed to mitigate dust pollution. Content Editor: Dr. Aishwarya Social Trends Source : Published on : April 22, 2024 at 1:00:00 PM Environmental Health, Dust Mitigation, One Health. Heat-related illness advisory: Guidelines & preparedness Due to the risk of above-normal seasonal temperatures, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) released an advisory to the State Health Departments on Heat-Related Illnesses (HRIs) . The salient points are as follows - Ensure dissemination of national and state-level guidelines on tackling heat-related illnesses. Manage coordination among various stakeholders at the state level. Start maintenance and reporting of cases and deaths due to heat-related illnesses . Deaths due to such cases must be investigated to understand the epidemiology of the illness. Health facilities must be able to manage HRIs and must have adequate human and medicinal resources for the same. The facilities should also be able to withstand the complications of extreme heat. Mass gatherings and sports events must be prepared to manage HRIs Early warnings for heat waves and health-related activities to spread awareness about HRIs should be carried out. Click here to read more Content Editor: Dr. Manu Goel National Centre for Disease Control Source : Published on : April 20, 2024 at 3:00:00 PM Heat-related illnesses, Disease prevention, Intersectoral coordination, National Centre for Disease Control Innovative hearing solutions: Piezoelectric implants The Department of ENT at Command Hospital (Southern Command) in Pune has successfully performed two piezoelectric Bone Conduction Hearing Implants (BCI). These procedures were conducted on a 7-year-old child with congenital ear anomalies and severe hearing loss and an adult with Single Sided Deafness (SSD), making it the first government hospital in India to achieve this feat. The designated Neurotology Centre of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), has been offering implantable hearing solutions for years. The piezoelectric BCI system is crucial for patients with conductive/mixed hearing loss who aren't candidates for cochlear implants or benefit from hearing aids or middle ear surgery. The surgeries were performed by Lt Col (Dr) Rahul Kurkure, under the guidance of Col (Dr) Nitu Singh, at the helm of Command Hospital (SC), Pune, led by Maj Gen B Nambiar, the success was praised by high-ranking officials. Click here to read more Content Editor: Dr Sumana Mukhopadhyay Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : April 20, 2024 at 3:00:00 PM Health technology, Hearing loss, Implants MERS-like coronavirus - a developing threat The threat of another pandemic due to coronaviruses is likely due to their genetic diversity, and rapid mutations and hence deserves continual attention. MERS-CoV was first identified as a cause of zoonotic disease in 2012 in dromedary camels and continues to circulate in camels and cause disease in humans. It can cause Middle East respiratory syndrome, which has led to 2609 human cases and 939 reported deaths since its recognition, mostly in Saudi Arabia. Despite not having caused a large epidemic so far, it has the potential for a future outbreak due to ongoing zoonotic transmission and circulation among camels in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The major concern is the evolution of new lineages , which can result in efficient human-to-human transmission. Many new strains can infect human cells via the DPP4 receptor (the MERS-CoV host cell receptor) or ACE2 (SARS-CoV receptor). Hence, it is prudent to be attentive to newly identified MERS-like coronaviruses isolated from animals such as bats, pangolins, and European hedgehogs. Content Editor: Dr. Prachi Goswami The Lancet Source : Published on : April 20, 2024 at 3:00:00 PM Pandemic, coronavirus, MERS-CoV Synergistic approach to beat the summers The minutes of the meeting held among the officials of IMD, NDMA, and PMO were: The forecast for above-normal maximum temperatures over most parts of the country and longer days of heat wave episodes and heatwave spells than normal was explained. IEC (Information Education Communication) materials regarding summer preparedness were planned to be translated into regional languages and disseminated to combat the hotter-than-usual summer that coincides with the general elections. The Prime Minister emphasized the need for a synergistic approach involving various ministries and arms of the government in this regard and reviewed the adequacy of health sector preparedness. 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