International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) launched to combat Infectious diseases International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) launched to combat Infectious diseases Content Editor: Dr. Siddharth Singh May 27, 2023 WHO news section Global Health, Infectious diseases, Disease surveillance Based on the principle of pathogen genomics , WHO and partner agencies are launching a global network to detect and protect people from newly evolving infectious diseases . The goal of this initiative is to provide access to the genome sequence of the prevailing pathogen to every country as part of its public health system. Pathogen genome sequencing was instrumental in fighting the COVID pandemic. It provided quick evidence-based decisions on immunization and viral evolution to curb the catastrophic effects of the disease. Creating such a global network emphasizes the role of multiple partners contributing to disease prevention because diseases do not restrict themselves to international boundaries.

17-Headlines of the day (All) Public Health News Snippets 24 - 30th April, 2023 World Malaria Day 2023 - WHO emphasizes innovations in preventive, diagnostic, and treatment strategies. The World Malaria Report mentions that in 2021 , there were about 247 million new cases and 6,19,000 deaths due to malaria. WHO African region was responsible for 95% of all malaria cases worldwide. On World Malaria Day, 2023 , WHO urged the world to develop newer innovations to implement preventive, diagnostic, and treatment strategies. The theme is “Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement.” RTS, S/AS01 , the first malaria vaccine administered to approximately 1.5 million children in a pilot project , is a step towards malaria prevention. R21/Matrix-M (R21) vaccine is another vaccine awaiting approval. Content Editor: Dr. Urmimala Maiti WHO News Section Source : Published on : Friday, April 28, 2023 Global Health, Malaria, Vaccines, Communicable diseases ‘India wants to make healthcare affordable for the whole world’- PM The Prime Minister of India mentioned that India’s traditional healthcare has a lot of answers to stress and lifestyle disorders. He called for an inclusive and integrated global response to healthcare challenges. He also emphasized the need to guarantee access to everyone within the final mile. The PM highlighted that, often, the absence of disease is mistaken for good health, but India views health from a more comprehensive perspective . Health ministers of various countries have attended a two-day conclave along with stakeholders from public, private, professional, and academic domains. Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal The Hindu Source : Published on : Friday, April 28, 2023 Universal healthcare, One Health Malaria to become notifiable disease across India This is in line with India’s vision of eliminating Malaria by 2030 . India witnessed an 85.1% decline in malaria cases and around 83.36% decline in deaths during 2015-22 . In order to monitor malaria growth across India, the health ministry reports that near real-time data monitoring is now possible through an integrated health information platform and monthly regional review meetings . The WHO Regional Director for Southeast Asia further stated that countries in the region with malaria outbreaks should expand access to high-impact tools and treatments for the disease. Children in the poorest households worldwide have a five-fold increased risk of contracting malaria. Young children who have mothers with poor levels of education and who reside in rural areas are more likely to contract malaria. Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal The Hindu Source : Published on : Friday, April 28, 2023 Malaria, Infectious disease, Notifiable disease, Elimination, Real-time monitoring Rate of out-of-pocket expenditure in health decreases in India Health out-of-pocket expenditure from total health expenditure has declined from 62.4% in 2014-15 to 47.1% in 2019-20 . Government health expenditure share in country’s share in country’s total GDP , increased from 1.13% (2014-15) to 1.35% (2019-2020) . The share of private health insurance is also going up . According to a NITI Aayog member , this shows maturity in terms of the insurance arena as those who can afford health insurance, can also avail from private players . For further reading, click here . Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal The HIndu Bureau Source : Published on : Friday, April 28, 2023 Health expenditure, Health Insurance, Out-of-pocket expenditure Dispensing antibiotics without prescription: Incorrect yet common practice around the world. A Mixed Method systemic review , conducted by researchers from China , analyzed data from 52 countries. The review found that most of the LMIC countries have been dispensing antibiotics without any prescription. Recent evidence suggests a new wave of antimicrobial resistance emerging in most parts of the world. Antibiotics have been a crucial turning point in the history of medical science as they save millions of lives every year. In recent times, antibiotic resistance has been a major public health problem with significant emphasis from WHO . The quantitative study indicates that pharmacies located in lower-income areas , staffed by pharmacy owners and private pharmacies are more likely to dispense non-prescription drugs . A qualitative study suggested four major factors driving dispensing of antibiotics without a prescription: strong customer demand for non-prescription antibiotics combined with a lack of relevant knowledge , pharmacy staff motivated by financial or personal viewpoints , expensive or inconvenient alternative healthcare services or irregular prescribing practices , and weak social, industry, and legal regulation . Content Editor: Dr. Siddharth Singh CIDRAP Source : Published on : Friday, April 28, 2023 Antimicrobial Stewardship, Antimicrobial Resistance Asia Pacific Leader's Conclave on Malaria Elimination On 24th April 2023 , a day before World Malaria Day , New Delhi hosted the "Asia Pacific Leader's Conclave on Malaria Elimination." The Ministry of Health of India and the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance (APLMA) countries like the Solomon Islands, the Republic of Fiji, and the Regional Director of WHO SEARO attended the conclave. Uplift political commitment towards an Asia Pacific Free from Malaria by 2030. Only India has reported a decline in malaria cases during the COVID-19 pandemic among 11 countries , that are part of the High Burden to High Impact initiative by WHO for targeted Malaria response. Content Editor: Dr. Urmimala Maiti Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : Thursday, April 27, 2023 Malaria, Elimination 100 ‘eat right’ food streets planned across India The objectives of this project are to promote safe food habits, reduce food-borne illness, promote easy access to safe and hygienic food , and hence improve overall health outcomes. This would help to boost the Eat Right Campaign, boost food safety, and improve the credibility of local food businesses. Financial assistance of ₹1 cr per food street will be given to the States and the Union Territories. Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal The Hindu Source : Published on : Thursday, April 27, 2023 Food Safety, Nutrition, Eat Right Campaign Vaccine confidence has gone up in India according to a UNICEF report Data was collected by The Vaccine Confidence Project and was published by UNICEF on 20 April 2023. Vaccine confidence declined in South Korea, Japan, Ghana, Senegal and Papua New Guinea. The major causes for declining vaccine confidence are misleading information and declining trust in vaccine efficiency. This decline comes as a backdrop as the world sustained the biggest backslide in childhood immunization in the last 30 years. A report said that a total of 67 million children missed out on vaccinations between 2019 to 2021 , with vaccine coverage levels declining in 112 nations. Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal The Hindu Source : Published on : Thursday, April 27, 2023 Immunization, Vaccine efficiency, Vaccine coverage, Vaccine confidence WHO releases the Health Inequality Data Repository WHO launches "Health Inequality Data Repository (HIDR)" on 20th April 2023. The repository consists of disaggregated data covering the span of public health with the dimensions of inequality. It opens up a platform for conducting research and data analysis on inequality at the global, national, and subnational level. Encourages countries to adopt "Health inequality monitoring" routinely. It consists of: 2000 indicators grouped into 22 dimensions of inequality , for example demographic, socioeconomic and geographical factors. 59 datasets from 15 sources make up 11 million data points in HIDR. Content Editor: Dr. Urmimala Maiti WHO News Section Source : Published on : Tuesday, April 25, 2023 Global Health, Health inequalities Gender disparity in agricultural industry predisposing to food crisis The production of agricultural goods for food and non-food purposes, as well as activities connected to food storage, transportation, processing, and distribution, employ more than one third of all working women worldwide. However, a fresh report from FAO claims that the gender pay gap, which accounts for a 24% difference in productivity between women and men farmers on farms of same size, is caused by gender inequities such as lower access for women to resources and expertise as well as a larger unpaid care load. Additionally, women in the agricultural industry receive pay that is about 20% less than that of men . In a period of rising global hunger, addressing the gender gap in farm production and the wage disparity in agricultural employment, according to FAO, would "increase global gross domestic product by nearly $1 trillion and reduce the number of food-insecure people by 45 million". More than 345 million people worldwide, an increase of about 200 million since early 2020, are predicted to experience food insecurity at crisis levels this year , according to the UN's World Food Programme (WFP). 43 million of them are on the verge of famine. Content Editor: Dr. Rajat Sharma Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), UN Source : Published on : Tuesday, April 25, 2023 Global Health, Nutrition More protective efficacy of two medication combinations against severe COVID-19 At 12 locations in Brazil between January 15 and July 6, 2022, a team led by Stanford University evaluated the use of the oral selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluvoxamine in combination with the inhaled corticosteroid budesonide in non-hospitalized adults with early symptoms of COVID-19 and at least one risk factor for severe disease. More patients in the treatment group than in the placebo group were either hospitalised within 28 days or evaluated in an emergency setting for COVID-19 for more than 6 hours. Weill Cornell Medicine researchers led a phase 2/3 platform trial assessing the safety and efficacy of amubarvimab plus romlusevimab . Compared to the placebo group, recipients of amubarvimab plus romlusevimab saw a considerably decreased risk of adverse events. The combination was equally effective against Delta and pre-Delta strains, according to a subgroup analysis of individuals possessing variation data, but the authors predicted that its efficacy against the now predominate Omicron variant would be restricted. Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal CIDRAP Source : Published on : Tuesday, April 25, 2023 COVID 19 The new norm: More heat waves and fewer cold waves in India A study, Bhattacharya et al. discovered that every year, the number of days with abnormally high temperatures rises during the summer while the number of days with unusually low temperatures falls during the winter. The scientists discovered that the frequency of heat wave episodes is rising at a pace of 0.6 incidents every ten years. The researchers discovered that the frequency of cold waves is dropping by 0.4 occurrences every ten years. The authors highlight the divergent patterns of heat waves and cold waves. For instance, across the arid and semi-arid climatic region, heat waves are more frequent whereas cold waves are less frequent. Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal Springer Source : Published on : Monday, April 24, 2023 Environment, Climate change Moving towards a Healthier Heart by Trans Fat Elimination Programme The increased risk of coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality associated with the intake of trans fatty acids compels World health leaders to propose the WHO Validation Programme for Trans Fat Elimination. The member states that meet the criteria set by WHO will receive a Validation certificate and will be recognized publicly for the steps taken to eliminate industrially processed foods from national food supplies. The applications are to be submitted by 19th May 2023. WHO urges countries to: revisit their best practice policies if already present place their statement of interest if they are yet to implement in 2023 take action if no step has been taken as of yet. Content Editor: Dr. Urmimala Maiti WHO news section Source : Published on : Monday, April 24, 2023 Non-Communicable Diseases, Global Health WHO plans to upgrade its Prevention strategies with PRET Recovering with learnings of COVID-19 pandemic and other ongoing surge of infections, World Health Organisation is launching an initiative to help countries ensure systems and capacities to speed up every aspect of their management of emerging threats, from response and recovery. Calling it as Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threat initiative or PRET, will be hosted in a global meeting on 24-26th April, 2023 and would be launched first with a focus on respiratory pathogens. It mainly focuses on improvement of pandemic preparedness by focusing mainly on the mode of transmission of pathogens. It particularly aims to strengthen existing systems and capacities and to fill gaps. Content Editor: Dr. Siddharth Singh World Health Organisation Source : Published on : Monday, April 24, 2023 Global Public Health Message from the Director's desk before the World Immunization Week 2023 The Director of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, WHO, Kate Obrien, speaks on the highlights of the: First Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization held in March 2023. The meeting stressed intensifying routine and catch-up immunization activities and outbreak response preparedness. The theme for World Immunization Week (24 to 30 April 2023) : "The Big Catch-up" is in line with the Immunization Agenda 2030 to spread awareness about the role of immunization in vaccine-preventable illnesses. The meeting also released the updated Roadmap for COVID-19 vaccination in the Omicron era. Content Editor: Dr. Urmimala Maiti WHO News section Source : Published on : Monday, April 24, 2023 Global health, Vaccination, Immunization Launch of Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative (APPI) "Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative (APPI)" and“Animal Health System Support for One Health (AHSSOH)” project by the Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying is launched. As a step forward toward the National One Health Mission, the APPI will work under the pillars of: Monitoring and surveillance Disease modeling and early warning and response systems Outbreak investigation and response Coordinating ecosystem Research and development, vaccine evolution, Disaster resilience building, Considering the livestock burden of diseases like Foot and mouth disease, African Swine fever, Avian influenza, and Lumpy skin disease, the initiative aims to invest in the livestock sector consisting of poultry, dairy, meat products market, and farmers who derive their livelihood from them. Content Editor: Dr. Urmimala Maiti Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying Source : Published on : Monday, April 24, 2023 One Health, Animal Husbandry, Zoonotic diseases Global Warming Mitigation Measures by India Metrological Department The India Metrological Department (IMD) under Ministry of Earth Sciences issues forecast and colour coded warnings for severe weather events including heat waves. IMD in collaboration with local health departments have started the heat action plan since 2013 to forewarn people about the heat waves and advise preventive actions. The Heat Action Plan, implemented in 23 States, in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), is a comprehensive early warning system and preparedness plan for extreme heat events constituting immediate as well as longer-term actions to increase preparedness, information-sharing, and response coordination to reduce the health impacts of extreme heat on vulnerable populations. A report by Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) stated that the population of insects is expected to rise across the world and enhance crop destruction due to global warming. Regarding this, IMD issues agro-meteorological advisories through Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme every Tuesday and Friday for 700 agriculturally important districts and around 3100 blocks by 130 Agromet Field Units (AMFUs) and 199 District Agromet Units (DAMUs). These advisories include the information regarding pests and diseases which affect agriculture and Pest-Weather calendars prepared for every crop. Seasonal Outlook is an initiative by IMD, which depicts the expected scenario of heat waves by estimating temperatures for April, May & June in the last week of March. This is followed by Extended Range Outlook , issued every Thursday for next two weeks. Heat wave warnings are issued for next 5 days with outlook for next 2days. Content Editor: Dr. Jasmin Nilima Panda Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : Monday, April 24, 2023 Climate Change, Global Warming, Global Health Integrating Artifical Intelligence and Traditional Medicine The second Health Working Group meeting of G20 in Goa focused on developing a Digital health ecosystem to ensure that the policies and guidelines of Artificial intelligence (AI) in traditional medicine reach the standards as per the "Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health." AYUSH grid, a digital platform for connecting all AYUSH hospitals across the country at four levels: Core layer, National Layer, State Layer, Citizen Access; was mentioned. Discussion on the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine, aiming to integrate traditional medicine with modern sciences for global health and development, also includes AI and data analytics for Traditional medicine. Content Editor: Dr. Urmimala Maiti Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : Friday, April 21, 2023 Artificial Intelligence, Digital health, Traditional Medicine, G2O Daily News Snippets Monthly Archives This is a title. View More This is an extra long title. Click here to edit and add your own text. It's easy. View More This is a title. Click here to edit and add your own text. View More This is a title. Click here to edit and add your own text. View More Subscribe to get Latest Public Health Updates SUBSCRIBE

Global health check: A trio of troubling trends. Global health check: A trio of troubling trends. Content Editor: Dr. Rashmi Verma November 29, 2023 The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy Cholera, Dengue, Foodborne Disease, Healthcare-Associated Infections WHO warns of alarming disease surges in Gaza due to conflict, overcrowding, and disruptions in healthcare, water, and sanitation. Over 33,000 cases of diarrhea, 9,000 scabies, 55,000 upper respiratory infections, and disruptions in vaccination have been reported since mid-October. WHO urges urgent humanitarian aid and adherence to international law in Gaza. On the other hand, Missouri's Benton County faces an avian flu outbreak at a 16,600-bird broiler breeder farm. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) noted 21 new H5N1 detections in wild birds. Further, Florida recorded 12 new locally acquired dengue cases, totaling 110 this year. Miami-Dade County saw the majority, with additional cases reported in Broward, Hardee, Palm Beach, and Polk counties.

Criticism mounts as NMC alters logo featuring 'Dhanvantari' Criticism mounts as NMC alters logo featuring 'Dhanvantari' Content Editor: Dr. Himabindu Reddy December 6, 2023 PH Chronicle : Social Trends NMC, Medical Education Board The Union Health Ministry recently directed the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres to be renamed 'Ayushman Arogya Mandir' with the motto 'Arogyam Parmam Dhanam' (health is the greatest wealth). Following this there is news the National Medical Commission (NMC) joined the revamping drive this week by changing its logo to include a color picture of 'Dhanvantari' and the term 'Bharat' above it. The doctor's community and the majority of public have criticized the needless move, senior officials at NMC maintain that the only change that has happened is that the black and white logo is now colored. The Indian Medical Association, Kerala chapter has stressed that Dhanvantari is a god of Hindu religion and so should not endorse it and have a secular symbol for health.

India eliminates trachoma as a public health problem India eliminates trachoma as a public health problem Content Editor: Dr Manu October 26, 2024 World Health Organisation World Health Organisation, Trachoma, Outbreak Management, Elimination of Diseases The World Health Organisation declared India as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem on 8th October 2024. India joins Nepal and Myanmar in the South East Asia Region along with becoming the 19th country worldwide to achieve this status. India reduced cases of trachoma from causing 5% of blindness cases in the 1960s, to less than 0.008% in 2018, far less than the WHO standards of 5% or less . Finally, after a series of impact, prevalidation and trachoma only surveys carried out from 2019-2024, India achieved its trachoma free status . The efforts were led by the development of a Trachoma Control Projec t in 1963 which became a part of the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) In 1976. The methods employed were based on the WHO SAFE method , focusing on surgical treatment for the trichomonas trichiasis stage (S), antibiotic distribution to cure infections (A), facial hygiene methods to reduce the spread of infections (F)and ensuring access to clean water and sanitation (E). Click here to read more.

Increasing global commitment towards respiratory health: Appointment of special envoy for chronic respiratory diseases Increasing global commitment towards respiratory health: Appointment of special envoy for chronic respiratory diseases Content Editor: Dr. Manjeet June 19, 2024 WHO News Section Global health, Noncommunicable diseases, Respiratory health The World Health Organization (WHO) has appointed Mr. José Luis Castro as the WHO Director-General Special Envoy for Chronic Respiratory Diseases. Chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), affect nearly half a billion people globally and are major causes of death and disability. Mr. Castro, with his extensive experience in global health, aims to raise awareness, mobilize support , and implement solutions to improve respiratory health worldwide. He will promote WHO’s CRD program, encourage integration of respiratory health into local policies, and enhance public engagement. His role starts on September 1, 2024, highlighting WHO’s commitment to addressing respiratory health issues. Click here to read more.

Three-year outcomes of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19: Findings from a study Content Editor: Dr. Gurumurthy June 10, 2024 at 1:00:00 PM Covid-19, Long Covid-19, Post acute COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 infection can result in long-term post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC ) affecting multiple organ systems. While risks have been assessed for up to two years post-infection, data extending beyond this period are limited. A recent study analyzed 135,161 individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 and 5,206,835 controls from the US Department of Veterans Affairs over three years to evaluate risks of death and PASC . For non-hospitalized patients, the increased risk of death disappeared after the first year, and the PASC risk declined , resulting in 9.6 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 1,000 people in the third year. In contrast, hospitalized patients exhibited a significantly elevated risk of death in the third year, with an incidence rate ratio of 1.29. Despite a decrease in PASC risk, a substantial residual risk persisted, amounting to 90.0 DALYs per 1,000 people. The study concluded that these findings may not be generalizable to non-veterans due to differences in sociodemographic factors, underscoring the need for further research to validate the results. The findings indicate that although risks decrease over time, significant mortality and health burdens remain for hospitalized individuals even three years after infection. Click here to read more. Previous Next

Zero MMR: Tamil Nadu health unit district's remarkable achievement Content Editor: Dr. Urmimala August 3, 2024 at 3:00:00 PM Maternal Mortality, Health System, Mother and child health, Vital statistics Tamil Nadu health sector officials briefed on the state's progress regarding the maternal mortality ratio (MMR). As recorded in the Health Management Information System, the MMR dropped from 52.3 per one lakh to 45.5 per one lakh in one year (2022-23 to 2023-24). Under the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, the state has Health Unit Districts (HUD) that are the highest technical and administrative units at the district level. The Virudhunagar HUD , which shares responsibility with 22 primary health centers, has remarkably attained zero maternal deaths out of 7991 deliveries in 2023-2024 , dropping from 6 deaths out of 8483 live births in 2022-23. The officials attribute this success to the cooperative referral system among the primary, secondary, and tertiary care health centers. The improved infrastructure at Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care , where high-risk pregnant women are referred, has also contributed to the change. Previous Next

FDA approves first medication for obstructive sleep apnea FDA approves first medication for obstructive sleep apnea Content Editor: PHC Editorial Bureau December 23, 2024 U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA, Zepbound, Obstructive Sleep Apnea The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Zepbound (tirzepatide) as the first medication for treating moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity . This marks a significant advancement in OSA management. In clinical trials, Zepbound demonstrated a substantial reduction in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) scores, indicating fewer breathing interruptions during sleep. Participants also experienced significant weight loss, which is believed to contribute to the improvement in OSA symptoms.Following the approval, stocks of sleep apnea device manufacturers, such as ResMed and Inspire Medical Systems, saw declines. This suggests that Zepbound may offer an alternative to traditional positive airway pressure (PAP) therapies, which some patients find uncomfortable. Beyond improving sleep apnea, Zepbound has shown potential in reducing the progression of heart failure and kidney disease, highlighting its multifaceted health benefits.

Heat-related illness advisory: Guidelines & preparedness Heat-related illness advisory: Guidelines & preparedness Content Editor: Dr. Manu Goel April 20, 2024 National Centre for Disease Control Heat-related illnesses, Disease prevention, Intersectoral coordination, National Centre for Disease Control 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