National consultation on One Health: Policy perspectives National consultation on One Health: Policy perspectives Content Editor: Dr. Tanya July 26, 2024 Social Trends One Health, Zoonotic Diseases, Public health Globally, more than 75% of human diseases are zoonotic . An intersectoral approach is important to curb the rising incidence of zoonotic diseases, as advocated under the “One Health” approach, which aligns with the Prime Minister’s “One Earth, One Health” vision. “One Health” advocates preventing and managing risks associated with zoonotic diseases at the human-animal-plant interface. The National Consultation for Legal Environment Assessment for One Health Activities aims to: Assess the current legal framework to i dentify strengths, gaps, and overlaps in the existing laws and regulations. Foster multi-sectoral dialogue by e ngaging stakeholders to discuss legal challenges and opportunities. Develop recommendations by formulating proposals to enhance the legal environment. Promote inter-sectoral collaboration by strengthening partnerships among all sectors. Click here to read more.

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

Risk factors and continuum of care for CVDs among people in extreme poverty Risk factors and continuum of care for CVDs among people in extreme poverty Content Editor: Dr. Immanual Joshua April 2, 2024 Nature Human Behaviour Non-Communicable Diseases, Research Findings A study published in Nature Human Behavior reported the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors among adults living in extreme poverty (defined by the international poverty line of $1.90 per day). This was done using pooled individual-level data from 105 nationally representative household surveys across 78 countries, representing 85% of people living in extreme poverty globally. It found that CVD risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and dyslipidemia) were present among 17.5%, 4.0%, 10.6%, 3.1%, and 1.4% of adults in extreme poverty, respectively. Also, hypertension treatment (15.2%) and control (5.7%), diabetes treatment (19.7%) and statin use (1.1%) were low across poverty levels. This study emphasized the need for equitable distribution of resources in society click here to read more

Increasing burden of communicable diseases among older children and adolescents Increasing burden of communicable diseases among older children and adolescents Content Editor: Dr. M Swathi Shenoy August 1, 2023 The Lancet Communicable disease, Child health, Adolescent health The Global Burden of Diseases study from 1990-2019 systematically analyzed the communicable disease burden among children and adolescents aged 0-24 years. The salient results of this study were: Reduction in overall burden (DALY) of communicable diseases except HIV. The incidence of rare diseases such as the RHD and the NTD has increased. In 2019, among individuals aged 0-24 years, 3 million deaths and 30 million Years of Healthy life lost to Disability (YLD) were attributable to communicable diseases. This represents 57.3% of the total communicable disease burden across all ages. Among the children and adolescents, 44.1% of the deaths and 16.6% of the total disability were attributable to communicable diseases. This burden disproportionately affected the countries with low sociodemographic development. Their incidence has declined drastically among children <5 years of age, especially in countries with low sociodemographic development. Among children and adolescents, 60% of the burden was attributable to 3 groups- enteric infections, LRTI, and malaria. However, URTI and infectious skin conditions were more prevalent among the countries with high sociodemographic development. Among older adolescents aged 20-24, HIV and TB were the leading causes. The study findings emphasize the need for continued capacity building of the National programs related to communicable diseases, with a focus on adolescents and older children . Click here to read more

Infodemics and COVID-19 vaccine intentions in the United States: Study findings Infodemics and COVID-19 vaccine intentions in the United States: Study findings Content Editor: Dr. Sangya July 18, 2024 Center for Infective Disease Research and Policy COVID-19 Vaccination, Research Findings A study in Science reveals that unflagged, factual, but misleading Facebook posts in the United States reduced the intent to receive the COVID-19 vaccine 46 times more than flagged false posts . Researchers from MIT and UPenn surveyed thousands about the influence of 130 vaccine-related headlines. They extrapolated results to predict the impact of 13,206 Facebook links on the vaccination intentions of 233 million US users. They found that unflagged, misleading content from credible sources was viewed hundreds of millions of times and significantly reduced vaccination intentions by 2.28 percentage points per user, compared to 0.05 percentage points for flagged content. The study highlights that exposure had a greater impact than flagging status, suggesting that content moderation should also prioritize reviewing widely viewed content rather than just identifying false information. Click here to read more.

India’s Inequality report: The key findings Content Editor: Dr. Urmimala July 26, 2024 at 2:30:00 PM Inequality, India, Gender Parity The salient highlights of India’s place in the World Inequality Report 2022 are as follows: Indians have an average national income of Rs 204,200 . However, when we look at the disaggregated data, the top 10% of the adult population hold 57% of the average yearly income, the top 1% hold 22% of it, and the bottom 50% of Indian adults hold 13% of the share of national income. The liberalization and deregulation of economic policies have fueled this extreme divide in income among Indian citizens. The average Indian household's wealth is Rs 983,010, which has marked inequalities. The top 10% hold 65% of the average wealth, the top 1% hold 33% of the average, and the bottom 50% hold only 6% of the wealth . The women’s labor income in India is much lower than the Southeast Asian average , which is one of the lowest in the world. It is only 18%, which needs to be 50% to reach gender parity. The Indian population consumes much less greenhouse gas per person . The bottom 50% of Indians emit CO2 five times and ten times less than the bottom 50% of the European Union and the United States, respectively. Click here to read more. Previous Next

Is adenovirus associated with severe hepatitis? Is adenovirus associated with severe hepatitis? Content Editor: Dr. Chinmay Kelkar April 3, 2024 Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy Hepatitis, CDC, International Health News In the US, between October 2021 and June 2023 , there were 392 occurrences of severe childhood hepatitis with an unknown origin, according to recent CDC research. Out of the 392, 8 of them have died. Half the cases were shown to be positive for adenovirus infection. Adenovirus is known to cause mild symptoms and has not been connected to hepatitis in individuals with good immune systems. Of the 8 who died, 2 had compromised immune systems, and one youngster was healthy. The majority of them had received hepatitis A and B vaccinations. The majority had significant liver damage, of which seven were in liver failure, and two of them needed liver transplants. This study necessitates the need for further research to look into the cause of such infections. Click here to read more

FSSAI streamlines food standards: one Certification, many benefits Content Editor: Dr. Kishore February 28, 2024 at 1:30:00 PM FSSAI, Food safety regulation, Public Health Nutrition FSSAI eliminates the need for BIS or AGMARK certification , streamlining the certification process for food businesses. Revision of milk fat products standards ensures quality and safety in dairy products consumer preferences. Revision of milk fat product standards will ensure the quality and safety of dairy products . Haleem, a popular dish, received standardized regulations under meat product standards, enhancing consumer trust. The comprehensive compliance manual provides guidelines for regulatory adherence, promoting transparency and accountability. Stakeholder feedback was invited before finalizing amendments, ensuring inclusivity and consensus-building in the high-level meeting. Click here to read more. Previous Next

India’s lymphatic filariasis challenge: Bridging disability inclusion and welfare gaps Content Editor: Dr. Sivanthiga May 29, 2024 at 2:00:00 PM Physical disability, Rehabilitation, Filariasis India accounts for 40% of the world’s second-largest cause of physical disability i.e lymphedema and hydrocele due to lymphatic filariasis. In 2018, GOI officially enabled its inclusion to physical disabilities enabling them to be beneficiaries of various national and state-level schemes designed for the betterment of persons with disability. some of the schemes of GOI are Saksham Scholarship, Post matric scholarship etc., More than five years down the lane the state governments are unable to provide proper data on beneficiaries of the same which underscored that mere recognition and inclusion had not been translated to actual welfare. The Indian Council of Medical Research proposed a few strategies to overcome the barriers : 1.Inter-sectoral convergence involving disability rights department ,public health and social welfare etc. 2.Awareness and community engagement 3.Use of digital tools for record keeping ,development and usage of mobile apps etc. 4.Public Private Partnership to screen Lymphatic Filariasis patients and disability assessment 5.Advocacy needed for resource mobilization ,engagement of local and national stakeholders etc 6. Regular reviews and updates to review and overcome bottlenecks 7.Helplines and Information center establishment to improve LF patients’ access to support. Previous Next

Global food regulators summit 2024: Advancing food safety and innovation worldwide Global food regulators summit 2024: Advancing food safety and innovation worldwide Content Editor: Dr. Anamika October 10, 2024 Press Information Bureau Food safety, Food regulators, Food security, Nutrition The second edition of the Global Food Regulators Summit 2024 was inaugurated by the Union Health Minister. The summit emphasizes collaboration and innovation , aiming to share insights and best practices for ensuring safe and nutritious food worldwide . It aims to establish a global platform for food regulators to share insights on food safety systems. Focus areas include addressing foodborne illnesses, nutraceutical safety, novel foods, and microplastics. New initiatives launched include the Food Import Rejection Alerts (FIRA) portal for notifying food import rejections and the Food Import Clearance System 2.0 (FICS 2.0) for faster processing and transparency. The State Food Safety Index (SFSI ) 2024 was released, with Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, and Nagaland leading the rankings. Click here to read more.