TB Alliance Breaks New Ground in Pursuit of Effective Treatment for Nontuberculosis Mycobacteria Infections Content Editor: Dr. Deepika Bishnoi June 4, 2023 at 7:36:59 PM Public Health, Global Health, Non-Tuberculosis Mycobacteria infections, Drug trial, Cystic Fibrosis The TB Alliance has secured funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to investigate potential drugs for treating nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) infections . The funding will facilitate preclinical testing of a novel oxazolidinone inhibitor , previously identified by researchers from TB Alliance and Johns Hopkins University in 2020, as a potential treatment for two types of NTM—Mycobacterium abscess and Mycobacterium avium complex— known to cause the majority of NTM lung infections in individuals with cystic fibrosis. The research aims to compare the efficacy of the synthetic antibiotic against NTM infections with that of linezolid, the current treatment for NTM abscess infections. Nader Fotouhi, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at TB Alliance, emphasized the organization's dedication to discovering innovative treatments for tuberculosis and the discovery of multiple potential compounds for NTM treatment. The identification of this new compound opens up possibilities for developing improved treatments for NTM infections, offering potential benefits to individuals with cystic fibrosis. Previous Next

Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat: A national mission to end child marriage Content Editor: Dr Sumana December 9, 2024 at 3:00:00 PM Gender equality, Child marriage Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Annapurna Devi launched the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign to eradicate child marriage and empower girls. The Child Marriage Free Bharat Portal , a digital platform, was introduced to report incidents and access information on Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs ). This aims to enforce and implement the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2006. Various achievements of the past decade were highlighted, such as the improvement in the sex ratio at birth (from 918 in 2014-15 to 930 in 2023-24) and the prevention of over 1 lakh child marriages last year. The Vision and Mission of this campaign emphasize education, health, and safety for girls , aligning with the N ational E ducation P olicy 2020 and V iksit B harat's vision for 2047. Inspirational Success stories of individuals and activists combating child marriage were shared to motivate collective action. The event garnered broad participation from CMPOs, officials, NGOs, and schools, and it was attended online by over 50 lakh participants. The key objectives of this campaign are as follows: Advocacy for 18 as the universal minimum marriage age with robust legal protections. Strengthen monitoring and evaluation of CMPOs while ensuring public access to their comprehensive details for transparency and effective support in preventing child marriages. Simplify child marriage reporting through user-friendly mechanisms. Raise awareness of child marriage's harms and promote children's rights via extensive campaigns. Click here to read more. Previous Next

India fights back for climate resilient agriculture India fights back for climate resilient agriculture Content Editor: Shayari Nag August 2, 2024 Press Information Bureau Sustainability, Agriculture, Climate Change, Climate change is a major threat to India's agriculture. ICAR assessed the impact of climate change on 573 agricultural districts. 109 districts are categorized as 'very highly' vulnerable , and 201 as 'highly' vulnerable , with significant yield reductions in staple crops like rice, wheat, and maize by 2050 and 2080 without adaptation. The following adaptation and mitigation measures have been taken: National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) implemented climate-resilient technologies in 448 villages across 151 vulnerable districts. Technologies include improved crop varieties, efficient irrigation, soil health management, and renewable energy. District Agricultural Contingency Plans (DACP) were prepared for all 651 agricultural districts. The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) was launched with components like Rainfed Area Development, Farm Water Management, and Soil Health Management. Additional programs like Soil Health Card, Organic Farming, and Per Drop More Crop were also initiated. Click here to read more.

Vaccine derived Polio continue to haunt African Nations Vaccine derived Polio continue to haunt African Nations Content Editor: Dr. Rajat Sharma April 19, 2023 GPEI Polio Eradication, GPEI In its most recent weekly report, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) noted that three nations, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Mozambique reported additional polio cases, all of which were vaccine-derived strains. Chad reported a case of the circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) , increasing its 2023 total to five. The various cases reported were: WPV1 positive environment sample: Afghanistan cVDPV1 positive environment sample: Madagascar cVDPV1 case: Mozambique & Democratic Republic of Congo cVDPV2 positive environment sample: Algeria, Burundi, Nigeria & Benin cVDPv2 case: Chad & Democratic Republic of Congo.

The CDC's isolation precautions guidelines revisited Content Editor: Dr. Sangya Chaudhary October 21, 2023 at 12:30:00 PM Hospital Infection Prevention, International Health A group of healthcare professionals, including industrial hygienists, epidemiologists, and healthcare worker representatives, plan to send a second letter to the CDC. This letter will re-emphasize the need to hold public meetings regarding the proposed update to the CDC’s isolation precautions guidance by the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). The last update for this was done in 2017. This guidance sets infection control protocols for various pathogens in healthcare settings. Critics argue that the proposed changes fail to address lessons learned from COVID-19 and may weaken existing isolation procedures. They emphasize the importance of input from experts in aerosol transmission and respiratory protection. According to the CDC, the intention is to simplify safeguards for healthcare personnel. However, some contend that the suggested modifications represent a regression in the comprehension of the virus's mode of transmission. In response to the first letter sent in July 2023, the CDC said that it would consider input from key stakeholders and the public, but the group of collectives has reservations regarding the CDC's response. Previous Next

Population-based Study Links HPV Vaccination to Long-term Cervical Cancer Prevention Content Editor: Dr. Urmimala June 19, 2025 at 5:20:00 PM Cervical Cancer, HPV, Vaccination, Research study Researchers from Public Health Scotland and University of Edinburgh conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study to assess the impact of HPV vaccination on invasive cervical cancer incidence. The evaluation was done on women born in the following years: 1988–1990 – not eligible for vaccination 1991–1994 – eligible for the catch-up vaccination program in 2008 and 2009 (immunized at 14 to 22 years) 1995–1996 – routine cervical cancer vaccination (immunized at 12–13 years) Data on screening, immunization, and cancer incidence were retrieved from the Scottish Cancer Registry till August 2022. Findings: Those vaccinated at 12–13 years had zero incidence of invasive cervical cancer. Among those vaccinated at 14–22 years , women who received 3 doses had a significantly lower incidence of invasive cervical cancer (3.2 / 1 lakh person-years, 95% CI [2.1–4.2]) compared to those who received none (8.4 / 1 lakh person-years, 95% CI [7.2–9.6]). Women belonging to the most deprived category based on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation had a significantly lower incidence of invasive cervical cancer when they had received 3 doses of the vaccine (2.29 / 1 lakh person-years, 95% CI [0.62–5.86]) compared to those with no vaccination (13.1 / 1 lakh person-years, 95% CI [9.95–16.9]). The authors recommend continued screening and assessment of outcomes, as information on different vaccine dosages and schedules, along with longitudinal outcome assessment, will help develop HPV vaccination schedule guidelines. Click here to read more. Previous Next

What is New in Updated ICD-11 2023? February 16, 2023 at 5:59:11 PM Global Health, Health Informatics, ICD-11 Update 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. Previous Next

Suspected diphtheria outbreak claims lives in Odisha : Recent updates Suspected diphtheria outbreak claims lives in Odisha : Recent updates Content Editor: Dr. Mohammed Kashif June 19, 2024 Social trends Disease outbreak, Diphtheria A disease suspected to be diphtheria claimed five lives in a village located in the Rayagada district of Odisha as of June 14th. The disease has currently affected 15 individuals , including elderly people, children, and adolescents. The outbreak began a week ago, and the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) of Rayagada confirmed the deaths and reported that three other children are undergoing treatment at the district headquarters hospital. Blood samples from the children showing symptoms have been sent to Bhubaneswar for testing to confirm the diagnosis. A health team led by a child specialist visited the village on June 12th and found one adult , Dhamu Majhi, aged 61 years, with similar symptoms . Poor connectivity and transport facilities in the village have added to the woes. A team from WHO, the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), and public health specialists are also investigating the cases , conducting surveys to determine the source and spread of the illness. The immunization status of the dead children is not yet specified . This year, in February, four people from the same district reportedly died due to an unidentified disease that also infected around 50 people in the village.

Worrying rise in kidney issues among Andhra Pradesh and Telangana children Content Editor: Dr. Mohammed Kashif July 15, 2024 at 2:00:00 PM Chronic Kidney Disease, Non-Communicable Diseases Chronic kidney disease (CKD), marked by a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and increased urinary albumin excretion, is a significant public health problem affecting both adults and children. A study published in the BMC Pediatrics revealed that 29.6% of children and adolescents in Andhra Pradesh exhibit impaired kidney function (IKF) , while 19.2% face renal issues in Telangana. The study, which utilized data from the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS) 2016-18 , involved testing serum creatinine levels in 24,690 children aged 5-19. Living in southern regions of India was more likely to have impaired kidney function (IKF) than in northern regions (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 13.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.3–18.7). Certain regions in Telugu states, particularly Uddanam in Andhra Pradesh, have a history of high CKD rates. The exact cause of CKD in many Telangana and Andhra Pradesh areas remains unknown despite continuous research and speculation among health experts, including concerns about water pollution. Despite its increasing prevalence, CKD is yet to be focused in public health programs, highlighting the need for a national strategy focusing on pediatric CKD. Click here to read more. Previous Next

02. Air Suvidha declaration and Negative RT-PCR report must for travellers from China, 3 other countries December 25, 2022 at 8:52:37 AM COVID-19, International Health Regulations Random testing of 2% of passengers on every international flight also started from Saturday morning. With COVID-19 cases rising in some countries, the government on Saturday said passengers from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand and South Korea will have to bring a negative RT-PCR test report when they travel to India. Filling up of Air Suvidha forms for declaring COVID-19 status will also be made mandatory for these passengers, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said. Those who are symptomatic or test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in India would be put under quarantine. Previous Next