Diseases

Symptom and viral rebound rare after untreated COVID-19 infection: Study

A combination of symptom and viral rebound after untreated COVID-19 infection is rare, occurring in only three per cent of study participants, an analysis of a COVID-19 trial has found. Widespread use of nirmatrelvir -- a recommended treatment for outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19 -- has been accompanied by reports of worsening symptoms and virologic rebound after treatment completion, the researchers said. Virologic rebound has also been reported in persons who did not receive nirmatrelvir therapy, they said. However, studies that can define the frequencies of symptom and viral rebound during the natural course of COVID-19 are lacking. Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in the US conducted an analysis of 563 participants receiving placebo in a trial. The study, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, found that a combination of symptom and high-level viral rebound occurred in only three per cent of participants. Symptom rebound alone occurred i

Infectious diseases a near-term concern in quake-hit Turkey, Syria: ECDC

The next two to four weeks may see the emergence and spread of infectious diseases in the quake-hit areas of Turkey and Syria, the Stockholm-based ECDC said

Programme launched to scale up diagnostics space for infectious diseases

The launch of the National Diagnostics Catapult (C-CAMP InDx 2.0) took place in the presence of Dr Parvinder Maini, scientific secretary at the office of the principal scientific adviser to the govt

Over 57 million Indians affected by serious fungal diseases: Study

Over 5.7 crore Indians are affected by serious fungal diseases, 10 per cent of which are from potentially deadly mold infections, according to a review of over 400 published research articles. Fungal disease is frequent in India, but its incidence and prevalence are unclear. This review is the first to define the frequency or burden of various fungal infections in the country. Researchers from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, AIIMS Kalyani, West Bengal and PGIMER, Chandigarh, along with The University of Manchester, UK, estimate that 57,250,826 (over 5.7 crore) -- or 4.4 per cent of India's population -- are likely to be affected. "The total burden due to fungal diseases is huge but underappreciated," said Animesh Ray of AIIMS Delhi, the lead author of the article. "While tuberculosis affects less than three million people in a year in India, the number of Indians affected by fungal disease are several times higher," Ray said. The review, published in the journa

98.7% decline in Kala-azar cases since 2007 in India: Health Ministry

There has been a 98.7 per cent decline in cases of Kala-azar from 44,533 in 2007 to 834 in 2022 in India, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday. India is committed to eliminating Kalaa-azar from the country by 2023, it said. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who chaired a high-level meeting to review the status of Kala-azar disease in the four endemic states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal, said 632 (99.8 per cent) endemic blocks have already achieved elimination status (less than one case per 10,000). Only one block (Littipara) of Pakur district, Jharkhand is in the endemic category (1.23 cases/10,000 population). "We are working holistically with the state government and other stakeholders to achieve elimination in Jharkhand," he said. Kala-azar is the considered the second deadliest parasitic killer in the world after Malaria. Mandaviya appreciated the efforts of the state governments towards meeting the elimination target. "Under the leadership of o

Over 6,000 birds killed in Kerala's Kottayam amid bird flu outbreak

Over 6,000 birds were culled in three separate panchayats of Kerala's Kottayam district where a bird flu outbreak has been confirmed. A total of 6,017 birds, mostly ducks, were killed on Saturday in the Vechur, Neendoor and Arpookara panchayats of the district, a release from the district administration said. Around 133 ducks and 156 chickens in Vechur, 2,753 ducks in Neendoor and 2,975 ducks in Arpookara were killed, the release said. Bird flu or avian influenza, is a highly contagious zoonotic disease. Meanwhile, the Lakshadweep administration has for now banned transportation of frozen chicken to the islands from the mainland due to a reported outbreak of bird flu in Kerala.

Measles tally in Mumbai rises to 514; cases in Maharashtra at 1,162

Mumbai on Saturday reported two measles cases, which took the infection tally to 514, while the death toll stood unchanged at nine, a civic official said. The city also has five suspected cases, where it is yet to be confirmed if measles was the cause of death, he added. Thirty-seven children were admitted in hospitals during the day and an equal number were discharged, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation release said. Of the 335 beds earmarked for the treatment of the infection, only 114 were occupied, it added. Of the 2,60,739 children in the 9-month to 5-year age group in 78 health posts, 77,827 children have been given additional doses of Measles-Rubella special dose, the release said. Of the 5,293 children in the 6-month to 9-month age segment in 21 health posts, where the number cases in the sub 9-month group is more than 10 per cent of lab confirmed case, 1,940 were administered 'zero dose' of MR vaccine. Meanwhile, the measles tally in Maharashtra was 1,162 as on Friday,

UN voices concern over chronic disease outbreaks in flood-hit Pakistan

The UN has voiced concern over the outbreak of vector-borne and water-borne diseases in flood-hit Pakistan

Low testing, climate change hamper India's fight against Dengue and Malaria

Experts say India needs more decentralised planning, and access to testing and treatment for malaria and dengue

MP: Over 2,100 cattle infected with Lumpy skin disease across 10 districts

More than 2,100 cattle were found infected with the Lumpy skin disease across 10 districts of Madhya Pradesh, prompting the administration to ban the transportation of bovine animals in the affected parts of the state. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, during a meeting held on Friday to review the situation arising out of the spread of the disease, directed the officials that the cattle being brought into MP from other states should be banned and that extra precaution should be taken in the adjoining areas of the disease-affected districts. The authorities have already banned the transportation of cattle in the affected areas and districts. Officials said that the major symptoms of this infectious viral disease affecting cattle, are fever, nasal and lacrimal discharge, ulcers in the eye, swollen lymph nodes and a drop in milk production. The disease has been confirmed in Ratlam, Ujjain, Mandsaur, Neemuch, Betul, Indore and Khandwa districts, they said. The symptoms of this dise

Outbreak of waterborne diseases in Pakistan amid floods raises concern

The outbreak of waterborne diseases in areas hit by recent record-breaking floods in Pakistan has raised concerns among health officials

Tomato fever: India reports another viral disease after Covid-19, monkeypox

What is tomato fever? Here are the causes, symptoms, treatment and other details of the disease

Monkeypox-infected Delhi man stable, had painful lesions: Officials

The Delhi man is the fourth reported cases of monkeypox in the country; three cases of monkeypox had earlier been reported from Kerala

Top headlines: YES Bank portfolio sale, NIRF rankings, monkeypox and more

Business Standard brings you the top headlines this hour

Delhi govt prepared to contain cases of vector-borne diseases: Sisodia

The Delhi government and all agencies in the city are "fully prepared to contain" cases of dengue and other vector-borne diseases, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Friday. Over 140 dengue cases have been reported in the national capital so far this year, including 32 in June, a civic report had said on Monday. "Delhi government and all agencies of Delhi are fully prepared to contain cases vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue. Today, had a long discussion with Union Health Minister @mansukhmandviya and health ministers of other states on this matter," Sisodia tweeted. Mandaviya on Friday exhorted the states to launch 'Jan Abhiyaans' or public campaigns with 'log bhaagidari' (people's participation) to enthuse and engage citizens and communities to ensure there is no mosquito breeding in the neighbourhoods. Mandaviya, who reviewed the preparedness for prevention and control of vector-borne diseases with 13 high-burden states, through video conference, said 'Log .

Monkeypox virus detected in Portugal less aggressive, researcher says

Monkeypox is a rare disease, which can spread through direct contact with bodily fluids or through contact with contaminated clothes or bedsheets

Monkeypox spreads to more European countries, Australia, Canada

The World Health Organization (WHO) said the source of these infections has not yet been confirmed but cases seem to have been "locally acquired"

AI predicts the shape of molecules, in a boon for medicine and drug design

DeepMind has given 3-D structure to 350,000 proteins, including every one made by humans

China hosted global project to look at coronavirus in bat populations

These details are under the spotlight as a debate is emerging over the role of Wuhan Institute of Technology in the spread of coronavirus.

Over 3,000 affected by Black Fungus, 122 fatalities in Tamil Nadu: Minister

Owing to the increase in the cases across the state, the government has established special wards to treat those infected with black fungus, also known as Mucormycosis