Viruses

Travel advisory issued against Marburg virus in Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania

The disease is passed on to people from fruit bats and is from the same virus family responsible for the deadly Ebola

Molbio's Truenat to now test H3N2 and H1N1 virus amid spurt in cases

Molbio Diagnostics on Monday extended its real-time PCR platform Truenat to test H3N2 and H1N1 viruses, amid the rising cases of the influenza virus in India

XBB.1.16 variant could be driving recent rise in Covid case: AIIMS director

As India witnessed the highest number of Covid cases in over four months, former AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria on Wednesday said the new XBB.1.16 variant could be driving the recent rise but emphasised there was no need for panic as long it does not cause severe illness and deaths. New variants will keep coming as the virus keeps on mutating over the time and the XBB 1.16 is sort of a "new kid on the block", Guleria told PTI in an interview. "... As long as they don't lead to severe illness, hospitalisation and deaths, it is alright because it helps in giving some degree of immunity to the population if they have mild illness," the renowned pulmonologist, who was part of the national Covid task force, said. His comments come on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting to review the Covid situation and also took stock of the public health preparedness. India recorded 1,134 new coronavirus cases, the highest in 138 days, while the active cases increased t

Covid risks

Govt should revitalise the vaccination programme

No need to panic, but precautions needed: Experts on rising H3N2 cases

Talking about the symptoms of the virus, Dr Anupam Sibal, a senior doctor of Delhi's Apollo Hospital, told ANI that the symptoms are similar to Covid but are staying for longer periods of time

Rising infections: States on alert as Covid-19 cases hit 4-month high

Doctors say 100-150% increase in flu cases

ICMR approves new RT-qPCR kit to detect influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV

The approval of the kit marketed as KRIVIDA Trivus comes even as several parts of the country are facing a significant rise in these viruses

First case of H3N2 detected in Assam, health dept keeping close watch

The first case of H3N2 influenza was detected in Assam, and the Health Department was keeping a close watch on the situation, an official bulletin said. According to the bulletin issued by the National Health Mission, Assam on Wednesday night, a confirmed case of H3N2 influenza was detected. "The Health Department is keeping a close watch on the evolving seasonal influenza situation in Assam through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network on real-time basis," it said. The district surveillance officers under the IDSP network are fully geared to meet this public health challenge in Assam in line with the guidelines formulated by the Centre and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), it added. "Globally, influenza cases are typically seen to increase during certain months of the year. India usually witnesses two peaks of seasonal influenza: one from January to March and the other one in post-monsoon season," the NHM said. The cases arising from seasonal influ

4 patients admitted with H3N2 influenza virus in Mumbai, says BMC

Two deaths from suspected H3N2 influenza virus infection have been reported from Nagpur while another was reported from Ahmednagar district

Adenovirus alarm: Four more child deaths reported from Kolkata

Meanwhile, questions have been raised over the absence of specialist paediatricians in the task force on adenovirus constituted by the state government

With H3N2 as predominant subtype, combination of viruses causing infections

Meanwhile, the Covid infection has also reported a spike after four months as daily Covid cases were reported 524 on Sunday

Increase precaution, say experts as India records 2 H3N2 virus deaths

There is need for increased monitoring and precaution measures to ward off H3N2 but no cause for panic yet, say experts as India confirms its first two deaths due to the influenza virus. In Karnataka, 82-year-old Hire Gowda. a diabetic who suffered from hypertension, died due to the H3N2 seasonal influenza subtype on March 1. Another death, that of a 56-year-old lung cancer patient, was reported from Haryana. From January 2 to March 5, 451 cases of the H3N2 have been reported in the country, according to data shared by the ministry on Friday. It also said it is keeping a close watch on the situation and cases are expected to decline from month end. H3N2 is a non-human influenza virus that normally circulates in pigs and has infected humans, according to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Symptoms are similar to those of seasonal flu viruses and can include fever and respiratory symptoms such as cough and runny nose, and possibly other symptoms, including body ..

Increase precaution, no need to panic: Experts on H3N2 virus deaths

As India confirmed its first two deaths due to the H3N2 influenza virus on Friday, experts called for increased monitoring and precaution measures but also reassured that there is no need to panic yet. In Karnataka, 82-year-old Hire Gowda. a diabetic who suffered from hypertension, died due to the H3N2 seasonal influenza subtype on March 1. Another death, that of a 56-year-old lung cancer patient, was reported from Haryana. From January 2 to March 5, 451 cases of the H3N2 have been reported in the country, according to the data shared by the ministry. It also said it is keeping a close watch on the situation and cases are expected to decline from month end. H3N2 is a non-human influenza virus that normally circulates in pigs and that has infected humans, according to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Symptoms are similar to those of seasonal flu viruses and can include fever and respiratory symptoms such as cough and runny nose, and possibly other symptoms, ...

6 children die due to adenovirus; Mamata urges people to wear mask

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said six children have so far died in the state due to adenovirus, and urged people to start using face masks again to combat the menace. Banerjee also said one of her family members has been infected by the virus, but did not elaborate on the development. "So far, 19 people have died due to Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI), and out of them, 13 had comorbidities and six (deaths of children) were due to adenovirus. I urge people to start wearing face masks for the time-being, she said at the state assembly. Do not panic and see a doctor immediately if you are having fever," the CM added. Banerjee also claimed that health services have improved a lot in Bengal compared to the Covid period. Taking a jibe at the opposition for questioning the health infrastructure in the state, she said that during the Left Front rule, no special newborn care units existed, while at present, there are over 2,486 SNCUs at 138 hospitals. The chief .

IMA advises against antibiotic use amid rising H3N2 flu cases in India

"Whenever there will be a real use of antibiotics, they will not work due to the resistance," the IMA wrote

Had Pegasus on my phone, intelligence officers cautioned me: Rahul Gandhi

Talking to students at Cambridge University, Gandhi said that a 'yatra' is a journey or pilgrimage in which people 'shut themselves down so they can listen to others'

High fever, long-lasting cough: Delhi under the grip of H3N2 virus

Influenza virus: Doctors suggest getting vaccinated against this flu, practising hand sanitation, and maintaining proper hydration

Adequate measures being taken for safety: Mamata on adenovirus scare

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday stated that only two adenovirus deaths have been recorded in the state, and assured people that there was nothing to be scared of, as ample measures are being taken by her administration to keep them safe. She also said that infants who died of late were mostly underweight and had several comorbidities. "Of the 12 (recent) cases, two resulted from adenovirus infections. The rest were due to comorbidities. Some had pulmonary hemorrhages, some suffered from weight loss. There is nothing to be afraid of We have readied 5,000 beds and 600 doctors have been tasked with the responsibility of dealing with such cases," Banerjee told reporters. The CM also noted that people are scared, after having endured the impact of COVID-19. "Any child's death is sad. Common cold and flu cases are registered every year during this time of seasonal transition. There is nothing to panic about. Such deaths are happening in every state, not just in ...

Toddlers aged below 2 years most vulnerable to Adenovirus: Experts

Toddlers below two years of age are most vulnerable to Adenovirus but parents need not panic as 90 per cent of the cases are treatable at home, though precautions must be maintained, experts said. Renowned paediatrician Dr Arun Kumarendu Singh, associated with AIIMS, Jodhpur, said parents must ensure that their children wear masks and avoid crowded places. "Unlike COVID, children below 10 years of age are susceptible to Adenovirus. Among them, those below two years of age are more vulnerable while those aged between two and five years are comparatively less vulnerable," Singh told PTI over the phone. Referring to a recent spike in Adenovirus cases in the country including West Bengal, in which children have been affected, he said there is nothing to panic as such a spike happens every year during season change from winter to spring. Adenovirus typically causes respiratory illnesses such as common cold, conjunctivitis, bronchitis, or pneumonia. In children, it usually causes infecti

Active Covid-19 cases decline to 1,771 in country, death toll at 530,745

India logged 89 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases declined to 1,771, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday. The death toll stands at 5,30,745, the data updated at 8 am stated. The total tally of Covid cases was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,83,543). The daily positivity was recorded at 0.14 per cent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 0.08 per cent. The active cases now comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.81 per cent, the ministry said. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,51,027, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.57 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on Sept