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No new Covid-19 variants found in China but mutation threat lingers

China has yet to detect any dangerous Covid mutations in the six weeks since the virus was unleashed on the country's 1.4 billion people after the abandonment of the rigid curbs

TMS Ep346: Telecom sector, investment cycle, Q3 results, WHO warning

Has the telecom sector recovery lost steam? Does higher demand point to the start of an investment cycle? Banks' earnings growth touched a peak in Q3? What is WHO's warning about alcohol? Answers here

WHO issues a 'medical product alert' for Marion Biotech cough syrup

The WHO has said Marion Biotech had not provided guarantees to them on the safety and quality of these products

Covid-19 variant XBB.1.5: What Is the 'Kraken' and how dangerous is it?

XBB.1.5 is "the most transmissible sub-variant which has been detected yet," said the WHO's Covid-19 technical lead

After WHO's warning on cancer link, a look at how India consumes alcohol

According to NFHS-5, alcohol consumption is higher in rural parts of the country than the urban areas

No amount of alcohol 'safe', even low consumption hikes cancer risk: WHO

The agency has previously found that alcohol causes at least 7 types of cancer, including the most common cancer types, such as bowel cancer and female breast cancer

Best of BS Opinion: Cut down on sugar, next level in AI, and more

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

Cut down on sugar

Multiple levers are available to improve public health

Top headlines: World Bank cuts economic growth forecast, DESH Bill deadlock

Business Standard brings you the top headlines at this hour

WHO official urges science-based, non-discriminatory Covid-19 restrictions

A senior official of the WHO has urged countries to take science-based precautionary Covid-19 entry restrictions that are proportionate and non-discriminatory

No immediate Covid-19 outbreak threat from China, says WHO Europe director

The director of the World Health Organisation's Europe office said Tuesday that the agency sees no immediate threat" for the European region from a COVID-19 outbreak in China, but more information is needed. China is battling a nationwide outbreak of the coronavirus after abruptly easing restrictions. Hans Kluge said that, based on the information WHO had received from china, there was no threat, but more detailed and regular information was required from China to monitor the evolving situation. We cannot be complacent, he added. Several countries have imposed COVID-19 testing requirements on Chinese travellers. Australia and Canada require travellers from China to take a COVID-19 test prior to boarding their flight. Other countries including the U.S., India, Japan, South Korea and several European nations have announced tougher COVID-19 measures on travellers from China amid concerns over a lack of data on infections in China and fears that new variants may emerge. China has thr

China data underrepresents Covid-19 surge and deaths, says WH

Facts have proved that we have always maintained close communication and shared relevant information and data with WHO in a timely manner: China

Biden raises concern over China's Covid management after WHO questions data

Chinese health officials have said only deaths caused by pneumonia and respiratory failure in patients who had the virus are classified as Covid deaths

China under-representing true impact of Covid-19, especially deaths: WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that China is "under-representing the true impact" of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country, especially the exact number of deaths.

Omicron subvariants BA.5.2, BF.7 responsible for China Covid outbreak: WHO

The organization further said that a few other Omicron sublineages were also detected, albeit in low percentages in China; presently, no new variants of the coronavirus have been found

WHO again urges China to regularly share data on Covid-19 situation

The World Health Organization has again urged China to regularly share specific and real-time data on the COVID-19 situation in the country, amid a surge in coronavirus cases after Beijing relaxed its strict "zero-COVID" policy. The global health agency has asked Chinese health officials to share data on genetic sequencing, hospitalisations, deaths and vaccinations. A high-level meeting took place between officials from WHO and China on the current surge in COVID-19 cases to seek further information on the situation, and to offer WHO's expertise and further support, a WHO statement said on Friday. WHO again asked for regular sharing of specific and real-time data on the epidemiological situation including more genetic sequencing data, data on disease impact including hospitalisations, ICU admissions and deaths and data on vaccinations delivered and vaccination status, especially in vulnerable people and those over 60 years old, it added. WHO reiterated the importance of vaccinatio

Cough syrup deaths: Centre, UP team inspect pharma firm's Noida unit

Cough syrup maker linked to Uzbekistan deaths halts production; samples of Dok-1 Max sent for analysis

Hetero's Covid drug Nirmacom (generic Paxlovid) gets WHO prequalification

Hetero, a city-based leading pharmaceutical company on Monday announced the receipt of World Health Organisation Prequalification of Medicines Programme (WHO PQ) approval for its generic version of COVID-19 oral anti-viral treatment candidate Nirmatrelvir. A press release from the drug maker said it is the first prequalification for a generic version of Pfizer's COVID-19 oral anti-viral drug 'Paxlovid,' which the WHO called, the best therapeutic choice for high-risk patients to date. WHO made a strong recommendation for Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir for mild and moderate COVID-19 patients at highest risk of hospital admission, such as unvaccinated, aged or immunosuppressed patients, it said. The combi pack, launched by Hetero as Nirmacom, will contain Nirmatrelvir 150 mg (2 tablets) and Ritonavir 100mg (1 tablet). It is available by prescription only and should be initiated as soon as possible after diagnosis of COVID-19 and within five days of symptom onset. Nirmacom will be ...

Nepal blacklists 16 Indian pharma companies, including Ramdev's Pharmacy

Nepal's drug regulatory authority has blacklisted 16 Indian pharmaceutical companies, including Divya Pharmacy which manufactures Yoga Guru Ramdev's Patanjali products, stating that they failed to comply with the World Health Organisation's (WHO) drug manufacturing standards. The Department of Drug Administration, in a notice issued on December 18 asked the local agents in Nepal, which have been supplying these medicines, to immediately recall them. According to the notice issued by the Department, the medicines manufactured by the listed companies cannot be imported or distributed in Nepal. The list of the companies that do not comply with WHO standards were published after inspection of the manufacturing facilities of the pharmaceutical companies that had applied to export their products to Nepal, according to the Department officials. In April and July, the Department sent a team of drug inspectors to India to inspect the manufacturing facilities of pharmaceutical companies that

Maiden Pharma seeks to reopen Sonipat plant after DCGI clearance

Health ministry sources say no immediate plan to allow plant to re-open, it was closed for non-compliance with GMP, not for contamination issues