Artificial intelligence (AI)-based research further suggests the presence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are an indicator of the risk of developing COVID-19 complications. Bengaluru-based firm nference Labs conducted the analysis using AI. They identified cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease as the most significant predictors of COVID-19 complications during the early stages of infection with the […]
infectious diseases
First bird flu death of the year
India experienced its first confirmed human death due to bird flu this week, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has said. An eleven-year-old boy, who was also affected by leukaemia and pneumonia, was admitted to AIIMS in Delhi on July 2nd, having contracted a bird flu virus of the H5N1 strain. He tragically […]
Endangered species: Preserving wildlife a public health need
At first glance, the crises of endangered species and pandemics may seem separate. But they are, in fact, interrelated as a recent Foreign Policy analysis outlines. According to the piece, authored by Lindsey Kennedy and Nathan Paul Southern, “the trade of illegal wildlife products is everywhere, but the pandemic offered a brief opportunity to crack […]
Zoonoses: Preserving biodiversity is the key
This week marked an importance observance which went overlooked by large swathes of the media, including this publication. World Zoonoses Day took place on July 6th, coinciding with the anniversary of the first rabies vaccine administered by French biologist Dr Louis Pasteur in 1885. Zoonoses, as explained by the World Health Organization (WHO), refer to […]
Malaria management technology helps Mangaluru to continue decreasing case numbers
Malaria cases in Mangaluru have continued to decline thanks to malaria control system (MCS) technology that has helped to aid efforts, alongside active source reduction exercises taken in recent years against the spread of vector-borne disease. Mangaluru, a coastal city known for having endemic malaria issues for three decades, has seen malaria incidence significantly reduced […]
Diphtheria threat increasing as infection evolves antimicrobial resistance
Diphtheria’s threat is increasing as the easily-preventable infection, usually treated with antibiotics and vaccines, is evolving with antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) strains, posing a risk that the disease may once again become a major global challenge. This is according to an international team of researchers from the UK and India. They conducted the study using genomics to […]
What can India’s history of bird flu tell us about the current outbreak?
Detection of the bird flu strains H5N1 and H5N8 amongst several states has resulted in India culling tens of thousands of poultry birds. The outbreak which officials detected over a week ago is reported to have several epicentres across states including Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh. At least six Indian states which identified the […]
Comorbidities led to most COVID-19 deaths in West Bengal
Research published by the state health department in West Bengal found comorbidities proved lethal in a significant proportion of the state’s COVID-19 deaths. As of December 3rd, 2020, 8,376 people in the state lost their lives to COVID-19 according to Statista. The state health department identified comorbidities such as hypertension, cardiac disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary […]
Antimicrobial stewardship needed to prevent resistance rise in the midst of new normal and COVID-19
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been identified by experts as a pitfall that may arise from the ‘new normal’ of the COVID-19 pandemic with virtual assessments limiting diagnostic capabilities. In India, poor availability and utilisation of diagnostics have led to increased focus on AMR and the need for better stewardship. Agencies such as the World Health […]
Stubble-burning smog to blame for increased COVID death rate, says Delhi’s Health Minister
![Burning of crops in southeast Punjab - a major driver of northern India's pollution crisis. (Image credit, Neil Palmer (CIAT) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]). Stubble burning concept.](https://d1o5numy7xgf2v.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/NP_India_burning_70_6314806011-150x150.jpg "The cost of crop burning")
Delhi Health Minister Satyender Jain has attributed the high COVID-19 death rate in the national capital to pollution caused by stubble-burning in neighbouring states. However, the Minister said that he expected a downtrend to be seen in the next two to three weeks. Jain told reporters that the pollution in Delhi came as a result […]