Corona

Study shows Covid-19 in fathers may affect offspring's brain, cause anxiety

Changes in sperm caused by COVID-19 in a mouse could affect the offspring's brain development and cause anxious behaviours, a study has found, suggesting that the viral disease may have long-lasting effects on future generations, even as the results would need to be verified in humans, researchers said. The team from Australia's Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health found that an offspring mouse conceived after a father has been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and developed COVID-19 symptoms have higher levels of anxiety-like behaviours. "We let male mice recover from SARS-CoV-2 infection for a few weeks before they mated with healthy females. We found that the resulting offspring showed more anxious behaviours compared to offspring from uninfected fathers," Elizabeth Kleeman, research officer and first author of the study published in the journal Nature Communications, said. All offsprings from COVID-19-affected fathers were seen to display increased anxiety-like ..

Younger population seeing high rates of infection amid Covid surge: Experts

According to data available on the Union health ministry's Covid dashboard, India has 5,976 active cases from 29 states and Union Territories (UTs) as of June 19

India's active Covid-19 cases fall under 6,000; three deaths in 24 hours

India Covid-19 update: Of the three fatalities, two were from Delhi, while one was from Kerala. All the victims were elderly individuals and had chronic health issues

New mRNA vaccine is more effective, less costly to develop, shows study

The lessons learned from this study could inform more efficient vaccine development for other constantly evolving RNA viruses with pandemic potential, said senior author Suresh Kuchipudi

India reports 4 Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours, active cases rise to 5,364

Of the four deceased in the past 24 hours, two were from Kerala, while Punjab and Karnataka reported one death each. Kerala continuing to be the most affected state, followed by New Delhi, West Bengal

India reports 7 Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours, active cases rise to 4,302

Covid-19 update: Kerala continues to be the most affected state, followed by Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Delhi

India logs 164 new Covid-19 cases in one week, active cases cross 250

India records 164 new Covid-19 cases between May 12 and 19, with Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra reporting most cases; officials say symptoms remain mild

'Go corona, go': 5 years to Covid-19 lockdown and the frenzy that followed

Five years ago, on March 24, the first lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. Here's recounting what happened after the lockdown commenced

Human Coronavirus HKU1 detected in India What it is and why it matters

In Kolkata, West Bengal, a 49-year-old lady contracted the human coronavirus HKU1. The hospital reports that the patient was admitted after a 15-day period of a persistent fever

New bat virus HKU5-CoV-2 sparks pandemic fears - Is it the next COVID-19?

China has discovered a new coronavirus in bats that can enter the human body like Covid-19. The new virus, HKU5-CoV, hasn't been detected in humans yet but has been identified in a laboratory

Mapping burden of long Covid: Work commences on review of studies

The healthcare sector in India still doesn't know the exact nature of the burden of long Covid with OPDs seeing a surge in patients but no proper documentation. That's the gap researchers in Gandhinagar have set out to fill with a review of various studies so the big picture becomes clear. Researchers from the Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar (IIPHG) are in the process of identifying studies to be included for the review to help discern an overall pattern in trends, including effects and risk factors. The review is funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Despite visible, grave symptoms, long Covid continues to evade diagnosis, as scientists have found no significant laboratory markers that could indicate its presence. "Long Covid is definitely a chronic condition, but we do not know the exact nature of its burden," said Komal Shah, associate professor at the IIPHG. "Studies report a surge in out-patient department (OPD) cases, especially among those wi

CIA suspects Covid originated from a lab but lacks confidence in finding

The CIA now believes the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic likely originated from a laboratory, according to an assessment released Saturday that points the finger at China even while acknowledging that the spy agency has low confidence in its own conclusion. The finding is not the result of any new intelligence, and the report was completed at the behest of the Biden administration and former CIA Director William Burns. It was declassified and released Saturday on the orders of President Donald Trump's pick to lead the agency, John Ratcliffe, who was sworn in Thursday as director. The nuanced finding suggests the agency believes the totality of evidence makes a lab origin more likely than a natural origin. But the agency's assessment assigns a low degree of confidence to this conclusion, suggesting the evidence is deficient, inconclusive or contradictory. Earlier reports on the origins of COVID-19 have split over whether the coronavirus emerged from a Chinese lab, ...

China downplays reports of new virus HPMV outbreak, says safe to travel

China on Friday played down reports of a massive outbreak of flu in the country overwhelming hospitals, saying that cases of the respiratory diseases which occur during the winter were less severe this year compared to last year. The Foreign Ministry here said it is safe for foreigners to travel to China. Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season in the northern hemisphere," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told the media here in response to a question on the spread of influenza A and other respiratory diseases in China. Videos circulating on social media show overcrowded hospitals. "The diseases appear to be less severe and spread with a smaller scale compared to the previous year," she said. I can assure you the Chinese government cares about the health of Chinese citizens and foreigners in China. It is safe to travel in China," she said. She also referred to guidelines issued by the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration of Chin

China defends Covid-19 data-sharing as WHO seeks more information access

China is also the only country that organised experts to share traceability progress with the WHO on many occasions, Mao Ning, spokesperson at the foreign ministry said

Consumer court orders Rs 500K compensation for unnecessary Covid treatment

The Malappuram District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered a private hospital and a doctor in Kochi to pay Rs 5 lakh as compensation for providing unnecessary Covid-19 treatment to a patient who had tested negative. The ruling came in a complaint filed by Soji Reni, a resident of Kakkadampoyil, in Malappuram. According to the complaint, Soji Reni and her husband sought treatment at the hospital on 26 May 2021 for certain health issues. However, the hospital allegedly concealed the fact that she had tested negative for Covid-19 and proceeded with Covid related treatment, causing undue physical and mental distress. According to the complaint, an antigen test was conducted, but the result was indeterminate and later an RT-PCR test was performed to confirm the diagnosis. Despite the test showing negative, the hospital failed to inform the patient and instead proceeded with Covid-19 related treatment, it added. Soji Reni, admitted to the intensive care unit, was unable

Pralhad Joshi targets Justice Michael D'Cunha over Covid panel report

The John Michael D'Cunha Commission report has recommended prosecution of the then Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah slams BJP on 'Covid scam,' awaits D'Cunha report

He said the cabinet will take a decision on the matter after the Justice John Michael D'Cunha Commission, formed to probe the alleged corruption during Covid, submits its report

Bumble posts quarterly sales drop amid slow payoff from dating app overhaul

Bumble said total paying users across its apps increased to 4.3 million in the third quarter ended Sept. 30, from 3.8 million a year earlier

Inflammation in vital brain region could be driving long Covid: Study

Symptoms of long Covid, including fatigue and brain fog, have been linked to damage to the brainstem or the brain region, which acts as a "critical junction" between consciousness and all that is physically happening in the body, according to a study. The brainstem connects the spinal cord to two main parts of the brain -- cerebrum and cerebellum. Often dubbed as the 'control centre' of involuntary functions, the brainstem regulates basic life-sustaining activities such as breathing, heart rate and sleep, and located at the base of the brain. Symptoms of long Covid have been studied to persist in some patients for up to two years following initial infection. The previous studies have found prolonged inflammation to be one of the main drivers of long Covid. In this study, the researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, UK, looked at high resolution MRI brain scans of 30 patients, who had severe COVID-19 early in the pandemic, and found that the infection caused ...

Panel on Covid finds irregularities worth crores, says Karnataka minister

Karnataka Minister H K Patil on Thursday said the Justice John Michael Cunha panel in its report on the COVID-19 management has mentioned irregularities to the tune of crores of rupees' during the previous BJP government in the state. The preliminary inquiry report has been assigned to a team of officers comprising Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Secretary and some other officers to analyse it and file the report in a month, Patil, who holds law and parliamentary affairs portfolio, told reporters after the cabinet meeting. The minister said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah raised the subject related to Justice Michael D'Cunha commission's report on irregularities during COVID-19 pandemic. The report has been submitted comprising five to six volumes, he added. Justice D'Cunha has mentioned about the irregularities to the tune of hundreds of crores of rupees. There is also reference to the missing files. The report has taken into account the publi