Page 6 - Disease

Omicron subvariant BA.5 more virulent, study in mice finds

Scientists have used engineered mice to compare SARS-COV-2 Omicron subvariants and found that the BA.5 strain was more virulent likely due to its ability to rapidly replicate early during infection. The research, published in the journal Science Advances, addresses a challenge to studying and understanding rapidly evolving variants of concern due to a lack of animal models for running tests that could help explain why variants and subvariants each behave differently in people. The genetically modified mice, called K18-hACE2, used in the research express a human receptor that allowed SARS-COV-2 to enter otherwise inaccessible mouse cells. "One of the things we found is that the strain that causes more pathology, BA.5, replicates much faster early on during infection," said Avery August, a professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at Cornell University in the US. "By doing that, the virus generates a really strong immune response, which then leads to increased pathology a

Scrub Typhus: Causes, remedies and how to be safe from this fatal illness

Scrub typhus is caused by a bacteria, Orientia Tsutsugamushi, and is an infectious illness. People with severe illness may develop organ failure and bleeding, according to doctors

Nipah virus: All you need to know about symptoms, diagnosis and prevention

Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) is a potentially fatal complication of Nipah virus. Patients with breathing complications are more likely to transmit the virus than those without

Eye-flu to stomach ailments: Major cities grappling with monsoon illnesses

Mumbai doctors say that in the last one or two weeks there has been a 20-25 per cent surge in such cases, and most of the patients are children

Delhi comes up with 'mega action plan' to curb vector-borne diseases

The Delhi government has come up with a "mega action plan" to combat the spread of vector-borne diseases, under which steps will be taken to determine the serotype of the prevailing dengue virus in the city. Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting on preparedness for keeping vector-borne diseases under check in the national capital. One of the significant decisions taken in the meeting was to "determine the serotype of the prevailing dengue virus" in identified laboratories, the Delhi health department said in a statement. "This step will provide crucial information for developing targeted interventions and enhancing the effectiveness of disease management efforts," it said. According to data shared by civic authorities, 136 cases of dengue and 43 of malaria have been recorded in Delhi this year till July 8. The existing helpline -- 1031 -- used during the COVID-19 pandemic will now be utilised to facilitate dengue treatment. This expansion o

Guillain-Barre Syndrome emergency in Peru: All you must know about disease

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a rare disorder that affects the immune system causing it to attack the nerves of the body

Cost to cut sickle cell disease's risk beyond reach of most Indians: Lancet

The costs required to reduce the risk of sickle cell disease is beyond the reach of most individuals in India and sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease is most prevalent, says a new Commission published in The Lancet Haematology journal. The Commission publishes shortly after a recent study in the same journal found that the highest burden of sickle cell disease (SCD) disability was concentrated in western and central sub-Saharan Africa and India. The authors of the Commission also noted that there is a shortage of healthcare and scientific professionals with expertise in SCD, as well as a lack of trials aimed at developing novel treatments in these countries. SCD is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders that affect hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen through the body. The condition affects more than 20 million people worldwide. The recent study suggested there were 376,000 (3.76 lakh) global SCD-related deaths in 2021, compared to 34,400 cause-specific ...

60 sheep die, 200 fall sick due to animal disease in Himachal's tribal belt

As many as 60 sheep and goats were killed and around 200 affected following the outbreak of a highly contagious animal disease in the highland pastures of the tribal Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, officials said on Monday. The Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) disease, also known as 'sheep and goat plague', has affected the cattle of three identified flocks in the Hadsar area near Chamba border. The common symptoms of the disease are diarrhoea and pneumonia affecting the lungs, Dr Anurag, a veterinarian treating the animals along with his four-member team, told PTI. The animals also experience nasal discharge leading to breathing problems, especially for affected animals in high altitude areas, Anurag said. Besides treating the sick sheep and goats and providing their owners with medical kits, the veterinary team is also raising awareness among shepherds about the disease, its symptoms and necessary precautions, the doctor added. Dr Amitabh Thakur, Deputy Director o

WHO prepares for increased spread of viral disease linked to El Nino

The WHO chief also warned that climate change is fueling the breeding of mosquitoes, and incidence of dengue has already risen sharply in recent decades, particularly in the Americas

Climate change could cause disease to 76.8% of corals by 2100: Report

When predicting future estimates of coral disease, the model suggested that the disease prevalence could reach 76.8 per cent in 2100 if temperatures continue to rise

Amyloidosis disease: Understanding the diagnosis, symptoms and treatments

Amyloidosis is a rare disease whose cause is still not found. In May this year, India got its first amyloidosis centre at Amrita Hospital in Kerala

What is HMPV? The infectious respiratory disease spiking this year in US

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported unusual spikes in cases across the United States last month

Diseases know no borders, Covid underlined need for joint effort: Mandaviya

Mandaviya, in his address, highlighted the importance of collaborative research in mitigating and responding effectively to global health crises

WHO chief warns countries about 'Disease X'; here's all you need to know

Even as the wrath of the Covid-19 pandemic begins to wade, the horrors of the medical emergency still seem fresh in the memories

Lumpy skin disease returns; over 10,000 active cases reported till May 18

Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Karnataka lead the way; 1.9 million vaccine doses administered in new cycle

Dry cleaning chemical may raise risk for Parkinson's by 70%: Report

Researchers found that 430 veterans had been diagnosed with Parkinson's, and that their risk was 70 per cent higher than those not exposed

World Liver Day 2023: Significance, theme, managing fatty diseases and more

World Liver Day is observed every year on April 19, liver diseases are the tenth most common cause of death in India

World Haemophilia Day 2023: Theme, History, Significance, Full Details

On April 17, it is celebrated to raise awareness of Haemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders

World TB Day: PM Modi launches initiatives to eliminate disease by 2025

PM Modi launched the TB-Mukt Panchayat initiative, a pan-India rollout of a shorter TB Preventive Treatment (TPT) and a family-centric care model for tuberculosis

More H3N2 virus patients report pneumonia-like conditions, ear fullness

Amid the rising number of influenza cases seen in the country, more patients are reporting pneumonia-like conditions and ear fullness, doctors said here on Saturday.