Page 5 - Health News

250 mn records of individuals linked to Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts

Over 25 crore health records of individuals have been linked digitally to Ayushman Bharat Health Account under the National Health Authority's flagship scheme Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. These records can be easily accessed and managed by people using any of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) enabled health applications. The digitally available health records will enable the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) holders in availing paper-less health services across the ABDM network, a statement by the National Health Authority (NHA) said on Tuesday. Individuals can use their Personal Health Records (PHR) apps to access their records across different health facilities like hospitals, clinics, diagnostic labs, among others, and store them in the app. They can also digitally share the relevant records with verified healthcare providers over the ABDM network. This enables completely paper-less exchange of records in a secure manner while doing away with the hassles of ...

China says it has been 'open and transparent' on Covid-19 origins

China on Tuesday said it has been open and transparent in the search for the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and dismissed U.S. criticism as politicising the issue. China had shared the most data and research results on virus tracing and made important contributions to global virus tracing research," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning Mao told reporters at a daily briefing. Politicising the issue of virus tracing will not smear China but will only damage the U.S.'s own credibility, Mao said, in response to complaints from U.S. officials and members of Congress that China has not been entirely cooperative. Her comments came amid continuing questions about how the virus that has killed more than 6.8 million people worldwide first emerged. Most recently, the U.S. Department of Energy assessed with low confidence that the pandemic that was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019 began with the leak of a virus from a lab. The report hasn't been made ...

India records 66 new Covid-19 infection, active cases decline to 1,755

India saw a single-day rise of 66 new coronavirus cases -- the lowest since March 26, 2020 -- while the active caseload declined to 1,755, according to Union Health Ministry data on Tuesday. The total tally of COVID-19 cases was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,82,785). The death toll stands at 5,30,740, the data updated at 8 am stated. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.05 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was pegged at 0.07 per cent. Active cases now comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has risen to 98.81 per cent, the ministry website showed. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,50,289 while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the website, 220.48 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered so far under the nationwide drive.

Nearly 100 students fall sick in Wayanad school; inspection being done

Close to 100 students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Lakkidi area of Wayanad district of Kerala developed vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain over the last few days, prompting the State Health Department to visit the place and intensify preventive measures. With a large number of students from the boarding school hospitalised over the weekend at the Vythiri Taluk hospital, there were reports of a suspected case of food-poisoning. Subsequently, an expert team of the Health Department carried out an inspection, a release issued by the district administration said. The team collected drinking water samples from the institution and sent them for a test at the Kozhikode Regional Public Health Lab. Stool and blood samples of the children were sent to the Alappuzha Institute of Virology, and the Bathery Public Health Lab respectively, the release said. It further said one child had symptoms of being ill on January 24, 11 on January 27, 20 on January 29 and 66 on Monday of the total

WHO issues fresh Covid-19 guidelines; here's all you need to know

WHO has updated its guidelines on wearing masks in community settings, Covid-19 treatments, and clinical management

BF.7 found in several Covid-positive samples of int'l passengers: Mandaviya

Union Health on Wednesday said the Omicron sub-variant, BF.7, has been found in several of the 200 Covid-positive samples of international air passengers that have so far been genome-sequenced

Bird flu in Kerala: Preventive measures to be taken, says Health Minister

In the wake of bird flu cases being reported in the State, Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Sunday said there was no cause for concern, but precautions need to be taken for preventing transmission of the infection to humans. The Minister, according to a government release, said that all districts have been alerted and everyone should follow directions issued by the Health department. The release said that the Health department was monitoring for fever and other symptoms among people in the affected areas. Symptoms of the infection in humans include severe upper back pain, fever, cough, shortness of breath, cold and blood in the sputum, it said. Those at risk of the infection should get in touch with the nearest health center or a doctor on noticing any of these symptoms or if they have respiratory problems, the release said. It also said that bird flu or avian influenza is an infectious viral disease found in birds which is not usually transmitted to humans. But it can infec

Air pollutants linked with asthma attacks in children, adolescents: Study

Moderate levels of two outdoor air pollutants, ozone and fine particulate matter, are associated with non-viral asthma attacks in children and adolescents who live in low-income urban areas, a study conducted in the US has found. The study also identifies associations between exposure to the two pollutants and molecular changes in the children's airways during non-viral asthma attacks, suggesting potential mechanisms for those attacks. The observational study, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), US, is one of the first to link elevated levels of specific outdoor air pollutants in particular urban locations to distinct changes in the airways during asthma attacks not triggered by respiratory viruses, according to the investigators. The findings are published in the journal The Lancet Planetary Health. "The strong association this study demonstrates between specific air pollutants among children in impoverished urban communities and non-viral asthma attacks further ...

Study reveals booster dose increases resilience of Covid antibody response

Recent research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine discussed the benefits of a Covid-19 booster vaccine dose.The most recent study clarifies how Pfizer and Moderna mRNA boosters influence the persistence of our Covid-19 antibodies. According to the researchers, a booster produced more durable antibodies in all individuals, including those who had recovered from a Covid-19 infection.The researchers have published their latest findings in the scientific journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology."These results fit with other recent reports and indicate that booster shots enhance the durability of vaccine-elicited antibodies," said senior researcher Jeffrey Wilson, MD, PhD, of UVA Health's Division of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology.Tracking Covid-19 antibodies: Wilson and his collaborators looked at antibody levels following a booster in 117 UVA employee volunteers and compared those results with the levels seen in 228 volunteers after their primary vaccination .

Researchers suggest green veggies good for health of blood vessels

Some of our least favourite vegetables may really be the best for preventing serious blood vessel damage, according to recent studies

Some stomachs digest faster than others because of microbes: Study

As unfair as it may seem, some of us may take hours to digest just a platter of holiday cookies while others may wolf down a lot without any problem in their gut

CM Ashok Gehlot flags off 167 ambulances, launches inspection mobile app

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday flagged off 167 new ambulances (Basic Life Support-108) from Amar Jawan Jyoti here in Jaipur, an official statement from the chief minister's office said

Gurugram health department on alert amid rising cases of coronavirus

In view of rising Covid cases in various countries, the Gurugram Health Department issued a fresh advisory to the govt as well as private hospitals to make proper arrangements to deal with Coronavirus

AI tool to help make real-time diagnoses during surgery, finds study

An artificial intelligence tool has been developed to help make real-time diagnoses during surgery, improving the quality of images to increase the accuracy of rapid diagnostics, a new study has shown

Healthcare is among key focus areas of govt: Jyotiraditya Scindia

Union Civil Aviation and Steel Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday said that healthcare has been one of the key focus areas of the Modi government

Centre on mission to enhance public health by quality drugs: Mandaviya

Cente is on a mission to safeguard and enhance public health by ensuring top notch quality drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices along with maintaining their safety and efficacy, Health Minister said

Raise awareness about cervical cancer, importance of HPV vaccine: Centre

The government has asked all states and Union Territories to create awareness on prevention of cervical cancer, the importance of HPV vaccine among girl and organise vaccination camps in schools. The Education and Health Ministry, in a joint letter, have informed states and UTs that the National Technical Advisory Group for Immunization (NTAGI) has recommended introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in the Universal Immunization Programme with a one-time catch-up for 9-14 year-old adolescent girls followed with routine introduction at nine years. "Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. In India, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women and India contributes the largest proportion of global cervical cancer burden. "Cervical cancer is a preventable and curable disease as long as it is detected early and managed effectively," said the letter written by Union Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar and Health Secretary Rajesh ...

Mandatory Covid tests for all international passengers if needed, says Govt

In the wake of surge in COVID-19 cases in many countries, India has started 2 per cent random sampling of international travellers coming to the country and may consider making it mandatory for all if necessary, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Thursday. He was responding to queries of some Opposition MPs after his suo moto statement in Rajya Sabha on the latest COVID-19 situation and India's preparedness. "We are constantly monitoring the situation. There are no direct flights between China and India but people come via other routes," he said in response to a query by Raghav Chadha of AAP on whether the government would ban direct flights from China. As a health minister, Mandaviya said he has spoken to many countries and WHO about what all precautions are needed to be taken and also understand in which direction the pandemic is moving. "At a primary stage, we have already started doing 2 per cent random sampling of any traveller coming to India," he said. The minister .

Punjab CM to hold meeting with state health officials on Covid situation

As the entire nation gears up for a possible increase in number of Covid cases in the next few days, Punjab CM has called a meeting of the officials of the state health department over the situation

Genome sequencing of all positive samples in Maha, don't panic: official

Maharashtra's state surveillance officer on Wednesday said all swab samples testing positive for COVID-19 will be sent for genome sequencing to track any new variant and maintained there was no need to panic in view of the current surge in cases in China, said to be driven by a new strain of Omicron. State surveillance officer Dr Pradip Awate's statement came a day after the Centre asked states to step up genome sequencing of positive swab samples amid a spurt in coronavirus cases in the US, China and some other countries. Awate said they are already conducting genome sequencing of samples, but since the number of positive cases has come down in the last few months, the sequencing process, too, has slowed down. Genome sequencing is a laboratory test that can map out the whole genetic makeup of a virus from a patient's swab sample. "Earlier, we used to pick up samples of serious patients, admitted patients, patients who had re-infection after vaccination, and patients from ...