Health

New Delhi, Oct 24 (IANS) World Polio Day reminds of India’s remarkable journey in eliminating polio, with national efforts and strong public participation, said Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Friday.World Polio Day is celebrated annually on October 24 to raise awareness about the highly infectious disease.India has been officially declared polio-free, with the World Health Organization (WHO) certifying it on March 27, 2014.The country achieved this status after having zero cases of wild poliovirus transmission for three consecutive years, with the last reported case being in January 2011.“As we observe World Polio Day, it reminds us of India’s remarkable journey in eliminating polio, a milestone achieved through unwavering national efforts and strong public participation,” said Nadda, i...

New Delhi, Oct 24 (IANS) Boosting regional biotech ecosystem across states is important to strengthen innovation and the economy, said Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology.Speaking while chairing a review meeting of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Singh assessed ongoing projects and new initiatives aimed at expanding India’s bio-innovation landscape.He also reviewed a range of new projects -- from biofoundries and regional innovation hubs to the ongoing mapping of states based on their biotechnology potential -- aimed at strengthening the country’s bioeconomy through innovation, collaboration, and local participation.“The need is to strengthen local biotechnology ecosystems by leveraging regional strengths and fostering greater coll...

New Delhi, Oct 24 (IANS) The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on Friday approved a new programme to improve the life expectancy and quality of life for 11 million elderly and vulnerable people in Kerala with wider access to health coverage.The $280 million Kerala Health System Improvement Programme will build a more comprehensive health system resistant to climate shocks.It will also strengthen Kerala’s digital health systems through expanded eHealth services, integrated data platforms, and enhanced cybersecurity.The programme aims to treat and support over 90 per cent of patients registered for hypertension and diabetes in the state through individual electronic tracking mechanisms. It will also establish a home-based care model for bedbound, homebound, and vulnerable elderly,...

Dhaka, Oct 23 (IANS) As many as four people have died due to dengue in Bangladesh in 24 hours till 8 am Dhaka time on Thursday, raising the 2025 death toll in the country to 259.During the same period, 803 people were admitted to hospital, increasing the total number of cases to 63,170, Bangladesh-based The Daily Star reported. Of the total cases, 41,638 dengue patients have so far been discharged from hospitals.According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), two fatalities were reported in Dhaka City while one each occurred in Sylhet and Mymensingh divisions.Presently, 2,648 dengue patients are receiving treatment at various hospitals of Bangladesh.On October 9, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Director General Abu Jafor noted that the number of dengue case...

New Delhi, Oct 23 (IANS) The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on Thursday declared 112 drug samples tested by the Central and state drugs regulatory authorities as ‘Not of Standard Quality (NSQ)' in its monthly drug alert for September.While 52 drug samples were identified by the Central Drugs Laboratories as NSQ, the State Drugs Testing Laboratories identified 60 drug samples as NSQ.As per routine regulatory surveillance activity, the list of NSQ and spurious drugs is being displayed on the CDSCO portal on a monthly basis.“For the month of September 2025, Central Drugs Laboratories have identified 52 drug samples to be Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) and State Drugs Testing Laboratories have identified 60 drug samples as Not of Standard Quality (NSQ),” the alert said.Iden...

New Delhi, Oct 23 (IANS) The Union government has launched key training modules to equip public health professionals and responders with the necessary knowledge and skills for the timely and effective management of chemical incidents.The modules, which are a step towards enhanced preparedness, were launched by Punya Salila Srivastava, the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, along with key senior officials from various line ministries at Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi.“Chemical emergencies pose a significant and evolving threat to public health, environmental safety, and societal stability, underscoring the need for strengthened national preparedness and response mechanisms,” said the Ministry of Health.“In the present fast-growing industrial economy, updating and keeping oneself prepared for...

New Delhi, Oct 22 (IANS) Some antihistamines -- anti-allergy drugs -- have the potential to raise dementia risk in elderly, claimed a new study on Wednesday.Dementias are estimated to affect more than 57.4 million people worldwide -- a number that is expected to almost triple to 152.8 million cases by 2050.Early signs include memory loss, difficulty finding words, confusion, and changes in mood and behaviour.An analysis in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society revealed that older inpatients admitted by physicians who prescribe higher amounts of first-generation antihistamines face an elevated risk of delirium (a sudden, severe state of confusion) while in the hospital.“First-generation antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, are among the leading causes of medication-related harm...

New Delhi, Oct 22 (IANS) Industry bodies on Wednesday welcomed the draft guidance on medical device software issued by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).Medical device software is software that is either integrated into a hardware medical device (Software in a Medical Device or SiMD) or operates independently as a standalone application for medical purposes (Software as a Medical Device or SaMD).The CDSCO, in an official notice on Tuesday, shared the draft of the guidance document to bring more clarity on regulatory aspects of medical device software and to align the requirements with best global practices.“This guidance document provides scope, definition, classification, standards, requirements of technical documents, and Quality Management system applicable for Med...

Hyderabad, Oct 22 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday directed officials to complete the construction of the new building of the prestigious Osmania Hospital within two years. The Chief Minister reviewed the progress of the project at a meeting with top officials at his residence on Wednesday.He instructed officials to prepare detailed plans for procuring advanced medical equipment suitable for the hospital’s future requirements.The Chief Minister advised engineering officials to design rooms, laboratories, and other structures to accommodate the installation of modern medical technology. Along with the hospital construction, he emphasised that road works around the hospital should be undertaken to ensure that local residents are not inconvenienced.To accelerate t...

New Delhi, Oct 22 (IANS) A team of Singaporean researchers has identified a mechanism where mosquito saliva can help boost the human body's immune response during chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection.The research, published in Nature Communications, showed that sialokinin -- a bioactive peptide in Aedes mosquito saliva -- binds to neurokinin receptors on immune cells and suppresses monocyte activation.This helps reduce inflammation and facilitates early viral dissemination. The findings offer new insight into how mosquito bites shape disease outcomes, said the team from the A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR IDL) in Singapore."This study provides compelling evidence that mosquito salivary proteins are not just passive carriers of viruses but active modulators of host immunity," said Dr...