Not Just A Stomach Ache: That Discomfort Could Be Hepatitis Hiding
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The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Move on HPV vaccine rollout to adolescent girls raises other vaccination priorities for Kerala: epidemiologists
Kerala's decision to introduce HPV vaccination targeting adolescent girls, to protect them from cervical cancer is generally hailed as a positive public health measure. However, health experts have pointed out that the State has other pressing public health concerns, where also vaccination strategies must be prioritised. Going by the current data from the population-based and hospital-based cancer registries in Kerala, the incidence of cervical cancer has been on a steady decline in the State over the past several years and it no longer figures among the top five cancers affecting women in Kerala, according to epidemiologists. This is consistent with improvements in women's health and hygiene, better sexual practices, education and healthcare access in Kerala. Even though the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended HPV vaccination for adolescent girls, in Kerala cervical cancer incidence is only eight per lakh population, even when at the national level, cervical cancer remained the second highest of all cancers reported amongst women as in 2022. 'Only if there is an uptick' The committee headed by Dr. B. Ekbal, which submitted the State's Vaccine Policy recommendations in November 2022, had noted that HPV vaccination should be considered in Kerala only if there is an increasing trend in the incidence of cervical cancer from the current baseline. It said that given the fact that the cost of vaccinating 13 lakh adolescent girls would be over ₹200 crore, HPV vaccination was not indicated, nor was it cost effective. Dr. Ekbal says that this picture has changed given that Serum Institute of India is now producing HPV vaccines at much competitive rates. While HPV vaccine manufactured by pharma majors are available in the range of ₹2,000-₹4,000/dose (there is also the HPV vaccine which protects against nine strains of HPV, costing around ₹10,850/dose), Cervavac produced by Serum Institute of India is available at ₹2,000/dose. 'HPV vaccine cost has come down and as far as dosage is concerned, there is some emerging evidence, (as per the WHO), that even a single dose delivers solid protection against HPV. That changes the picture completely. From a gender perspective, I am happy about the State's decision to protect adolescent girls against HPV,' Dr. Ekbal said. Current public health concerns However, the State should not forget its current public health concerns, which included protecting children from rabies through anti-rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis vaccine and from mumps, through an additional dose of MMR vaccine, he said. Rabies is emerging as a serious public health issue in the State, with children being a major casualty, he reminded. 'The mortality and morbidity due to influenza and pneumococcal infections is high in the elderly, the immunocompromised and those with co-morbidities. The State should prioritise annual flu vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine to protect elderly against pneumonia and meningitis,' Dr. Ekbal pointed out. He said that the Health department should recommend these vaccines so that there is more uptake for the same, which can bring down the cost of vaccines. Time to push for elimination 'Introducing HPV for adolescent girls is a policy decision that the Government had taken much earlier. Questions whether HPV vaccination is a priority now can be controversial. It is true that cervical cancer incidence is going down steadily and thus this would be the right time to push through elimination strategies. HPV vaccination is being introduced as part of the State's efforts to eliminate cervical cancer and the operational details are being worked out,' PK Jameela, member, State Planning Board, said.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Tezpur University team develops low-cost device to detect tuberculosis
GUWAHATI A team of researchers from central Assam's Tezpur University has developed an affordable and portable device to detect tuberculosis (TB). The researchers said the device, using the autofluorescence or natural glow of the TB bacteria for detection instead of any chemical or dye, has been specially designed for use in rural and remote areas where advanced medical facilities are not easily available. Pabitra Nath of the university's Department of Physics and the team leader, said the device has a built-in heating system to improve test accuracy and can be operated using a smartphone. 'It costs under ₹25,000 and weighs less than 300 grams, making it a perfect fit for places with limited healthcare infrastructure,' he said. The other members of the team are Biprav Chetry and Chunuranjan Dutta, research scholars from Tezpur University's Department of Physics; J.P. Saikia and Santanu Goswami from the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology; and Abhijit Gogoi from Labdig Innovations and Systems Private Limited. Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial in stopping the spread of TB, a major public health issue in India. The World Health Organization (WHO) and India's National TB Elimination Programme currently recommend LED fluorescence microscopy as the gold standard for TB screening. However, the standard testing method recommended by the WHO needs expensive machines and trained technicians, which are not available in many rural areas. The new device can solve this problem by making TB testing simpler and more accessible, the researchers said. 'While LED-FM offers higher sensitivity than conventional optical microscopy, it has several drawbacks. It depends on costly equipment, chemical staining agents like auramine-O, and trained personnel for sample preparation and interpretation. Furthermore, its reliance on laboratory infrastructure makes it impractical in many rural settings,' Professor Nath said. The device developed by the Tezpur University researchers leverages the principle of autofluorescence, a natural property of certain microbial cells, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis (mTB) cells, that emit a fluorescence signal when excited by a specific wavelength of light. 'The team's key innovation lies in the integration of a heating element within the sensor system. By raising the temperature of the bacterial sample, the system enhances the natural fluorescence signal from mTB cells, enabling trace-level detection without the use of stains or dyes,' Prof. Nath explained. The team has filed a patent for the device, and their study was published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics, an international journal.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Legionnaires' outbreak in NYC raises health alarm: Who's at risk?
An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease has been reported in Harlem, prompting New York City health officials to launch an investigation and urge residents to take precautions. As per the New York Post report, five people have been diagnosed with the illness in Manhattan. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While no deaths have occurred, the city's health department is advising New Yorkers, especially those at higher risk, to stay alert for symptoms and seek medical care early. ' Any New Yorkers with flu-like symptoms should contact a health care provider as soon as possible,' said Dr. Toni Eyssallenne, the city's deputy chief medical officer. 'Legionnaire's disease can be effectively treated if diagnosed early.' What is Legionnaires' disease? The bacterium L. pneumophila was first identified in 1977, as the cause of an outbreak of severe pneumonia in a convention centre in the USA in 1976. It is a serious type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. The infection typically spreads when people breathe in water droplets contaminated with the bacteria, often from sources like showers, hot tubs, cooling towers, or plumbing systems in large buildings. While it is not contagious and cannot spread from person to person, it can, however, be life-threatening without timely treatment. People with high risk include- older adults, smokers, and individuals with chronic lung conditions. A milder form of the illness, called Pontiac fever, causes flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle aches, and typically clears within a week. Death occurs through progressive pneumonia with respiratory failure and/or shock and multi-organ failure. Symptoms to watch for Symptoms usually appear 2 to 14 days after exposure and may include: Persistent cough High fever Headaches and muscle pain Shortness of breath Nausea, diarrhea, or confusion in some cases As per the CDC, the illness is treatable with antibiotics, but early diagnosis is key to recovery. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now How it spreads Globally, waterborne Legionella pneumophila is the leading cause of both isolated cases and outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease. This bacterium, along with related species, is commonly found in natural water sources such as lakes, rivers, creeks, and hot springs. Other species, like L. longbeachae, are typically found in potting soil and gardening mixes. Other outbreaks have been linked to: public bathhouses, cooling towers, water tanks, fountains, swimming pools, and drinking water systems. Infections most commonly happen when people inhale mist or vapor carrying the bacteria, though it can also spread via aspiration, when contaminated water accidentally enters the lungs. As per the World Health Organization(WHO), since many countries lack appropriate methods of diagnosing the infection or sufficient surveillance systems, the rate of occurrence is unknown. In Europe, Australia, and the USA, there are approximately 10–15 cases detected per million population per year.
