India's active Covid-19 cases surge to 4,302, total deaths at 44
India reported a rise of 276 active Covid cases on Wednesday, pushing the total number to 4,302, according to data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Seven deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours, with Maharashtra alone accounting for four. Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and Gujarat reported one fatality each, increasing the tally to 44.Gujarat and Delhi reported the highest daily surge with 64 new cases each, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 63 and West Bengal with 60. Kerala continued to top the list of states with the highest number of active cases, followed by Maharashtra (510), Gujarat (461), and Delhi (457). Arunachal Pradesh has not reported any Covid cases so far.Commenting on the rising Covid cases, Dr. Arindam Biswas from Kolkata said, "Covid is here to stay. The number of cases will continue to rise and fall over time, but there's no need for panic. What's important is to prevent its spread. People must follow government guidelines and wear masks to stay protected."In response to the rising case count, Kerala health department has issued directives to all government and private hospitals.Mock drills are to be conducted across institutions to assess preparedness. Hospitals are instructed to follow the Revised ABC Guidelines 03, issued in June 2023, for treating patients with COVID-19 and influenza symptoms.The guidelines emphasise monitoring red flag signs such as breathlessness, chest pain, drowsiness, low blood pressure, hemoptysis, and cyanosis in adults. In children, symptoms like somnolence, high persistent fever, feeding difficulties, convulsions, and respiratory distress warrant attention.Tune InMust Watch
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Winter viruses can trigger heart attack or stroke, our study shows. It's another good reason to get flu or COVID shot
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But our new findings build on those from other researchers to show how respiratory viruses can also be a trigger. The theory is respiratory virus infections set off a heart attack or stroke, rather than directly cause them. If traditional risk factors are like dousing a house in petrol, the viral infection is like the matchstick that ignites the flame. For healthy, young people, a newer, well-kept house is unlikely to spontaneously combust. But an older or even abandoned house with faulty electric wiring needs just a spark to lead to a blaze. People who are particularly vulnerable to a heart attack or stroke triggered by a respiratory virus are those with more than one of those traditional risk factors, especially older people. What we did and what we found Our team conducted a meta-analysis (a study of existing studies) to see which respiratory viruses play a role in triggering heart attacks and strokes, and the strength of the link. This meant studying more than 11,000 scientific papers, spanning 40 years of research. Overall, the influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID) were the main triggers. If you catch the flu, we found the risk of a heart attack goes up almost 5.4 times and a stroke by 4.7 times compared with not being infected. The danger zone is short - within the first few days or weeks - and tapers off with time after being infected. Catching COVID can also trigger heart attacks and strokes, but there haven't been enough studies to say exactly what the increased risk is. We also found an increased risk of heart attacks or strokes with other viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), enterovirus and cytomegalovirus. But the links are not as strong, probably because these viruses are less commonly detected or tested for. What's going on? Over a person's lifetime, our bodies wear and tear and the inside wall of our blood vessels becomes rough. Fatty build-ups (plaques) stick easily to these rough areas, inevitably accumulating and causing tight spaces. Generally, blood can still pass through, and these build-ups don't cause issues. Think of this as dousing the house in petrol, but it's not yet alight. So how does a viral infection act like a matchstick to ignite the flame? Through a cascading process of inflammation. High levels of inflammation that follow a viral infection can crack open a plaque. The body activates blood clotting to fix the crack but this clot could inadvertently block a blood vessel completely, causing a heart attack or stroke. Some studies have found fragments of the COVID virus inside the blood clots that cause heart attacks - further evidence to back our findings. We don't know whether younger, healthier people are also at increased risk of a heart attack or stroke after infection with a respiratory virus. That's because people in the studies we analysed were almost always older adults with at least one of those traditional risk factors, so were already vulnerable. The bad news is we will all be vulnerable eventually, just by getting older. What can we do about it? The triggers we identified are mostly preventable by vaccination. There is good evidence from clinical trials the flu vaccine can reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke, especially if someone already has heart problems. We aren't clear exactly how this works. But the theory is that avoiding common infections, or having less severe symptoms, reduces the chances of setting off the inflammatory chain reaction. COVID vaccination could also indirectly protect against heart attacks and strokes. But the evidence is still emerging. Heart attacks and strokes are among Australia's biggest killers. If vaccinations could help reduce even a small fraction of people having a heart attack or stroke, this could bring substantial benefit to their lives, the community, our stressed health system and the economy. What should I do? At-risk groups should get vaccinated against flu and COVID. Pregnant women, and people over 60 with medical problems, should receive RSV vaccination to reduce their risk of severe disease. So if you are older or have predisposing medical conditions, check Australia's National Immunisation Program to see if you are eligible for a free vaccine. For younger people, a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and balanced diet will set you up for life. Consider checking your heart age (a measure of your risk of heart disease), getting an annual flu vaccine and discuss COVID boosters with your GP. (The Conversation)
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Covid 19 resurges in the country: How THIS common symptom is key to the new variant
The COVID-19 virus has made a comeback after a lull of a couple of years, and there has been a surge in the number of cases worldwide, including India. For now, most cases remain mild, and patients are recovering well at home, though the government has issued caution for those who are suffering from co-morbidities, including pregnant women, and elderly people. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, the COVID-19 virus continues to change and mutate, creating new variants that spread differently and cause different symptoms. One of the newest variants, called NB.1.8.1 or "Nimbus," has caught the attention of doctors and patients worldwide because it often causes a very painful sore throat, also called "razor blade throat." Let's dig deeper into the new symptom... History of the Nimbus variant Nimbus (NB.1.8.1) is a descendant of the Omicron variant, and was first detected in January 2025. Since then, it has spread quickly across many countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, and parts of Asia. However, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) the variant remains mild as of now, and does not cause severe illness. Why Is Throat Pain So Common with Nimbus Doctors have noticed that many patients infected with Nimbus report a sore throat that feels extremely painful, to the extent that even drinking water feels difficult. Some describe it as if they are "swallowing razor blades" or "glass." This is different from the mild sore throat people experienced with earlier COVID variants. Leading doctors explain that in this symptom, the throat feels very dry and cracked, causing intense pain. This severe throat pain likely happens because the virus causes inflammation and irritation in the throat tissues, leading to pain that can exacerbate while eating and drinking. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Other symptoms Though throat pain is the new symptom of the Nimbus variant, it usually comes with other common COVID symptoms. These include: Cough Fever Fatigue Muscle aches that feel like extreme fatigue and tiredness Nasal congestion that can last longer than usual Headaches Nausea or vomiting Changes in taste or smell These symptoms are similar to those seen with other Omicron variants as well. What should you do if you have a sore throat Not all sore throats will be caused by Covid. However, if you are experiencing other symptoms as well, along with a sore throat that feels sharp or burning, especially if it is severe enough to make swallowing difficult, you should: Get tested for COVID-19: Since throat pain is a key symptom of the Nimbus variant, testing can confirm if you have the virus. Stay isolated: To prevent spreading the virus to others, stay home and avoid close contact with people. Drink plenty of fluids: Even if it hurts, try to keep yourself hydrated to soothe your throat. Use throat lozenges or warm salt water gargles: These can help ease the pain temporarily. Seek medical help if symptoms worsen: If you have trouble breathing, persistent high fever, or severe pain, contact a healthcare provider immediately. Remember, sore throats can also be caused by a bacterial infection that can only be managed with antibiotics. However, since Covid is a virus, it does not respond to antibiotics. Hence, it is important to not self medicate, and consult a doctor. Vaccine is still your best bet The good news is that current COVID-19 vaccines, especially with updated boosters, continue to protect people from severe disease, hospitalization, and death caused by the Nimbus variant. While the variant can cause painful symptoms like sore throat, vaccinated individuals generally experience milder illness. Sources: World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
BJP MP Eatala Rajender accuses Revanth Reddy of undermining self-respect, sacrifices of Telangana people; praises PM Narendra Modi's leadership
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