Latest news with #HepatitisA
The Hindu
a day ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
Ernakulam Public Health Committee moots measures to tackle monsoon-related diseases
The Ernakulam Public Health Committee has recommended stringent action as per the provisions of the Kerala Public Health Act in connection with the control measures initiated against the spread of infectious diseases with the onset of the southwest monsoon. A review of the situation pointed out the possibility of a spike in Hepatitis A and dengue cases. The authorities have asked enforcement agencies and local bodies to take action against those responsible for the distribution of contaminated drinking water in tankers. Transporters should possess the required licences/permits from the Department of Food Safety and other related departments. The committee stressed the need to create awareness among the public to keep their premises clean and avoid situation that may result in an increase in infectious diseases. People living in flood-hit regions and involved in relief and clean-up operations should take doxycycline tablets as a preventive measure based on health workers' advice. Those working in waterlogged areas should also take the medicine, besides taking proper safety measures to avoid infection, according to the health authorities. With the increase in COVID-19 cases, the public can adopt preventive measures including wearing masks and avoiding interaction with others after developing symptoms. Local bodies have also been told to ensure that water sources, including wells in apartment complexes and houses, are chlorinated at regular intervals. Forest department officials said that the school authorities in the district may download the SARPA mobile app to get the contact details of volunteers who have been trained in snake rescue operations. The suggestion was made considering the possibility of snakes entering campuses in the rainy season.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
At monsoon relief camps, stress on precautionary measures to prevent Covid transmission, infectious diseases
Intensifying monsoon has aggravated the fears of infectious diseases outbreaks as well as increased transmission of Covid, especially in rain relief camps. The rains may not have a direct bearing on Covid transmission but the infection can spread like wildfire in closed settings such as in relief camps, where isolation or physical distancing between people will not work. The Health department has thus issued a special warning that all possible precautionary measures be taken in relief camps so that there are no chances of an enhanced transmission of Covid. Covid cases have shown a spike in the State, which is being attributed to the increased circulation of the Omicron JN.1 and its sub-lineages, LF.7 and NB.1.8, which has been responsible for the resurgence in Covid cases in southeast Asian nations such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand. There are over 700 active cases of Covid in the State now, with most of the cases located in Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam and Alapuzha While these virus variants may not cause severe disease, its transmission potential remains high, putting the vulnerable population – the elderly, young children, pregnant women and those with comorbidities – at risk. Masking and hand hygiene are of utmost importance in preventing Covid and those in relief camps and these precautions are important to prevent Covid transmission in camps, Health department has said. Those in camps with any respiratory symptoms, including running nose, cough or breathlessness should necessarily wear masks and camp inmates who newly develop symptoms should inform the Health authorities. Those found to be having Covid will be provided protocol-based care. The threat of infectious diseases, including dengue, chikungunya, leptospirosis and Hepatitis A also becomes acute during the rainy season and this is something else that should be paid attention to in relief camps. The Health department has asked local medical teams to visit relief camps and to ensure that any sick persons are cared for and that medicines are provided. Relief workers as well as volunteers who are likely to be in contact with stagnant rain water should opt for doxycycline prophylaxis to prevent leptospirosis. The camp premises should not become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and should be kept clean. Only boiled water should be provided as drinking water in relief camps, the Health department has advised.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Florida disease-tracking chart returns: Measles, mpox, hepatitis surveillance now available
Disease-tracking information in Florida is available again, allowing residents to learn about outbreaks in their county once more. Florida Department of Health surveillance data, which previously made public the number of current cases of each vaccine-preventable disease by county, had been removed from the state website for several months. The removal, disclosed earlier this month by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, came shortly after a measles case was reported in Miami in March. Measles is among the most contagious diseases in the world, and case counts in the United States are spiking with more than 1,000 reported in 2025. Florida's chart, which contains current trends for communicable diseases, has long been relied upon by epidemiologists and medical professionals for tracking purposes. It includes up-to-date information on outbreaks in Florida, such as measles, mpox and Hepatitis A. Department of Health spokeswoman Isabel Kilman did not respond to the South Florida Sun Sentinel's multiple requests for an explanation of why the chart had been removed, but she told the Tallahassee Democrat that the website was undergoing an upgrade. It doesn't appear that any functions of the chart have changed. Here are some key tracking points the chart now reveals about vaccine preventable diseases: A child in Broward County less than 4 years old contracted measles in April, marking the second case in South Florida in two months. The child acquired the disease outside of the U.S. Broward leads the state in new cases of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox). Thirteen cases of mpox have been reported in Florida so far this year, three in Broward County. In 2022, Florida was part of a nationwide outbreak of monkeypox. 14 cases of leprosy (Hansen's Disease) have been reported in Florida in 2025. In August 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned travelers that leprosy cases in Florida were surging. At the time, Florida was among the top reporting states with nearly 30 cases. The BCG vaccine, while primarily for TB, can offer some protection against leprosy, particularly if someone in the household has leprosy. The state has been grappling with a massive rise in pertussis (whooping cough). There have been 614 cases reported in Florida since January. To date in 2025, the CDC has reported over 8,000 cases of whooping cough, a more than two-fold increase from the same time last year. The CDC recommends whooping cough vaccines for people of all ages. Already in 2025, 63 cases of Hepatitis A have been reported in the state. Florida has grappled with a spread of Hepatitis A for several years, predating the pandemic. In 2019, Florida experienced a statewide outbreak with more than 2,000 cases reported. Dr. Aileen Marty, a professor at Florida International University and an expert in infectious disease and disaster medicine, said surveillance plays a vital role in public health. 'It's important for clinicians and families to know when something is spreading for which we have a prevention,' said Marty, with Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. 'Having good and timely information makes a huge difference in diagnosing a case earlier and helping parents make decisions or take action.' Tracking disease spread has become more critical as vaccination rates have dropped. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, only 88.1% of kindergartners in Florida were vaccinated against measles in the 2023-2024 school year. Herd immunity for measles requires a 95% vaccination rate. Florida's rate is one of the lowest in the nation. Florida's pediatricians say that real-time surveillance helps them guide parents in making informed decisions about vaccination. 'We end up playing catch-up after a child contracts a vaccine-preventable illness, and then we start looking at who else is vulnerable and start offering vaccines,' said Jennifer Takagishi, professor of pediatrics and division chief of General Academic Pediatrics at the University of South Florida. Florida's surveillance chart tracks close to 100 diseases, indicating the age range, county, diagnosis status and whether the person acquired the disease inside Florida, inside the U.S. or outside the U.S. Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@
Fashion Value Chain
27-05-2025
- Health
- Fashion Value Chain
BD Safe Emergency Seminar Launched to Provide Rich Knowledge Sharing Platform for Emergency Department Doctors
To raise awareness and foster discussions on the safety of healthcare workers (HCWs) in emergency departments, BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) has recently launched the 'Safe Emergency Seminar' series across locations in India. BD safe emergancy seminar being conducted across India The emergency departments in hospitals typically demand high efficiency, which, in turn, increases the risk of blood exposure, blood splashes, and needlestick injuries (NSIs). Such incidents can expose healthcare workers to serious diseases like Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and HIV. The BD Safe Emergency seminar aims to provide a platform to bring together doctors from Emergency departments from across hospitals in each city to convene upon and discuss best practices for healthcare worker safety in high- efficiency demanding environment. Commenting on the Safe Emergency seminar series, Atul Grover, Managing Director, BD India/South Asia said, 'Our Safe Emergency seminar is a concerted effort to bring the spotlight on healthcare worker safety especially in dynamic and high efficiency demanding environments. We are committed to providing a platform for creating awareness and sharing best practices on this pertinent topic. This initiative is part of BDs broader commitment to ensuring the well-being of healthcare professionals and enhancing patient outcomes in alignment with our purpose of advancing the world of health.' The Safe Emergency seminars organized across cities featured in-depth scientific discussions on the burden of blood exposure, sharp safety, and vascular access in emergency departments. Experts from leading city hospitals shared valuable insights and data on needle stick injuries (NSI), blood exposure and splash thereby reinforcing the need for stringent safety protocols to protect healthcare workers. The discussions were followed by case studies that illustrated real-world scenarios and the effectiveness of various safety measures. About BD-India BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world and is advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics, and the delivery of care. BD helps customers enhance outcomes, lower costs, increase efficiencies, improve safety, and expand access to health care. Disclaimer The image used in this press release is a stock photo and is for illustrative purpose only. The person(s) depicted herein are models. All content herein is protected by copyright, trademark and other intellectual property rights, as applicable, owned by or licensed to Becton Dickinson or its affiliates unless otherwise indicated.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Diners at Cape Cod restaurant may have been exposed to hepatitis A
Anyone who dined at The Red Inn restaurant and hotel in Provincetown between April 30 and May 15 may have been exposed to hepatitis A and should contact their health care provider, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced Saturday. A food service employee who worked at the Commercial Street restaurant during those dates has been confirmed as having a hepatitis A infection, the health department said in a press release. Measures that prevent hepatitis A infections, such as the hepatitis A vaccine are generally only effective at if administered prior to symptoms appearing and within two weeks of exposure to the virus, according to the health department. Early symptoms of hepatitis A include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and jaundice. Hepatitis A infections can vary in severity, with mild cases lasting two weeks or less and more severe cases lasting four weeks or longer, according to the health department. Some infected persons — most often children — may develop such a mild illness that it goes unnoticed, but even mildly ill people can be highly infectious, the health department said. People who show symptoms of hepatitis A infection should consult a health care provider even if their illness is mild. Hepatitis A spreads through exposure to the feces of an infected person, close contact with an infected person or by ingesting food or drinks that have been handled by an infected person, according to the health department. Those who may have been exposed to the virus at The Red Inn are urged to wash their hands thoroughly prior preparing food to avoid further spread of disease. The hepatitis A vaccine has been recommended as part of childhood immunizations since 1991, so people 34 years or younger may have been previously vaccinated, the health department said. Those who may have been exposed at The Red Inn are urged to check their vaccination status with their health care provider. For more information on hepatitis A, call the health department's epidemiology department at 617-983-6800. Westfield Health Bulletin: physician's retirement a reminder of importance of primary care doctors Harvard hit with discrimination lawsuit over mental health policies Billy Joel cancels all future shows after new diagnosis 'exacerbated by recent performances' Read the original article on MassLive.
