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India Today
12 hours ago
- Health
- India Today
Rabies kills 5,700 Indians every year: Government aims for zero deaths by 2030
India has recorded a 75% reduction in rabies-related deaths, according to Dr. Manoj Murhekar, Director of the ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE).The central government has set a goal of eliminating rabies deaths entirely by 2030, as part of its broader public health strategy.'We need to ensure that dogs are vaccinated. Only human vaccines will not suffice. We have data about how many animal bites are there, but we also need data about how many rabies deaths are there in dogs," said Dr. Murhekar, quoted an ICMR study published in The Lancet last Despite the progress, approximately 5,700 people still die from rabies in India every year, making it one of the leading countries in the world for rabies study also revealed that around 9 million animal bite cases are reported annually in the country, with two-thirds of them involving dog bites, the primary cause of rabies bridge existing gaps in prevention and care, Dr. Murhekar stressed the need to improve the availability of life-saving treatments across the country.'Rabies vaccine is currently available in 80% of health facilities. The goal is to take it to 100%. It is necessary to make monoclonal antibodies vaccine available, and it is especially important to give preformed antibody vaccines in Class 3 bite cases,' he antibody vaccines are a type of immunoglobulins that use lab-made proteins that act like natural antibodies to fight specific regular vaccines that train your body to make antibodies, these give you ready-made protection. They're fast-acting and useful in emergencies or for people with weak immune systems who can't respond well to traditional availability of such vaccines in peripheral health facilities was limited, while they were accessible in medical colleges, they now need to be made available government is also focusing on a 'One Health' approach, which recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.'We need to improve surveillance in animals. The goal is to make the rabies vaccine available in all hospitals across the country,' Dr. Murhekar comes after 22-year-old state-level Kabaddi player from Uttar Pradesh, Brijesh Solanki, died weeks after being bitten by a Solanki, a resident of Farana village, was bitten by the puppy while rescuing it from a drain, he became negligent and did not get an anti-rabies Murhekar stated that the government's objective is to ensure the availability of rabies vaccines in every hospital nationwide.- Ends
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Covid-19 jabs don't raise risk of sudden death: ICMR-NIE Director
New Delhi: Covid-19 vaccines did not increase the risk of sudden death among young adults in India, Manoj Murhekar, director, ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology reiterated, a day after Hassan deputy commissioner KS Lathakumari formed a committee to look into recent deaths in the district due to heart attacks. In the past one month, heart attacks have claimed more than 20 people in Karnataka's Hassan district. Murhekar said blaming Covid vaccines for sudden deaths would not be correct. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 20 Most Expensive Cars Seeking to allay the apprehensions, Murhekar mentioned a ICMR study which revealed that the spate of sudden deaths reported after the pandemic among young adults in India can be attributed to hospitalisation during Covid, binge drinking, and intense unaccustomed activity. "The study was conducted in 50 centres across the country. 800 cases of sudden deaths were included in that-they were healthy people that had suddenly died and did not have any illness. The study found that these deaths occurred due to comorbidity. What we found from our study is Covid vaccination was not associated with sudden deaths," he said. Live Events Murhekar said the study found that those who required hospitalisation due to severe Covid had a higher risk of sudden death, while those who did unaccustomed exercises had higher risk of developing comorbidity, while drug users or those into binge drinking were found to be at risk. He said the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is also undertaking a study on the matter. "The AIIMS study is still ongoing. What they are doing is sudden deaths. They are doing post mortems and trying to find out what could be the reasons. That study is ongoing but what I understand is that many of these had some other problems. To blame Covid vaccines might not be right," he said. Responding to rising concern over the sudden deaths, the Karnataka health department formed an expert committee to investigate a possible link to Covid vaccines. "There are reports from Karnataka that some deaths have happened. I also read that state leadership has constituted a committee. I am sure they would investigate and find out what are the reasons for sudden death," Murhekar said.
India.com
a day ago
- Health
- India.com
COVID Vaccines Not Associated With Sudden Death: ICMR-NIE Director Dr Manoj Murhekar
Highlighting a significant recent study, Dr Manoj Murhekar, the Director of the ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE), addressed the growing concern around sudden cardiac deaths in younger populations. According to an official release from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Murhekar, referring to an in-depth study carried out by ICMR-NIE in 2023, categorically stated that no correlation was found between COVID-19 vaccinations and sudden deaths. He further clarified that factors like genetic predisposition, underlying health conditions, and unhealthy lifestyles are more likely to contribute to such incidents. Supporting this, he mentioned a study by PGI Chandigarh that showed the incidence rate of sudden deaths, 1 in 10,000, has remained stable over the last decade. A 10-member National Media Delegation, led by Dr Manisha Verma, Additional Director General, Press Information Bureau, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, arrived in Chennai on Wednesday as part of a three-day media tour covering Chennai and Puducherry. The delegation began their visit with a detailed tour and interaction session at the Indian Council of Medical Research's National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE), a premier research body under the Department of Health Research. Welcomed by the Institute's Director, Dr Manoj Murhekar, the media team was briefed about NIE's ongoing and completed research projects that contribute to shaping national health policies. Dr Murhekar, along with senior scientists, addressed the delegation's queries and elaborated on studies related to public health priorities. Dr Hemant Shewade, Senior Scientist at ICMR-NIE, presented insights from a recent study on Tuberculosis among highly vulnerable populations. He noted that the findings led the Tamil Nadu government to formulate targeted interventions, significantly improving outreach and containment efforts. Established on July 2, 1999, ICMR-NIE has evolved as a hub for public health research, known for publishing over 140 international journal articles annually. The institute emerged from the merger of the Central JALMA Institute for Leprosy (Field Unit) and the Institute for Research in Medical Statistics. Located in Ayapakkam, Chennai, it specialises in epidemiological studies, disease modelling, clinical trials, and health systems research. The institute also plays a critical role in capacity building through its MPH, Ph.D., and short-term training programs in collaboration with leading universities. ICMR-NIE continues to support state and national health programs through evidence-based research and policy recommendations, thereby strengthening India's public health ecosystem. The media delegation will continue its tour with further visits in Puducherry over the next two days.
