Latest news with #IDSP
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Mizoram issues advisory after 2 new Covid cases detected
1 2 Aizawl: The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) of Mizoram health & family welfare department issued an advisory on Friday after two new cases of Covid-19 were detected in the state on Thursday. The advisory issued by the IDSP appealed to the people not to panic as the two Covid-19 infected persons recently detected are being treated at the Zoram Medical College & Hospital (ZMC&H) in Falkawn near Aizawl. They are not serious. It also said most of those infected across the country are mainly being treated in their respective homes while the IDSP and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) are closely monitoring the situation through the national surveillance system. The Covid-19 detected in the country are JN.1, XFG and LF.7.9 variants and those infected are having only mild symptoms, the advisory said, advising people to wash their hands frequently and to use hand sanitiser while advising people having cough to wear masks. During the Covid-19 pandemic years (March 2020-Oct 2024), 734 people died in Mizoram out of 2,39,637 people infected. During last year, 73 people infected with Covid-19 were found while no positive cases were found after Oct last year. At least 11 samples have so far been tested in Mizoram with two positive cases detected during this year after the resurgence of Covid-19 in some countries and India.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Health
- The Hindu
8 per cent infectious disease outbreaks during 2018-2023 spread from animals to humans, study says
Zoonotic outbreaks consistently peaked during June, July, and August, researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai said. Typically, about seven zoonotic outbreaks -- also sometimes called 'spillover events' -- occurred in a month, and such instances significantly increased over the years, specifically, post-pandemic, the study published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia journal found. Study highlights The team analysed a total of 6,948 outbreaks reported under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) to identify trends. Of these, 583 (8.3 per cent) were zoonotic -- Japanese encephalitis was found to account for 29.5 per cent of zoonotic outbreaks, followed by leptospirosis (18.7 per cent) and scrub typhus (13.9 per cent). Region-wise, the northeast part of the country contributed 35.8 per cent of zoonotic disease outbreaks, followed by the southern (31.7 per cent) and western regions (15.4 per cent), the researchers found. They added that late reporting of disease outbreaks has declined over the years -- 52.6 per cent in 2019, 40.9 per cent in 2021, and 5.2 per cent in 2023. Overall, a third of the outbreaks during the study period were reported late, the team said. "Of the 6948 outbreaks reported in IDSP, 583 (8.3 per cent) were zoonotic, with a median of seven monthly zoonotic outbreaks. Outbreaks significantly increased over the years," the authors wrote. Further research required The researchers said that while outbreaks of measles, chickenpox, and dengue have been individually analysed, zoonotic events from the national-level infectious disease surveillance system have not been comprehensively examined. A lack of analysis of geographical patterns and documentation of reporting delays hindered evidence-based decision-making and targeted interventions, the team said. "Critical gaps in weekly outbreak reports were identified, particularly the lack of follow-up documentation. To address these gaps, we recommend strengthening disease-specific surveillance systems in hotspot regions," the authors concluded.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
8 per cent infectious disease outbreaks during 2018-2023 spread from animals to humans, study says
New Delhi: Over eight per cent of outbreaks reported under India's infectious disease surveillance system between 2018 and 2023 were zoonotic -- spread from animals to humans, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an analysis. Zoonotic outbreaks consistently peaked during June, July, and August, researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai said. Typically, about seven zoonotic outbreaks -- also sometimes called 'spillover events' -- occurred in a month, and such instances significantly increased over the years, specifically, post-pandemic, the study published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia journal found. The team analysed a total of 6,948 outbreaks reported under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) to identify trends. Of these, 583 (8.3 per cent) were zoonotic -- Japanese encephalitis was found to account for 29.5 per cent of zoonotic outbreaks, followed by leptospirosis (18.7 per cent) and scrub typhus (13.9 per cent). Region-wise, the northeast part of the country contributed 35.8 per cent of zoonotic disease outbreaks, followed by the southern (31.7 per cent) and western regions (15.4 per cent), the researchers found. They added that late reporting of disease outbreaks has declined over the years -- 52.6 per cent in 2019, 40.9 per cent in 2021, and 5.2 per cent in 2023. Overall, a third of the outbreaks during the study period were reported late, the team said. "Of the 6948 outbreaks reported in IDSP, 583 (8.3 per cent) were zoonotic, with a median of seven monthly zoonotic outbreaks. Outbreaks significantly increased over the years," the authors wrote. The researchers said that while outbreaks of measles, chickenpox, and dengue have been individually analysed, zoonotic events from the national-level infectious disease surveillance system have not been comprehensively examined. A lack of analysis of geographical patterns and documentation of reporting delays hindered evidence-based decision-making and targeted interventions, the team said. "Critical gaps in weekly outbreak reports were identified, particularly the lack of follow-up documentation. To address these gaps, we recommend strengthening disease-specific surveillance systems in hotspot regions," the authors concluded. PTI
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Haryana issues Covid advisory amid rise in weekly cases
Following a rise in Covid-19 cases across Haryana, the state health department has issued a fresh advisory directing all district health officials, surveillance teams, and hospitals to enhance preparedness and remain on alert. The advisory, issued under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), follows the detection of 15 new Covid-19 cases in the past week—eight from Gurugram, five from Faridabad, and one each from Yamunanagar and Karnal. Officials have been asked to ensure hospitals establish dedicated flu corners and maintain adequate isolation beds, oxygen supplies, PPE kits, N-95 masks, antibiotics, and testing kits. 'Hospitals must strictly follow infection prevention and control protocols, particularly in OPDs and emergency wards, where healthcare workers should wear masks,' said a senior health department official. The department has also called for refresher training sessions for medical staff to update them on Covid symptoms, case management, and state protocols. Civil surgeons and district surveillance officers have been instructed to resume monitoring influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) trends. According to the revised testing strategy, 100% of SARI cases and 5% of ILI cases must undergo Covid-19 testing. 'All public and private facilities must upload daily data on the IDSP-IHIP portal,' the advisory states. It also asks districts to coordinate with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to ensure preparedness. In Gurugram, where the highest number of new cases have been reported, 10 beds have been set aside at the Civil Hospital in Sector 10 for possible admissions, although no hospitalisation has been required yet. 'The district administration has intensified surveillance. Early detection and timely isolation are key,' said Dr Jai Prakash, Covid-19 nodal officer. Health officials have urged citizens to wear masks in crowded places, maintain hand hygiene, avoid public spitting, and stay home if symptomatic. 'So far, most patients are showing mild symptoms similar to the common cold,' said Dr Alka Singh, Chief Medical Officer, Gurugram. However, the exact positivity rate or number of tests conducted over the past week has not been disclosed. 'The district administration has intensified surveillance efforts. We are tracing the travel history of both individuals and identifying people they may have come in contact with recently. Early detection and timely isolation are key in preventing further transmission,' said Dr Jai Prakash, Nodal Officer for Covid-19. The health department has also issued an advisory urging citizens to seek medical testing if they develop symptoms such as a cold, cough, fever, body ache, or fatigue. Special focus has been placed on international and inter-state travellers, with district surveillance officers instructed to follow up with such individuals.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
IIT-BHU develops breakthrough tool to track and predict drug-resistant viruses
VARANASI: Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology ( BHU ), Varanasi, developed a new framework that helps understand how viruses evolve to evade drugs and treatments. While the technology primarily focuses on the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), it can also be applied to other pathogens and infectious diseases. The study, led by Aditya Kumar Padhi, Assistant Professor at the School of Biochemical Engineering, was published in the renowned Biophysical Journal. This "integrated multiscale computational framework" combines several advanced computer-based methods. These include protein design, machine learning, hybrid QM/MM, and multiscale simulations to study how viruses evolve. It helps identify mutations or changes in the viral proteins that may reduce the effectiveness of drugs. This discovery comes at a time when COVID-19 cases are once again rising in India and across the globe due to the emergence of new viral variants. As the virus continues to mutate rapidly, this framework can help anticipate how it might resist treatments in the future. While the current study focuses on resistance to sotrovimab, a monoclonal antibody used against SARS-CoV-2, the framework is also applicable to other diseases, including cancer and urinary tract infections. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Doutora: 'Um hábito simples antes de dormir me fez perder 1kg a cada 7 dias!' Revista Saúde Saiba Mais Undo The team members of the Laboratory for Computational Biology & Biomolecular Design (LCBD) also significantly contributed to understanding resistance mechanisms against several other antiviral drugs and monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Padhi said that there are plans to make this framework freely available to scientists and doctors worldwide to support the global fight against drug resistance. This will especially benefit regions with limited resources by giving them access to cutting-edge predictive tools. The research also aligns with India's national health initiatives, such as the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and the National Programme on Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), both of which aim to strengthen the country's pandemic preparedness. 'We developed this framework to address complex healthcare problems like antimicrobial resistance using integrated computational methods. Its modular design makes it suitable for a wide range of biomedical and healthcare challenges,' said Padhi. Prof. Amit Patra, Director of IIT (BHU), said, 'Such advanced technologies reflect the scientific leadership of Indian institutions like IIT (BHU) Varanasi in research and innovation, particularly in tackling infectious diseases and major public health challenges. This also significantly contributes to the objectives of the key programme of the government of India.'
