Latest news with #JapaneseEncephalitis
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
AIIMS Nagpur is Maharashtra's first medical college to get BSL-3 lab
Nagpur: In a significant step forward for public health in Vidarbha and surrounding areas, AIIMS Nagpur will soon be home to Maharashtra's first Bio-Safety Level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory in a medical college, thanks to a tie-up with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), New Delhi. This cutting-edge lab will help doctors quickly detect and respond to deadly infections like Nipah, Zika, bird flu, and even viruses used in bioterrorism. For common people, this means faster diagnosis, better protection during disease outbreaks, and stronger health systems in our region. "This BSL-3 lab will make AIIMS Nagpur a hub for detecting dangerous infections early, which is crucial to stop them from spreading," said Dr Prashant P Joshi, executive director of AIIMS Nagpur. Currently, the only BSL-3 lab in Maharashtra is at the National Institute of Virology, Pune. Once operational, the Nagpur lab will not only serve patients but will also train microbiologists and technicians from across the state to fight infectious diseases better. Dr Meena Mishra, who heads the department of microbiology and is the project in charge, explained, "BSL-3 labs are highly secure and are built to handle very dangerous germs. These germs can cause severe disease and can spread from animals to humans, like Japanese Encephalitis, Mpox, or Nipah virus. With this lab, we'll be able to test and research them safely right here in Nagpur." Unlike the existing BSL-2 lab at AIIMS, which handles common infections like dengue and Covid-19, the BSL-3 lab will work with much riskier pathogens. It will have features like airtight rooms, HEPA filters to clean the air, and specially trained staff in full protective gear. The lab is being set up under the PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. The NCDC has allotted Rs30 crore for it — Rs25 crore for infrastructure and Rs5 crore for equipment and testing kits. Experts from Delhi, including Sunil Bharadwaj (additional director, NCDC), Dr Ankur Garg (joint director), and Dr Aradhana Bhargava (nodal officer for the lab), recently signed the MoU with AIIMS authorities during their visit to Nagpur. Once ready, this BSL-3 lab will become a crucial defence system against any future epidemic or bio-emergency, ensuring that people in Central India don't have to wait or travel far for testing and treatment. "This initiative strengthens India's ability to deal with public health emergencies. We're proud to bring such a facility to Nagpur," Dr Joshi added.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Govt includes Japanese Encephalitis vaccination in national immunization programme
The state public health department has included the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine as part of the routine immunization programme for Pune, Raigad, and Parbhani districts. Dr Sandeep Sangale, joint director, state family welfare bureau, said, 'The JE vaccination is still not part of national immunization across Maharashtra. There are still 37 districts and municipal corporations in the state that don't have JE vaccination as part of routine immunisation.' According to the officials, in March 2025, a pilot project for the JE vaccination drive was launched by the state health department in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Panvel districts. The health department ordered that the JE vaccination campaign be conducted only until April 30, 2025. Later, the JE vaccine was made part of the routine immunisation programme, they said. In the three districts, there is an eligible population of 50 lakh children in the 1-15 years age group. During the drive JE vaccine dose of 0.5ml will be administered in the muscle on the outer side of the left thigh. Dr Pravin Vedpathak, assistant director of the state family welfare department, who is in charge of routine immunization, said, the first phase of the JE vaccination for children was carried out three years ago in 16 districts of Maharashtra including Gondia, Gadchiroli, Wardha, Solapur, Bhandara and Dharashiv among others. 'Later the JE immunization was made part of routine immunization in these 16 districts. Similarly in Pune, Raigad and Parbhani, the JE vaccination has been made part of the national immunisation programme,' he said. As per officials, JE immunization is conducted for children in both government and private schools, anganwadis, and in the community.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
University of Liverpool gets UGC nod to open its first foreign varsity campus in Bengaluru by 2026
The University of Liverpool received a formal approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to open the first foreign university campus in Bengaluru during an event attended by the Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday, May 26, 2025. Part of the UK's Russell Group, University of Liverpool's Bengaluru campus is scheduled to welcome its inaugural cohort of undergraduate and postgraduate students in August 2026. Also read: Rajasthan 8th result 2025 released, here's how to check at It will initially offer programs in Business Management, Accounting and Finance, Computer Science, and Biomedical Sciences. The university will also introduce a program in Game Design—a unique offering for a UK university campus in India to offer this innovative subject, a press release informed. In addition, the new campus will also create enriching global exchange opportunities, providing UK-based students with an exciting new destination for international study. Also read: MBOSE SSLC Supplementary Results 2025 released, 80.35% students pass The University of Liverpool has a long-standing research partnership with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences. The impact of this over 20-year partnership includes informing World Health Organisation vaccine guidelines for Japanese Encephalitis, saving more than 200,000 lives, the release added. Other key collaborations in Karnataka include the Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru and companies such as Hindustan Unilever which builds on a long-term partnership between the University and UK Unilever, who jointly established the Materials Innovation Factory, a world-class centre of materials chemistry expertise and facilities with one of the highest global concentrations of materials science robotics. Also read: SC agrees to hear plea challenging proposed NEET-PG 2025 exam in 2 shifts Apart from Bengaluru, Delhi University is another important partner alongside the All India Institute for Medical Sciences, where the University of Liverpool launched an initiative to tackle head and neck cancer. Moreover, University of Liverpool senior leaders have also signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to explore future collaborative opportunities with companies and organisations including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited, Wipro Limited, YouWeCan, and Dream11. The University of Bengaluru Bengaluru campus will create the research-intensive environment befitting of a Russell Group university. Students enrolling at the University of Liverpool, Bengaluru will benefit from the following: Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, expressed his delight to have received approval from the University Grants Commission to open Bengaluru's first international campus. 'The Indian government's ambition to significantly increase enrolment in higher education is visionary and we are excited to be developing plans to play our part,' Professor Jones said. He highlighted that opening a campus in Karnataka 'feels like the next natural step', building on the existing partnerships and collaborations. 'We look forward to providing talented students with access to an exceptional learning experience and a range of fantastic opportunities to develop their skills and employability. We are also committed to embedding a strong research culture to the benefit of industry, the region and the wider world,' Professor Jones added. Lindy Cameron, the British High Commissioner to India, pointed out that the youth is at the heart of the UK-India partnership, and education is one of the most powerful tools unlocking opportunities for growth and innovation across both our countries, shaping a shared future. 'The University of Liverpool's new campus in Bengaluru is a landmark achievement, deepening the links between our innovators and academics for years to come. The UK and India are working together to inspire, empower and connect the next generation of leaders and changemakers,' she said. Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India at British Council said that the University of Liverpool's decision to open the first UK university campus in Bengaluru marks a major step forward in the UK-India education partnership. 'It demonstrates a shared vision for expanding access to world-class education and driving research collaboration that addresses global challenges. This development supports the goals of India's National Education Policy 2020, which emphasises the internationalisation of higher education. It will help strengthen academic ties, encourage cross-cultural exchange, and open up transformative opportunities for students in both countries," she remarked. Professor Tariq Ali, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Global Engagement and Partnerships at the University of Liverpool termed the new campus as a 'wonderful opportunity' to strengthen and deepen the university's ties with India. He said it will create exciting opportunities for greater collaboration in education and research, connecting business and innovation ecosystems and opening up the potential for wider benefits to the respective regions and cities.
India Today
26-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
Game design, IISc ties, research: All about Liverpool University's Bengaluru campus
The University of Liverpool, a prominent member of the UK's Russell Group, has received approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to establish the first foreign university campus in Bengaluru. This announcement was made at an event attended by Union Education Minister Dharmendra to commence in August 2026, the Bengaluru campus will offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Business Management, Accounting and Finance, Computer Science, and Biomedical it will introduce a unique programme in game design, marking the first such offering by a UK university campus in India. This is the second UK university opening a campus in India. The first was Southampton University, which was set to open its campus in Gurgaon by April 2025, with student intake slated for August 2025."Delighted to handover the Letter of Intent to University of Liverpool, one of UK's premier academic institutions, for setting up a campus in India. Today's development is another milestone in India's journey of deepening academic partnerships with leading global universities and also a reaffirmation of India's emergence as a trusted partner in global higher education," said Dharmendra Pradhan at the University of Liverpool has longstanding collaborations in Karnataka, including a 20-year research partnership with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), which contributed to World Health Organisation guidelines on Japanese Encephalitis partnerships include the Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru and Hindustan will benefit from the university's global curriculum, industry connections, and opportunities for international TO BE BENGALURU'S FIRST INTERNATIONAL CAMPUSProfessor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, stated, "We are delighted to have received approval from the UGC to open Bengaluru's first international campus. This initiative builds on our existing partnerships in the region and reflects our commitment to providing exceptional learning experiences."He further continued and mentioned that all the academic excellence and research curriculum will be continued in India as well."The University of Liverpool campus in Bengaluru will focus on research, academic excellence, and developing the required skill set in students. This will also include the exchange of students for internship programmes and research work," Tim Jones to India Today, he said, "The university campus in India will bring the academic world together, and this will not only benefit India but also enhance the talent pool and contribute to taking academics to new levels."The British High Commissioner to India, Lindy Cameron, remarked, "The University of Liverpool's new campus in Bengaluru is a landmark achievement, deepening the links between our innovators and academics for years to come."advertisementAlison Barrett MBE, Country Director India, British Council, added, "This development supports the goals of India's National Education Policy 2020, emphasising the internationalisation of higher education."As of 2024, approximately 99,000 Indian students are enroled in UK institutions, which saw a sharp decline in less then two years after voices were on the ground to restrict the number of foreign students intake in the country.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Rajnath lauds Yogi for UP's remarkable transformation
1 2 3 Lucknow: Praising Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath 's leadership, defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday lauded Uttar Pradesh for the "remarkable" implementation of central govt schemes in the health sector, alongside the execution of state initiatives. In Lucknow for a day to participate in the silver jubilee celebrations of Dr KNS Memorial Hospital, Rajnath said, "Uttar Pradesh's enhanced healthcare system, particularly its ambulance services, medical treatment, and infrastructure, has become a model for other states." Highly impressed with govt's tackling of Japanese Encephalitis in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Rajnath said, "Prior to 2017, the Purvanchal (eastern) region, particularly Gorakhpur, the CM's hometown, witnessed numerous child fatalities due to JE during the monsoon. This tragic pattern persisted for four to five decades. Previous regimes had given up against this epidemic, considering these deaths inevitable. " "The prevalent belief was that monsoon seasons would invariably claim around 2,000 young lives annually. This perception shifted dramatically after the BJP's double-engine govt assumed office in Uttar Pradesh in 2017. The CM personally committed to addressing this severe health crisis, with the BJP govt initiating intensive measures. Reports indicate that Yogi maintained direct oversight of all intervention levels," said Rajnath while addressing a large gathering of medical professionals at the private hospital. He said, "Japanese Encephalitis-related child mortality has now decreased to single digits (nine per year), not only in Purvanchal but throughout Uttar Pradesh. This transformation demonstrates how effective leadership can overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges." "Under Yogi's administration, the state is systematically establishing medical colleges across all districts. Notably, Uttar Pradesh now ranks second nationally in MBBS seat availability and leads in the number of medical colleges. UP currently operates 80 medical colleges, comprising 44 government institutions and 36 private establishments. Uttar Pradesh exemplifies successful public-private collaboration in healthcare. This partnership model is expected to continue driving the state's progress," he added.
