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Asia News Network
24-07-2025
- Health
- Asia News Network
Bhutan sees climb in TB, HIV, and malaria cases despite strong systems
July 24, 2025 THIMPHU – The Annual Health Bulletin 2025 of the Ministry of Health (MoH) reveals clear patterns in the country's ongoing battle against infectious diseases, with tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, and malaria continuing to pose significant public health challenges. Despite robust surveillance and health infrastructure, the data indicate a mixed trend, with some diseases showing concerning increase in reported cases, demanding sustained and strategic interventions. Tuberculosis remains a persistent threat, with the number of reported cases increasing steadily over the last three years. In 2023, Bhutan registered 864 TB cases. This rose to 920 cases in 2024, reflecting a continuing burden despite the country's comprehensive TB control strategy. The National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTCP) has been instrumental in leading these efforts, ensuring diagnostic and treatment services are accessible even in remote regions. Yet, multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), treatment non-compliance, and disease relapse remain significant challenges. In 2024 alone, there were 38 pulmonary TB relapses and 17 extrapulmonary TB relapses. The majority of TB cases in 2024 (65 percent) were pulmonary, with 552 confirmed through bacteriological testing. A substantial proportion occurred in the economically active age group, mirroring the 2023 data, which showed the highest incidence among the 15–24-year demographic, especially females. In 2023, 98 females and 72 males were diagnosed with new pulmonary bacteriologically confirmed TB, with extrapulmonary TB cases also skewing heavily towards younger females. These patterns underscore a need for age- and gender-specific interventions, improved awareness, and strengthened diagnostic coverage, particularly in youth populations. The rise in total TB cases from 809 in 2022 to 920 in 2024 reflects the ongoing struggle to fully contain transmission and the importance of maintaining high-quality treatment adherence and education efforts. HIV/AIDS trends also show a steady rise in new infections. In 2023, 61 new cases were reported, rising to 85 in 2024, bringing the cumulative number of HIV infections since 1993 to 1,020. Deaths attributed to HIV have also increased from 6 in 2023 to 21 in 2024, highlighting the disease's ongoing impact despite the country's commitment to the 95–95–95 UNAIDS targets. As of December 2024, 774 people are living with HIV in Bhutan, with 98 percent of them receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). The introduction of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in 2024 for high-risk groups in Paro and Thimphu marked a progressive step in preventive care. However, the continuous rise in new infections underscores the need to expand such measures nationwide and further strengthen HIV awareness, testing, and treatment adherence. While Bhutan has made significant strides toward malaria elimination, the 2024 data revealed an unexpected and sharp resurgence in cases, rising to 144 from just 18 in 2023 and 6 in 2022. This more than four-fold increase is attributed primarily to a large outbreak across the border in Assam, India. Bhutan's real-time surveillance and containment systems proved effective in localising the impact, with cases confined to border districts. Of the 144 cases, 71 were imported, and 73 introduced, resulting from transmission following cross-border exposure. However, none were indigenous cases, confirming that internal transmission remains effectively controlled. Plasmodium vivax accounted for approximately 95 percent of all infections. The demographic most affected by malaria in 2024 was the 15–49 age group (65 percent), which represents the most mobile and economically active section of the population. Males were disproportionately impacted (73 percent), largely due to their roles in border-related occupations such as forestry, farming, and security. This occupational exposure highlights the importance of targeted malaria interventions for high-risk groups and the need for stronger cross-border coordination to prevent future outbreaks. The absence of indigenous malaria cases supports Bhutan's continued progress toward WHO malaria elimination certification, but the sudden spike in cases in 2024 demonstrates how vulnerable even well-controlled systems remain to regional epidemiological dynamics. The latest data showing rising trends in TB, HIV/AIDS, and malaria underscores the need for more targeted and strategic interventions, despite the progress Bhutan has made in tackling these diseases.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Meghalaya cracks whip on smoking in public
Shillong: In a bid to protect public health and reduce tobacco use, the East Khasi Hills District Police have stepped up enforcement of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, targeting smoking in public places and illegal tobacco sales near schools and colleges. The Cantonment Beat House and Lumdiengjri Police Station in the state capital have led the charge, booking the highest number of violators under this initiative. "Enforcement is being carried out under every police station, outpost, and beat house across the district," a senior police official said. The district-wide action is part of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), implemented by the health and family welfare department under the National Health Mission (NHM), Meghalaya. "This campaign is not just about fines. It's about changing behaviour and protecting children, elders, and non-smokers from passive smoke. Our goal is a tobacco-free Meghalaya," the police official pointed out, adding that the initiative has received public support. Reacting to the drive against public smoking, a student of the St Anthony's College remarked: "There are kids and elderly who suffer due to smoke. Meghalaya Police are doing a great job saving lives". Dr Nabneeta D Mawrie, NTCP state nodal officer, said, "Tobacco causes 40% of all cancers and 90% of oral cancer. Eliminating it can save countless lives. We appreciate the police's active role".
News18
22-07-2025
- Health
- News18
Meghalaya Police collects Rs 1 lakh fine from smokers, issue over 1,100 challans
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Shillong, Jul 22 (PTI) In a crackdown on tobacco-related violations, Meghalaya Police have issued over 1,100 challans and collected nearly Rs one lakh in fines from individuals smoking in public in East Khasi Hills district alone, officials said on Tuesday. Smoking in public places is a punishable offence under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003. 'We have collected close to Rs 1 lakh in fine and issued 1,100 challans to individuals who ignored the enforcement of COTPA in past three months," a police officer told PTI. The campaign, which resulted in 1,178 challans and fines totalling Rs 99,280 in just three months, has garnered strong support from the public and is being widely praised as a timely intervention to safeguard community health, he said. The intensified enforcement drive, part of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), implemented by the state Health department and the National Health Mission (NHM) is being carried out across all police stations, outposts and beat houses in the district. Personnel from Cantonment Beat House and Lumdiengjri Police Station have detained several individuals for smoking in public places and for selling tobacco products near educational institutions, a senior police officer in charge of the campaign, said. Authorities clarified that the operation is not merely punitive, but aims at encouraging behavioural change and protecting vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and non-smokers from the dangers of secondhand smoke. 'Smoking remains a serious public health threat, accounting for 40 per cent of all cancer types and 90 per cent of oral cancer cases," a senior official in the Health department said. PTI JOP RG view comments First Published: July 22, 2025, 20:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Business Upturn
26-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
ProQR Announces CTA Submission for Phase 1 Study of AX-0810 Targeting NTCP
First-in-human trial of AX-0810 will evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and target engagement in healthy volunteers with initial data expected in Q4 2025 Marks the first submitted Clinical Trial Application (CTA) advancing ProQR's Axiomer™ ADAR-mediated RNA editing platform into clinical development LEIDEN, Netherlands & CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ProQR Therapeutics NV (Nasdaq: PRQR) (ProQR), a company dedicated to changing lives through transformative RNA therapies based on its proprietary Axiomer™ RNA editing technology platform, today announced the submission of a Clinical Trial Application (CTA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial of its lead pipeline program AX-0810 targeting NTCP, a liver cell protein that transports bile acids into cells. AX-0810 is an investigational ADAR-mediated RNA editing oligonucleotide (EON) designed to selectively modulate NTCP function by reducing toxic bile acid accumulation in the liver, potentially mitigating inflammation, fibrosis, and progression toward liver failure, which are common in cholestatic diseases. 'The submission of this CTA marks a significant milestone for ProQR, representing the first to advance our Axiomer RNA editing platform and pipeline into clinical development,' said Cristina Lopez Lopez, MD, PhD Chief Medical Officer of ProQR. 'This step brings us into the clinic with AX-0810 as we initiate a Phase 1 study to evaluate safety and target engagement in healthy volunteers. Cholestatic liver diseases represent an area of high unmet medical need and by targeting NTCP, AX-0810 introduces a novel therapeutic approach underpinned by human genetics and compelling preclinical data.' The proposed Phase 1 study is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of AX-0810 in healthy adult volunteers. The study will also explore biomarkers to assess early signals of target engagement. Pending regulatory clearance, the study is expected to commence at a single site in the Netherlands with initial data anticipated in Q4 2025. About AX-0810 AX-0810 is an investigational GalNac-delivered RNA editing oligonucleotide designed to treat cholestatic liver disease by targeting NTCP. These diseases are driven by toxic bile acid accumulation due to impaired bile flow, leading to progressive liver damage. AX-0810 offers a novel therapeutic approach by selectively modulating NTCP function, which decreases bile acid reuptake into the liver. This mechanism is supported by human genetics data showing that naturally occurring NTCP variants safety reduce bile acid reuptake, reinforcing the potential of NTCP modulation by ADAR-mediated RNA editing to improve liver health and alter the course of cholestatic disease. About Axiomer™ ProQR is pioneering a next-generation RNA base editing technology called Axiomer™, which could potentially yield a new class of medicines for diverse types of diseases. Axiomer 'Editing Oligonucleotides', or EONs, mediate single nucleotide changes to RNA in a highly specific and targeted way using molecular machinery that is present in human cells called ADAR (Adenosine Deaminase Acting on RNA). Axiomer EONs are designed to recruit and direct endogenously expressed ADARs to change an Adenosine (A) to an Inosine (I) in the RNA – an Inosine is translated as a Guanosine (G) – correcting an RNA with a disease-causing mutation back to a normal (wild type) RNA, modulating protein expression, or altering a protein so that it will have a new function that helps prevent or treat disease. About ProQR ProQR Therapeutics is dedicated to changing lives through the creation of transformative RNA therapies. ProQR is pioneering a next-generation RNA technology called Axiomer™, which uses a cell's own editing machinery called ADAR to make specific single nucleotide edits in RNA to reverse a mutation or modulate protein expression and could potentially yield a new class of medicines for both rare and prevalent diseases with unmet need. Based on our unique proprietary RNA repair platform technologies we are growing our pipeline with patients and loved ones in mind. Learn more about ProQR at Forward Looking Statements for ProQR This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are often indicated by terms such as 'continue,' 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'could,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'goal,' 'intend,' 'look forward to', 'may,' 'plan,' 'potential,' 'predict,' 'project,' 'should,' 'will,' 'would' and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our business, ; our Axiomer™ RNA editing technology platform, including the continued development and advancement of our Axiomer platform, the advancement of AX-0810 to clinical trials, including the timing of, and our ability to obtain regulatory clearance; our expectations regarding the initiation of the planned Phase 1 clinical study of AX-0810 in the Netherlands, including our ability to recruit for and complete the study, and the anticipated timing of initial data in Q4 2025; the plan, timing, progress and results of our preclinical studies, planned clinical trials and other development activities, including the release of data related thereto, and the potential of our technologies and product candidates. Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information available to management only as of the date of this press release. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements for many reasons, including, without limitation, the risks, uncertainties and other factors in our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including certain sections of our most recent annual report filed on Form 20-F. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the cost, timing and results of preclinical studies and clinical trials and other development activities by us and our collaborative partners whose operations and activities may be slowed or halted shortage and pressure on supply and logistics on the global market, economic sanctions and international tariffs; the likelihood of our preclinical and clinical programs being initiated and executed on timelines provided and reliance on our contract research organizations and predictability of timely enrollment of subjects and patients to advance our clinical trials and maintain their own operations; our reliance on contract manufacturers or suppliers to supply materials for research and development and the risk of supply interruption or delays from suppliers or contract manufacturers; the potential for future data to alter initial and preliminary results of early-stage clinical trials; the unpredictability of the duration and results of the regulatory review of applications or clearances that are necessary to initiate and continue to advance and progress our clinical programs; the ability to secure, maintain and realize the intended benefits of collaborations with partners; the possible impairment of, inability to obtain, and costs to obtain intellectual property rights; possible safety or efficacy concerns that could emerge as new data are generated in research and development; general business, operational, financial and accounting risks, and risks related to litigation and disputes with third parties; and risks related to macroeconomic conditions and market volatility resulting from global economic developments, geopolitical instability and conflicts. high inflation, rising interest rates, tariffs and potential for significant changes in U.S. policies and regulatory environment. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future, except as required by law. ProQR Therapeutics N.V. Investor and media contact:Sarah KielyProQR Therapeutics N.V.T: +1 617 599 6228 [email protected] or Investor contact: Peter KelleherLifeSci AdvisorsT: +1 617 430 7579 [email protected]
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
U.T. bags national award for tobacco control measures
Puducherry has bagged the 'Best Performing UT Award' in the Tobacco-Free Youth campaign 2.0, a national recognition conferred by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The award acknowledges Puducherry's efforts in implementing tobacco control initiatives under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) during the year 2024 25, an official release said. The Union Territory was lauded for its robust enforcement of anti-tobacco laws, particularly the yellow line campaigns aimed at preventing the sale of tobacco products near educational institutions. The administration's measure to declare numerous institutions as tobacco-free zones and conduct intensive enforcement drives in collaboration with the police department also came in for commendation, the press note added. According to the release, the highlights of the campaign in Puducherry also included the establishment of 20 new tobacco cessation centres across medical and dental colleges and primary and community health centres. Awareness programmes were also carried out across schools, colleges, and communities. The Department of Health and Family Welfare Services appreciated the sustained efforts of the District Collectorate, Police department, Education department, Social Welfare department, medical and dental colleges, field-level health workers, community health volunteers, and partner organisations for helping achieve the award.
