Latest news with #NilakanthaMishra
New Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Odisha reports first Covid death of the season
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha reported its first Covid-related fatality of the season after an 85-year-old man from the capital city succumbed at his residence on Saturday. Sources said swab samples of the elderly man was collected and sent for tests after he developed symptoms and fell sick. His test reports confirmed that he was positive for SARS-CoV2. Odisha has reported a total of eight Covid cases in May. The tally includes five from Bhubaneswar, two from Cuttack and one from Khurda. Other patients are in stable condition and are recovering well, sources said. Director of public health Dr Nilakantha Mishra said he has been informed of the death and has asked officials to inquire into it. 'An audit will be conducted to ascertain whether the elderly man had comorbidities, and the primary cause of his death,' Mishra told TNIE. So far, 3,395 Covid cases and 22 deaths have been reported in May in the country. In Odisha, recent genome sequencing has identified LF.7.9 and XGF as the dominant sub-variants in circulation. WHO has classified these as variants under-monitoring. Health secretary Aswathy S urged people to remain vigilant but not panic. She emphasised that the circulating variant has not led to any serious complications among patients so far.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Bhubaneswar officials directed to ensure distribution of insecticidal nets ahead of monsoon
BHUBANESWAR: With the onset of monsoon, the Health and Family Welfare department has geared up for containing vector and water borne diseases. After a review of the situation here on Thursday, Health secretary Aswathy S directed officials to intensify awareness activities at grassroots level and ensure sufficient stock of drugs at different levels ranging from ASHA worker to sub-centre, PHC, CHC and district headquarters hospitals. CDMOs have been asked to ensure the distribution of long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) with the help of ASHA workers, MPHWs at village and ward level. 'Senior officers from the directorate of public health and National Health Mission (NHM) would go to grassroots level and ensure 100 per cent distribution and use of LLINs, availability of testing devices, sufficient stock of drugs, active surveillance, screening and testing,' said an official. Director of public health Dr Nilakantha Mishra has been advised to prepare a detailed schedule of the movement of officers to districts, particularly those where more number of malaria, dengue and diarrhoea cases have been detected in the past few years. More than 40.49 lakh LLINs have been allotted to seven districts which reported higher incidence of malaria last year. Aswathy directed officials to focus on these high-burden districts and intensify preventive and surveillance activities. The activities would be carried on targeted campaign mode under the supervision of NHM mission director Dr Brundha D.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Health dept takes steps to contain diseases
Bhubaneswar: More than 40.49 lakh long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) were provided to seven malaria-prone districts to be distributed among the vulnerable population. These districts are Rayagada, Kalahandi, Koraput, Kandhamal, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Boudh. Similarly, two districts, namely Sundargarh and Khurda, reported a comparatively higher number of dengue cases last year. Health and family welfare secretary Aswathy S at a meeting on Thursday directed officials to intensify preventive and surveillance activities in these districts. She asked them to ensure actual use of LLINs by people in their houses. The chief district medical and public health officers were asked to ensure this with the help of ASHA workers and multi-purpose health workers (MPHWs) in villages and wards. In the meeting, it was decided that senior officers from the directorate of public health and the National Health Mission (NHM) would go to the grassroots level and ensure 100% use of LLINs, availability of testing devices, sufficient stock of drugs, active surveillance, screening, and testing. Director of public health Nilakantha Mishra was advised to draw a detailed schedule for the movement of officers to districts. While reviewing the preparedness, the health secretary directed intensification of wide awareness activities at the grassroots level and ensure sufficient stock of required drugs at different levels, ranging from ASHA workers to sub-centres, primary health centres, community health centres, sub-divisional and district quarter hospitals. Aswathy also directed mobilisation of the community and orient them towards preventive practices involving women self-help groups (WSHGs), community leaders, and MPWHs. It was also decided at the meeting to issue advisories for proper cleaning of overhead water tanks and sanitisation of water sources in residential complexes or hostels before the reopening of educational institutions. The issues relating to regular water quality testing, disinfection, and monitoring in rural and urban areas were also discussed. The activities would be carried out in a targeted campaign mode under the supervision of NHM mission director Brundha D.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Three new Covid cases reported in state
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Three more Covid cases were reported from the state in the last two days. With this, the total number of Covid cases touched four in the state, official sources said here on Wednesday. One case was reported last week. The latest cases were reported from Khurda and Bhubaneswar. While one was reported from a govt hospital, the other three were detected in a private hospital, said the director of public health, Nilakantha Mishra. He said persons with Covid symptoms, including severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and influenza-like illness (ILI), can consult their doctors and go for a test if advised. "We have not seen any alarming or abnormal rise of Covid so far," he said. He said the Centre has not provided any new guidelines on Covid management. "We are following the existing guidelines of 2022. The central team is also monitoring the situation. This is a normal variant of Coronavirus," he added. Mishra said the Covid situation in the state is under control. "People should not panic. The single case detected on May 21 is cured now. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [Click Here] - 2025 Top Trending Search - Local network access Esseps Learn More Undo No dangerous Covid case has been reported in the state so far. If we get any Covid report, we will confirm it through the RTPCR method," he said. He said the May 21 case was sent for genome sequencing. "As per the result, it is a JN.1 variant of the coronavirus. We are also sending the samples of the three new cases for genome sequencing," he added. A 75-year-old man admitted to a private hospital tested positive for Covid on May 21, the first Covid case reported this year. The man, with comorbidity conditions, was undergoing treatment for pneumonia and heart-related ailments in a private hospital. During treatment, Covid was detected in the person. He will be discharged soon, official sources said. "We are monitoring the situation. No need to panic. We will also await further instructions from the Centre," said health secretary Aswathy S. The first Covid case was reported in Odisha on March 15, 2020. A student who returned from Italy tested positive. Odisha has reported more than 13.39 lakh Covid cases so far. The state has also reported 9,215 Covid deaths.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
"Be cautious but not worry": Director of Public Health for Odisha govt on hike in COVID cases
Bhubaneswar: Amid rising concerns over a surge in COVID-19 cases in India, Dr. Nilakantha Mishra , Director of Public Health for the Government of Odisha, urged the public not to worry since this strain seems to be very mild. Speaking to ANI, Dr Mishra said, "The number of COVID cases is increasing, but the number of hospitalisations is not increasing. There is nothing to worry about since this strain seems to be very mild. We advise people to be cautious but not to worry." On May 27, the number of COVID-19 cases in India reached 1,010. According to medical experts, the symptoms are similar to those of colds or flus. Chief Executive Officer of Dr. Dangs Lab, Arjun Dang, on Tuesday stated that the rising cases of Covid-19 belonged to the sub-lineage of the Omicron virus. Dang further stated that in states like Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, the variants that were named as 'Variants under Monitoring' were of types LF7 and NV181 and were more transmissible. "We must understand that the current spreading variants are again a sublineage of the Omicron virus. Additionally, in states like Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, we have certain other sub-variants that have been named Variants Under Monitoring, and these are basically of two types, LF7 and NV181. Currently, the cases that we are seeing are more transmissible. They can infect people easily, but again, from the severity perspective, till now, we have not seen any severe cases," Dang told ANI. He further stated that symptoms of patients were only common cold and flu, and added that hospitalisations currently were minimal. "All of these are actually presenting as common cold and flu, and the usual symptoms that we have in any kind of common cold, even the hospitalisations, have been minimal," he added.
