Latest news with #PublicHealthandPreventiveMedicine
The Hindu
29-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu expands Japanese Encephalitis vaccination to seven more districts
Tamil Nadu is scaling up Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccination to seven more districts. They are Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Vellore, Nagapattinam, and Chennai. According to the World Health Organization, the Japanese Encephalitis virus is spread by mosquitoes (especially Culex tritaeniorhynchus). Though symptomatic JE is rare, the case fatality rate among those with encephalitis can be as high as 30%. Permanent neurologic, cognitive and behavioural sequelae occur in 30%-50% of those with encephalitis, it has said. The Health Department had already identified 14 districts — Cuddalore, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Virudhunagar, Tiruchi, Tiruvarur, Madurai, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvannamalai, Karur, Pudukkottai, and Tiruvallur — as endemic to Japanese Encephalitis. Camps at schools Vaccination was taken up in these districts, and a total of 58,22,906 people have so far benefited from the drive. The vaccination programme would be expanded to seven more districts, and camps would be conducted at government and private schools and Anganwadi centres. Village Health Nurses, who are trained in immunisation, would be involved in administering the vaccine to children aged 1-15 years. Health Minister Ma. Subramanian said a total of 32,64,099 children would benefit, according to a press release. T. S. Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said, 'Whenever we start seeing cases in a particular district or area, we expand the services. This is one strategy to reduce infant/child mortality rate.' He added that the vaccine was supplied free by the Government of India. Noticeable increase in cases In fact, a study taken up by Christian Medical College, Vellore, and the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine found that between 2022 and 2024, there was a noticeable increase in cases (more than five cases) in districts other than the 14 endemic areas such as Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, and Tenkasi. From January 2022 to December 2024, 306 confirmed cases were reported in Tamil Nadu, with the majority of the patients aged 10-19. Chennai had the highest proportion at 40.5%, followed by Tiruvallur, 8.2%, and Tiruvarur, 6.2%. The highest number of cases — 120 — occurred in 2022, followed by 112 in 2023, and 74 in 2024, the study's authors (Regina Elizebeth Joy et al) said in an article, 'Epidemiological profile of JE in Tamil Nadu, 2022-2024: A secondary data analysis of IDSP'. It was published in the Tamil Nadu Journal of Public Health and Medical Research. The study recommended measures, including more vaccination coverage and monitoring, targeted public health interventions, geographically focused control measures, and investigation into urban risk factors and the need for pre-monsoon preventive measures.
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
T.N. government initiates steps to roll out HPV vaccination for girls aged 14
: Moving ahead to implement its budget announcement, Tamil Nadu has initiated the process to procure Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines for girls aged 14. This is to prevent cervical cancer, which is the second most common cancer in women. The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC) has floated tenders for the procurement, and the supply is most likely to reach hospitals in another three months. One of the key budget announcements for 2025-2026, the State government plans to progressively provide HPV vaccination to all girls aged 14 years. It allocated ₹36 crore for the purpose. In line with this announcement, the Health Department constituted a State Advisory Committee in April for the rollout of the HPV vaccination programme. The committee, which has the Health Secretary as its chairperson, comprises officials and experts. The directors of School Education, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Medical and Rural Health Services, Medical Education and Research, Institute of Child Health, and Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology are among its members. Experts, including those in the field of HPV vaccination projects, and representatives from technical/partner agencies are also a part of the committee. 'The State Advisory Committee has discussed all modalities, including protocols for vaccination. Based on its recommendations, we have gone ahead with the procurement of vaccines. The TNMSC has floated the tenders to procure them,' T.S. Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said. He added that the programme would be initiated by vaccinating girl aged 14 (students of Class IX) in government and government-aided schools. 'Prior to vaccination, we will start creating awareness among children and their family members,' he said. Another official said it would take another three months for the supply to reach hospitals. Cancer Institute (WIA), in a year of launching its HPV vaccination initiative at its screening centre at Villupuram Government Hospital and Chennai, has so far administered around 3,500 doses of HPV vaccine, according to Jayashree Natarajan, Gynaecologic Oncologist and Associate Professor, Cancer Institute (WIA). 'The numbers are more in Chennai owing to high awareness levels,' she said. Cervical cancer is the second most common among women after breast cancer. However, it is still the most prevalent cancer in some rural areas, she said, adding: 'Vaccination is not going to prevent cervical cancer alone. It will prevent pre-invasive lesions that progress to cancer.' There are no concerns regarding the safety of the vaccines, she says. 'HPV vaccination programmes have been implemented in places such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. These countries have brought down the cervical cancer rates through screening and vaccination,' Dr. Jayashree said.
The Hindu
05-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
T.N.'s non-communicable diseases screening programme for workplaces to now cover small enterprises and offices
Expanding the workplace-based, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) screening programme, the Health Department on Thursday rolled out the initiative to cover 7,750 small business enterprises and offices targeting nearly 6 lakh employees across the State. Health Minister Ma. Subramanian launched the initiative, which was one of the 118 announcements made in the Health Budget 2025-2026, at an establishment in Guindy Industrial Estate. He told reporters that the Thozhilalargal Thedi Maruthuvam, which was rolled out in January 2024 to cover nearly 8.35 lakh employees in 711 factories, has so far screened 3,90,111 people. Of them, 30,506 were newly diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, or both. Apart from them, 12,468 people, who were already diagnosed with NCDs, continued to receive care under the initiative. The aim was to conduct camps at the workplaces to ensure that working men and women were screened for NCDs. In a bid to expand this programme, the department announced that employees of all small business enterprises will be screened for NCDs. In the first phase, the department aims to cover nearly 6 lakh employees in 7,750 small enterprises and offices that include the information technology sector and commercial establishments' employees, he added. Meanwhile, a total of 2,34,88,431 people have so far benefited under Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam, the State government's flagship scheme to take healthcare to the doorsteps of people that was launched in 2021. In Chennai alone, 25,92,103 people have benefited under the scheme. MP (Chennai South) Thamizhachi Thangapandian, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine T.S. Selvavinayagam and officials of the Greater Chennai Corporation were present.
New Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Man with comorbidities dies after testing positive for Covid; TN reports 10 to 15 cases daily with no new variant
CHENNAI: A 60-year-old man from Chengalpattu district, who was admitted on 15 May at the ESI Hospital in KK Nagar here with acute gastroenteritis, complaints of diarrhoea, and severe dehydration, later tested positive for Covid-19 and died on Tuesday. He passed away while being shifted to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) after testing positive for COVID-19. In a statement, the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Dr T S Selvavinayagam, said scrutiny of the medical reports showed the cause of death was complications due to chronic kidney failure along with other existing comorbidities, and stressed that Covid-19 was only an 'accidental finding'. The statement said the patient had diabetes, hypertension, and stage four chronic kidney failure. 'He was treated for diarrhoea, which got settled, and he continued on dialysis on alternate days for renal failure,' it added. The patient tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday. His condition turned critical on Tuesday, and he was referred to RGGGH, where he was declared dead on arrival. His body was handed over to the Greater Chennai Corporation and was buried at Moolakothalam cemetery following Covid-19 protocols.
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Sequenced COVID-19 samples in Tamil Nadu in were of Omicron and its sub-lineages: Director of Public Health
The Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) of COVID-19 samples showed that the infections were caused by the existing Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 and its sub-lineages, T.S. Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said. The strains currently in circulation are of Omicron and its sub-variants. It has not produced any virulent infections, he pointed out. In a video message put out by the directorate on Tuesday (May 27, 2025), Dr. Selvavinayagam said the current COVID-19 situation in the State was being continuously monitored through the Integrated Health Information Platform. As of now, 10 to 15 cases of COVID-19 were being reported in the State per day. Non-virulent infections Noting that there were non-virulent infections, he said that there were no hospital admissions and deaths due to COVID-19 in the State. 'It is a simple respiratory tract infection. The symptoms are the same and are not severe in nature. So, we may not experience any challenges,' Dr. Selvavinayagam said. To monitor the situation and look out for any new strains of COVID-19, the State had taken up WGS. Of the 26 samples, 19 were sent for WGS to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, in April, he added. 'The results have shown that there is no new variant. The samples were found to be of the existing Omicron, and its descendant variants — JN.1.16.1, LF.7.9, and LF.7.1.2. All these are sub-lineages of Omicron. There are no new variants or any virulent strains of COVID-19. All cases are of simple infections only,' he said. There was one case of NB.1.8.1 variant as well. Reiterating that there was no need for panic, Dr. Selvavinayagam said there was a need to approach this scientifically. 'We are continuously monitoring the situation. What people should know is that if any one has symptoms of COVID-19, especially persons with co-morbidities or the elderly, immediate medical help should be sought at hospitals,' he said. Hand hygiene and cough etiquette should be maintained. 'We should be vigilant. There is no need for panic and no need for any additional restrictions in this situation,' he said. The State government had adequate health infrastructure, Dr. Selvavinayagam added.
