Latest news with #PublicHealthandPreventiveMedicine
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.
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Sequenced COVID-19 samples were of Omicron and its sub-lineages: DPH
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, 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.
New Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Health officials told to prevent outbreak of diseases at public gatherings across TN
CHENNAI: The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has reissued instructions to all district health officers to ensure public health safeguards to prevent disease outbreaks, ensure sanitation and protect public safety. Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Dr TS Selvavinayagam, said the instructions were issued under Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939, to enforce public health measures during social, recreational, religious and other mass gatherings in the light of increasing frequency and magnitude of public gatherings, including religious congregations, social and cultural events, recreational programmes and political meetings, across TN. The officers have been instructed to supervise, inspect and enforce essential services such as water supply, waste disposal and sanitation during the events and to establish surveillance mechanisms to detect clustering of cases or outbreaks. In the event of a public health emergency, district magistrate and health officers are authorised to issue orders prohibiting assemblies or restricting movement. Selvavinayagam told TNIE the focus is on waterborne and food-borne infections and it was not not related to resurgence of Covid-19 cases.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu has done better in preventing under-five deaths in last few years
Tamil Nadu has been making steady progress in reducing deaths among children under the age of five in the last few years. Focussed measures on improving growth monitoring, nutritional assessment and support, and immunisation services are paying off. Data from the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine showed that the under-five mortality rate (per 1,000 live births) has been falling steadily in the last few years - from 10.9 during 2022-2023, it dropped to 8.2 during 2024-2025. T.S. Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said to prevent deaths among children under the age of five, the State was mainly focussed on growth monitoring, nutritional assessment along with supplementation and immunisation services. 'It needs a complete and comprehensive service provision including management of illness, growth monitoring, nutritional support and immunisation services. Tamil Nadu's success is mainly attributed to the activities which cover all these areas including the role played by the Social Welfare department,' he said. While deaths directly caused by diarrhoea and malnutrition were not occurring now but were more contributory in nature, infections and unintentional injury were among the major causes of deaths in the under-five age group, he added. Rema Chandramohan, former director, Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, said that earlier, there were deaths due to pneumonia and diarrhoea. Deaths due to diarrhoea came down due to use of zinc, oral rehydration salts, and rotavirus vaccination. Availability of good antibiotics for treating infections, vaccines such as for preventing measles along with sanitation and safe drinking water had helped to a great extent. Improving newborn care prevent under-five deaths. 'There are better follow-up services now to ensure better newborn outcomes. Improving breastfeeding rates can also improve outcomes. We advocate breastfeeding up to two years of age as it protects babies from malnutrition, diarrhoea and pneumonia,' she said. The health-seeking behaviour including for mild illness had improved now, she noted. Dr. Rema added that growth monitoring, up-to-date vaccination, breastfeeding and proper complementary feeding are crucial. 'We could concentrate a little more on monitoring the growth of children every three months, pick up children falling behind and take up immediate remedial measures. Anaemia is also common among children. Once malnutrition is prevented, they will not be susceptible to infections,' she said. Dr. Selvavinayagam said that among the key concerns is ensuring exclusive breastfeeding for six months and introduction of locally available appropriate feeding afterwards. 'For this, the young mother needs support from everyone including family, society and the doctors,' he said. 'We have a special scheme - Uttachathai Uruthi Sei (Ensure nutrition)- for identifying malnourished children in anganwadi centres through our health teams along with ICDS and providing them supplementary nutrition. This is one area where we need to focus continuously,' he added.
