Latest news with #TheLancetRegionalHealthSoutheastAsia
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
8 per cent infectious disease outbreaks during 2018-2023 spread from animals to humans, study says
Zoonotic outbreaks consistently peaked during June, July, and August, researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai said. Typically, about seven zoonotic outbreaks -- also sometimes called 'spillover events' -- occurred in a month, and such instances significantly increased over the years, specifically, post-pandemic, the study published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia journal found. Study highlights The team analysed a total of 6,948 outbreaks reported under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) to identify trends. Of these, 583 (8.3 per cent) were zoonotic -- Japanese encephalitis was found to account for 29.5 per cent of zoonotic outbreaks, followed by leptospirosis (18.7 per cent) and scrub typhus (13.9 per cent). Region-wise, the northeast part of the country contributed 35.8 per cent of zoonotic disease outbreaks, followed by the southern (31.7 per cent) and western regions (15.4 per cent), the researchers found. They added that late reporting of disease outbreaks has declined over the years -- 52.6 per cent in 2019, 40.9 per cent in 2021, and 5.2 per cent in 2023. Overall, a third of the outbreaks during the study period were reported late, the team said. "Of the 6948 outbreaks reported in IDSP, 583 (8.3 per cent) were zoonotic, with a median of seven monthly zoonotic outbreaks. Outbreaks significantly increased over the years," the authors wrote. Further research required The researchers said that while outbreaks of measles, chickenpox, and dengue have been individually analysed, zoonotic events from the national-level infectious disease surveillance system have not been comprehensively examined. A lack of analysis of geographical patterns and documentation of reporting delays hindered evidence-based decision-making and targeted interventions, the team said. "Critical gaps in weekly outbreak reports were identified, particularly the lack of follow-up documentation. To address these gaps, we recommend strengthening disease-specific surveillance systems in hotspot regions," the authors concluded.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
8 per cent infectious disease outbreaks during 2018-2023 spread from animals to humans, study says
New Delhi: Over eight per cent of outbreaks reported under India's infectious disease surveillance system between 2018 and 2023 were zoonotic -- spread from animals to humans, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an analysis. Zoonotic outbreaks consistently peaked during June, July, and August, researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai said. Typically, about seven zoonotic outbreaks -- also sometimes called 'spillover events' -- occurred in a month, and such instances significantly increased over the years, specifically, post-pandemic, the study published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia journal found. The team analysed a total of 6,948 outbreaks reported under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) to identify trends. Of these, 583 (8.3 per cent) were zoonotic -- Japanese encephalitis was found to account for 29.5 per cent of zoonotic outbreaks, followed by leptospirosis (18.7 per cent) and scrub typhus (13.9 per cent). Region-wise, the northeast part of the country contributed 35.8 per cent of zoonotic disease outbreaks, followed by the southern (31.7 per cent) and western regions (15.4 per cent), the researchers found. They added that late reporting of disease outbreaks has declined over the years -- 52.6 per cent in 2019, 40.9 per cent in 2021, and 5.2 per cent in 2023. Overall, a third of the outbreaks during the study period were reported late, the team said. "Of the 6948 outbreaks reported in IDSP, 583 (8.3 per cent) were zoonotic, with a median of seven monthly zoonotic outbreaks. Outbreaks significantly increased over the years," the authors wrote. The researchers said that while outbreaks of measles, chickenpox, and dengue have been individually analysed, zoonotic events from the national-level infectious disease surveillance system have not been comprehensively examined. A lack of analysis of geographical patterns and documentation of reporting delays hindered evidence-based decision-making and targeted interventions, the team said. "Critical gaps in weekly outbreak reports were identified, particularly the lack of follow-up documentation. To address these gaps, we recommend strengthening disease-specific surveillance systems in hotspot regions," the authors concluded. PTI
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
2023 Tamil Nadu outbreak of neurological infection traced to contaminated saline at clinic: Study
New Delhi, A genetic study has traced a 2023 outbreak of a neurological infection in Tamil Nadu to contaminated saline water used at a dental clinic, findings of which were published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia journal. Twenty-one probable cases of neuromelioidosis a neurological infection caused by bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei between July 2022 and April 2023 were identified across four districts in the northern part of the state. Seventeen of the 21 cases came from a single district, of which 10 reported undertaking treatment at a dental clinic. The cluster of cases were found to have higher and quicker deaths, compared to the other 11 sporadic cases from environmental sources. Researchers from Christian Medical College, Vellore, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, and other institutes attributed the cluster to invasive dental procedures injecting of a local anaesthetic and repeated irrigation with saline performed under suboptimal infection prevention and control conditions. Whole genome sequencing of 209 isolates, obtained from tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid samples of the affected, revealed 'ST1553' strain of the bacterium B pseudomallei as being associated with the neurological infection outbreak. Along with suggesting a new process by which neuromelioidosis can be contracted, the findings highlighted the importance of molecular methods of analysis in identifying the strain of the bacterium circulating in southeast Asia. Rigorous infection prevention and control practices across healthcare facilities, particularly those performing invasive procedures, need to be enforced, the authors said. "We confirmed a large cluster of neuromelioidosis from south India, likely representing sporadic cases from environmental sources and cases linked to an iatrogenic source at a dental clinic," the authors wrote. "Rapid and high case fatality among dental cases supports the direct trans-neural spread of B pseudomallei to the brainstem following inoculation via contaminated saline," they wrote.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Scientists develop, validate scale to measure stigma in patients with sickle cell disease
New Delhi: Researchers in India have developed and validated a scale to measure stigma in a patient suffering from sickle cell disease and their caregivers. Described in a paper in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia journal, the ' ICMR-SCD Stigma Scale for India ' or ISSSI is the first such tool in the country and fourth in the world, available in clinical and research settings. India accounts for the second-highest prevalence of sickle cell disease in the world, following sub-Saharan Africa. The condition is a genetic disorder in which red blood cells are mis-shaped, affecting their ability to deliver oxygen. The team, including researchers from the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), said that despite the huge burden of sickle cell disease and associated stigma in India, not much research has been done, and no stigma measurement tool is available. ISSSI characterises the nature of stigma under these categories -- perceived stigma, internalised stigma, experienced stigma and disclosure stigma. The team's study developed and validated the ISSSI for patients and caregivers across six districts where sickle cell disease is endemic, including Alluri Seetharama Raju in Andhra Pradesh and Anuppur in Madhya Pradesh. Findings highlight ISSSI's psychometric robustness and utility in clinical and research settings, the researchers said. "The ISSSI (captures) multidimensional aspects of stigma, including familial and reproductive, social disclosure, illness burden, interpersonal, and healthcare interaction challenges," the authors wrote. Future studies should apply the ISSSI scale across diverse cultural and linguistic contexts to improve its generalisability and impact, they said. People with sickle cell disease often suffer from episodes of severe pain, chronic fatigue, swelling, infections, and potential organ damage, significantly impacting their quality of life.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Health Matters newsletter: healthy beginnings for healthy futures
On the growing burden of malnutrition among married women in South Asia, drug-resistant infections, new research hinting at answers to old questions, updates in medical education, and more. When does good health begin? Is it in our 20s and 30s, when we begin to take exercise and healthy food seriously? Or does it begin earlier, in our childhood and adolescence? Or even earlier maybe, in the womb? Research now suggests that it may perhaps begin prior to conception -- with the health of the mother-to-be. And it is now becoming increasingly clear that it is this health that must be prioritised. Far more attention needs to be paid to the health of young women before they become pregnant, because good health then, and afterwards, could potentially help begin life on a healthy note. This has become an urgent matter of concern, if the findings of a recent analysis published in the The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia are anything to go by: there is a growing burden of malnutrition among married women in South Asia prior to conceiving, with the prevalence of being overweight surpassing that of being underweight. Urbanisation, migration, along with an increased availability of ultra-processed foods, even in rural areas, have driven a higher intake of fats, sugars, and calories, contributing to a worsening nutritional status, the authors said. The analysis also found that anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies were areas of concern. During pregnancy, there may be other health issues that need resolving: managing gestational diabetes for instance. Unlike type 1 or type 2 diabetes, this form of diabetes occurs when hormones from the placenta interfere with insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar. How do you navigate this? Dr. K. Baraneedharan explains. Staying on our theme of reproductive health for the moment, but moving just a tad to genital health, do read this piece by Neelanjana Rai, who asks if pubic hair is really as unhygienic as it is made out to be? Or does it serve a useful purpose in safeguarding our health? In other health news this week, we have a number of articles on interesting research for you to dig into: Ramya Kannan decodes a study that found only 7.8% of patients with drug-resistant infections in India received an appropriate antibiotic. Lack of access to appropriate treatment for such serious infections increases morbidity and mortality, besides driving up health care costs and prolonging hospitalisation. She also delves into research on a 'non contact' wearable that can study the streams of molecular substances that pass through the skin, as a measure of studying the health status of individual. Vasudevan Mukunth breaks down the case of an American man, Timothy Friede, who had subjected himself to more than 200 snakebites and 700 injections of venom over 18 years: researchers have found that a combination of antibodies in Mr. Friede's blood and a drug called varespladib could shield mice against 13 kinds of venom and partially defend against six more. This, the latest in a number of studies linking long-term exposure to chemicals with health hazards, states that daily exposure to phthalates -- commonly used in making household plastic items -- has been related to over 3.5 lakh deaths in the world due to heart disease in 2018, among those aged 55-64, with India recording the highest number of deaths. This study may answer that perplexing question: how do the Haenyeo, a unique group of women in South Korea's Jeju Island dive up to 10 metres underwater with no oxygen tanks? And finally, stark news from what is afflicting us most this month: the blistering heat -- at least 35,000 lives were lost in India due to exposure to extreme hot and cold temperatures between 2001 and 2019, a new study has found. The effects are already being felt this year: Siddharth Kumar Singh writes on how soaring temperatures are exposing Telangana's fragile health and social systems. When it comes to news from India, Bindu Shajan Perappadan reports that to increase the faculty pool for medical colleges across the country, the National Medical Commission has said that specialists working in non-teaching government healthcare institutes such as defence and railway medical facilities would be eligible to work as faculty members in medical colleges. And on that note, Dr. Balaji Singh and Dr. Sree Kumar E.J. highlight the role simulation can play in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. Kerala is seeing an uptick in rabies cases, reports A. S. Jayanth, while Afshan Yasmeen from Karnataka reports on a rise in dengue cases. Our tailpiece for this week is Dr. C. Aravinda's article on the great porn experiment of the 20th century: it is, he says, one of the largest unregulated psychological natural experiments in human history. Do read to find out why! Here's a diverse range of explainers for you: I write on those pesky little squiggles that sometimes dance in front of your eyes: eye floaters. This piece demystifies Marfan Syndrome. Dr. Surendran Veeraiah explains why psycho-oncology forms a crucial component of cancer care Dr. Priya Selvaraj writes on recent cost-cutting technologies in IVF. Dr. Prince James busts myths around asthma. Dr. Monisha Madhumita cautions against using adulterated henna. Dr. Santhya S.T. says the smallest of acts -- regular hand-washing -- can make a big impact, health wise. Rashikkha Ra Iyer details how fostering intellectual wellness could mitigate cognitive decline in populations. Athira Elssa Johnson unpacks issues around vocal cord disorders. Sruthi Darbhamulla looks back at the mammoth Covid-19 vaccination drive in India. And finally, here's what you need to know about vaccine-preventable diseases and their rise, globally.
