Nigeria has become the first country in the world to roll out a new vaccine (called Men5CV) recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which protects people against five strains of the meningococcus bacteria. The vaccine and emergency vaccination activities are funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which funds the global meningitis vaccine stockpile, and supports lower-income countries with routine vaccination against meningitis. Nigeria is one of the 26 meningitis hyper-endemic countries of Africa, situated in the area known as the African Meningitis Belt. Last year, there was a 50% jump in annual meningitis cases reported across Africa. Between last....Read More

The World Health Organization (WHO) has established a new global laboratory network called CoViNet. This network aims to identify and monitor potentially dangerous new coronaviruses that could emerge in the future. ABOUT CORONAVIRUS NETWORK (COVINET): CoViNet is designed to facilitate and coordinate global expertise and capacities for the early detection, monitoring, and assessment of various coronaviruses. Beyond focusing solely on SARS-CoV-2, CoViNet will also assess other coronaviruses, including Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) with a particular emphasis on enhancing laboratory capacity and surveillance. MERS-CoV is a zoonotic virus(transmitted between animals and people). It has been identified and linked to....Read More

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has achieved a significant milestone by successfully transferring technology for the production of India’s first recombinant virus-based vaccine for classical swine fever. KEY HIGHLIGHTS: This breakthrough represents a pivotal development in combating the highly contagious disease affecting pigs and wild boars. IIT Guwahati has facilitated the transfer of pioneering vaccine technology to BioMed Pvt Ltd, a manufacturing company specializing in high-quality vaccines. This transfer enables commercial production of the vaccine, offering a swift and cost-effective solution for pig vaccination. The vaccine developed at IIT Guwahati utilizes a recombinant virus-based platform, which is a....Read More

Bharat Biotech's TB vaccine MTBVAC begins clinical trials in India MTBVAC is derived from a human strain of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. It was developed by Biofabri in collaboration with the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech. It is the only tuberculosis (TB) vaccine currently available, holds promise as a more effective and long-lasting alternative to the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG).Read More

In a historic gathering in Cameroon’s capital Yaoundé, African health ministers, global malaria partners, funding agencies, scientists, civil society organisations and other principal malaria stakeholders pledged to end malaria deaths. STATISTICS Globally, the number of malaria cases in 2022 surged significantly compared to the pre-COVID-19 era. The total cases rose from 233 million in 2019 to a staggering 249 million. Africa remains the epicentre of the malaria crisis, bearing an immense burden. It accounts for 94 per cent of all global malaria cases and a staggering 95 per cent of global malaria-related deaths, totaling an estimated 580,000 deaths in 2022.....Read More

Nearly 100 jails across the country have been certified as ‘Eat Right Campus’ by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), marking a significant milestone in its goal of promoting safe and healthy eating habits within different campuses. Uttar Pradesh had the most certified jails, followed by Punjab, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. The certification is based on compliance with key parameters like basic hygiene criteria, steps to ensure the provision of healthy food, and efforts towards building awareness about local and seasonal food. This initiative falls under FSSAI’s Eat Right India movement and aims to promote safe, healthy....Read More

Uttar Pradesh has become as the first state in the country to issue 5 crore cards under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme providing health insurance. ABOUT AYUSHMAN BHARAT It is a government-led healthcare scheme launched in The scheme aims to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and has two main components: the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana program and Health and Wellness Centers. PM-JAY is the world’s largest health insurance scheme fully financed by the government. It offers a sum insured of Rs.5 lakh per family for secondary care and tertiary care. Health Benefit Packages covers surgery, medical and day care treatments,....Read More

Poshan Pakhwada 2024 is being organized from 9th March till 23rd March, 2024. The focus of mass sensitization and community activities would be around the following main themes- Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi (PBPB)- towards better Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) September is celebrated as Rashtriya Poshan Maah across the country. Tribal, Traditional, Regional & Local dietary practices focused on sensitization around nutrition Health of pregnant women & Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices The Ministry of Women & Child Development is the nodal Ministry for coordinating activities during the Poshan Pakhwada. In the State/UT, Department of Women &....Read More

The Karnataka government has banned use of food coloring agents in Gobi Manchurian and cotton candy across the state over health concerns, primarily because eateries use food colouring agents like Rhodamine-B and Carmoisine, which studies have shown to be toxic. Rhodamine B (RhB) is a chemical compound commonly employed in synthetic dyes for colouring silk, jute, leather, cotton, and wool, as well as in the cosmetics and plastics industries. Its low cost, however, also makes it a popular choice for food colouring. Of the 171 samples collected from eateries across the state, 107 were prepared using unsafe chemicals like Tartrazine,....Read More

In recognition of country’s tireless efforts to combat Measles and Rubella, India has been bestowed with the prestigious Measles and Rubella Champion Award by The Measles and Rubella Partnership at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington D.C., USA. The Measles and Rubella Partnership comprises a multi-agency planning committee, including the American Red Cross, BMGF, GAVI, US CDC, UNF, UNICEF, and WHO, all dedicated to reducing global measles deaths and preventing rubella illness. ABOUT MEASLES Measles is a highly contagious virus, spread by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing. It is caused by a single-stranded, enveloped RNA....Read More