Human Infection Studies

Mpox scare: Aiims Delhi issues protocol to handle suspected patients

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency last week. At least 4 cases have been reported in neighbouring Pakistan

India's health system on alert as viral infection mpox scare grows

Hyderabad and New Delhi, which serve as popular destinations for students from Africa to pursue higher education, are also on alert after the news

Wockhardt announces success of antibiotic to treat drug-resistant infection

Doctors used Zidebactam/Cefepime to treat a highly drug-resistant skull bone infection and pneumonia in a renal transplant patient

Nepal partners with USAID to boost capacity to prevent infectious diseases

The Nepal government and the US Agency for International Development on Sunday jointly launched a strategic partnership to strengthen the Himalayan nation's capacity to prevent, detect, and rapidly respond to emerging infectious diseases. The USAID Global Health Security programme will be implemented through 'One Health' -- a collaborative, trans-disciplinary approach that recognises the interdependence among the health of ecosystems, wildlife and domestic animals, and humans, according to a press release issued by the US Embassy here. "USAID's Global Health Security work is helping to fill the gap created by the recent Covid 19 pandemic, by strengthening countries' capacities to prevent, detect, and respond to disease threats before they can become a pandemic, while advancing WHO International Health Regulations targets so that countries can address gaps and priorities at the national level," it said. Through the health security programme in Nepal, the US Agency for International .

Deaths due to zoonotic infections expected to increase 12 times in 2050

Animal-to-human infections, or zoonotic diseases, have been increasing at an "exponential rate" and in 2050, are predicted to kill 12 times as many people as they did in 2020, researchers have warned in a new British Medical Journal (BMJ) Global Health study. Animal-to-human infections, also called 'spillover' infections, have been the cause of most modern epidemics, including COVID-19, the researchers from Ginkgo Bioworks, an American biotechnology company founded in 2008, said. Analysing 60 years of historical epidemiological data, the researchers detected a general pattern of increasingly larger and more frequent spillover events, even as their analysis did not include the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Climate and land use changes are predicted to drive the frequency of spillover events, facilitated by population density and connectivity, the researchers explained. However, the researchers said that the implications of these findings for future global health are difficult to ...

Omicron subvariant BA.5 more virulent, study in mice finds

Scientists have used engineered mice to compare SARS-COV-2 Omicron subvariants and found that the BA.5 strain was more virulent likely due to its ability to rapidly replicate early during infection. The research, published in the journal Science Advances, addresses a challenge to studying and understanding rapidly evolving variants of concern due to a lack of animal models for running tests that could help explain why variants and subvariants each behave differently in people. The genetically modified mice, called K18-hACE2, used in the research express a human receptor that allowed SARS-COV-2 to enter otherwise inaccessible mouse cells. "One of the things we found is that the strain that causes more pathology, BA.5, replicates much faster early on during infection," said Avery August, a professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at Cornell University in the US. "By doing that, the virus generates a really strong immune response, which then leads to increased pathology a

Scrub Typhus: Causes, remedies and how to be safe from this fatal illness

Scrub typhus is caused by a bacteria, Orientia Tsutsugamushi, and is an infectious illness. People with severe illness may develop organ failure and bleeding, according to doctors

Nipah virus update: Schools, colleges shut in Kozhikode till Sept 17

The Kerala Health Department issued a health alert after two 'unnatural' deaths because of fever were reported at a private hospital in the Kozhikode district amid rising cases of Nipah virus

Cooperation between neighbours vital to prevent spread of disease: Kerala

As various infectious diseases are throwing up unprecedented challenges across the world, the Kerala government has emphasised upon cooperation between its health department and those of the neighbouring states to prevent spread of communicable ailments. State Health Minister Veena George said it was necessary for the health departments of the bordering states to work in cooperation with each other to prevent spread of infectious diseases effectively. The minister was speaking at an inter-state meeting of various states inaugurated by her on Monday, a government release said. At the meeting, George said that health workers in border districts, when required, should coordinate with each other in the areas of data sharing, early warning, preparation of strategic action plans, development of local awareness materials, implementation of containment and quarantine guidelines. She said that climate change, antimicrobial resistance, and pesticide resistance have all contributed to disease

Novel spray that could prevent COVID-19 infection developed: Researchers

Researchers have created new molecules that can be sprayed into the nose to block the SARS-CoV-2 virus from entering the lungs and causing infection. The COVID-19 virus enters the body through the lungs when people breathe, resulting in illness. Engineers at the Johns Hopkins University in the US have now created thin, thread-like strands of molecules called supramolecular filaments capable of blocking the virus in its tracks. "The idea is that the filaments will work like a sponge to absorb the COVID-19 virus and other viruses before they have the chance to bind to cells in our airways," said Honggang Cui, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering. "Even if the therapeutic can block the virus for an hour or two, that can be helpful when people must be in a public setting," said Cui, who led the research published in the journal Matter. The key to this approach is the way that the filaments carry a receptor called angiotensin converting enzyme-2, or ACE

WHO concerned over increasing antibiotic resistance in human infections

Countries with lower rates of testing, mostly low- and middle-income countries, are more likely to report significantly higher AMR rates

Monkeypox spread unchecked in India, stigma hindering testing: Experts

Monkeypox cases are spreading unchecked in India, and the stigma attached to the disease is likely hindering the testing process in the country, health experts said on Monday.

Study finds 'robust' evidence that COVID-19 is seasonal infection

Higher transmission rates were associated with lower temperatures and humidity, the report said.

Decoded: Why are black, white and yellow fungal infections on the rise now?

What are these infections, why are their cases rising and how does one protect against them?

Fungus colour should not lead to panic, look for causes and risks: Experts

Seeking to quell the alarm over rising cases of mucormycosis in Covid patients, epidemiologists underlined the importance of analysing the kind of fungal infection, its causes and risk factors

Scientists agree Covid is airborne, want overhaul of ventilation systems

Researchers demand universal recognition that infections can be prevented by improving such systems.

An avoiders' expert guide on how to 'live with the novel coronavirus'

Health ministry has issued general guidelines such as covering your mouth when you sneeze or wearing masks at all times, but there isn't any clear advice on how to deal with basic, household items.

Lancet study finds no benefit for hydroxychloroquine in Covid-19 patients

The scientists said these drugs should not be used to treat Covid-19 patients outside of clinical trials until results from randomised clinical trials are available to confirm their safety

The good side of bad

How well-prepared is the world to contain and hopefully, cure, a new disease? NCoV will be a test case

Scientists to begin evaluating human infection studies in India

Scientists say human infection studies could also make the drug or vaccine discovery process efficient by predicting failure faster