Polio vaccination strategy under scanner

india's National Polio Surveillance Programme reported 471 polio cases until December 14, 2007. Although this is lower than the 676 cases reported in 2006, there is reason for concern. There has been a sharp rise in the number of polio cases caused by a particular virus strain-- p3--which was thought to be under control. Around 402 polio cases caused by the p3 strain were reported this year, up from 28 in 2006. Health experts say shifting to monovalent vaccine--which protects from

International meet on Avian flu agree on a roadmap

the International Ministerial Conference on Avian and Pandemic influenza, conducted recently in New Delhi, came up with a New Delhi Road Map for 2008 for the 60 countries currently affected by the avian influenza virus h5n1, and the rest that are at risk. The roadmap, prepared by the government of India, is a template that will be adapted by countries to ensure they are ready to control the highly pathogenic avian influenza and contain and mitigate the influenza pandemic.

Meningitis concern across Africa

Twenty-one African countries, often referred as the meningitis belt, will be hit by the worst epidemic of the disease by the end of this year's rainy season, said who at an emergency meeting of un bodies and ngos in Burkina Faso.

Meningitis concern across Africa

Twenty-one African countries, often referred as the meningitis belt, will be hit by the worst epidemic of the disease by the end of this year's rainy season, said who at an emergency meeting of un bodies and ngos in Burkina Faso.

Regional approach required for treatment of malaria

malaria treatment has so far been uniform globally. who guidelines on symptoms of severe malaria are based on symptoms found in children in Africa. They include anaemia, jaundice and hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose level). Scientists say this 'one-size-fits-all' approach should change since children from other regions show different symptoms, sometimes more lethal.

Ebola outbreak in Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been put on 'high alert' after the WHO confirmed the outbreak of the deadly haemorrhagic viral ebola fever in the country's southern province of Kasai Occidental. This is the second outbreak to hit the country in 12 years.

Debate rages on HIB vaccine

the Union ministry of health and family welfare has given the go-ahead for including an expensive vaccine into the country's immunisation programme despite the absence of scientific data. A meeting of the national technical advisory group on immunization (ntagi) held in July 16, 2007, decided that Haemophilus influenzae b (hib) vaccine would be included in the country's health programme after introducing it in a few states first.

Polio vaccines in India may be unsafe

the polio vaccine administered at present may be unsafe. There is a controversy brewing over its potency. Experts in India say that the monovalent oral vaccine (mopv1) is being used without assessing its safety. It was introduced in the country in 2005 after it was given a fast track licence by the drug controller general on the premise that the same vaccine was used in the 1960s. Before 2005, the trivalent vaccine was in use.

Small doses of chemicals harm foetus

An international consortium of scientists recently emphasised on the irreversible harm that toxic chemicals can cause to foetuses and infants. The consensus was reached at the International Conference on Foetal Programming and Developmental Toxicity held in May at the north Atlantic Faroe Islands. Over 200 experts came out with the 'Faroes Statement', which warns of the debilitating effect of chemicals on a foetus' future growth and

WHO's Stop TB partnership programme

the World Health Organization (who) along with its Stop tb partnership programme, announced on June 22 guidelines to curb two forms of tuberculosis multidrug resistant tuberculosis (mdr-tb) and the more harmful extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (xdr-tb).