The death of a 11-year-old boy due to 'bird-flu', even before the devastating effects of the second Covid wave have waned, has alarmed the medical fraternity though they assert that human-to-human transmission of H5N1 virus is extremely rare. The event has also put the Rs 90,000 crore domestic poultry industry which was seeing some uptick in demand after months of low sales last year into a spot of bother, as any curb on sale or production of eggs or chicken could have a devastating impact on its revenues. It is estimated that around 60 million people are directly impacted by the poultry sector in India. H5N1 virus, also commonly known as bird flu, is known to spread from chickens but other birds such as ducks and crow are also carriers of the virus.
As concerns mounted and some people wondered whether this could possibly turn out to be another Covid, pulmonologist Anurag Agrawal said he doesn't expect to see a massive wave.
The nationwide swine flu toll climbed to 88 with a teenaged girl and two women dying due to the virus in Karnataka and Maharashtra while 177 fresh cases of infection were reported from various states.
Over 3,000 unauthorised masks have been seized from different medical stores in Daman during a drive to check their illegal sale in view of swine flu scare.
UEFA have no immediate plans to postpone next week's Champions League match between Dynamo Kiev and Inter Milan due to swine flu restrictions in Ukraine.
The World Health Organisation has given $ 2 million to a Pune based vaccine making firm to develop and manufacture swine flu vaccine.
Health authorities and experts in Washington have warned governments across the world that the new wave of swine flu could badly hit people in the poor and least-prepared parts of the globe.
Addressing the Rajya Sabha on Friday, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad says that the government has sought cooperation from the private hospitals to deal with swine flu.
Wearing surgical masks, a large number of people queued up at the Naidu Hospital, the main referral centre for treating H1NI infection, leading to chaos that forced the authorities to call in the police.
'This year there is a sharp spike in fever cases, and it seems to be more than the pre-COVID-19 levels.'
'All the judges were provided treatment as per the protocol. Prophylactic treatment was also given to all who have come in contact with them including their family members. 'All five judges were kept in home isolation. Of these, three judges have already resumed their duty and two continue to be under home isolation/observation and are recovering,' the ministry said in a statement.
An immune-escape Covid-19 strain coupled with the natural spike in influenza and pneumonia cases during winters may lead to a rise in hospitalisation.
The COVID-19 vaccines can be "tweaked" to provide protection against new variants of the virus, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, Director Dr Randeep Guleria said.
The volunteer said he had also volunteered 10 years ago for clinical trials for a vaccine against the H1N1 (swine flu) virus.
COVID-19 patients commonly report symptoms such as brain fog, headaches, and insomnia, complications which are not new after a viral infection, the researchers said.
The rapid molecular test is highly accurate and easy to use, making it a prime candidate for use in settings with limited testing capabilities, according to the researchers.
If you are pregnant or obese you are at higher risk of swine flu.
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According to the study, both SARS-CoV-2 and H1N1 are the same category of virus, and both infect the respiratory tract. While the lungs of both groups shared some common features, the scientists said there were distinctive features related to blood vessels seen in the lungs of patients who had died due to COVID-19.
'If you approached it with that level of aggression in 100 days, you would have vaccinated more than half of your country.' 'On a mass scale you will be able to eliminate that wave.'
Delhi, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra on Monday confirmed bird flu cases, adding to the list of seven states -- Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh -- which had already reported avian deaths due to the disease.
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The ICMR has validated 'TruenatTM beta CoV test on TruelabTM workstation' and has recommended it as a screening test,the apex health research body said on Friday.
Fresh bird deaths were reported on Tuesday, including over 900 from Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, amid cases of avian influenza in 10 states and union territories, with the Centre saying it has issued advisories on testing and maintaining sufficient stock of PPE kits for culling operations.
The government said the mortality rate due to H1N1 virus has fallen to 10 per cent this year.
'The genetic thing is not in your control. The virulence is not known.' 'The only thing is if you can avoid it.' 'Once you get COVID-19, none of it is in your control.'
He was admitted to the hospital on Sunday after he complaints of breathing problem.
Within a year of selling its handset and services business to Microsoft, Nokia has again entered the mobile devices segment by unveiling a new tablet N1 in partnership with Taiwanese company Foxconn.
The study noted that humans are not protected from the G4 virus by the immunity offered by other human influenza vaccine strains, indicating that there is no preexisting population immunity to the virus.
Rediff reader K Baburaj, 45 from Hyderbad shares some important lessons he learned from surviving swine flu.
Athlete OP Jaisha is confident that she can start her training next week having recovered well from H1N1 fever which she contracted during the Rio Olympics even though the SAI doctor has advised her a month's rest. "After getting discharged from the hospital on August 29, I am taking rest in my native - Thrissilery village near Manananthavady in Wayanad district. I will start from training from next week," Jaisha said.
Swine flu claimed the lives of 21 more persons taking the toll to 1947 and the number of people affected by the H1N1 virus across the country inched towards the 33,000-mark.
The company has developed detailed logistical plans and tools to support effective vaccine transport, storage, and temperature monitoring. Sohini Das and Ruchika Chitravanshi report.
Farmers in the two states have reportedly begun culling chickens, while the state governments have restricted supply of chicken across their borders.
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Rio Olympian and Indian long distance runner Sudha Singh, who was undergoing treatment at a private hospital here for a suspected Zika virus infection, has tested positive for swine flu and will be out of action for at least two months, doctors said on Tuesday. "Sudha Singh who has been undergoing treatment for a suspected Zika virus is suffering from H1N1, known as swine flu virus," Dr Sarala of Sports Authority of India told PTI in Bengaluru.
New infections have spiked ahead of the Olympics, which are set to start in July
While the number of persons affected by the H1N1 virus breached the 34,000-mark.
The bench, which was critical of the Centre's stand on the issue, said "You (government) are so short of vaccines and you are not taking it through. May be it is an opportunity for you. Don't be so negative. It is like a raging fire and nobody is bothered. You people don't understand the larger picture or what.
