An unidentified fever caused by an as of yet unknown virus has been circulating in the Indian state of Kerala. Locals and doctors alike have been referring to the condition as “tomato flu” or “tomato fever” due to the tomato shaped blisters caused by the condition. The condition has been reported in around eighty children […]
India and WHO clash over COVID-19 death figures
Following a visit from Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), the WHO and the Indian Government have been at odds over the official death toll of COVID-19. India’s official death toll places the figure at 520,000, however, the WHO has cited studies that suggest the figure could be as high […]
India may be a hotspot for future zoonotic disease
The State of the World’s Forests 2022 report has cited India and China as the two most likely hotspots for the emergence of future zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases are defined as those that spread from animals to humans. The most prominent example of this in recent years is COVID-19, thought to have potentially originated from […]
COVID-19 cases begin to rise once more in Delhi
COVID-19 cases are once again rising in Delhi, said Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday. While COVID-19 cases have increased in the capital, it has been reported that people are not developing severe disease and the hospitalisation rate is low. Given the severity of lockdowns in neighbouring China following outbreaks in cities such as Shanghai, […]
Online plea for help with rare disease
A recent article published in The New York Times has shed light on a rare disease case in India, one in which the family is now struggling to raise a shocking total of 2.1 million USD via social media before their daughter turns two years old. The Praveen family’s fourteen month-old daughter, Ellen, was rushed […]
Cow dung behind black fungus outbreak?
Almost a year on since the start of India’s deadly outbreak of black fungus – or mucormycosis – a study may have underlined the cause of the issue. Despite speculative links to COVID-19, the issue may be a different cause entirely – cow dung. Black fungus is the result of exposure to mucor mould typically […]
Is heart disease underdiagnosed in women?
Heart disease may be being underdiagnosed in women, and a simple alteration of the perception of the disease may change this fact. Studies have shown that more men die from heart disease than women. In 2017 in India heart disease caused 2.64 million deaths, of which, women accounted for 1.18 million, while men accounted for […]
A TB-free India by 2025? Health Minister reaffirms commitment
Marking World Tuberculosis Day Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has once again reaffirmed the Indian Government’s commitment to making India tuberculosis (TB) free by 2025. “Tuberculosis is a preventable & treatable disease. On World TB Day, we reaffirm commitment to make India TB-free by 2025 by ensuring access to quality healthcare & advanced treatment. Together […]
A big push for AI in India?
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Centre and groups representing private companies to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to track disease outbreaks in the country. “We plan to use artificial intelligence in a big way in public health. This is the first step […]
Lassa fever next addition to India’s zoonotic diseases?
A death due to Lassa fever in the UK has had some speculating whether India should be concerned about the emergence of yet another zoonotic condition. The death occurred in a newborn baby in the town of Luton in the UK. The event came as a shock following three other cases as the disease is […]