News Digest

MCD downplaying dengue spread?
NEW DELHI: If the numbers shared with TOI by six private hospitals (including a hospital chain) are any indicator, the dengue outbreak in the capital this season is far more serious than what MCD is willing to admit. These hospitals alone have reported 1,284 cases while the civic body's tally is 463 cases, including four deaths.

This when MCD admits that more than 500 out of the 600 registered nursing homes and hospitals in the capital are not reporting cases to it - indicating that the reporting system for dengue is totally dysfunctional. Proper reporting of dengue cases is crucial for initiating targeted fogging operations.

Risk of breast cancer in younger women on rise
The risk increases with age. Most cases are found in women over 40, though the number of younger women developing breast cancer is currently on the rise .

Nip in the air, but don't let virus catch you
NEW DELHI: The cases of viral fever, upper respiratory infection and allergy due to change in weather are on the rise in the national capital. With the onset of winter, there is wide variation in the day and the night temperature which, doctors say, is most suitable for bacterial growth and transmission of viral infection. The elderly and the children are more at risk of getting infected. The doctors said people should avoid crowded places, frequently wash their hands and consult a physician if fever and sore throat last for more than 48 hours.

Malaria vaccine almost here
NEW DELHI: An effective vaccine against malaria - the first for any parasitic disease, is a step closer to reality.The first ever widescale trial of the candidate vaccine RTS,S prevented clinical malaria in 56% of five- to 17-month-old children it was tried on over a period of one year. It also prevented severe malaria in 47% of cases after three doses of RTS,S.

The trial was conducted at 11 trial sites in seven countries across sub-Saharan Africa. This data comes out of the first 6,000 children aged 5 to 17 months, over a 12-month period following vaccination. This is one of the final stages in evaluating the efficacy and safety of the vaccine candidate in infants and young children on a large scale before regulatory file submission.
Bill Gates called this discovery a "huge milestone" in the fight against malaria.

Malaria wanes globally, not in India
NEW DELHI: About one-third of all malaria-affected countries are expected to eliminate the vector-borne disease in the next 10 years.However, for the South-East Asia region the future isn't that bright.
Maldives is the only country among the 11 nations in the region that has eliminated malaria, while Sri Lanka and Korea are in the pre-elimination stage. The remaining eight countries, including India, are trying to control regular outbreaks.

To know more read my favorite The Times of India