Category: Healthcare

GSK knew about Zantac cancer risk, attorneys tell jury in first trial

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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US attorneys for a woman who claims her colon cancer was caused by the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac on Thursday (May 2) told a jury in Chicago that pharmaceutical companies GSK and Boehringer Ingelheim knew the product could cause cancer if it was not handled properly but failed to warn the public.

Mikal Watts, who is representing 89-year-old Angela Valadez, said the companies knew that Zantac’s active ingredient, ranitidine, would turn into a cancer-causing substance called NDMA as it aged or was exposed to extreme temperatures, but did not ensure it was properly handled by transporters, distributors and stores.

Valadez’s case is one of tens of thousands against GSK, Boehringer Ingelheim and other pharmaceutical companies, which have worried investors in recent years. It will offer the first test of whether the cancer claims in the long-running litigation will persuade a jury, since all cases previously set for trial settled or were dropped.

GSK and Boehringer Ingelheim are the only defendants in the trial, after other companies settled.

Watts told the jury the pills would change color as they degraded, but the companies would cover it up.

“They know we’re not going to take a product that looks bad, so they put a paint job on it,” Watts said.

Attorneys for GSK, which developed the active ingredient in Zantac but later sold the brand to other companies, and Boehringer Ingelheim, which sold the drug from 2006 until 2017, countered that Zantac has been repeatedly proven to be safe and effective and that no scientific or medical study had connected Zantac to cancer.

There is “no objective evidence linking Ms. Valadez’s cancer to Zantac,” GSK’s attorney Tarek Ismail told the jury. “No genetic test, lab report, imaging study… nothing whatsoever.”

Valadez, who said she took Zantac every day for at least 18 years, had a host of risk factors that made her more likely to develop colon cancer, Ismail said.

First approved in 1983, Zantac became the world’s best selling medicine in 1988 and one of the first-ever drugs to top $1 billion in annual sales. It was originally marketed by a forerunner of GSK and later sold successively to other companies.

In 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration asked drugmakers to pull Zantac and its generic versions off the market after NDMA was found in samples of the drug. Thousands of lawsuits began piling up in federal and state courts.

A new version of Zantac now on the market has a different active ingredient and does not contain ranitidine.

The companies notched a significant win in 2022 when a judge dismissed about 50,000 claims centralized in federal court in Florida. That judge concluded that the opinions of the plaintiffs’ expert witnesses that Zantac can cause cancer were not supported by sound science.

More than 70,000 Zantac cases remain pending in the US, many of them in Delaware state court where a judge is considering similar arguments from drugmakers that plaintiffs’ expert testimony should be kept out.

Some other cases were previously settled, including several individual cases just before trial, and about 4,000 state court lawsuits outside of Delaware against French drugmaker Sanofi SA.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Wipro platform to help lower New Yorkers’ medical costs

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Indian IT major Wipro Ltd on Thursday (May 2) said it has been selected by Independent Health, western New York’s only 5-star rated Medicare Advantage Plan, to implement the company’s Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (MPPP360) platform for the upcoming open enrolment period.

Starting in 2025, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan will allow users to make capped monthly payments for out-of-pocket prescription drugs, among other changes. The new law aims to improve access to affordable treatments and strengthen Medicare.

Wipro’s MPPP360 platform will assist Independent Health in streamlining the payment process to seamlessly integrate these new provisions, simplifying prescription cost management for Medicare recipients in western New York.

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Narayan Iyer, Vice President of Healthcare, Wipro, said, “We are excited to introduce our Medicare Prescription Payment Plan360 platform, better known as MPPP360, to western New York. This project exemplifies our dedication to transforming the Medicare landscape through innovative technology solutions.”

Dawn Odrzywolski, Vice President of Medicare Programs at Independent Health, said, “Independent Health prides itself on being a leading, highly rated, Medicare Advantage plan. With the forthcoming changes to Medicare Part D and the pharmaceutical industry’s continued escalation of prescription drug pricing, we want to make sure our members can afford their medications.”

Shares of Wipro Ltd ended at ₹457.25, down by ₹5.05, or 1.09%, on the BSE.

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly raise sales projections on the back of weight loss drugs

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have upgraded their full-year projections owing to sustained robust demand for their weight-loss drugs. Strong sales of Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 drugs, Mounjaro and Zepbound, during the first quarter (CY2024) prompted an upward revision of its annual sales forecast by $2 billion.

Zepbound’s first-quarter sales reached $517.4 million, surpassing estimates of $418 million, while Mounjaro recorded sales of $1.8 billion, slightly below the anticipated $2 billion, likely due to limited supply.

These medications, both containing the chemical compound tirzepatide, have propelled the market value of US drug makers beyond $700 billion, surpassing that of Tesla and Walmart.

Meanwhile, Danish firm Novo Nordisk, with a 28% YoY profit growth in its Q1 earnings to $3.65 billion, now anticipates sales growth between 19% and 27% in local currencies, compared to the previously guided range of 18% to 26%. This growth is largely driven by the success of its blockbuster drugs, Wegovy and Ozempic, with Wegovy sales experiencing a remarkable 107% YoY surge to 9.4 billion Krones.

Novo Nordisk has ramped up its supply of Wegovy in the US by fourfold since December, with approximately 20,000 new US patients starting weekly injections each week. The success of these drugs has propelled Novo Nordisk’s market value to $570 billion, surpassing the entire Danish economy.

GLP-1 drugs have garnered significant attention for their ability to assist patients in shedding up to 20% of their weight. Over 1 million Zepbound prescriptions and approximately 1.75 million for Wegovy have been written in the US since the beginning of 2024, with demand on the rise as the drugs’ applications expand. For instance, Wegovy has received USFDA approval for reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases in overweight and obese individuals, while Eli Lilly’s Zepbound is under study for treating sleep apnea.

Eli Lilly and Danish competitor Novo Nordisk are racing to increase production in a weight-loss market projected to reach at least $100 billion by the end of the decade.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Exclusive | CNBC-TV18 accesses 10 USFDA observations issued to Zydus Life’s Jarod facility

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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CNBC-TV18 has accessed the 10 observations the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) issued for Zydus Life’s Jarod facility.

Last week, Zydus Life had informed the stock exchanges that it had received 10 observations from the USFDA, which had inspected the Jarod facility from April 15 to 23.

Following are the 10 observations accessed by CNBC-TV18:

1) Failed to review unexplained discrepancy in batch distribution
2) Establishing sampling plans and test procedures not followed
3) Procedures to prevent contamination didn’t include adequate validation
4) Procedures to prevent microbio contamination not followed
5) Failed to establish procedures to establish purity and quality of products
6) Aseptic processing areas to monitor environmental conditions are deficient
7) Equipment and utensils not cleaned and maintained properly
8) Employees engaged in manufacturing drug product lack the training required
9) Procedures for cleaning and maintenance of equipment are deficient
10) Appropriate controls over computers are not excercised

“The company will closely work with the USFDA to address and respond to the observations in an expeditious manner,” Zydus Life had informed the stock exchanges last week.

On another note, last month, the pharma company said it had launched a tablet for the treatment of overactive bladder — Mirabegron Extended-Release tablets, 25 mg — in the US market.

“Mirabegron is indicated for the treatment of overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency and urinary frequency,” the company said in a stock exchange filing.

The tablet will be manufactured at the company’s formulation manufacturing facility in Ahmedabad SEZ in India.

Zydus Life shares were trading 1.34% higher at ₹966.35 apiece at 12.30 pm. The stock has gained 67.63% in the past six months and 87.28% in the past year.

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

How the advancement in precision medicine is promising new hopes in breast cancer treatment

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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In recent years, the field of oncology has witnessed remarkable progress in the realm of precision medicine, particularly in the treatment of breast cancer. Precision medicine, also known as personalised medicine, involves tailoring medical treatment to the individual characteristics of each patient, including their genetic makeup, lifestyle factors, and environmental influences.

This approach has significantly transformed the way breast cancer is diagnosed, treated, and managed, offering new hope to patients and clinicians alike.

Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent and deadly cancers affecting women worldwide. While traditional treatment approaches such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy have been effective for many patients, they often come with significant side effects and may not always provide optimal outcomes.

However, the advent of precision medicine has ushered in a new era of targeted therapies and individualised treatment strategies, bringing unprecedented precision and efficacy to breast cancer care.

The exact causes of breast cancer are multifaceted, certain genes plays a significant role. Two particularly influential genes are BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes act as tumour suppressors, working tirelessly to repair DNA damage and prevent uncontrolled cell division. When these genes malfunctions, the body’s ability to repair DNA is compromised, and it significantly increases the risk of developing breast cancer. 

Its important to note that BRCA mutations are not the only risk factor for breast cancer. Age, family history beyond BRCA genes, lifestyle choices like alcohol consumption and obesity, and exposure to radiation can all contribute. 

Signs and Symptoms

Being informed of your body and knowing the signs of breast cancer is crucial for early detection and effective treatment. Common warning signs include:

• Transformations in the size, shape, or the appearance of the breast
• A lump in the breast or armpit
• Nipple discharge (bloody or clear)
• Dimpling or puckering the breast skin
• Pain in the breast or armpit

Conventional treatment choices

• Surgery- This involves removing the cancerous tissue or the entire breast 
• Radiation Therapy-  High-energy rays are used to destroy the cancer cells
• Chemotherapy-  Powerful drugs are used to kill the cancer cells throughout the body 

While these treatments are effective, they can come with harsh side effects. This is where precision medicine steps in, offering a more targeted and personalised approach. 

Precision Medicine

Precision medicine analyses a patient’s tumour for specific genetic mutations. These genetic mutations can act as fingerprints, revealing vulnerabilities in the cancer cells. This allows doctors to choose therapies that target these weaknesses, maximising effectiveness and minimising side effects. 

• Targeted Therapies: Drugs like PARP inhibitors and CDK4/6 inhibitors exploit specific vulnerabilities in cancer cells, leading to better outcomes with reduced toxicity.
• Immunotherapy: This treatment approach helps a patient’s own immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. Checkpoint inhibitors, a type of immunotherapy, have shown promise in treating breast cancers
• Genetic Testing: Identifying mutations like BRCA1 and BRCA2 allows doctors to tailor preventive measures and treatment plans for those at higher risk.

Precision medicine is still evolving, but the developments hold immense promise. With continued research, we can expect to see:

• More targeted therapies: Tailored drugs that target an even wider range of genetic mutations
• Improved diagnostic tools: Tests that can identify not just the existence of cancer but also its specific exposures 
• Personalised treatment plans: A future where every patient receives a treatment plan designed specifically for their unique cancer

While the fight against breast cancer continues, precision medicine offers a beacon of hope, empowering doctors with the tools to personalise treatments and improve patient outcomes. As research continues, we can look forward to a future where breast cancer is not just treatable, but preventable and ultimately, a disease of the past.

—The author, Dr. Chandrashekhar Prasad Singh, is Senior Consultant – Medical Oncology, at HCG Abdur Razzaque Ansari Cancer Hospital, Ranchi. The views expressed are personal.  

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month — why a patient-centric approach is crucial

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Cancer is a multifaceted illness that remains a persistent threat to humanity and is one of the leading causes of death globally. While discussions around cervical, breast, and lung cancers are a mainstay, it is imperative to recognise the prevalence of head and neck cancer (HNC), the seventh most common cancer in the world.

In India, HNC causes over 1,25,000 deaths annually, accounting for a significant 30% of all cancer cases. Unfortunately, traditional treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, are highly invasive with multiple side effects, including facial disfigurement and chronic pain, which not only compromise treatment adherence but also reduces a patient’s quality of life.

As the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries stand poised on the edge of discovery, crucial innovations entail developing patient-focused and patient-friendly treatment modalities for HNC. The purpose of innovation must transcend survival metrics and refocus to elevate the quality of life after treatment.

Building the Foundation 

As the industry innovates newer HNC treatments, a significant roadblock surfaces — a lack of disease awareness among patients, leading to late-stage diagnoses. As per the National Cancer Registry Program Report (2020), 60% of the diagnosed patients were at the locally advanced stage, resulting in limited treatment options, increased resistance, and substantially lower survival rates. Additionally, a staggering 59% of the diagnosed patients discontinue treatment due to side effects.

Therefore, there is a pressing need to factor in disease awareness to facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment, with an emphasis on the burden of side effects and patient tolerability in research for advanced treatment methodologies to mitigate the burden of this illness.

Patient-Centric Approach

Globally, the need for less invasive, multi-modal treatments has been recognised and research to develop innovative treatment modalities is currently underway, such as:

Targeted Therapies: Therapies, such as monoclonal antibodies, have shown survival benefits in locally advanced and recurrent HNC cases. Research shows that targeted therapy with cetuximab combined with platinum-5-FU chemotherapy improves overall responses and survival rates compared to administering chemotherapy independently. 

Biosimilars: While targeted therapies mark the progress made in HNC treatment, the cost of drugs limits accessibility. For instance, cetuximab is available to only two percent of eligible patients for treatment in India. Biosimilars have the potential to revolutionise the landscape of HNC treatment. They enhance access to life-saving therapies with comparable efficacy and affordability for the masses. In a historical breakthrough, cetuximab is the first biosimilar that received approval from the Drug Controller General of India for treating head and neck cancer in India. 

Proton Therapy: Conventional therapy requires the delivery of high-dose radiation, which puts organs close to the tumour at risk. Proton therapy, however, is a unique, high-precision radiation therapy that delivers high doses of radiation to the affected area while minimising the damage done to healthy tissues, thus reducing long-term side effects.

While advancements focus on treatment modalities, research on integrating AI in HNC diagnostics to identify disease patterns and enhance diagnostic accuracy is ongoing. However, disease and treatment awareness needs to be improved. So, it is critical to roll out targeted awareness campaigns to underscore the role of these treatments in amplifying curative outcomes.

Democratising Access to Treatments

HNC is a socio-economically patterned disease, with India contributing to nearly 60% of the cases globally. The disparity is evident as the illness disproportionately affects poorer communities due to prevalent tobacco and alcohol use. The high prevalence, the steep costs of treatments and the rural-urban healthcare divide can further hinder equitable access to HNC care. However, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is a ray of hope, offering a solution by protecting beneficiaries from exorbitant costs of cancer treatment. 

While we celebrate such efforts and the strides made in HNC treatments, it’s crucial to acknowledge the journey needs intensified focus on improved access, health schemes, patient-centric research, and innovation. A collaborative effort among key stakeholders, including the government, healthcare sector, and pharmaceutical companies, will bolster the HNC care infrastructure in the country and enable us to fight this growing pandemic.

—The author, Rajeev Sibal, is President – India Region Formulations, Lupin Limited. The views expressed are personal

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Australian regulator examines possible contamination of Indian spice mixes

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Australia’s food safety agency is collecting information on the possible contamination of spice mixes sold by Indian companies MDH and Everest to decide if a food recall is required, it said on Tuesday, the latest regulator to step up scrutiny.

Hong Kong suspended sales this month of three MDH spice blends and an Everest mix for fish curry. Singapore ordered a recall of the same Everest mix as well, flagging high levels of ethylene oxide, which is unfit for human consumption and a cancer risk over long exposure.

“We are working with international counterparts to understand the issue and with federal, state and territory food enforcement agencies to determine if further action is required in Australia,” Food Standards Australia New Zealand said in a statement.

Such action could include a recall, it said, adding, “Ethylene oxide is not permitted to be used as a treatment for foods sold in Australia.”

MDH and Everest did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. They have previously said their products are safe for consumption.

Their spice brands, among the most popular in India, are also sold in Europe, Asia and North America.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Friday it is also gathering additional information on the matter, while Indian authorities have recently inspected the plants of MDH and Everest.

In 2019, a few batches of an MDH product were recalled in the US for salmonella contamination. In 2023, the FDA ordered a recall of two Everest spice mixes for the same contamination risk.

India is the biggest exporter, consumer and producer of spices in the world. MDH and Everest are among the biggest companies in India’s spices market, which Zion Market Research estimates was worth $10.44 billion in 2022. The government says India exported products worth $4 billion during 2022-23.

India said last week it had sought data on MDH and Everest exports from authorities in Hong Kong and Singapore after the regulatory action.

On Tuesday, Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety said in a statement the Indian embassy there has also been informed “of the test results for follow-up actions,” without elaborating further.

Also Read: MDH says reports on contaminated masalas are baseless, says its spices are safe

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Ayushman Bharat Diwas: Date, celebrations and more about the scheme

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Ayushman Bharat Diwas, also known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) Divas, is celebrated on April 30. The day aims to spread awareness about the scheme and its benefits. It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018.

The scheme is known as “the world’s largest health insurance scheme, providing coverage to over beneficiaries belonging to poor and vulnerable sections in Uttar Pradesh — thus ensuring hospitalisation and treatment services free of cost.”

Under the PM-JAY, one can get health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year if one meets the income criterion.

One can also register to the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) by using Aadhaar number and can download the ABHA card to know all your health-related information or get quick access to doctors.

How to register for Ayushman Bharat Yojana

The application can be easily filled online by using an Aadhar card, proof of domicile, income certificate, photograph, and category certificate, among others, on the official website of Ayushman Bharat. Here’s the step-by-step process:

1.     Go to the official website of Ayushman Bharat Yojana.

2.     Click on the ‘Am I Eligible’ section on the homepage.

3.     Fill the mobile number and code to generate OTP.

4.     Verify the OTP.

5.     Input all the details such as name age, income certificate, Aadhar number, etc.

6.     Recheck the details and click on the submit button.

Celebrations

A number of programmes, seminars, and camps are set up to raise awareness about the scheme and its benefits.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

AstraZeneca admits Covid vaccine could cause rare side effects in court filing

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Mumps cases on the rise in Delhi-NCR, other states; why is this viral infection making a comeback?

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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A number of states have reported high incidences of mumps in the last one month, with Delhi-NCR also reporting the occurrence of the viral infection now.

Though the sporadic occurrence of cases with clustering is a well-established phenomenon in mumps, there has been a widespread resurgence in infections being reported from several states, including Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, in the last few months. According to government data, this year, the case tally has reached 15,637, as of March 2024.

Mumps is an acute viral infection that usually affects children and young adults causing acute flu-like symptoms with after effects. Its symptoms include fatigue, muscle pain, loss of appetite, headache, fever and pain while chewing. Also, salivary gland inflammation and testicle inflammation lead to prolonged sequelae and discomfort.

The disease runs for five to seven days and usually resolves without major complications. It is spread through droplets and is preventable by a vaccine, administered between the age of nine months and 4.5 years.

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But, despite being preventable by vaccine, mumps has not been included in the nation’s universal immunisation programme (UIP) due to its low mortality rate. From a public health standpoint, priority has been given to the elimination of measles as it is more infectious and severe.

DOCTORS ACROSS DELHI-NCR NOTICE SURGE

“Over the past few days, Delhi has seen a notable rise in cases with approximately three to four cases per week reported in our OPD (out-patient department), and almost two admissions per week,” Dr RD Srivastava, head of the department of paediatric medicine and neonatology at the New Delhi-based Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, told News18.

“While Delhi hasn’t escalated to hotspot status like other states, including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, the prevalence of mumps is alarming,” said Dr Srivastava said.

Other doctors echoed similar observations.

“We have also witnessed an increase in cases with 10 to 12 in the ongoing month itself,” said Dr Neha Rastogi Panda, consultant for infectious diseases, Fortis Memorial Research Institute in Gurugram.

“To begin with seasonal trends, this rise has led to major community outbreaks. Such a steep surge in cases has potential implications to lead to an increase in sequelae and complications such as orchitis, meningoencephalitis and increased morbidity,” said Dr Panda.

While Srivastava said among the reported cases, around one-third of the cases affect children, albeit with mostly mild symptoms, Dr Panda from Fortis found it mainly occurring in young adults from the age of 18 to 25 years.

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Dr Preeti Anand, senior consultant (paediatrics), Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital in Saket, has also noticed a sudden surge. “There has been a sudden rise in the number of cases of mumps in the last few months. Patients typically come with fever, malaise and painful swelling on the cheek or angle of the mouth, which is a swelling of the parotid gland parotitis,” the doctor said.

WHY ARE CASES ON THE RISE?

Experts said the resurgence can be attributable to multiple factors such as reduced or limited coverage of mumps in universal immunisation schedules in large populations of children.

Further, waning immunity is a well-established fact in mumps. With growing age, immunity may decrease, leaving individuals susceptible to the virus. Social and environmental factors also play a role.

“Increased contact among children in schools allows the virus to spread alongside poor hygiene practices and inadequate sanitation to further facilitate transmission,” said Dr Panda from Fortis.

Mumps is a preventable infection and routine immunisation is crucial for maintaining both individual as well as herd immunity. If a significant number of children are vaccinated, community spread of the virus can be curtailed.

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Proper hygiene and sanitation with personal protective behaviour – hand hygiene and masks with distancing – are quintessential measures in its preventive strategy. Once symptomatic, appropriate isolation measures should be adopted.

Experts said these people should be advised to minimise public exposure, timely vaccination and seek immediate advice from medical experts once symptomatic.

Elder individuals, people with compromised immunity and pregnant women are at higher risk of acquiring mumps. “Children, elders and immunocompromised individuals need to be extra cautious. Reasons for the disease include compromised health statuses, escalating pollution levels, shifting climate patterns, and vaccine hesitancy. We need to educate people to adhere to preventive measures,” Dr Srivastava said.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow