VERIFYING THE SWITCH FROM tOPV to bOPV: GUIDELINES FOR ROTARY

INTRODUCTION

Only two countries in the world, Pakistan and Afghanistan, still have polio (74 in 2015 compared to 334 in 2014). Of the three polio viruses that cause paralytic polio – p1, p2 and p3 – there has been no case due to p2 since 1999. Therefore, the World Health Assembly has recommended a synchronized switch from trivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV) to bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV)that contains only p1 and p3 vaccinesin all 156 OPV using countries and regions during 2 weeks in April 2016.  April 25, 2016 is the date for global switch from tOPV to bOPV. A key component of a successful switch involves effective monitoring of health facilities after the national switch date in all countries to ensure that tOPV is no longer available for administration. This is a prerequisite for the global certification of the eradication of the p2 virus.

Polio vaccination with microneedle patches receives funding for patch development, clinical trial

The Georgia Institute of Technology and Micron Biomedical have been awarded $2.5 million in grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to advance the development of dissolvable microneedle patches for polio immunization. The patches will be studied to evaluate their potential role as part of the worldwide efforts to eradicate polio.

The funds will support research and development of vaccine-filled microneedles that are designed to dissolve in the skin to provide protection against the poliovirus in humans. Studies with animal models have shown that microneedle patches containing polio vaccine effectively stimulate the immunological responses necessary for immunization.

Health Minister Shri J P Nadda: Committed to prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of disorders in children with special abilities

Health Minister Shri J P Nadda: Committed to prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of disorders in children with special abilities  

The Government is committed to prevention, early diagnosis and timely and appropriate treatment of disorders in children, including development disorders so that they enjoy good health and become valuable assets of the country.  

WORLD DIABETES DAY: Message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

As the world rightly copes with infectious diseases, such as influenza, malaria, and especially recently, the Ebola virus, World Diabetes Day is a reminder that non-communicable diseases pose an even greater threat to human health.
Diabetes affects more than 350 million people in the world.  Many will suffer from its debilitating complications and die prematurely.  Cardiovascular disease kills half of all people with diabetes, which is among the leading causes of kidney failure.

One-Quarter of Women in Rural Bangladesh Report Pregnancy and Childbirth Complications

Survey Fills Data Gap in Region Where 75% of Births Are at Home

October 22, 2014
A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health shows that over one-quarter of women in rural Bangladesh experience complications during pregnancy, with hemorrhage and sepsis as the most commonly reported complications. The majority of childbirths in rural Bangladesh are at home with no trained health professional in attendance. The study was published in the October 4 edition of Biomed Central Pregnancy and Childbirth.

US FDA approves vaccine to prevent serogroup B Meningococcal disease

Washington: The US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday announced the approval of Trumenba, the first vaccine licensed in the United States to prevent invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B in individuals 10 through 25 years of age.READ MORE... http://www.indiamedicaltimes.com/2014/10/30/us-fda-approves-vaccine-to-prevent-serogroup-b-meningococcal-disease/

WHO welcomes Swissmedic approval of Ebola vaccine trial at Lausanne University Hospital

GENEVA: 28 October 2014: The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomes the approval by Swissmedic, the Swiss regulatory authority for therapeutic products, for a trial with an experimental Ebola vaccine at the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV).  This marks  the  latest step towards bringing safe and effective Ebola vaccines for testing and implementation as quickly as possible. 

Implication of the Seoul declaration on public health of India

http://www.ijph.in/article.asp?issn=0019-557X;year=2014;volume=58;issue=3;spage=143;epage=146;aulast=Kishore

Observing epidemiological transition of various diseases throughout the world, it is quite apparent that the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is a major concern. In this era of globalization, developing countries, including India cannot remain untouched from the threats and major developments in the field of international health and NCDs.

World Heart Day 2014: salt reduction saves lives

On World Heart Day, held 29 September, WHO is calling on countries to take action on the overuse of salt by implementing WHO’s sodium reduction recommendations to cut the number of people experiencing heart disease and stroke, and, in turn, save lives.

Target: 30% salt reduction by 2025

Noncommunicable diseases, including heart disease and stroke, are the leading causes of premature death in the 21st century. WHO is supporting governments to implement the "Global action plan to reduce noncommunicable diseases" that comprises nine global targets, including one to reduce global salt intake by a relative 30% by 2025. read more: http://who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2014/salt-reduction/en/

Consultation on potential Ebola therapies and vaccines: 4-5 September 2014, Geneva, Swizerland

Consultation on potential Ebola therapies and vaccines

Place: Geneva, Swizerland
Date: 4-5 September 2014

The current west African Ebola outbreak is unprecedented in size, complexity and the strain it has imposed on health systems. There is intense public interest in, and demand for, anything that offers hope of definitive treatment. A range of unproven interventions-blood products, immune therapies, drugs and vaccines are under different stages of development but none have yet been licensed for standard use.