Covid Virus Weaken In Exposure To Air

The lesions and blisters caused by monkeypox virus are, although, very painful, and lead to hospitalisation, the diseases may not be as deadly as Covid-19 for the general public, health experts contended on Wednesday. The monkeypox virus has, so far, infected over 16,000 people across 75 countries and caused five deaths in Africa. The disease is not sexually transmitted, but the latest outbreak has been reported among men who have sex with men. However, it can spread among the general population through direct contact with infectious skin or lesions, including face-to-face, skin-to-skin, and respiratory droplets. Although the disease may typically start with just fever and skin lesions, if left untreated, it can get complicated "by affecting the lungs", Dr. Laxman Jessani, Consultant and Infectious Disease Specialist at Apollo Hospital in Navi Mumbai told IANS. "If the disease is not controlled, then the disease can go on to infect the lungs, and there can be pneumonia and with pneumonia, there can be increased mortality as well," Jessani said. "I will not say that all cases turn out to be complicated, but there are a few cases of monkeypox if left untreated, they can have complications like pneumonia," he added. A 2010 study by the US Pacific Northwest National Laboratory also claims that the monkeypox virus might damage lungs during infection. Not only does the infection from monkeypox virus increase production of proteins involved in inflammation, but it decreases production of proteins that keep lung tissue intact and lubricated, revealed the study published in the journal 'Molecular and Cellular Proteomics'. However, the co-chairman of IMA national task force on Covid, Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, disagreed saying that monkeypox may not be dangerous to the people living in good health. "The person who's in good health, if gets monkeypox is at no greater risk as far as the evidence we have from developed Western nations. "But extremely rare complications are possible, although such incidents have not been reported, so far," he said. Monkeypox is a rare viral disease, related to smallpox and cowpox. The virus generally causes pimples or blister-like lesions and flu-like symptoms such as fever. The lesions typically concentrate on the arms and legs, but in the latest outbreak, they're showing up more frequently on the genital and perianal area. Transmission can also occur from contaminated materials such as linens, bedding, electronics, clothing, that have infectious skin particles. Touching objects that have been contaminated by monkeypox lesions or fluids may also risk the spread. Jessani said the risk of transmission is only "if one is coming in close contact with infected patients or animals". "Otherwise the risk is not so much. If you use basic infection control measures like hand hygiene, maintaining social distance, wearing a mask, then the infections cannot transmit that easily," he said. The experts noted there is "no need to panic" but "to remain vigilant". According to Jessani, if you notice any symptom like fever or skin lesions, "make sure to report it to the concerned authorities" and get proper treatment.  (Rachel V Thomas) Read More► What is Monkeypox, How Does It Spread, How to Avoid

Monkeypox virus, that has crossed over 16,000 cases worldwide, is now a declared public health emergency of international concern like Covid and polio. Four cases of the infectious disease have also been confirmed in India, including New Delhi. Monkeypox is a rare viral disease, related to smallpox and cowpox. The virus generally causes pimples or blister-like lesions and flu-like symptoms such as fever. The lesions typically concentrate on the arms and legs, but in the latest outbreak, they're showing up more frequently on the genital and perianal area. It is transmitted from infected animals to humans via indirect or direct contact. Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with infectious skin or lesions, including face-to-face, skin-to-skin, and respiratory droplets. Transmission can also occur from contaminated materials such as linens, bedding, electronics and clothing that have infectious skin particles. Touching objects that have been contaminated by monkeypox lesions or fluids may also increase the risk of spreading. "We should all know about the transmission root of this virus. It spreads by close contact, skin to skin contact and droplet infection. So, we have to be careful about all these factors," Dr Satish Koul, Director of Internal Medicine at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, said. The disease has also been reported among three children two in the US and one in the Netherlands. Monkeypox, even though is not a sexually transmitted disease, in the latest outbreak, it has mostly been spreading among men who have sex with men, according to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. "We do have seen now two cases that have occurred in children. Both of those children are traced back to individuals who come from the men who have sex with men community, the gay men community," Walensky was quoted as saying in an interview with the Washington Post. Monkeypox is usually considered mild and most people recover within four weeks without treatment. However, the disease is frequently uncomfortable or painful, and can sometimes lead to complications that require close medical follow-up. If one has "fever after travelling recently, or you have come in contact with somebody who has manifested symptoms of monkeypox, you should immediately seek consultations from your physician. As of now, prevention is the cure," Koul said. According to Dr Manisha Arora, Senior Consultant in Internal Medicine at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, avoid coming in contact with an ill person. The primary measures to control the outbreak are contact tracing and isolation. It is also important that people confirmed with monkeypox disclose their contacts so they can be alerted to monitor for symptoms. "Always wash hands properly and use an effective alcohol-based sanitiser. Never avoid using masks," Arora said. Read More► New Gene Therapy May Reduce Bleeding Risk for Haemophilia Patients

लंदन: कोविड-19 से संक्रमित मरीजों में हृदय रोग और मधुमेह विकसित होने का खतरा अधिक होता है, खासकर संक्रमण के बाद के तीन महीनों में। एक नए शोध में यह पता चला है। वैज्ञानिक तेजी से कोविड-19 को एक बहु-प्रणाली की स्थिति के रूप में पहचान रहे हैं जो पूरे शरीर में बीमारी का कारण बन सकती है, संभवत: उन मार्गो को ट्रिगर करके जो सूजन का कारण बनते हैं। लंदन के किंग्स कॉलेज के शोधकर्ताओं ने 428,000 से अधिक कोविड रोगियों और इतने ही अज्ञात मेडिकल रिकॉर्ड का विश्लेषण किया और इस निष्कर्ष पर पहुंचे कि कोविड रोगियों में मधुमेह और हृदय रोग उन लोगों की तुलना में ज्यादा होते हैं, जिन्हें कभी संक्रमण नहीं हुआ था। ओपन एक्सेस जर्नल पीएलओएस मेडिसिन में प्रकाशित विश्लेषण से पता चला है कि वायरस से संक्रमित होने के बाद पहले चार हफ्तों में 81 प्रतिशत कोविड रोगियों को मधुमेह होने का पता चला। संक्रमण के बाद 12 सप्ताह तक उनका जोखिम 27 प्रतिशत तक बढ़ गया था। कोविड समग्र रूप से हृदय निदान में छह गुना वृद्धि के साथ जुड़ा था, मुख्य रूप से फुफ्फुसीय अंत: शल्यता (फेफड़ों में रक्त के थक्के) और अनियमित दिल की धड़कन के विकास के कारण। एक नए हृदय रोग निदान का जोखिम संक्रमण के पांच सप्ताह बाद कम होना शुरू हो गया और बेसलाइन स्तर पर वापस आ गया या एक वर्ष से लेकर 12 सप्ताह के भीतर कम हो गया। हालांकि, शोधकर्ताओं ने यह भी नोट किया कि कोविड संक्रमण हृदय संबंधी विकारों और मधुमेह के बढ़ते जोखिम से जुड़ा है। इन निष्कर्षो के आधार पर टीम ने अनुशंसा की कि डॉक्टर अपने रोगियों को स्वस्थ आहार और व्यायाम के माध्यम से मधुमेह के जोखिम को कम करने की सलाह दें। टीम ने कहा, "हृदय की स्थिति और मधुमेह के विकास पर कोविड-19 के दीर्घकालिक प्रभावों पर इस बहुत बड़े जनसंख्या आधारित अध्ययन से मिली जानकारी उन लाखों लोगों का प्रबंधन करने वाले डॉक्टरों के लिए अत्यंत मूल्यवान होगी, जिन्हें कोविड-19 हो चुका है। इससे स्पष्ट है कि कोविड-19 से संक्रमित होने के बाद कम से कम पहले 3 महीनों में विशेष सतर्कता की जरूरत रहती है। (एजेंसी) यह भी पढ़े► हीमोफिलिया के मरीजों की जीन थेरेपी से रक्तस्राव में आएगी कमी

People who regularly fast are less likely to experience severe complications from Covid-19, suggests a study. Intermittent fasting has previously shown to have a host of health benefits, including lowering the risk of diabetes and heart disease. The findings, published week in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, showed that Covid patients who practised regular water-only intermittent fasting had lower risk of hospitalisation or dying due to the virus than patients who did not. "Intermittent fasting has already shown to lower inflammation and improve cardiovascular health. In this study, we're finding additional benefits when it comes to battling an infection of Covid-19 in patients who have been fasting for decades," said Benjamin Horne, director of cardiovascular and genetic epidemiology at Intermountain Healthcare in the US. In the study, researchers identified 205 patients who had tested positive for the virus between March 2020 and February 2021 -- before vaccines were widely available. Of these, 73 said they regularly fasted at least once a month. Researchers found that those who practised regular fasting had a lower rate of hospitalisation or death due to coronavirus. "Intermittent fasting was not associated with whether or not someone tested positive Covid-19, but it was associated with lower severity once patients had tested positive for it," Horne said. While Horne said that more research is needed to understand why intermittent fasting is associated with better Covid outcomes, he said it's most likely due to a host of ways that it affects the body. For example, fasting reduces inflammation, especially since hyperinflammation is associated with poor Covid-19 outcomes. In addition, after 12 to 14 hours of fasting, the body switches from using glucose in the blood to ketones, including linoleic acid. "There's a pocket on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 that linoleic acid fits into -- and can make the virus less able to attach to other cells," he said. Another potential benefit is that intermittent fasting promotes autophagy, which is "the body's recycling system that helps your body destroy and recycle damaged and infected cells", Horne added. Horne stressed that these results are from people who have been practising intermittent fasting for decades -- not weeks -- and that anyone who wants to consider the practice should consult their doctors first, especially if they are elderly, pregnant, or have conditions like diabetes, heart, or kidney disease. Researchers also stressed intermittent fasting shouldn't be seen as a substitute for Covid vaccination. (Agency) Read More► Reducing Air Pollution May Improve Brain Development in Children