Polio
Polio, short for poliomyelitis, or infantile paralysis, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. The virus destroys nerve cells in the spinal cord causing muscle wasting and paralysis. There are three wild types of poliovirus (WPV) – type 1, type 2, and type 3. People need to be protected against all three types of the virus in order to prevent polio disease Symptoms: Many people who are infected with the […]
Rubella and Measles
Rubella is a contagious, generally mild viral infection that occurs most often in children and young adults. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease and is a cause of death among young children globally. Though the diseases are caused by different viruses but share more or less the same symptoms, including the red rashes. The Measles & Rubella Initiative, a global program, aims at eliminating both these diseases. The vaccine for the […]
Hepatitis
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected. Causes: Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical conditions can all cause hepatitis. However, hepatitis is often caused by a virus. In the United States, the most common hepatitis viruses are hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B […]
Rotavirus
Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrhoea and death among children less than five years of age. It is responsible for around 10% of total child mortality every year. Rotavirus-Signs and Symptoms: Kids with a rotavirus infection have fever, nausea, and vomiting, often followed by abdominal cramps and frequent, watery diarrhea. Kids may also have a […]
COVID-19
What is a Coronavirus? Coronaviruses are a class of viruses so named because their electron microscope image resembles the corona of the sun. They are usually found in animals, but sometimes get transmitted to human beings possibly through the food chain. The symptoms can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. This happened during the […]
Nipah Virus
The virus can be transmitted to humans from animals (such as bats or pigs). The disease spreads through fruit bats or ‘flying foxes,’ of the genus Pteropus, who are natural reservoir hosts of the Nipah and Hendra viruses. Nipah virus infection is an emerging zoonotic disease of public health importance in the WHO South East […]
Japanese Encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis (JE) is one of the most common encephalitides worldwide. The disease is caused by a mosquito-borne flavivirus and is found across south and east areas of Asia. It is a zoonosis – an animal disease that can spread to humans. JE virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Culex mosquitoes, which lay their eggs in […]
Acute Encephalitis Syndrome
Acute encephalitis syndrome is a severe case of encephalitis transmitted by mosquitoes and is characterized by high fever and inflammation of the brain. The World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2006, coined the term AES to signify a group of diseases which seem similar to one another but are difficult to differentiate in the chaotic environment of an outbreak. The […]
Mamallapuram Stone Sculptures
The hand-crafted stone sculptures of Mamallapuram have been recently granted the Geographical Indications (GI) tag. The exquisite rock-sculpting techniques exhibited in Mamallapuram date back to early 7th century CE. The Pallava dynasty, which ruled the area between 6 and 9th centuries A.D., is responsible for the development of port town as a centre of art […]
Kandhamal Haldi
Odisha’s Kandhamal Haldi (turmeric), famous for its healing properties, has received GI tag. Key facts: The golden yellow spice, named after the district where it is produced, has been cultivated since time immemorial and is known for its medicinal value. Turmeric is the main cash crop of tribal people in Kandhamal. Apart from domestic use, […]