WHO reports Indian Covid-19 variant found in 44 countries
Covid-19 Indian variant found in 44 countries
On Wednesday, the World Health Organization stated that a variant of Covid-19 behind the acceleration of India’s explosive outbreak. The variant has been found in dozens of countries all over the world. The UN health agency reports that the B.1.617 variant of Covid-19, first found in India in October. The variant is detected in more than 4,500 samples uploaded to an open-access database “from 44 countries in all six WHO regions.”
“And WHO has received reports of detections from five additional countries,” it said in its weekly epidemiological update on the pandemic. It said that Britain reports the largest number of Covid-19 cases caused by the variant that was found in India.
Also Read: Brazilian and South African Covid variants found in Sindh
Covid-19 variants poses threats
Earlier this week, the WHO declared B.1.617 which counts three sub-lineages with slightly different mutations and characteristics as a “variant of concern.”
Therefore, it was added to the list containing three other variants of Covid-19. Those first detected in Britain, Brazil, and South Africa. The variants are seen as more dangerous than the original version of the virus. Because they are either being more transmissible, deadly, or able to get past some vaccine protections.
What causes a virus to change to a new variant?
According to WHO, when a virus is widely circulating in a population and causing many infections. The likelihood of the virus mutating increases. The more opportunities a virus has to spread, the more it replicates and the more opportunities it has to undergo changes.
The impacts?
Most viral mutations have little to no impact on the virus’s ability to cause infections and disease. But depending on where the changes are located in the virus’s genetic material, they may affect a virus’s properties. Such as transmission (for example, it may spread more or less easily) or severity (for example, it may cause more or less severe disease).
Current situation of India with the variant
India, a country where 1.3 billion people reside, is the world’s second-most infected after the United States. With nearly 23 million Covid-19 cases and is currently recording more than 300,000. New cases are close to 4,000 deaths each day.
The new surge in cases has trampled major cities, including the capital New Delhi and financial hub Mumbai, pushing hospitals to suffer massive shortages in oxygen and beds.
“WHO found that resurgence and acceleration of Covid-19 transmission in India had several potential contributing factors, including an increase in the proportion of cases of SARS-CoV-2 variants with potentially increased transmissibility,” it said.
Brazilian and South African Covid variants found in Sindh
Covid variants have spread their horrors around the world in a matter of time. People have lost their lives and the effects still live on. There are more than 4 variants that have created a massive amount of casualties and the graph is increasing. India is under its worst Covid variant spell of the UK. Thousand of people have passed on due to the lack of oxygen in all the hospitals. And now new Covid variants are entered in Pakistan too.
Brazilian and South African Covid variants in Sindh
Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho informed on Monday that the South African and Brazilian variants of the novel coronavirus disease have been found in samples taken by the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH). The video message was posted on Twitter where Azra Pechuho stated that AKUH collected 13 samples to perform a genomic study confirming the variants of the virus.
She also added that out of these samples, 10 were of the UK variant, two of the South African variant while the other was found to be of the Brazilian variant.
The horrors of Covid variants and Pakistan’s limited resources
Dr Pechuho also warned that these strands of Covid-19 have the potential to bring the current healthcare facilities to the brink of collapse. SOPs should be followed strictly at this point.
She cautioned that the UK variation was more deadly and spread all the more quickly, with around 60% infectivity rate and almost 68% casualty rate once infected. Pechuho added that the casualty rate for the South African and Brazilian strands was likewise high.
She said, “This is an emergency as these variants are not vaccine responsive either.”
The health minister further added that the current vaccines process across the country may be effective against Covid-19 but are useless when it comes to these variants.”Therefore it is important for everyone to take all necessary precautions & take this seriously.”
The department of Health also tweeted the list of places where people can administer safe and free vaccine.
Be safe, stay protected.
Pakistan to start local production of CanSinoBio vaccine for Covid-19 from May
Pakistan is set to begin the local creation of CanSinoBIO COVID-19 vaccine from one month from now. Senior authorities at the National Institute of Health (NIH) affirms.
As indicated by details and reports, while the NIH has made every one of the important courses of action to start the domestic assembling of the vaccine. The crude material for the production of CanSinoBIO’s antibody will arrive at Pakistan toward the beginning of May.
Chinese medical services specialists are present in Pakistan also to help NIH scientists in assembling the CanSinoBIO’s single-portion COVID-19 immunization.
CanSinoBIO vaccine in Pakistan
Known as Ad5-nCoV, CanSinoBIO built up the Coronavirus vaccine as a team with the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology. They tried it in enormous scope stage III clinical preliminaries that were held in five nations. That includes Pakistan, in which in excess of 40,000 volunteers took an interest.
Consequences of trials were distributed in February this year which affirmed that the CanSinoBIO immunization was 65% powerful. At forestalling suggestive cases and 91% successful at forestalling extreme contamination. The officials said they were hopeful that the single-dose vaccine would be available by the end of May for public inoculation. It is fitting to mention that CanSinoBio’s officials had trained NIH experts to prepare vaccine doses.
You can also read: THE TRUTH BEHIND ASTRAZENECA, J&J VACCINES AND BLOOD CLOTS
The member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Asad Umar also tweets the daily numbers of vaccinations being done for the people. And hopeful that by the end of the year this will lower down the cases surge.
Faisal Sultan says govt is increasing oxygen production capacity to meet demand
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr. Faisal Sultan on Tuesday said the public authority was expanding the country’s oxygen production limit to help the country’s medical care in the midst of expanding Covid-19 cases.
Faisal Sultan on Oxygen production for Pakistan
While tending to a question and answer session, the SAPM said Pakistan Steel Mills’ (PSM) oxygen plant would be re-actuated to fulfill the country’s oxygen need.
SAPM said, “Using non-essential industries and importing oxygen can also be used to increase the supply,” The SAPM also added that guidelines would be issued later detailing the effective usage of oxygen supply. He added that logistics of supplying oxygen were also being worked upon so that there are no hindrances.
You can also read: COVID-19 CASES RISE, GOVERNMENT MAY IMPOSE LOCKDOWN IN MAJOR CITIES
Faisal Sultan clears the air of vaccines in Pakistan
Clarifying some recent rumours, Dr Sultan said the government was not only dependant upon vaccine doses that were received as either grants or gifts.
“That is not true. The government has purchased about three million vaccine doses whereas deals have been signed to purchases 30 million doses,” the SAPM said.
Also read: THE TRUTH BEHIND ASTRAZENECA, J&J VACCINES AND BLOOD CLOTS
Faisal Sultan added that the process of acquiring vaccines was slow due to the shortage around the world. “It does not matter how much money one has. If a thing does not exist, you cannot buy it,” he said.
Due to the shortage, vaccine roll out under the COVAX programme had also been delayed, he said further. “Hopefully, the COVAX programme would resume as soon as the problem of the vaccine shortage is resolved,” he said.
Sultan further added that the vaccination program in the country was “going smoothly.”
“There are 1,200 vaccination centres across the country having the capacity to vaccinate around 5,000 people per day.” He said.
Covid-19 cases rise, government may impose lockdown in major cities
According to the Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, the Sindh government may impose strict lockdowns in selected areas of Karachi if the Covid-19 situation worsens. Said in a video message on Thursday.
The Covid-19 third wave spike in Karachi
The situation has become alarming as cases are getting increased each passing day due to the third deadly wave or Covid-19. The health minister quoted that Sindh government had recommended banning inter-provincial transport; however, the National Command and Operations Centre had rejected the suggestion.
Karachi and the UK virus strain
In a video, Azra shared that the highly infectious UK strain has entered Karachi. 50 percent of people are turned positive with the British variant of coronavirus. Azra Pechuho also added that this virus has a fast spreading rate. And the massive spike has been seen in most of the major cities in Pakistan is due to the strain.
Azra stressed on the fact that everyone should follow SOPs regularly and do not leave homes, unless absolutely necessary. She added that this is a dangerous time and we all should be careful.
Asad Umar NCOC meeting for Covid-19
Federal Minister Asad Umar presided over the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) meeting on Wednesday. He said, “It is our last chance. People should take the pandemic seriously like they had done during the first wave last year. Or else they would have to face strict restrictions.”
He further added, “We will have to increase restrictions, if we do not contain the spread of pandemic,” Umar warns. “We will have no option but to impose a complete lockdown in the big cities,” He concluded.
Coronavirus horrors in India
India marked a dismal achievement in the Covid-19 pandemic on Thursday, announcing 314,835 new day-by-day cases, the highest one-day count, as its subsequent wave and similar surge raised new horrors of trepidation about the capacity of health services to deal.
Clinics across northern and western India including the capital, New Delhi, have given notification to say they have a couple of hours on clinical oxygen. And they need more to keep Covid-19 patients alive. Twitter has started a trend #IndiaNeedsOxygen where people including actors are requesting everyone to arrange oxygen for people who are battling with death.
Current stats of Covid-19 cases in Pakistan
According to official statistics, Sindh has recorded an overall 275,081 coronavirus cases, 4,562 deaths. While 261,298 people have recovered from the disease.
Punjab currently has the highest rate of active cases. And recorded a total of 3,032 active cases recorded on Wednesday. Total cases are recorded in Punjab are 279,000. Whereas, KPK has 110,000 total cases.
The truth behind AstraZeneca, J&J vaccines and blood clots
Most of the countries around the world are experiencing the third wave of Covid-19 with mutations and strains of different kinds. The vaccine AstraZeneca has created havoc in Europe and its all 27 member states.
Despite the fact that the connection isn’t firm yet, they’re calling the condition vaccine induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia or VITT. It’s portrayed by blood coagulating joined with a low number of blood-thickening cells called platelets. Patients experience the ill effects of clusters and clots and, sometimes, hemorrhaging at the same time.
AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots
The European Medicines Agency said there’s a possible link between AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine and a rare type of blood clot in the brain. In parallel, the U.K. also recommended not using Astra’s vaccine on those under the age of 30.
Both AstraZeneca’s and the J&J vaccine utilize normal cold infections called adenoviruses as a transporter and a few specialists speculate the body’s reaction to those viral vectors may underlie the response. AstraZeneca’s vaccine isn’t approved in the U.S.
The AstraZeneca vaccine blood clot research
A team led by Dr. Marie Scully, a hematologist at University College London Hospitals, studied 22 patients who developed the syndrome after receiving AstraZeneca’s vaccine, and found they had an unusual antibody response. These so-called anti-PF4 antibodies had only been seen before as a rare reaction to the use of the common blood thinner heparin.
The findings support a theory that an immune reaction might underlie the rare blood clots, but the findings don’t yet explain it, Scully and colleagues reported in the New England Journal of Medicine on Friday. What may be going on is a reaction by the immune system with platelets to cause uncontrolled clotting. If this is happening due to the vaccine, it is still rare. They also said that it might not even be happening any more often in recently vaccinated people than among the population in general.
Is AstraZeneca vaccine safe in Pakistan?
The study suggests that, “The risk of thrombocytopenia and the risk of venous thromboembolism after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 do not appear to be higher than the background risks in the general population, a finding consistent with the rare and sporadic nature of this syndrome.”
The Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation and Expert Haematology Panel have advised that anyone with a history of blood clots are at no increased risk from the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. They can also have their second shot of the vaccine, with no additional risks.
Side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine
Some of the new side effects of the vaccine include
- new, severe headache which is not helped by usual painkillers or is getting worse.
- headache which seems worse when lying down or bending over.
An unusual headache that might accompany with
- Blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting.
- Difficulty with speech
- Weakness, drowsiness, or seizures
- New, unexplained pinprick bruising or bleeding
- Shortness of breath, chest pain
- Leg swelling
- Abdominal pain
Whereas a relieving news is the vaccines produced by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech use a different technology that sends genetic material into the body wrapped in lipids. And according to various lab tests they have not been linked with blood clots.
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Tips for healthy Ramadan Fasting
The heavenly month of Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic schedule and when numerous Muslims across the world fast during daylight hours for 29-30 days. The Islamic schedule is lunar, thus Ramadan falls at a somewhat prior time in the year every year.
Muslims participating in Ramadan don’t eat or drink anything during light hours, eating one supper (the ‘suhoor’ or ‘sehri’) not long before day break and another (the ‘iftar’) after nightfall. The finish of Ramadan is set apart by ‘Eid-ul-Fitr’, the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast. An uncommon celebratory supper is eaten during the celebration, the principal daytime feast for a month.
Fasting during Ramadan
Fasting during Ramadan conveys a high risk of dehydration as food and drink are restricted to before dawn and after dusk. Moreover, as fasting people are urged to get up ahead of schedule to have their Sehri (or pre-day break dinner), lack of sleep and parchedness can prompt head pains.
But healthy fasting is possible if people consume the right amount of food. Let’s find out the ways to have a healthy Ramadan this year,
Do not skip Sehri
As one saying goes, ‘breakfast is the main feast of the day’. Furthermore, during Ramadan, it turns out to be significantly more important! Despite the fact that skipping Suhoor to have continuous rest may sound engaging, you shouldn’t.
Skipping Suhoor draws out the fasting time frame as your body should depend on the past meal to furnish you with every one of the supplements and energy until Iftar. Because of the more extended long fasting, you are bound to feel parched and tired during the day. Moreover, skipping Suhoor additionally increases overeating during Iftar, which can cause undesirable weight gain.
Do not overeat in iftaar
Similarly, as it isn’t fitting to skip Suhoor, overeating when the time comes to break the fast can hurt your body. Iftar ought to be an even, nutritious supper and not a full-fledged dining experience! Gorging and extreme intake of high-fat food sources may bring heartburn and weight gain. Moderate down and appreciate every piece of your food.
Avoid fried items
Iftar gets incomplete without Pakoray and Samosay, but moderation is the key. Do not fill yourself with too much oily food. Eating rich, greasy food not only will make you lethargic. It can cause heartburn. Aside from unhealthy weight gain containing extra oily food will keep you fatigued. Limit your salt intake, during sehri, as it increases thirst.
All things considered, choose vegetables, rice and lentils. You can also get meat but in low quantity. Fibre-rich foods in sehri is a good option as it ideal and make you full longer.
Water is your friend
Yes, drinking as much water as you can during the hours after iftaar till sehri will keep you hydrated during your fast.
Drink at least 9 to 10 glasses of water. You can also replace it with fluids, such as milk, lassi, juices, or any beverage. Avoid too many cups of tea as it can cause acid reflux. And you should avoid coffee as it has diuretic effect and promotes fluid loss.
A balanced diet and minimal eating patterns will be a healthy option for your fasting. Pray more and eat less. Give a rest to your stomach. Revive your Imaan and stay blessed!
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Pakistan’s first liver autotransplantation performed at DUHS
First time for Pakistan Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) Karachi performed a liver autotransplantation procedure successfully.
The successful liver autotransplantation at DUHS
The liver of a 28-year old patient, who has cancer, was removed from the body. The tumor was carefully removed surgically. Furthermore, harmed veins were recreated, and the liver was re-embedded in his body, health authorities said. Moreover, after the success, the patient has started to recuperate, DUHS said.
Vice-Chancellor, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Prof Saeed Quraishy said also said on the occasion that, “Our team of liver transplant surgeons has performed one of the most complex and sophisticated procedures, known as liver autotransplantation.”
Liver autotransplantation in Pakistan
Talking at a seminar on “Liver, Kidney and Bone Marrow Transplants at DUHS Hospital — Meet the Experts”, coordinated by the Mir Khalil-ur-Rehman Memorial Society (MKRMS) at the Ojha Campus of the varsity, Prof Quraishy said a 28-year old patient from Zhob town of Balochistan had answered to DUHS and was determined to have liver cancer, which had harmed some segment of the liver and some significant veins.
“Under the supervision of eminent liver transplant surgeon Prof Dr. Faisal Dar, our team of experts including Dr. Jahanzeb Hyder, Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, and others performed country’s first liver auto-transplantation.
“Only 20 such procedures happened in the entire world,” he said. Pakistan also becomes one of the luckiest countries in the world.
He said that regular liver transfers are happening regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic thus, DUHS did 6 liver transfers. Three more liver transfers are expecting, and still is in progress.
Since the Liver is the only organ in the human body that can regenerate itself so people can donate parts of their livers to others for saving their lives. Also, this autotransplantation has become a medical milestone for Pakistan. And generates a positive ray of hope with people having multiple liver problems.
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Explaining Autism on the World Autism Awareness Day
What is Autism?
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability or disorder that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people. Furthermore, it also affects how they make sense of the world around them. It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with it share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Currently, 1 in every 68 children has the disorder.
Symptoms and early signs of Autism
The symptoms usually develop from an early age and can be detected from age two to three. Although these symptoms don’t get recognized easily but still are developed in an individual. The symptoms usually include,
- Inability to perform daily tasks
- Difficult maintaining eye contact
- Trouble understanding simple directions
- Limited social contact
- Depression
- Tourette’s
- Auditory processing
- Repetitive behavior (may play and do things in the same way and keep on doing that)
- High pain tolerance
- Picky eater
- Dislike hair washing, cutting nails, or daily hygiene tasks
Causes
Precisely why Autism happens isn’t clear. It could originate from issues in pieces of your cerebral brain part that decipher tangible information and interaction language and is multiple times more normal in young men than in young ladies. Moreover, it can occur in individuals of any race, nationality, or social foundation. Family pay, way of life, or educational level doesn’t influence a kid’s danger of mental imbalance. The disorder often runs in families, so certain combinations of genes may increase a child’s risk for it.
Children with older parents have a higher danger of this disorder. Autism can also happen to women who take medications similar to liquor or hostile to seizure drugs. Additionally, other risk factors include maternal metabolic conditions like diabetes.
History World Autism Day
April 2 was proclaimed as World Autism Awareness Day by the United Nations General Assembly to feature and highlight the need to improve the life quality of those with mental imbalance so they can lead full and significant lives as a necessary piece of society. Finally, the goal to observe World Autism Day was passed by the United Nations General Assembly on November 1, 2007. And, was declared on December 18, 2007.
Indeed, on World Autism Day, let’s make a pledge to create awareness and care for people around us who are dealing with this disorder.
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Pfizer claims 100 percent COVID-19 vaccine efficacy in youngsters
Pfizer announced on Wednesday that its Covid-19 vaccine is 100% effective in youngsters ages 12 to 15. At this time, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said the organization intends to present the new information on the vaccine. The German pharmaceutical company BioNTech creates the vaccine in association with Pfizer. The Food and Drug Administration and different controllers as quickly as time permits, with the expectation that children within the age will actually want to get immunized before the following school year.
“We share the urgency to expand the authorization of our vaccine to use in younger populations and are encouraged by the clinical trial data from adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15,” Bourla said in a press release.
Moderna, AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccine testing
Last week, Pfizer began testing the effective vaccine in children ages 6 months to 11 years. On contrary, Moderna also started a trial in similarly aged children last week. Moreover, AstraZeneca introduced a trial of its vaccine in 6- to 17-year-olds in February.
The test results
At this time, the preliminary trial enlisted 2,260 members in the United States. Additionally, 18 affirmed Covid-19 diseases saw in the fake treatment bunch. There are no affirmed contaminations in the group that got the antibody, the organization said. That brought about immunization adequacy of 100%, it said, adding that the shot was additionally all-around endured, with results commonly steady with those found in grown-ups.
Undoubtedly, vaccinating kids is crucial to ending the pandemic, health officials and experts say. The country is unlikely to achieve collective immunity at the point when enough people in a given local area have antibodies against a particular disease until kids can get immunized, specialists say.
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