Health Bulletin 18/January/2024

Here are the top health stories for the day:

Kochi doctor saves 'breathless' man's life on Akasa flight, wins internet

In aremarkable incident, Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, a passenger on an Akasa Air flight from Kochi to Mumbai on January 14, emerged as a hero by playing a crucial role in saving a fellow traveler experiencing severe breathing difficulties. Despite not actively using a stethoscope in over three years, Dr. Philips, initially trying to take a nap, noticed a man next to him struggling to breathe. Even though the passenger had no history of asthma, an air hostess attempted to administer emergency inhalational treatment using a nebulizer. Dr. Philips, taken aback by the situation, took charge and discovered that the passenger had a water-filled left lung (pleural effusion).

Upon further inquiry, it was revealed that the passenger had deteriorating health, with kidney issues and a dependency on dialysis. Dr. Philips, aware of the critical situation, administered a frusemide injection into the buttock muscles mid-air due to the challenging conditions.

Himachal doctors to go on black-badge protest

Raising their voice against the denial of non-practicing allowance to the specialist doctors in the State and several other issues, the Himachal doctors have decided to initiate a symbolic protest from January 18 onwards by wearing black badges to work.

The Himachal Medical Officers Association (HMOA) has highlighted that the specialist doctors, employed on a contractual basis in the state, are only getting Rs 33660 as salary, which is the lowest in the whole country.

Issuing a press release in this regard, the General Secretary of the association Dr. Vikas Thakur further claimed that even though the Chief Minister had last year assured the association that NPA would be re-attached in case of future appointment of doctors, it has not been included till date.

For the full story, check out the link given below:

Meagre Salary, No Non-Practicing Allowance For Specialists: Himachal Doctors To Go On Black-Badge Protest

Himachal High Court slams doctor for 2-finger test on rape victim, orders Rs 5 lakh compensation

Corbevax vaccine gets WHO Emergency Use Listing authorisation

Biological E. Limited, a Hyderabad-based Vaccines and Pharmaceutical company, has announced that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has granted an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) to their CORBEVAX vaccine, which is India's first indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine that is based on protein sub-unit platform.

For the full story, check out the link given below:

WHO Grants Emergency Use Listing To Biological E Corbevax Vaccine

Is a New 'Disease X' pandemic on the Horizon?

Recent headlines have sparked concerns about a new pandemic referred to as "Disease X," allegedly on the horizon just four years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it's crucial to clarify that "Disease X" is not a real threat at the moment; it is a placeholder name coined by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2017 for a fictitious disease and its unknown cause. The term was introduced to encourage basic research into potential cures for unknown but highly dangerous pathogens.

The notion of Disease X resurfaced in discussions at the 2024 World Economic Forum, creating speculation and misinformation. Conspiracy theorists, including figures like Alex Jones, incorrectly claimed that Disease X was real and part of a global conspiracy. Such assertions were baseless, as Disease X is a hypothetical concept created for preparedness rather than an existing threat.

Yoga helps reduce frequency of seizures, feelings of stigma among epilepsy patients: AIIMS study

Yoga may help reduce the frequency of seizures, anxiety and feelings of stigma that frequently comes with having epilepsy, a new study by Delhi AIIMS said.

People with epilepsy often face stigma that can cause them to feel different than others that can have a significant impact on their quality of life, said Dr Manjati Tripathy, head of department of Neurology at AIIMS said.

For the full story, check out the link given below:

Yoga Helps Reduce Frequency Of Seizures, Feelings Of Stigma Among Epilepsy Patients: AIIMS Study