Health Bulletin 7/April/2022

Here are the top health stories for today: 

Health Ministry denies detection of XE variant in India 

In response to the media reports that claimed that a case of the new mutant was reported in Mumbai, the Union Health Ministry said that present evidence does not suggest the presence of XE variant of COVID denying media reports that claimed that a case of the new mutant was reported in Mumbai.

XE is a mutant hybrid of the two previous versions of the Omicron variant, BA.1 and BA.2, which is spreading across the world. It was first detected in the UK on January 19 and since then a few hundred sequences have been reported and confirmed.

Eligibility Certificate To FMGE Candidates: NMC Extends Deadline For Applications  

Through a recent notification, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has extended the deadline for applications from FMGE candidates for obtaining their Eligibility Certificate for the forthcoming session.

Earlier, the last date for online submission of applications with the NMC was 31st March 2022 (Till 11:59 PM), which has now been extended to April 7th till 4pm.

According to the notification published on the official website of NMC issued under the authority of Dr Achal Gulati, President of NMC's Ethics and Medical Registration Board, it has been decided that the applicants, who could not apply for the Eligibility certificate, are permitted to apply again till 07.04.2022.

For more information check out the full story on the link below: Health Ministry, XE variant, FMGE course , Omicron variant, NMC, COVID Therapy, 

Eligibility Certificate To FMGE Candidates: NMC Extends Deadline For Applications 

USFDA Junks Authorization of GSK- Vir COVID Therapy Sotrovimab  

The U.S. health regulator said on Tuesday GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology's antibody therapy was no longer authorized as a COVID-19 treatment, with data suggesting it was unlikely to be effective against the dominant Omicron sub-variant in the country.

The move by the agency, which had already pulled its authorization for the sotrovimab therapy in much of the U.S. northeast last month, sent shares in Vir Biotechnology 11.5% lower.

For more information check out the full story on the link below:

USFDA Junks Authorization Of GSK- Vir COVID Therapy Sotrovimab

Kerala High Court Refuses to Reschedule KUHS Final Year MBBS Exam

A plea has been filed to Kerala High Court by a large group of medical students. The court has refused to Reschedule the dates of the professional MBBS Degree Part-II Examinations to be conducted by the Kerala University of Health and Sciences (KUHS). 

Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan however clarified that "Students who failed to appear for the examination on March 31 should be permitted to appear along with their junior batch" in the -Exams which are tentatively scheduled to be held on 19.9.2022, or such other date as modified by the Board of Examinations .