Punjab government issues public advisory amid spike in COVID-19 cases
The advisory issued on Friday says, "Due to slight rise in COVID-19 cases in some parts of the country, a precautionary advisory is being issued. Thought the situation in the state of Punjab is under control and the health system is fully prepared, still, citizens are advised to follow basic safety measures to help prevent the spread of disease.''
Issuing the Dos, the advisory noted: 'Individuals should cover their mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing—using a handkerchief, tissue, or the inside of the elbow. In case of symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty in breathing, it is advised to wear a mask and consult a doctor immediately.
Listing the don'ts the advisory advised to avoid crowded or poorly ventilated places, especially if you have health problems and do not touch your face without washing hands, do not spit in public and avoid self-medication for respiratory symptoms.
The advisory follows a noticeable surge in infections across the state, particularly in Ludhiana, which has emerged as the current hotspot.
Two persons, one a 69-year-old woman, who was undergoing treatment at PGIMER in Chandigarh and another, a 39-year-old man, who was admitted to Government Medical College Hospital, Sector 32 of Chandigarh succumbed to the infection. Both were natives of Ludhiana.
According to the Punjab Health Department, the active COVID-19 cases in the state has risen from just 12 a week ago to over 35, touching 60 this year.
The has been a steep rise seen in Ludhiana, which has reported 23 new cases, attributed in part to ongoing political gatherings due to the Ludhiana (West) assembly by-poll as political leaders of various parties and the party workers are busy with campaign works
Sources said that both the pre-existing medical conditions and the recent travel history, have made the situation more vulnerable to complications.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
26 minutes ago
- Indian Express
World Hepatitis Day: Person with hepatitis B can spread the infection through blood, other body fluids
'Hepatitis often progresses silently and may only be detected once severe damage like cirrhosis or liver failure sets in. Timely testing is critical to prevent long-term complications,' Dr Rakesh Kochhar, former head, Gastroenterology Department, PGIMER, said. Ahead of the World Hepatitis Day on Monday, Kochhar said that the condition is caused by viruses such as hepatitis B and C, alcohol use, long-term medication, or metabolic disorders, and is increasingly becoming a public health concern in India. The expert cautioned against the rising number of cases linked to some herbal and ayurvedic supplements. According to the World Health Organisation's (WHO's) 2024 report, India has the highest global burden of viral hepatitis, with nearly 40 million people living with chronic hepatitis B and 6–12 million with hepatitis C, yet testing and treatment remain limited. Dr Sumeet Kainth, senior consultant, gastroenterology and hepatology, at Livasa Hospital Mohali said that Hepatitis B and C continue to silently damage the liver in many individuals, often without noticeable symptoms until the disease has significantly progressed. In addition, alcohol consumption and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease remain the major contributors to liver damage in India. Without diagnosis and treatment, individuals remain unaware and continue to progress towards severe liver disease or cancer, and so testing, treating, vaccinating, and integrating services into primary health systems are essential. This includes ensuring birth‑dose vaccination for hepatitis B, expanding screening for high‑risk groups, providing affordable curative treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV), and offering antivirals and prophylaxis to prevent hepatitis C virus (HBV) transmission. Dr Sunil Tanjea, associate professor, Department of Hepatology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, said that a person who has acute or chronic hepatitis B can spread the infection to other people through his/her blood and other body fluids or by sexual contact. 'The risk of exposure to hepatitis B is through unprotected sex, tattoos, piercings, pedicures, manicures or medical procedures with improperly sterilised equipment, sharing personal hygiene items with an infected person e.g. razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers. For chronic hepatitis B, antiviral medicines have been approved for treatment. These treatments do not provide a complete cure, but they offer control of the virus so that further damage to your liver can be prevented. There is a safe and effective vaccine that can protect against hepatitis B. The vaccine is usually given in three doses over six months. It gives long-lasting protection and can be given at birth,' Taneja added. Dr Arvind Sahni, director, gastroenterology and hepatology, Fortis Hospital, Mohali, said, unlike viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is caused by the body's immune system attacking liver cells. The disease is more common in women, though it affects males too, with peak incidence seen in childhood, adolescence, and adults aged 40-60. 'AIH often goes undetected, and nearly one-third of patients are already in advanced stages of liver disease at diagnosis. Patients may experience fatigue, jaundice, swelling of the legs, abdominal fluid build-up, gastrointestinal bleeding, menstrual irregularities, and neurological symptoms. Enlarged liver is also common,' said Sahni. Autoimmune hepatitis, he added, needs lifelong immunosuppressive treatment, which includes steroids and azathioprine. 'Recently, Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF), a new drug, has been approved as a first-line treatment for autoimmune hepatitis. MMF is more effective and better tolerated than traditional drugs, though it is contraindicated during pregnancy,' the doctor said. 'Among the five types of hepatitis B and C pose the highest risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer if not diagnosed and treated early,' Dr Mukesh K Rathore, principal consultant gastroenterology at Max Hospital, Mohali, said. In addition, alcohol consumption and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease remain the major contributors to liver damage. Vaccination remains our strongest defence against hepatitis A and B, Rathore stressed. With the availability of highly effective antiviral medications, hepatitis C is now curable in most cases. Unfortunately, many individuals remain unaware that they may be living with chronic hepatitis. 'Early detection and timely treatment can prevent complications like liver failure and cancer. Adopting a balanced diet, staying physically active, and avoiding alcohol and tobacco are crucial to preventing liver-related complications,' Rathore suggested.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
26 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Long-Covid, viruses: New research looks for links to chronic fatigue
Millions of people who recover from infections like Covid-19, influenza and glandular fever are affected by long-lasting symptoms. These include chronic fatigue, brain fog, exercise intolerance, dizziness, muscle or joint pain and gut problems. And many of these symptoms worsen after exercise, a phenomenon known as post-exertional malaise. Medically the symptoms are known as myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The World Health Organization classifies this as a post viral fatigue syndrome, and it is recognised by both the WHO and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a brain disorder. Experiencing illness long after contracting an infection is not new, as patients have reported these symptoms for decades. But Covid-19 has amplified the problem worldwide. Nearly half of people with ongoing post-Covid symptoms – a condition known as long-Covid– now meet the criteria for ME/CFS. Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, it is estimated that more than 400 million people have developed long-Covid. To date, no widely accepted and testable mechanism has fully explained the biological processes underlying long-Covid and ME/CFS. Our work offers a new perspective that may help close this gap. Our research group studies blood and the cardiovascular system in inflammatory diseases, as well as post-viral conditions. We focus on coagulation, inflammation and endothelial cells. Endothelial cells make up the inner layer of blood vessels and serve many important functions, like regulating blood clotting, blood vessel dilation and constriction, and inflammation. Our latest review aims to explain how ME/CFS and long-Covid start and progress, and how symptoms show up in the body and its systems. By pinpointing and explaining the underlying disease mechanisms, we can pave the way for better clinical tools to diagnose and treat people living with ME/CFS and long-Covid. What is endothelial senescence? In our review, our international team proposes that certain viruses drive endothelial cells into a half-alive, 'zombie-like' state called cellular senescence. Senescent endothelial cells stop dividing, but continue to release molecules that awaken and confuse the immune system. This prompts the blood to form clots and, at the same time, prevent clot breakdown, which could lead to the constriction of blood vessels and limited blood flow. By placing 'zombie' blood-vessel cells at the centre of these post-viral diseases, our hypothesis weaves together microclots, oxygen debt (the extra oxygen your body needs after strenuous exercise to restore balance), brain-fog, dizziness, gut leakiness (a digestive condition where the intestinal lining allows toxins into the bloodstream) and immune dysfunction into a single, testable narrative. From acute viral infection to 'zombie' vessels Viruses like SARS-CoV-2, Epstein–Barr virus, HHV-6, influenza A, and enteroviruses (a group of viruses that cause a number of infectious illnesses which are usually mild) can all infect endothelial cells. They enable a direct attack on the cells that line the inside of blood vessels. Some of these viruses have been shown to trigger endothelial senescence. Multiple studies show that SARS-CoV-2 (the virus which causes Covid-19 disease) has the ability to induce senescence in a variety of cell types, including endothelial cells. Viral proteins from SARS-CoV-2, for example, sabotage DNA-repair pathways and push the host cell towards a senescent state, while senescent cells in turn become even more susceptible to viral entry. This reciprocity helps explain why different pathogens can result in the same chronic illness. Influenza A, too, has shown the ability to drive endothelial cells into a senescent, zombie-like state. What we think is happening We propose that when blood-vessel cells turn into 'zombies', they pump out substances that make blood thicker and prone to forming tiny clots. These clots slow down circulation, so less oxygen reaches muscles and organs. This is one reason people feel drained. During exercise, the problem worsens. Instead of the vessels relaxing to allow adequate bloodflow, they tighten further. This means that muscles are starved of oxygen and patients experience a crash the day after exercise. In the brain, the same faulty cells let blood flow drop and leak, bringing on brain fog and dizziness. In the gut, they weaken the lining, allowing bits of bacteria to slip into the bloodstream and trigger more inflammation. Because blood vessels reach every corner of the body, even scattered patches of these 'zombie' cells found in the blood vessels can create the mix of symptoms seen in long-Covid and ME/CFS. Immune exhaustion locks in the damage Some parts of the immune system kill senescent cells. They are natural-killer cells, macrophages and complement proteins, which are immune molecules capable of tagging and killing pathogens. But long-Covid and ME/CFS frequently have impaired natural-killer cell function, sluggish macrophages and complement dysfunction. Senescent endothelial cells may also send out a chemical signal to repel immune attack. So the 'zombie cells' actively evade the immune system. This creates a self-sustaining loop of vascular and immune dysfunction, where senescent endothelial cells persist. In a healthy person with an optimally functioning immune system, these senescent endothelial cells will normally be cleared. But there is significant immune dysfunction in ME/CFS and long-Covid, and this may enable the 'zombie cells' to survive and the disease to progress. Where the research goes next There is a registered clinical trial in the US that is investigating senescence in long-Covid. Our consortium is testing new ways to spot signs of ageing in the cells that line our blood vessels. First, we expose healthy endothelial cells in the lab to blood from patients to see whether it pushes the cells into a senescent, or 'zombie,' state. At the same time, we are trialling non-invasive imaging and fluorescent probes that could one day reveal these ageing cells inside the body. In selected cases, tissue biopsies may later confirm what the scans show. Together, these approaches aim to pinpoint how substances circulating in the blood drive cellular ageing and how that, in turn, fuels disease. Our aim is simple: find these ageing endothelial cells in real patients. Pinpointing them will inform the next round of clinical trials and open the door to therapies that target senescent cells directly, offering a route to healthier blood vessels and, ultimately, lighter disease loads.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Not always simple: Doctors flag hidden risks of bronchoscopy procedures in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: While bronchoscopy is often described as a minimally invasive tool to diagnose or treat respiratory illnesses, doctors warn that the procedure carries significant risks — ranging from severe bleeding and airway blockages to lung collapse. At the Conclave of Advanced Pulmonary Interventions (CAPI-2025) organised by Dr Ravindra Mehta, director of Vaayu Chest and Sleep Specialists, Dr Sahajal Dhooria, professor of Pulmonary Medicine at PGIMER, Chandigarh, said: "A little bit of bleeding is expected, especially during tissue biopsies. But it becomes a complication when the bleeding is moderate or massive, interfering with organ function," Airway obstruction is another critical risk. Dr A Jayachandra, senior interventional pulmonologist at Care Hospitals, Hyderabad, said a tumour being removed from one airway could roll over and block another. "You then end up compromising two air passages," he said. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru A collapsed lung, or pneumothorax, may also occur if air leaks into the chest cavity during a biopsy or needle-based intervention. "It's like a punctured balloon. The lung can't expand unless you stop the leak," said Dr Dhooria. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Interested in Investing? Cyprus Offers Many Options Cyprus Invest | Search ads Undo Given the risks, careful patient selection and practitioner self-awareness are crucial, said Dr Pyng Lee, director of Interventional Pulmonology at Singapore's National University Hospital. "Do not let ego come in the way. If someone else is more experienced, let them take over. That saves lives," she said. Doctors also highlighted the importance of normalising open conversations around complications — still rare in India's clinical ecosystem. "Most of this is still shared only in close circles. There's a fear of being seen as incompetent, or legal issues arising. But everyone faces complications," Dr Jayachandra said. Dr Mehta said acknowledging and sharing such outcomes helps build a stronger safety culture. "We need more forums like this. That's how we improve care," he said. Sometimes, doctors face bizarre cases of foreign objects lodged in patients' airways. Dr Karan Madan of AIIMS, New Delhi, once treated a fisherman who held a fish in his mouth only for it to slip into his windpipe. Dr David Fielding, a thoracic physician from Australia, recounted having to remove peanuts people had inhaled during party tricks, and even teeth lost in accidents. While children under three remain the most vulnerable to inhaling small objects, doctors advise against trying to forcibly remove them from a child's mouth. "Crying increases air intake, which can suck the object deeper into the airway," said Dr Jayachandra. Box City hosts 1st silent summit for eye specialists In a break from the usual buzz of medical conferences, 450 ophthalmologists sat in near silence at a city hotel Sunday, attending what was billed as Bengaluru's first Silent Summit for the medical community. Organised by the Bangalore Ophthalmic Society (BOS), the unique format replaced conventional multiple-hall sessions with a single room, four-panel discussions running simultaneously, and headphones for each delegate. Instead of dashing between halls, participants tuned in to sessions of their choice by switching channels on their headsets. "It allowed seamless access to all tracks without moving around," said Dr Elankumaran P, BOS president. The conference screen was split into four sections for each ongoing panel, and mics were placed in front of each lane for audience interaction. Inspired by multilingual events like those at the United Nations and European medical conferences, the format cost BOS an additional Rs 10 lakh in tech — but saved on venue rentals. The system supported up to 40 channels and was previously used in ophthalmology summits in Haryana and Barcelona. Despite the success, nine headphones went missing by the end of the event, organisers said. | TNN
