Need for awareness and immunization against Respiratory Syncytial Virus in India
RSV, often mistaken for a mild seasonal cold, accounts for ~ 3.6 million hospitalizations and ~ 100,000 deaths in children under five each year globally. India, with the largest birth cohort of ~ 25 million newborns annually, contributes significantly to this burden. The impact is particularly severe during the country's monsoon and early winter months, when neonatal ICUs experience a surge in admissions. Alarmingly, even healthy, full-term infants across all socio-economic backgrounds often require oxygen or ventilator support due to RSV-related complications. Therefore, raising awareness among parents and healthcare professionals about available preventive measures is critical to reducing the disease's toll on young lives.
Dr. Vasant M. Khalatkar, Current National President, Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), said 'RSV remains a significant threat to infant health, and while hygiene measures like handwashing are essential, they're often not enough—especially for babies under one year. With the recent World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation for long-acting monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and India enabling access to these solutions, we now have vital tools to protect our youngest.
Palivizumab has been available for high-risk infants, offering protection through monthly dosing during the RSV season. Now, with the arrival of Nirsevimab—a single-dose, long-acting antibody that provides season-long protection—we're seeing a major advancement. Administered shortly after birth or during routine follow-ups, these preventive options can greatly reduce RSV-related hospitalizations and shield infants from serious complications like bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Prevention, timely awareness, and parental engagement are critical to reducing RSV's impact across India.'
Dr. Cesar Mascarenas, Head of Medical International Region, Sanofi, commented 'We have long been working to close critical gaps in prevention by advancing science-driven solutions that align with evolving global recommendations, including those from the WHO. Addressing RSV burden in India with advanced preventive care is the need of the hour. Strengthening awareness, improving access to protective interventions, and enabling timely immunization are essential steps in reducing the impact of RSV and safeguarding the health of future generations.'
Dr. Bhavesh Kotak, Head, Medical Affairs, Dr. Reddy's, added 'India bears a significant share of the global RSV burden. Unlike high-income countries with advanced prevention care and early access to preventive solution, India still faces challenges in timely diagnosis and protection. Increased awareness around the severity of RSV and enabled access to ground-breaking immunization solutions will be critical in building a more equitable and effective national response to RSV.'
In April 2025, Sanofi and Dr. Reddy's announced the expansion of their partnership to bring to India a novel, single-dose preventive immunization developed to protect infants from RSV-related complications. Caregivers or parents are advised to speak with their pediatricians / neonatologist for more details.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
3 more deaths push up JE toll to 14, health dept on high alert
Guwahati: Health officials have confirmed three new fatalities from Japanese Encephalitis (JE) within the last 24 hours, pushing the state's total death toll from the disease to 14 this year. The state has seen a dramatic rise in JE cases, doubling over the past two weeks, while the number of deaths has more than tripled in the same period. A senior health department official told TOI on Wednesday that these 14 deaths, mostly occurring since April, have been verified by district death audit committees. "On Tuesday, we recorded three confirmed JE deaths. Kamrup district accounted for two of these, while Lakhimpur reported one," a health official said. He added, "As of Tuesday night, the state had documented 215 confirmed JE cases across various districts. Nalbari district in lower Assam leads with 19 cases, followed by Darrang with 18. Kamrup has reported 17 cases, while Golaghat and Nagaon each have 15 cases." In terms of fatalities, Bajali, Kamrup, and Darrang districts each reported two deaths. Meanwhile, Biswanath, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Tinsukia, and Udalguri districts each reported one death. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "Districts are implementing preventive measures to curb the rising cases, as July is typically a peak month for JE incidence," a health department official said. The health department is on high alert, with health minister Ashok Singhal keeping a close watch on the situation. "The department is acutely aware of the recent surge in Japanese Encephalitis cases. We are monitoring the situation closely, and I have directed swift and effective containment measures across the affected districts," Singhal said on X. Health department sources said JE transmission is likely occurring near pig settlements and through birds, especially in villages near paddy fields in lower Assam. The Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) spreads to humans through bites from infected Culex mosquitoes, primarily Culex tritaeniorhynchus. JE is a viral brain infection transmitted via mosquito bites. "Humans, once infected, do not develop sufficient viraemia to infect feeding mosquitoes. The virus exists in a transmission cycle between mosquitoes, pigs, and/or water birds (enzootic cycle). The disease is predominantly found in rural and peri-urban settings, where humans live in closer proximity to these vertebrate hosts, in particular domestic pigs," said World Health Organization (WHO). According to WHO, in most temperate areas of Asia, JEV is transmitted mainly during the warm season, when large epidemics can occur. In the tropics and subtropics, WHO warns that transmission can happen year-round but often intensifies during the rainy season and pre-harvest period in rice-cultivating regions.
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- The Hindu
World Health Innovation Forum at AMTZ joins BRICS+ Manufacturing Working Group
The World Health Innovation Forum (WHIF), headquartered at the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) near Visakhapatnam, has been selected as a global initiative to join the BRICS+ Manufacturing Working Group, according to a release issued on Wednesday. This intergovernmental platform plays a pivotal role in shaping manufacturing collaboration and industrial policy among BRICS nations. The announcement comes at a crucial time, as India is set to assume the BRICS Presidency in 2026. WHIF's inclusion marks a significant endorsement of India's medtech leadership and underscores Visakhapatnam's rise as a key hub for South-South collaboration in health innovation, the release added. The forum's selection positions India not merely as a consumer of global technology but as a co-architect of next-generation healthcare solutions, said Jitendra Sharma, Managing Director and Founder CEO of AMTZ. 'This selection reaffirms India's leadership in innovation and system-ready technologies. The WHIF model—developed at AMTZ—effectively bridges the health needs of the Global South with world-class healthtech capabilities. Our partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Kalam Institute of Health Technology, a WHO Collaborating Centre, is a game-changer,' Dr. Sharma remarked. Over the years, WHIF has established itself as a premier platform for inclusive, affordable, and system-ready healthcare technology. Through initiatives such as the iPassport program, the World Health Innovation Fellowship, and EntrepreNari, WHIF has empowered engineers, startups, and women entrepreneurs from more than 20 low- and middle-income countries, providing access to cutting-edge infrastructure, regulatory support, and policy networks in India, he added. Now, as a member of the BRICS+ Manufacturing Working Group, WHIF will take a leadership role in joint research and development (R&D) corridors, facilitate cross-border access to India's advanced testing and manufacturing facilities, and promote the localisation of medical innovation ecosystems across BRICS+ partner countries, Dr. Sharma said. WHIF Chief Operating Officer Mohini Mehta noted, 'Being part of BRICS+ is not just a recognition, but a responsibility to co-create.'
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
9 hours ago
- First Post
Stratus Update: How XFG is likely to become the next dominant Covid variant
A new Covid variant XFG, nicknamed 'Stratus', has been found in 38 countries. According to an expert, the countries showing the highest rates of detection of XFG as of mid-June include India at more than 50 per cent followed by Spain at 42 per cent, and the United Kingdom and United States with more than 30 per cent each read more The most recent addition before XFG was NB.1.8.1 which the Who declared a variant under monitoring. Representational image/Pixabay Given the number of times this has happened already, it should come as little surprise that we're now faced with yet another new subvariant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Covid. This new subvariant is known as XFG (nicknamed ' Stratus') and the World Health Organization (Who) designated it a 'variant under monitoring' in late June. XFG is a subvariant of Omicron, of which there are now more than 1,000. A 'variant under monitoring' signifies a variant or subvariant which needs prioritised attention and monitoring due to characteristics that may pose an additional threat compared to other circulating variants. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD XFG was one of seven variants under monitoring as of June 25. The most recent addition before XFG was NB.1.8.1 (nicknamed 'Nimbus'), which the Who declared a variant under monitoring on May 23. Both nimbus and stratus are types of clouds. Nimbus is currently the dominant subvariant worldwide – but Stratus is edging closer. So, what do you need to know about Stratus or XFG? A recombinant variant XFG is a recombinant of LF.7 and LP.8.1.2, which means these two subvariants have shared genetic material to come up with the new subvariant. Recombinants are designated with an X at the start of their name. While recombination and other spontaneous changes happen often with SARS-CoV-2, it becomes a problem when it creates a subvariant that is changed in such a way that its properties cause more problems for us. Most commonly, this means the virus looks different enough that protection from past infection (and vaccination) doesn't work so well, called immune evasion. This basically means the population becomes more susceptible and can lead to an increase in cases, and even a whole new wave of Covid infections across the world. XFG has four key mutations in the spike protein, a protein on the surface of SARS-CoV-2, which allows it to attach to our cells. Some are believed to enhance evasion by certain antibodies. Early laboratory studies have suggested a nearly two-fold reduction in how well antibodies block the virus compared to LP.8.1.1. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Where is XFG spreading? The earliest XFG sample was collected on January 27. As of June 22, there were 1,648 XFG sequences submitted to GISAID from 38 countries ( GISAID is the global database used to track the prevalence of different variants around the world). This represents 22.7 per cent of the globally available sequences at the time. The advice for combating Covid remains unchanged, including vaccination as recommended and the early administration of antivirals for those who are eligible. Representational image/Pixabay This was a significant rise from 7.4 per cent four weeks prior and only just below the proportion of NB.1.8.1 at 24.9 per cent. Given the now declining proportion of viral sequences of NB.1.8.1 overall, and the rapid rise of XFG, it would seem reasonable to expect XFG to become dominant very soon. According to Australian data expert Mike Honey, the countries showing the highest rates of detection of XFG as of mid-June include India at more than 50 per cent, followed by Spain at 42 per cent, and the United Kingdom and United States, where the subvariant makes up more than 30 per cent of cases. In Australia, as of June 29, NB.1.8.1 was the dominant subvariant, accounting for 48.6 per cent of sequences. In the most recent report from Australia's national genomic surveillance platform, there were 24 XFG sequences, with 12 collected in the last 28 days, meaning it currently comprises approximately 5 per cent of sequences. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The big questions When we talk about a new subvariant, people often ask questions, including if it's more severe or causes new or different symptoms compared to previous variants. But we're still learning about XFG and we can't answer these questions with certainty yet. Some sources have reported XFG may be more likely to cause 'hoarseness' or a scratchy or raspy voice. But we need more information to know if this association is truly significant. Notably, there's no evidence to suggest XFG causes more severe illness compared to other variants in circulation or that it is necessarily any more transmissible. Will vaccines still work against XFG? Relatively frequent changes to the virus mean we have continued to update the Covid vaccines. The most recent update, which targets the JN.1 subvariant, became available in Australia from late 2024. XFG is a descendant of the JN.1 subvariant. Fortunately, based on the evidence available so far, currently approved Covid vaccines are expected to remain effective against XFG, particularly against symptomatic and severe disease. Because of SARS-CoV-2's continued evolution, the effect of this on our immune response, as well as the fact that protection from Covid vaccines declines over time, Covid vaccines are offered regularly and recommended for those at the highest risk. One of the major challenges we face at present in Australia is low Covid vaccine uptake. While rates have increased somewhat recently, they remain relatively low, with aged 75 years and over having received a vaccine in the past six months. Vaccination rates in younger age groups are significantly lower. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Although the situation with XFG must continue to be monitored, at present the Who has assessed the global risk posed by this subvariant as low. The advice for combating Covid remains unchanged, including vaccination as recommended and the early administration of antivirals for those who are eligible. Measures to reduce the risk of transmission, particularly wearing masks in crowded indoor settings and focusing on air quality and ventilation, are worth remembering to protect against Covid and other viral infections. Paul Griffin, Professor, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The University of Queensland This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
