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The Hindu
7 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
ICMR-NIE study calls for year-round monitoring of respiratory infections
Researchers at the ICMR's National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) in Chennai have highlighted the need for year-round and integrated surveillance of severe acute respiratory infections and influenza-like illness, which are potential threats to public health, to detect early warnings. Study findings This comes in the view of a new public health study, published in 'Discover Health Systems' journal last month, which has revealed key insights into how Tamil Nadu monitors and responds to cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI). The study found that surveillance efforts are stepped up only during outbreaks or specific seasons, even though respiratory viruses circulate throughout the year. The study evaluated the functioning of disease surveillance systems in four districts of the state from 2023 to 2024. Engaging more than 370 stakeholders across 85 healthcare facilities and 23 laboratories, the study found that while Tamil Nadu has built a foundation for respiratory illness surveillance, further improvements are needed to make the system more consistent, routine, and capable of responding to emerging public health threats. "This is the first study of its kind in India that provides evidence-based recommendations to strengthen disease surveillance at all levels," said Dr Rizwan Suliankatchi Abdulkader, the principal investigator of the study, ICMR-NIE. "Tamil Nadu has made significant strides in health surveillance. This report reinforces the importance of year-round, integrated disease monitoring to protect public health," said Dr T S Selva Vinayagam, director of public health and preventive medicine, the Government of Tamil Nadu. The study stated that more than half of the facilities surveyed had systems in place to report ILI/SARI cases, but only 42 per cent regularly collected clinical samples for testing. Besides, relatively few medical personnel had received specific training in identifying and reporting such cases. Need for improved surveillance Testing facilities were mostly concentrated in larger hospitals, with primary and secondary care facilities lacking necessary equipment and resources to conduct tests, Dr Rizwan said. While public health centres widely used the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), the system faced challenges such as inconsistent data entry, multiple overlapping reporting formats, and minimal participation from private hospitals and labs. "The study also noted that surveillance efforts tend to intensify only during outbreaks or specific seasons, even though respiratory viruses circulate throughout the year," Dr Rizwan said. Influenza surveillance remains a seasonal event in Tamil Nadu, the study noted. "With changing ecological conditions, efforts should be made to ensure year-round reporting of cases. Testing for influenza should be prioritised and infrastructure and testing for novel pathogens should be developed," it said. Although guidelines are in place, a gap still exists in awareness amongst the health workers, especially community health workers regarding the importance of influenza surveillance. Structured training should be provided for trainers and there should be mechanisms for regular training of community health workers. Frequent monitoring should be employed and structured feedback should be provided to ensure complete and accurate data for a better understanding of the disease trends. Involvement of the private sector in surveillance activities is evident but partial, the study said. One health approach A 'One Health' approach should be adopted involving other sectors and data-sharing mechanisms should be in place ensuring transparency of data. With the plans already being discussed by the state, we may expect an improvement in surveillance standards for influenza soon, the study said. Surveillance is the key to identifying and detecting health events in the community and it provides the scientific and factual evidence essential for informed decision-making and appropriate public health action, the study found. Study participants identified several measures to improve surveillance, which included scaling up training for healthcare workers and community-level providers, improving digital infrastructure and mobile access to reporting platforms, expanding participation from private hospitals and diagnostic labs and engaging wide range of health workers such as mid-level providers and community volunteers. Tamil Nadu has already taken steps such as introducing the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to streamline sample collection and transport. Plans are also in place to establish a "One Health" secretariat aimed at improving inter-departmental coordination and surveillance of zoonotic diseases, Dr Manoj Murhekar, director of NIE said. These initiatives could boost the state's ability to track influenza and other respiratory threats more effectively, he said. The researchers recommended transitioning from seasonal to continuous surveillance of ILI/SARI. They also suggested boosting laboratory capacity and resources across all levels of care, offering regular refresher training to healthcare providers and establishing structured feedback loops and monitoring systems to improve data quality and reporting accuracy and conducting similar situation analyses across the country. The study was supported by the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The findings aim to guide state-level policy and improve the preparedness for respiratory disease outbreaks, including potential pandemics, said Dr Murhekar. Respiratory infections are a major contributor to morbidity and mortality. Globally, in 2021, an estimated 2.18 million deaths occurred due to lower respiratory tract infections (LRI), the study mentioned. Influenza viruses were responsible for more than five million hospitalisations. The Global Burden of Disease study has estimated 98,200 deaths due to influenza globally in 2021. Thirty-six per cent of worldwide deaths due to influenza occur in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Influenza-associated mortality in India is higher among adults aged 65 years and above and children below five years. The Southeast Asia (SEA) region is considered a 'hotspot' for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, especially those with pandemic potential. The region has witnessed a significant increase in pandemic and epidemic-prone diseases in the last decade such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection (2002-2004), Influenza A H1N1 2009 (Swine Flu), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) infection (2012), and COVID-19 (2020-2023) that have resulted in high morbidity and mortality.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
ICMR-NIE study calls for year-round monitoring of respiratory infections
New Delhi: Researchers at the ICMR 's National Institute of Epidemiology ( NIE ) in Chennai have highlighted the need for year-round and integrated surveillance of severe acute respiratory infections and influenza-like illness, which are potential threats to public health, to detect early warnings. This comes in the view of a new public health study, published in 'Discover Health Systems' journal last month, which has revealed key insights into how Tamil Nadu monitors and responds to cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI). The study found that surveillance efforts are stepped up only during outbreaks or specific seasons, even though respiratory viruses circulate throughout the year. The study evaluated the functioning of disease surveillance systems in four districts of the state from 2023 to 2024. Engaging more than 370 stakeholders across 85 healthcare facilities and 23 laboratories, the study found that while Tamil Nadu has built a foundation for respiratory illness surveillance, further improvements are needed to make the system more consistent, routine, and capable of responding to emerging public health threats. "This is the first study of its kind in India that provides evidence-based recommendations to strengthen disease surveillance at all levels," said Dr Rizwan Suliankatchi Abdulkader, the principal investigator of the study, ICMR-NIE. "Tamil Nadu has made significant strides in health surveillance. This report reinforces the importance of year-round, integrated disease monitoring to protect public health," said Dr T S Selva Vinayagam , director of public health and preventive medicine, the Government of Tamil Nadu. The study stated that more than half of the facilities surveyed had systems in place to report ILI/SARI cases, but only 42 per cent regularly collected clinical samples for testing. Besides, relatively few medical personnel had received specific training in identifying and reporting such cases. Testing facilities were mostly concentrated in larger hospitals, with primary and secondary care facilities lacking necessary equipment and resources to conduct tests, Dr Rizwan said. While public health centres widely used the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), the system faced challenges such as inconsistent data entry, multiple overlapping reporting formats, and minimal participation from private hospitals and labs. "The study also noted that surveillance efforts tend to intensify only during outbreaks or specific seasons, even though respiratory viruses circulate throughout the year," Dr Rizwan said. Influenza surveillance remains a seasonal event in Tamil Nadu, the study noted. "With changing ecological conditions, efforts should be made to ensure year-round reporting of cases. Testing for influenza should be prioritised and infrastructure and testing for novel pathogens should be developed," it said. Although guidelines are in place, a gap still exists in awareness amongst the health workers, especially community health workers regarding the importance of influenza surveillance. Structured training should be provided for trainers and there should be mechanisms for regular training of community health workers. Frequent monitoring should be employed and structured feedback should be provided to ensure complete and accurate data for a better understanding of the disease trends. Involvement of the private sector in surveillance activities is evident but partial, the study said. A 'One Health' approach should be adopted involving other sectors and data-sharing mechanisms should be in place ensuring transparency of data. With the plans already being discussed by the state, we may expect an improvement in surveillance standards for influenza soon, the study said. Surveillance is the key to identifying and detecting health events in the community and it provides the scientific and factual evidence essential for informed decision-making and appropriate public health action, the study found. Study participants identified several measures to improve surveillance, which included scaling up training for healthcare workers and community-level providers, improving digital infrastructure and mobile access to reporting platforms, expanding participation from private hospitals and diagnostic labs and engaging wide range of health workers such as mid-level providers and community volunteers. Tamil Nadu has already taken steps such as introducing the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to streamline sample collection and transport. Plans are also in place to establish a "One Health" secretariat aimed at improving inter-departmental coordination and surveillance of zoonotic diseases, Dr Manoj Murhekar , director of NIE said. These initiatives could boost the state's ability to track influenza and other respiratory threats more effectively, he said. The researchers recommended transitioning from seasonal to continuous surveillance of ILI/SARI. They also suggested boosting laboratory capacity and resources across all levels of care, offering regular refresher training to healthcare providers and establishing structured feedback loops and monitoring systems to improve data quality and reporting accuracy and conducting similar situation analyses across the country. The study was supported by the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The findings aim to guide state-level policy and improve the preparedness for respiratory disease outbreaks, including potential pandemics, said Dr Murhekar. Respiratory infections are a major contributor to morbidity and mortality. Globally, in 2021, an estimated 2.18 million deaths occurred due to lower respiratory tract infections (LRI), the study mentioned. Influenza viruses were responsible for more than five million hospitalisations. The Global Burden of Disease study has estimated 98,200 deaths due to influenza globally in 2021. Thirty-six per cent of worldwide deaths due to influenza occur in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Influenza-associated mortality in India is higher among adults aged 65 years and above and children below five years. The Southeast Asia (SEA) region is considered a 'hotspot' for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, especially those with pandemic potential. The region has witnessed a significant increase in pandemic and epidemic-prone diseases in the last decade such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection (2002- 2004), Influenza A H1N1 2009 ( Swine Flu ), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) infection (2012), and COVID-19 (2020- 2023) that have resulted in high morbidity and mortality.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Top 5 Analyst Questions From Centene's Q1 Earnings Call
Centene's first quarter results outpaced Wall Street's expectations for both revenue and profit, but the market responded negatively, reflecting investor concerns about underlying trends. Management attributed the quarter's performance to strong premium growth and higher-than-expected membership, particularly in the commercial and Medicare segments. However, CEO Sarah London emphasized that a more active flu season increased costs in Medicaid, offsetting some underlying improvements. London noted, 'Medicaid, flu, and ILI drove $130 million of incremental medical expense in the quarter beyond our initial expectations.' The company also faced continued pressure from high-cost specialty drugs, which weighed on medical margins. Is now the time to buy CNC? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $46.62 billion vs analyst estimates of $43.03 billion (15.4% year-on-year growth, 8.3% beat) Adjusted EPS: $2.90 vs analyst estimates of $2.52 (15.3% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $1.85 billion vs analyst estimates of $1.58 billion (4% margin, 17.2% beat) Management reiterated its full-year Adjusted EPS guidance of $7.25 at the midpoint Operating Margin: 3.3%, in line with the same quarter last year Customers: 27.94 million, down from 28.6 million in the previous quarter Market Capitalization: $27.07 billion While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention. Josh Raskin (Nephron Research) asked about the nature and containment of flu-related costs. CEO Sarah London clarified the $130 million figure was isolated to Medicaid and tracked using consistent definitions, with most of the impact limited to Q1. A.J. Rice (UBS) inquired about the sensitivity to policy shifts, specifically the expiration of premium tax credits and potential Medicaid work requirements. London affirmed the estimated $1 per share impact remains valid and noted high variability depending on state-level implementation. Justin Lake (Wolfe Research) questioned risk adjustment trends and whether new commercial members exhibited different risk profiles. CFO Drew Asher reported consistency with past estimates and emphasized a prudent approach until more data arrives in late Q2. Ed Haines (Mizuho Securities) sought clarity on Medicaid rate negotiations for the second half and whether any utilization trends outside flu were running higher than expected. London pointed to ongoing constructive discussions, while Asher highlighted behavioral health and high-cost drugs as areas of continued monitoring. Sarah James (Cantor Fitzgerald) asked if new exchange members were driving higher medical loss ratios beyond typical new member patterns. London responded that renewal members were as expected, and that increased utilization among new members had been incorporated into the full-year outlook. In upcoming quarters, our analysts will closely watch (1) the pace and effectiveness of Medicaid rate increases as states process post-redetermination acuity shifts, (2) congressional actions on enhanced premium tax credits, which could reshape the marketplace segment, and (3) specialty drug cost trends, particularly in Medicare and Medicaid plans. The impact of CMS rule changes and risk corridor adjustments in prescription drug plans will also be important markers for Centene's margin trajectory. Centene currently trades at $54.71, down from $61.52 just before the earnings. At this price, is it a buy or sell? See for yourself in our full research report (it's free). The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
IOL News
17-06-2025
- IOL News
Durban's strategy to combat illegal water connections and boost supply
Two suburbs within the eThekwini Municipality have been found to have connected to the water supply illegally. Image: Pixaby Two suburbs within the eThekwini Municipality have been found to have connected to the water supply illegally, which is one of the issues the city is dealing with, including beefing up security around infrastructure. The areas identified by the municipality as "off the system" were Trenance Park 3 and Luganda in Umlazi. The municipality was concerned that the Trenance Park 3 system remains a major problem due to the increase in illegal connections and rapid development in the area. The city plans to redesign infrastructure to meet current needs, considering changes in communities and infrastructure performance. Richard Mngoma, the deputy head of Operations at the eThekwini Water and Sanitation Unit, presented the state of water supply report city-wide at the Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday. Mngoma said the supply to the inner-west, outer-west, central, south, and north regions has stabilised, but the water demand exceeded the supply in some areas. Mngoma said the water supply in Umlazi is still intermittent since there is still water rationing, but the city intends to stop water rationing from June 23, 2025, and monitor if the system is able to stabilise. The night shuts will still be in place for the Umlazi 2 zone and downstream, he said. He stated that, in terms of the Infrastructure Leakage Index (ILI), the city was still ranked low and that emergency interventions need to be implemented to address severe leaks and bursts. The city was also in the process of issuing performance-based contracts to get value for money, reduce non-revenue water, and improve the water supply. Councillor Zandile Myeni, deputy mayor and chairperson of the Security and Emergency Services Committee, called for more focus on the money spent on private security companies and the value for money the city is getting when municipal infrastructure continues to be vandalised. Myeni is also concerned that the city is not receiving proper reports on vandalism and called for the SAPS and Durban metro police to be involved in protecting water and electricity infrastructure. Mdu Nkosi, IFP Exco member, said the metro police were previously funded for providing additional security and called for a probe into the matter. According to eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba, hiring private security was a huge cost to the city, and he called for councillors to motivate communities to assist in protecting municipal infrastructure. "We are making progress, we won't lift our foot off the pedal and will continue to press on until we get satisfactory levels," Xaba said. [email protected]
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
2 covid patients with severe comorbidities die in city
Nagpur: The death of two patients with severe comorbidities from Nagpur were officially attributed to Covid-19 on Saturday. Both victims were males — a 56-year-old patient, who was suffering from diabetes and hypertension, and a 32-year-old cancer patient with anaemia. With the test results showing them to be positive, the deaths were added to the state's Covid-19 toll. According to the state health department, Maharashtra reported 53 new Covid cases on Saturday. The highest number of cases were from Mumbai (24), followed by Pune city (11), Thane city (5), Pimpri-Chinchwad (3), Sangli district (2), Pune district (2), Sangli city (2), Navi Mumbai (1), and Raigad (1). Maharashtra currently has 578 active Covid-19 cases, of which five are in Nagpur. All active cases in the district are reportedly mild. The state continues its routine surveillance of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (Sari). As per protocol, 5% of ILI cases and all Sari cases are being tested for Covid. All positive samples are being forwarded for whole genome sequencing to monitor any changes in the virus. "ILI and Sari surveillance is being actively conducted in the state. There is a gradual but definite rise in Covid cases in Maharashtra. However, the symptoms remain mild and testing and treatment services are readily available through public health facilities. Citizens are advised not to panic," stated a press release by Maharashtra public health department. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
