Latest news with #KiranMadala
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Samosa to get a reality check with government order on sugar and fat boards at offices
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has directed all Central and State government offices to prominently display 'Sugar and Fat Boards', visual guides that reveal the sugar and fat content of food items sold within office premises, alongside recommended daily intake levels. The move, backed by the Indian Council of Medical Research–National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR–NIN), is intended as a behavioural nudge to promote healthier eating habits among government employees and visitors. 'These boards will act as visual cues in public spaces, encouraging people to think before they eat. A person who might have casually eaten three samosas may stop at one after reading the fat content,' said a scientist at ICMR–NIN, which has developed model template for these boards. Schools to sarkari canteens The concept was first piloted in schools under CBSE and ICSE, where students were introduced to nutritional displays to raise awareness of sugar and fat intake. With the new directive, this practice is being extended to thousands of government offices across the country. According to the model boards released by ICMR-NIN, the maximum permissible sugar intake is capped at 25 grams per day, which equals about five teaspoons and the recommended daily limit for visible fat intake (from oil, ghee, butter, etc.) should be restricted to 30 grams per day, equivalent to six teaspoons. Ground reality At 6 p.m. outside a 'Haryana Samosa Stall' in Hyderabad's Secunderabad area, the daily reality drives home the importance of the health advisories. One man fries samosas in a large black pan over an open flame while another packs them hot for ₹15 per piece. 'We use about five litres of oil to make 400 samosas in two days. Once all that oil is soaked up, we start with a fresh batch,' said the vendor. A back of the envelope calculation shows each samosa will have 11.3 gm oil. However, at the shop there is no mention of nutritional content, sugar, or fat, only the irresistible aroma of deep-fried indulgence. Across the country, snacks like samosas, jalebis, and vadas are staple offerings, not just at roadside stalls, but in government offices too. A much-needed wake-up call Medical professionals have praised the government's push to introduce transparency in public food consumption. 'This is a commendable move. People have no idea how much sugar or fat they are consuming in daily snacks. With visible boards, they will be more aware of what they're putting into their bodies,' said Kiran Madala, a member of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Telangana branch. 'Reused cooking oil leads to the formation of trans fats. These fats significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease,' he warned. Trans fats and sugary perils President of the Cardiological Society of India's Telangana chapter, Gokul Reddy, called the advisory both timely and essential. 'The biggest enemies for Indians today are simple sugars and trans fats. These are the silent culprits behind obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. And they are everywhere, in your daily jalebi, your evening samosa,' said Dr Reddy, who practices at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad. He added that countries like the U.S. have regulated or banned trans fats, while in India they remain freely available, particularly through unregulated street food. 'Such nutritional boards could be the first step in making people rethink their food choices,' he said.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
XFG Covid strain enters Telangana, cases still mild
1 2 Hyderabad: As concerns grow about rising Covid-19 cases in the country, for the first time, one of the samples sent by Telangana health officials for genome sequencing has been found to carry a new Covid-19 sub-variant called XFG. This was revealed by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), the central body that tracks changes in the virus. Of the five samples sent from Telangana, four — two men and two women — showed another recent sub-variant called LF.7.9, while the XFG strain was detected in a sample from one man. Dr Kiran Madala, co-chairman of the public relations and social media committee of IMA Telangana and a Covid-19 researcher, confirmed to TOI that both variants were detected in Telangana and the sequences were uploaded on INSACOG's portal. Both XFG and LF.7.9 are sub-lineages of Omicron and trace their origin to the JN.1 variant, which led to a global wave in late 2023 and early 2024. Nationally, these two sub-variants are among the most common at present. As per INSACOG data till Monday, 172 samples were identified as XFG, 82 as LF.7.9, followed by 35 XFJ and 18 others. Telangana has now joined Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal, where the XFG variant has already been detected. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Across India, around 163 cases of XFG have been recorded so far, as per INSACOG. The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently tracking eight sub-variants globally, including NB.1.8.1, which is prevalent in Singapore. "There are ongoing studies on the transmissibility and impact of XFG, LF.7.9, and XFJ. So far, they appear mild. WHO hasn't issued any special advisory on them yet," said Dr Kiran Madala, who is also a professor at Gandhi Medical College. "Covid-19 has become endemic and is not severe in most cases," he added. While the majority of cases remain mild, experts advise caution for vulnerable groups. "According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data, 66% of current respiratory viral infections in India are Covid-related. However, hospitalisation is low, including in Telangana. People with two or more comorbidities, weakened immunity, or above 70 years should remain alert," he said. Telangana currently has nine active Covid cases, down from 10 a day earlier, according to the Union health ministry dashboard. "There's no reason to panic," said Dr Ravinder Nayak, director of public health and family welfare. "The new sub-variants are part of the virus's natural evolution and are not showing significant clinical symptoms."
The Hindu
08-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
COVID-19 cases in Telangana rise to double digits, experts say current wave appears mild
COVID-19 cases in Telangana have now climbed into double digits, with 10 active cases reported on Sunday, June 8, according to the national COVID-19 dashboard. The fresh uptick marks a steady rise in infections across the state, mirroring a broader national trend. The current wave in Telangana began on May 23, when a doctor from Kukatpally in Hyderabad tested positive, the first recorded case in this phase of the outbreak. Since then, daily case numbers have seen a gradual increase. Officials, however, have sought to calm public concern. Telangana's Director of Public Health and Family Welfare told The Hindu, 'It is only a normal routine kind of cases . If there is any hospitalisation or serious presentation, it will be taken seriously. The Government of India is also on the same page.' Genome sequencing data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) shows that five samples from Telangana were sequenced as of June 8. Four of these belong to the LF.7.9 variant, while one was identified as the XFG variant. Medical experts have so far noted no alarming signs. Dr. Kiran Madala, Professor of Anaesthesia at Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad, said, 'The cases are going up every day, but it is behaving just like another flu. We are not seeing any unusual hospital admissions. The pattern appears similar to what other states are experiencing, and it is milder for now.'
The Hindu
03-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Three COVID-19 samples from Telangana sent for genome sequencing, all belong to LF.7.9 variant: INSACOG
As COVID-19 cases begin to rise again across the country, Telangana has reported a minimal increase with four active cases, according to the latest figures on the national COVID-19 dashboard. The State, which had zero active cases until a few weeks ago, has now begun sending positive samples for genome sequencing as a precautionary measure. Data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) reveals that Telangana has submitted three samples for sequencing. Kiran Madala, head of Anaesthesia at Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad, and a COVID-19 researcher, confirmed that the samples were sent on May 5 and May 16, and all three were identified as the LF.7.9 variant. The LF.7.9 variant has, so far, been detected only in India. Preliminary assessment suggests that it is a mild variant. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not yet released specific information or a detailed classification about this variant. Dr. Madala added that, as of June 3, a total of 118 samples had been sent for sequencing from across India. Among those, 58 belonged to the XFG variant, 34 to LF.7.9, 16 to XFJ and three to JN.1 while seven samples were attributed to other variants. The move to initiate sequencing in Telangana follows directions from Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha, who asked officials to step up genomic surveillance in light of the national trend. INSACOG data also shows that the NB.1.8.1 variant, currently surging in Singapore, has been detected in one case in Maharashtra, added
Hans India
24-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Covid in new avatar makes debut in city!
Hyderabad: With the first COVID-positive case getting reported in the city, the Health Department swung into action in the state as the authorities established an isolation ward in Gandhi Hospital with 30 beds in the wake of increasing cases in the country. However, experts opined that the variant JN1 is not a variant of concern. According to reports, one doctor was tested positive for Coronavirus in Kukatpally area. The doctor was suffering with fever for the last couple of days and when RTPCR test was conducted, he was found infected. However, the doctors have said that there is no need to panic, but urged people to be cautious and wear masks in the populated areas. There has been a spike in the COVID cases in the country, especially in the states like Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, taking the tally to over 257 cases. The health officials said that there was no need for panic as the World Health Organisation had declared that COVID-19 was no longer a global public health emergency. The virus exists in the environment and may cause meek, flu-like symptoms such as cold, cough, fever, throat pain, body aches, etc. According to experts, the virus may not be as effective as in the past. Gandhi Critical Care Medicine Head of the Department Prof Dr Kiran Madala said that after the first two waves, the COVID virus has been spreading in the form of different variants. After the Delta variant in 2021 and Omicron variant in 2022, the effect of the virus has drastically come down. In spite of high cases being registered, the effect was not much. The virus spread has been in countries like Hong Kong, Singapore. Dr Kiran said that the JN1 and XBB variants were reported in the country even in the past. Presently, the variants belong to the Omicron family but it has not been told by the WHO. 'There are two types of immunities including one which we got from the vaccines, which may have gone by now and there is a cell mediated immunity (An immune response where specialised cells, primary T cells, directly target and destroy infected cells or cancer cells, as well as regulate other immune responses) in the body. Generally, immunity power is more in our country. People can avoid the effect of the virus if they maintain hygiene and wear masks,' said Dr Kiran.
