India has bigger worries than Ebola

TB and malaria kill more people worldwide than any other disease- as a country, India could do without Ebola.

By Dr. Ramakanta Panda

India has isolated a man with Ebola infected Semen. But this is not our country’s biggest health problem right now.

 CAN THE SPREAD OF EBOLA BE STOPPED?
Yes, by isolating anyone with symptoms while testing is done, taking precautions while providing them medical care and tracking down anyone they were in close contact with when they got sick. Those who have had direct contact with an Ebola patient are advised to take their temperature twice a day for three weeks, the incubation period for the disease. If they show symptoms, they should then be isolated and tested.
Ebola first appeared nearly 40 years ago. In past Ebola outbreaks, many cases have been linked to people burying their loved ones, involving ritual cleansing of the body and kissing the body. The World Health Organization recommends that only trained personnel handle the bodies of Ebola victims.
"We know how to stop Ebola," said Gregory Hartl, a WHO spokesman. "We have stopped all previous outbreaks in the past using old-fashioned methods."
"From what we've seen, there isn't any reason to think we can't stop the outbreak in West Africa using what we have done in the past."

Every three minutes, two people
die of tuberculosis in India, as per the Directorate General of Health
Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. In 2013, India had 61
million cases of malaria and 116,000 deaths. Annually, TB and malaria
kill more people worldwide than any other disease- as a country, India
could do without ebola.

Can we avoid Ebola? Media reports paint an agonizing picture of  Ebola in Sierra Leone, where there are no vehicles to collect dead bodies.

There
are homes where the parents are dead and the child is alive but
infected, with no one to take care of it. WHO estimates the Ebola death
toll to be 15,000 people ( miniscule as compared to India’s TB and
malaria numbers).

Where has Ebola come from?
Originating
from a remote village in Guinea in March 2014, Ebola spread to Nigeria,
Senegal and Mali, quickly. West Africa is struggling with the worst
Ebola outbreak until now. America and Europe have their own cases too.
Transmitted through blood, vomit, diarrhoea and other bodily fluids,
Ebola isn’t airborne, thankfully. The healthcare workers in West Africa
have been among the hardest hit by Ebola.

Though experts date
back Ebola to 1976, and say that this is not the first outbreak, it
could well be the worst, and will wax and wane with adequate preventive
measures or the lack of them.

So can Ebola reach India?
India
has quarantined a man who was cured of Ebola in Liberia but continued
to show traces of the virus in samples of his semen after arriving in
the country- this means that he is an Ebola-treated patient who is
negative in blood but whose body fluid is positive. He may have the
possibility of transmitting the disease through sexual route up to 90
days from time of clinical cure.

Flight patterns predict that
India has a low risk of importing a case of Ebola. Of course the virus
could land in the country, via a third country, and as this epidemic
continues, the risk of this progressively increases.

However, the countries affected show a pattern
1.    All are low-income countries with weak health systems
2.    They have very weak disease surveillance.

India has the same systemic problems. In fact, we have more of our own. TB, Malaria and Dengue.

Ebola virus facts

 There have been 14,413 reported cases of Ebola, with 5,177 reported deaths, up to November 14, 2014. (World Health Organization)

 HOW IS EBOLA SPREAD?
By direct contact with an Ebola patient's blood or other bodily fluids like urine, saliva, and sweat. The highest concentration of virus is thought to be in blood, vomit and diarrhea.
The most vulnerable people are health care workers and family members or others who care for the sick. Because of the deadly nature of the disease, health workers should wear protective gear, especially when handling things like contaminated syringes. Such equipment is not commonly available in Africa, and the disease isn't always quickly recognized. Symptoms are similar to other diseases like malaria and cholera.
Someone can also get infected by handling soiled clothing or bed sheets without protection, and then touching their nose, mouth or eyes. People can also catch the disease by eating infected bushmeat, as Ebola can sicken animals including bats, chimpanzees and antelopes. Scientist think fruit bats might be the source of the virus, but aren't certain.

 CAN EBOLA SPREAD IN THE AIR, LIKE FLU OR TUBERCULOSIS?
There is no evidence Ebola can be spread in the air by sneezing or coughing. "If there was a role for airborne transmission, we'd be seeing a lot more cases and deaths by now," said Ben Neuman, a virologist at Britain's University of Reading.
Ebola is in some ways similar to the AIDS virus because it is spread through bodily fluids, according to Stephen Morse, of Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Unlike those infected with HIV, those with the Ebola virus are considered infectious only when they show symptoms, which include fever, vomiting and diarrhea.

 (World Health Organization)

 (World Health Organization)

 (World Health Organization)

 (World Health Organization)

 (World Health Organization)

 Travel to and from Ebola-affected countries is low risk. Here is what you need to know. (World Health Organization)

 Ebola has killed 4,922 people, or about 50 percent of 10,141 confirmed, probable and suspected cases, mostly in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, according to the U.N.'s World Health Organization.
It says the true death toll may be three times as much or 15,000 people, while the death rate is thought to be about 70 percent of all cases.
Two nurses in the United States and one nurse in Spain have contracted Ebola outside of Africa. (Reuters)
Here are some facts about the deadly disease that you should know:

 Some of the ultrastructural morphology displayed by an Ebola virus virion is revealed in this undated handout colorized transmission electron micrograph (TEM) obtained by Reuters August 1, 2014. U.S. health officials said September 30, 2014 the first patient infected with the deadly Ebola virus had been diagnosed in the country, in a new sign of how the outbreak ravaging West Africa can spread globally. REUTERS/Frederick Murphy/CDC/Handout via Reuters (UNITED STATES - Tags: HEALTH) THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. MANDATORY CREDIT

 There is no vaccine or cure for Ebola, a hemorrhagic fever. In past outbreaks, fatality rates have reached up to 90 percent. Ebola causes fever, flu-like pains, bleeding, vomiting and diarrhea.

 Ebola emerged in a remote forest region of Guinea in March and has also turned up in Nigeria, Senegal and Mali. Health officials declared Nigeria and Senegal Ebola-free in October.

 Pharmaceutical companies are working on experimental Ebola vaccines and antiviral drugs, but a significant number of doses will not be available until at least the first quarter of 2015.

 Ebola is not airborne. It is transmitted through blood, vomit, diarrhea and other bodily fluids. Healthcare workers in West Africa have been among the hardest hit by the outbreak.

 Recovery from Ebola depends on the patient’s immune response. People who recover from Ebola infection develop antibodies that last for at least 10 years.

 Ebola symptoms generally appear between two and 21 days after infection, meaning there is a significant window during which an infected person can escape detection, allowing them to travel. However, they are not considered contagious until they start showing symptoms.

 Ebola patients have been treated in the United States, Spain, Germany, France, Norway and the United Kingdom.

 The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that the number of infections could rise to up to 1.4 million people by early next year without a massive global intervention to contain the virus.

 The United States, Britain, France, China, Cuba and international organizations are pouring funds, supplies and personnel into the affected parts of West Africa.

 Ebola's suspected origin is forest bats. The virus was first identified in 1976 in what is now known as Democratic Republic of the Congo.
SOURCE: World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 Why India is uniquely susceptible to any epidemic
1.  
 We have one nurse for thousand people, monitoring the spread of this
killer virus is a herculean task. Only two laboratories are authorized
to test the virus – The National Institute for Communicable diseases,
Delhi, and National Institute of Virology, Pune.
2.    600 million people defecating in the open is enough impetus for any epidemic.
3.  
 The real issue is that though pharmaceutical companies are intensely
working on experimental vaccines and antiviral drugs, a substantial
number of doses won’t be ready until the first quarter of 2015.
4.  
 WHO predicted that diagnosing and segregating Ebola cases in India
could be more challenging as this virus’ early symptoms resemble those
of dengue and malaria, two diseases which are common across large parts
of the country.
5.    Isolation of every patient who gets fever,
diahorrea or vomiting, or is suffering from non-specific viral symptoms
that could indicate any seasonal disease, is not a practical solution.
6.  
 In India’s poor households, like in West Africa, we often have many
people sleeping in one room. Ebola spreads in households. Because the
incubation period is up to 21 days, it often kills the family slowly,
one by one. But for each other family that keeps the virus from entering
its household, that can mean five or six fewer deaths. The death rate
is about 70% of all cases.

Lessons from Nigeria
More
pertinent for India’s situation, Nigeria appears to have successfully
eliminated Ebola. Its government took several critical steps.
1.    Nigeria was prepared for the virus and trained healthcare workers on how to manage the disease.
2.  
 It widely disseminated information about the virus and preventive
measures; and, declared a health emergency when the first Ebola case was
identified. The Health Ministry organised the Ebola Emergency
Operations Center, a group of public health experts.
3.    Reports
also say that thousands of home-care kits have been handed out. They
contain gloves, bleach, a bucket, plastic bags and a bleach sprayer.
Using them around the sick, and especially during burials, may have
helped.
These lessons are applicable for other healthcare epidemics as well, not just ebola.

Is India prepared?
Ashish
Jha, Professor of International Health at Harvard’s School of Public
Health and Director of Harvard Global Health Institute, said,
“Eradicating Ebola once cases emerge in a country will require
meticulous case management and public health skills, and India has way
too few of these kinds of people for a nation of its size and
complexity. Bottom line is – India is probably not as prepared as it
should be.”
So far, the Indian Government is doing the right things-
stepping up its efforts to prevent an outbreak of the deadly Ebola
virus, conducting mock drills at its airports and installing
surveillance systems.
The Centre has organized training programme son
how to handle Ebola, for doctors and auxiliary staff across various
states There was also talk of the Centre disbursing 50,000 kits across
various states.

But on a larger canvas, it is not about ebola.
India has many health concerns. A regular urbanite cannot even
comprehend the abject levels of poverty in some pockets of rural India,
and that a human being has to walk 5 kms to get to the nearest doctor.
There is no “health-seeking” behaviour in India.

The system
needs to offer basic services, and  be ready to tackle a spectrum of
diseases that already exist in this country, as well as those that may
come up.

Dr. Ramakanta Panda is the Vice Chairman & Managing Director of the Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes, cardiovascular disease
and obesity are among the most concerning health conditions found
today. But what exactly is diabetes? Read on to find out more about the
basics of this health condition.

What is Diabetes?

Often referred to as diabetes mellitus, diabetes is nothing but a
group of metabolic disorders where the individual has high blood sugar
levels. This happens due to two possible reasons – the production of
insulin in the body of the individual may be inadequate, or the
individual’s body may not respond properly to insulin, or possibly even
both.


Type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the body fails to produce enough
insulin is responsible for around 90% of all the cases of the disease
worldwide.

Who Should Get Tested for Diabetes?

There are several risk factors involved, which may raise the risk of
diabetes in an individual. If you fall under any of the following
categories, you may consider getting yourself tested for the disease.

• You are overweight:
  Being obese or overweight could put you at a huge risk of being affected
  by diabetes. It has been found that being overweight tends to cause the
  body to release certain chemicals that destabilize the body’s
  cardiovascular and metabolic systems, which in turn, raises the risk of
  diabetes.


• Someone from your family is diabetic: Having a family history of diabetes can put one at a much higher risk of being affected by the condition.


• You belong to a particular region: People of the Middle Eastern, South Asian or African descent are thought to have a higher risk of developing the disease.


• You are inactive: Living a sedentary lifestyle is thought to
  put one at a higher risk of being overweight, and therefore, more likely
  to fall prey to diabetes.


• You follow an unhealthy lifestyle:
  Those following an unhealthy lifestyle- minimal physical activity,
  alcohol and nicotine addictions and consumption of unhealthy foods are
  thought to be at a higher risk of the disease. In fact, a recent study
  has revealed how an individual consuming just one can of soda a day can
  be at a increased risk of being affected by the condition.


• You have low testosterone levels: Several studies have found
  that men having lower levels of the hormone testosterone are more likely
  to be affected by type 2 diabetes.

If you do fall under any of the above categories, you may need
to get yourself checked for diabetes. Diabetes is usually diagnosed by
the FPG (fasting plasma glucose) test.


Sadly, diabetes is a health condition that has no cure- it can only be managed by a proper approach.

Home Remedies to Treat a Sunburn_Part_2_Last

 The rind of the pomegranate fruit (as well the bark of the pomegranate
tree) is an old and well-known remedy used for treating diarrhoea.

 Brown sugar is a well-known remedy for food poisoning. Usually a bad
stomach causes weakness; give the patient 4 teaspoons of sugar to renew
his energy.

 Aloe vera juice is good for treating an upset stomach. 60 grams of aloe
vera juice, taken three times a day, can have you feeling good as new
the next morning.

 Curd (or yogurt) is full of mircro-organisms that are beneficial for the
stomach and can combat the effect of harmful bacteria that causes food
poisoning.

 The acidic properties in lime kills bacteria, and makes it a great
natural remedy for food poisoning. 3-4 glasses of lime juice over the
course of the day will ensure you're back to normal the next morning.

 Mint or pudina is very helpful in treating food poisoning. Mint tea or a
paste of pudina leaves will help relieve stomach trouble. Combining it
with curd is doubly effective since it uses the beneficial properties of
curd as well.

 Ginger: It adds flavour to your dishes, but is also an
excellent home remedy for curing almost all types of digestive problems.
Take a tablespoon of honey with a few drops of ginger juice to reduce
inflammation and pain.

 Cumin: Cumin or jeera seeds are a good way to soothe
the inflammation in your stomach, reduce the tenderness and aid healing.
Crush a tablespoon of cumin seeds and add it to your clear soup.

 Basil: Basil is another excellent home remedy to cure
infections of both – the stomach and the throat. Strain the juice of a
few basil leaves and add it to a tablespoon of honey. It’s bound to show
positive results within a couple of hours.

 Bananas: Bananas are a rich source of potassium. They
aid recovery and reduce the effects of food poisoning to an impressive
level. Mash a couple of bananas and apple, or whip up a quick banana
shake.

 Apples: Apples are as effective against food poisoning
as they reduce heartburn and acid reflux. Apples are known to have
enzymes that inhibit the growth of the bacteria that cause diarrhea and
stomach ache.

 Lemon: The acidity of the lemon juice kills most of the
bacteria that cause food poisoning. Squeeze the juice of a lemon and
add a pinch of sugar to it. Drink it as you would take any medicine, or
you can even add lemon to your tea.

 Activated charcoal: Activated charcoal absorbs all the
unwanted gases and substances that may be harmful to the delicate lining
of the stomach, thereby aiding speedy recovery.

 Water: It is very
important to keep yourself fully hydrated during the period of food
poising, as your body tends to lose more water through diarrhea. Also,
keeping up your water content, rapidly flushes out the toxins and
bacteria, which enhances your recovery.

 Apple cider vinegar: Being alkaline in nature, vinegar,
specifically apple cider vinegar soothes the gastro-intestinal lining.
Also, it makes the environment of the stomach inhospitable for the
bacteria to breed in, which helps speed up the recovery.

Peppermint tea: It’s not just aromatherapy.
Peppermint oil is known to have a soothing effect, which is extremely
beneficial for people suffering from stomach spasms due to food
poisoning. Add a few drops to your tea; your cramps will vanish in a
couple of hours.

Do you know a great home remedy for an upset tummy? Share it with us in the comments below!

Home Remedies to Treat a Sunburn_Part_1

When the summer sun is harsh, the chances of damaging your skin with sunburn is very high. Here are a few home remedies to keep in mind.
While applying the sunscreen is the surest way to prevent one, there can be instances where you may forget to re-apply the sunscreen and suffer a sunburn. For all those moments, here’s something to help. Check out some super easy home remedies to deal with a sunburn.

 Cold milk is one of the simplest ways to deal with a sunburn. The
instant coolness of the milk will ease the heat and also create a layer
of protein to protect the skin and promote healing of the tissues.

 Potatoes are known as nature’s best pain relievers and have been used
since ages to tackle minor skin irritations like scratches, bites and
burns. The juice of a potato can be wonderfully effective in dealing
with a sunburn- it may help reduce redness and pain almost instantly.

 Cornstarch has a smooth and silky texture, and is an impressive way to
tackle a sunburn. Applying a mixture of cornstarch and water to the
affected area can relieve pain and also reduce redness.

 This one probably didn’t come as a surprise, aloe vera has been known
for its cooling and soothing properties, and is used to deal with a wide
range of skin conditions. Aloe Vera gel is thought to reduce redness
associated with a sunburn almost instantly.

 While you may not really like the idea of applying vinegar on your
sunburned back, it is actually a good way to heal sunburns and even
burned tissue. It is thought to provide relief from pain too!

 You may be gobbling this one down for your breakfast in an attempt to
shed a few pounds, but the uses of oats don’t just end there. It has
been found that the polysaccharides in oatmeal help coat and heal the
sunburned skin and keeps it hydrated and moist.

 Yogurt is often used a natural probiotic agent, but it also contains
several enzymes that help promote healing of the skin, especially
sunburned skin. If you find yourself red and sunburn, slathering on some
fresh yogurt can help you recover faster.

 Cucumber’s cooling and soothing properties make it a superstar when it
comes to dealing with skin troubles. It is thought to provide instant
relief from pain associated with a sunburn thanks to its natural
anaesthetic properties, and may also reduce redness and swelling.

 To relieve hangover
Honey is known to keep your blood sugar level
fairly constant which is what you need after last night's party. Take
two to six teaspoonfuls of honey every twenty minutes upon awaking,
depending on the severity of the hangover. Once you start feeling
better, take four tsp with your first meal. The potassium in the honey
helps counteract the effects of the alcohol. In addition, honey contains
fructose, a type of sugar that helps your body metabolise alcohol more
quickly.

 To soothe mild burns and scalds
If you thought onions only had
culinary value, you certainly do not know the value of this edible bulb.
It also helps treat minor burns and scalds. Cut an onion in half and
place it on the spot until the pain subsides. Onion juice has chemicals
like sulphur compounds and quercetin that are present in many
over-the-counter drugs. Yes, you may have watery eyes due to burning but
that's a fair trade-off. Isn't it?

 To relieve headache and migraine
Who doesn't experience occasional
headaches? Most of us do. Headaches often reflect the kind of lifestyle
we maintain; too much stress and not enough rest. People also suffer
headaches due to weather changes. Use cold to help numb the pain. Hold a
bag of frozen peas on the pain site for 10 minutes. Wait for twenty
minutes and then repeat. Frozen peas bag makes a great mouldable and
reusable ice pack. The cold compresses blood vessels which eases pain.

 To reduce puffy eyes
Puffy eyes are usually the result of staying
awake till late in the night, drinking too little water or the natural
ageing process. Puffy eyes are caused when fluid is trapped in the
tissue under the eye. For any skin swelling, a cold compress is an ideal
remedy. After preparing your morning or afternoon cup of tea, place the
bags in the refrigerator until chilled. Squeeze out any excess fluid to
make sure tea water doesn't drip all over your face while you are
trying to relax. Place the bags over puffy, swollen eyes for around 10
minutes. Apart from removing puffiness, it also reduces dark circles and
makes you feel fresh.

 All of us have suffered from food poisoning at some point in life. Here are few home remedies, submitted by
You
may have had those mouthwatering frankies from the roadside stall, or
gobbled down a plateful of golguppas in a go, only to find severe
stomach ache and diarrhea within a couple of days. It’s probably food
poisoning you’re suffering from and you’ve caught it at least once in
your life, from the deceptively harmless looking contaminated foods.

With
symptoms ranging from mild to severe abdominal cramps, diarrhea,
nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness and dehydration, food poisoning is
a condition not to be ignored. Listed below are a few effective home
remedies to cure food poisoning, right from grandma’s own medicine
chest.

Tea with moti elaichi can take care of a bad stomach.