The graphene oxide info I am finding conflicts. Looks like it was intended to cure but has side effects & was used anyway? Finding sources saying Ivermectin removes graphene oxide but not sure if they are good sources or disinfo? Also anyone know if corona virus is related to protein corona?
There is a dire need to mitigate the risk of the emergence of more multi-mutational variants like Omicron in the future by increasing efforts to control advanced HIV disease, said a public health lawyer and South Asia Head of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Access Campaign. In an interaction with BusinessLine, Leena Menghaney talked about how the National AIDS Control Organisation’s (NACO) implementation of the World Health Organization’s recommendations to diagnose and treat advanced HIV disease have faced multiple delays and neglect. However, the Ministry of Health can no longer afford to do so in the wake of a new variant of concern.
According to the Science magazine, SARS_CoV-2 may have mutated in people with weakened immune systems, giving rise to new variants in people with cancer or living with HIV who have an uncontrolled HIV infection. Covid infection can persist for months in such people.
Scientists in South Africa traced a sample of Covid to a 36-year-old woman who was not receiving effective HIV treatment. Tests revealed that she had a persistent Covid infection for 216 days and it accumulated into 32 mutations. This should be a matter of concern to the Ministry of Health in India.
“People with advanced or uncontrolled HIV who have a high viral load of the HIV virus are immunocompromised and if co-infected with Covid are far more likely to die from Coronavirus, and their neglect by the HIV programme could drive the emergence of Covid variants,” said Menghaney.
“According to official figures, at least 35 per cent of those people living with HIV, who come under India’s HIV treatment programme, are immunocompromised and often die of diseases such as TB, meningitis, pneumonia and severe bacterial infections. In addition, for those already on treatment, the government has not monitored antiretroviral therapy (a cocktail of three drugs) with regular viral load testing very well,” she stated.
“Viral load testing can tell if the antiretroviral therapy is working or not, but services were disrupted during the pandemic. Both for public health and individual patient’s benefit, people with advanced HIV need to be paid more attention in the HIV programme,” Menghaney further added.
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/covid-throws-a-spotlight-on-aids-treatment-in-india/article37961834.ece
Microsoft co-founder highlights variant’s high transmissibility, urges people to get booster vaccine shots
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Tuesday raised concerns about the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.
Gates, in a series of tweets, warned against the recent surge of cases, adding that he had cancelled most of his holiday plans.
“Just when it seemed like life would return to normal, we could be entering the worst part of the pandemic. Omicron will hit home for all of us. Close friends of mine now have it, and I’ve canceled most of my holiday plans,” Gates tweeted.
*Omicron is spreading faster than any virus in history. It will soon be in every country in the world,” he wrote.
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/world/omicron-is-spreading-faster-than-any-virus-in-history-bill-gates/article38009854.ece
The Omicron variant is at least three times more transmissible than the Delta variant, the Centre said Tuesday in a letter written to the States/UTs. Rajesh Bhushan, the Health Secretary, said considering the transmission speed of Omicron, the States/UTs must take necessary containment measures at the local and district level.
“Based on current scientific evidence, Omicron is at least three times more transmissible than the Delta variant. Besides, the Delta variant is still present in different parts of the country. Hence, even greater foresight, data analysis, dynamic decision making, strict and prompt containment action is required at the local and district level,” Bhushan said in a letter while simultaneously stressing on 100 per cent coverage of the first dose and testing and surveillance.
India’s total number of Omicron cases increased to 207 on Tuesday, with Maharashtra and Delhi registering the maximum number of cases at 61 and 54, respectively, as per the Health Ministry. Telangana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Kerala and Gujarat’s Omicron cases stood at 20,19,18, 15 and 14, respectively. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh recorded two Omicron cases, and Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal registered one case each.
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/covid-19-vaccination-india-administers-over-138-crore-total-doses-so-far/article38002231.ece
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said children in the age group of 15-18 years will get vaccination against COVID19 from January 3, 2022. He also announced ‘precautionary’ (third) dose for healthcare and frontline workers will be administered from January 10.
In a late evening televised address to the nation, Modi also said that those above 60 years of age with comorbidities will be eligible for ‘precaution’ dose from January 10 on the recommendation of their doctors.
Narendra Modi said India will soon have nasal vaccine and world’s 1 st DNA vaccine. Modi urged people not to panic, but at the same time asked them to be cautious and follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/pm-modi-announces-covid-19-vaccination-for-children-aged-15-18-from-jan-3/article38038722.ece
The 16th mega vaccination camp in Tamil Nadu on Sunday saw a total of 17,32,277 beneficiaries getting vaccinated. Of these, 5,17,126 got their first dose, and 12,14,151 their second.
So far, 85.71 per cent of the population in the State has got a first dose and 57.85 per cent the second dose, says a Health Department release.
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/more-than-17-lakh-vaccinations-administered-in-tamil-nadu-on-sunday/article38043767.ece
Intensifying its stir over the delay in NEET-PG 2021 counselling, a federation of resident doctors association on Saturday said its members will be forced to go for "mass resignation" from services if their demands are not met at the earliest.
Scores of resident doctors in Delhi on Saturday also lit 'diyas' to register their protest here, even as patient care remained affected at various facilities in the city.
The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) has been spearheading the protest for the last several days.
In a statement issued on Saturday, it said that avirtual meeting was convened by FORDA in the evening with representatives of resident doctors associations from various states to discuss the future course of agitation. "Since no concrete measure has been taken by authorities yet in the concerned matter, it was unanimously decided to continue the agitation. During the meeting it was also discussed that protesting resident doctors across the nation will be forced to go forward with mass resignation from services, if the demand is not met at the earliest," it said.
On Wednesday, a large number of doctors protested outside the Nirman Bhawan, which houses the office of the Union health ministry, for the third consecutive day, and then late evening they assembled on the premises of the Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) and lit up 'diyas' and marched around.
MAMC comes under the Delhi government and three facilities, including the LNJP Hospital, are attached to it.
On Tuesday, a group of doctors had thrown flowers on security barricades, and clanged utensils and clapped in front of the Nirman Bhawan here, saying they were symbolically "returning" the adulation showered on them for being Covid warriors.
As their stir continued on Saturday,patient care remained affected at three Centre-run facilities – Safdarjung, RML and Lady Hardinge hospitals and some of the Delhi government-run hospitals.
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/doctors-will-be-forced-to-go-for-mass-resignation-if-demands-not-met-forda/article38040752.ece
The National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) is launching a new ‘AI Gamechangers’ program in a bid to promote artificial intelligence-led innovation in India.
A part of Nasscom’s ÁI for India mission, the program seeks to recognise impactful and scalable AI-based innovation in the country. Microsoft is the ‘Innovation Partner’ for the program.
Nasscom will work closely with Microsoft to develop and promote the AI Gamechangers program.
The program will recognise innovators for their successful AI implementation at Nasscom’s Xperience AI Summit, one of the largest AI Summits in India.
“This will serve as a platform for startups, enterprises, academia, governments, and NGOs to showcase their AI-based products and solutions, providing reach and impetus to drive AI innovation for the country,” it said in an official release.
It will feature the success stories of the AI innovators in an accompanying annual compendium, which will be released at the Xperience AI Summit.
Nominations for the program can be submitted online. The entries will be judged by a distinguished panel of industry leaders and subject matter experts. Three primary aspects will be taken into consideration while judging- problem selection, solution innovation, and impact achieved.
The nomination window will be open from March 4-April 16, 2021, which will be followed by screening and the final presentations to the Steering Committee and the expert panel.
“The past decades have seen a dramatic growth of innovation and talent in India. While the country continues to leap forward to become the global innovation hub, we expect AI to unlock $500 Bn of value to India’s GDP by 2025. Through this program, we aim to spotlight some of the leading AI-based innovations in the country, not only to recognize their efforts but to motivate the larger ecosystem to leverage this opportunity to help India become a global powerhouse in AI-led innovation,” Debjani Ghosh, President, Nasscom, said.
“Cloud led data and AI innovation offers a huge canvas for India to be the tech engine of the world and drive homegrown innovation. Data and AI are driving transformation at scale across industries and offer a tremendous opportunity to transform public infrastructure and solve some of the most critical issues facing the country today. We are proud to partner with Nasscom on the AI Gamechangers program to create a strong ecosystem that recognizes and supports AI led innovation in the country,” said Anant Maheshwari, President - Microsoft India.
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/latest-news/nasscom-microsoft-announce-pact-to-accelerate-ai-led-innovation-in-india/article33969612.ece
On Wednesday, Pfizer received the US Food & Drug Administration’s emergency-use authorisation for Paxlovid, its Covid-19 antiviral treatment. The treatment can be used in both high-risk adults and paediatric patients over 12 years and weighing at least 40 kg. The development is likely to result in several Indian manufacturers beginning generic production of the anti-viral pill.
What is Paxlovid?
PF-07321332, Pfizer’s antiviral Covid-19 treatment candidate, is administered in combination with a low dose of HIV medicine Ritonavir.
https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/health/covid-19-how-will-pfizers-oral-antiviral-treatment-drug-paxlovid-come-to-india/2388756/
In a sign of extreme worry, out of the 34 Omicron patients admitted in a Delhi hospital, 33 of them got infected with the new variant despite being fully vaccinated. At Delhi’s Lok Nayak hospital a total of 34 patients who have been infected with Omicron variant are admitted. Top officials at the hospital told the Indian Express that at least two patients admitted at the hospital have also received the booster shot against Coronavirus. Dr Suresh Kumar who is the medical director of Lok Nayak hospital told the Indian Express that out of the 34 Omicron variant patients, 18 have been discharged and barring one patient all 33 had previously taken both shots of vaccine. Dr Kumar said that the development showed that the Omicron variant is capable of infecting even those people who have been fully vaccinated.
The top doctor at the hospital further said that at least two international patients had also received an mRNA booster shot in addition to the two regular vaccine doses. However, in a glimmer of hope Dr Kumar said that none of the patients needed to be put on oxygen or ventilator and most of them only have mild symptoms such as fever, sore throat and body pain. He further said that the mild symptoms among the patients could be a result of the protection provided by the Coronavirus vaccines and feared that the variant might cause severe disease among patients who remain unvaccinated.
Highlighting another red herring, Dr Kumar said that three of the Omicron variant patients had no travel history which indicates that the virus may have already started spreading in the community. It is significant to note that with 57 Omicron variant patients the national capital has the maximum number of confirmed Omicron cases in India closely followed by Maharashtra. Fearing a large-scale spread of the infection, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Wednesday in a crucial decision banned all Christmas and New Year celebration events in the coming days.
https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/health/33-out-of-34-omicron-patients-at-delhi-hospital-were-fully-vaccinated-check-details/2387931/
As the world still comes to grips with coronavirus’ variant, said to be highly transmissible if not deadlier than the Delta variant, that has dimmed the chances of a pandemic-free 2022, a fresh surge in US and Europe is now being blamed on a combination of the two.
Delmicron, a combination of the virus’ Delta and Omicron variants, can transmit even faster. While Covid-19 infections only involve a single mutant strain, two can strike simultaneously in extremely rare cases.
Omicron, accounting for 73% of fresh infections last week, has become the dominant variant in the US, the Associated Press reported. According to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, over 99.5% of infections in the country in November were caused by the Delta variant. Now, however, the Omicron variant has surpassed the Delta as the dominant strain.
In the UK, daily Covid-19 cases surpassed the 100,000-mark for the first time on Wednesday, attributed to Omicron, BBC reported. The symptoms, however, are milder than previous variants and are less likely to cause hospitalisations.
Omicron is a mutated B.1.1.529 form of SARS-CoV-2, first detected last month in South Africa. This variant spreads at a rapid pace, but its symptoms, at present, are said to be milder than the Delta variant. The mortality rate is also lower. Delmicron, on the other hand, is a combination of the Delta and the Omicron — the variants’ twin spike.
Delmicron’s symptoms are the same as the Omicron and the Delta variants. These include high temperature, persistent cough, loss of taste or smell, runny nose, headache, and sore throat. While Delta causes more severe symptoms, the Omicron mutation is highly transmissible.
Moderna Chief Medical Officer Dr Paul Burton said the new super-variant would be created if the Omicron and the Delta variants infect someone at the same time.
https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/health/what-exactly-is-delmicron-scientists-warn-of-super-strain-heres-all-about-its-origin-mutation-etc/2389547/