(In the weekly Health Matters newsletter, Ramya Kannan writes about getting to good health, and staying there. You can subscribe here to get the newsletter in your inbox.)
There is no shying away from the fact that without eternal vigilance at the turnstile of the infectious diseases pathway into the community, we will be allowing pathogens to traipse right into our midst, and if we are further unprepared, then, this will leave a devastating trail of destruction. Not very unlike what is happening in the United States now, whose health services is headed by a man – Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who strayed far away from science with a bizarre theory that unhealthy diets had led to the measles epidemic. There is clearly no one guarding that turnstile at the U.S. now, exposing the entire world to danger.
In the US where a measles epidemic is loose in Texas, two people have already lost their lives. An Unvaccinated U.S. man died after contracting measles, only days after a school student died of the infection, in the last week of February. Besides the fact that Mr. Kennedy has made muffled noises about the need to vaccinate with the MMR vaccine, what is more worrisome is that the man who died did not seek medical assistance after he contracted measles, which is a respiratory virus that can survive in the air for up to two hours. Up to 9 out of 10 people who are susceptible will get the virus if exposed, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Scarier is the fact that there is inadequate data on those who are vaccinated in the community.
It turns out the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is safe and highly effective at preventing infection and severe cases. The first shot is recommended for children ages 12 to 15 months, and the second for ages 4 to 6 years. Do read this explainer on measles, by Zubeda Hamid, here, and our InFocus podcast on the current measles situation in America.
Quite out of the blue, came news of the strange death of Gene Hackman and his wife, in isolation in their home in the U.S. While Gene Hackman died of heart disease, it turns out his his wife Betsy died of hantavirus about 1 week prior, authorities said. Yet another infectious disease, this time caused by rodents, hantaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause severe, potentially fatal illnesses. These viruses lead to life-threatening diseases, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a severe respiratory illness, and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), a condition characterised by internal bleeding and kidney failure. For more on this virus, do check out Athira Elssa Johnson’s explainer: All you need to know about: Hantavirus
Since March is invariably about celebrating women, we grabbed the opportunity to turn the spotlight on health issues relating to women, in a meaningful manner. Dr. Preetha Reddy writes for The Hindu on the transformative impact of investing in women’s health. As someone with a great deal of experience investing in healthcare, she pointed out: Investing in women’s health is one of the most powerful levers for economic growth and social progress. When women have access to quality health care, they contribute more effectively to the workforce, raise healthier families, and drive sustained economic development. As we mark Women’s Day, it is time to acknowledge that prioritising women’s health is not just about improving individual well-being. It is also about strengthening the world.
Dr. Sapna Raina turns the spotlight on menstrual care and the modern options that are available to women. In Rethinking menstrual care: are we sacrificing health for convenience? she presents what she calls the ugly truth: standard sanitary pads include plastics, artificial perfumes and chemical residues that may be harmful to women’s health. With increased understanding, more women are opting for organic and ecological options. But do these newer products actually make a difference? She went on to argue that they do: “Consider upgrading to a sanitary napkin that is comfortable but devoid of chemicals and plastics, thus offering a healthier option. Organic and sustainable pads, constructed from natural materials such as certified organic cotton or bamboo fibre, are intended to provide both health and comfort.”
If we are talking menstrual health, then can contraception be far behind? In this piece, the advice is When it comes to contraception, making informed, personal choices is vital. Experts say the onus is on healthcare providers to not prescribe a single method to women, but offer a “basket of choices.” For instance, it is important to ensure that women know about long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), such as intrauterine devices, which can last up to 10 years but can also be removed earlier if desired. Unlike hormonal pills, which require daily compliance, these methods offer flexibility without constant monitoring. Also pertinent at this point is Moyurie Som’s story on how Doctors in Bengal are concerned about adverse ecological impact on female reproductive health. Gynaecologists practising in West Bengal cite environmental stressors such as malnutrition, prolonged exposure to high temperatures, poor air quality, and limited access to clean water behind reproductive health challenges in women, including irregular menstrual cycles, decreased fertility, and complications during pregnancy. Also, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan told the media: India is most likely undercounting heat-related deaths.
Here, Meghna M. writes about how, in In Tamil Nadu, facial recognition system to avail of nutrition kit, puts pregnant women to hardship. Simply because the devices or apps malfunction, activists have argued that the pregnant women should not be victimised, particularly when it impairs their ability to receive the nutritional supplements provided by the State to aid with a successful term.
It is the 20th anniversary of the cadre of workers that are dedicated primarily to improve health and wellness of women and children – the ASHAs. Here, Neethi P. reinforces the continuing struggle of the ASHA workers who are a key link between the community and the delivery of health care systems. Do also check out The Hindu’s edit on ASHA workers : where we argue that these warriors of hope need to be acknowledged and adequately compensated for their efforts. Do check The Science Quiz: On Women’s Health.
Meanwhile, Bindu Shajan Perappadan reports that India hit targeted maternal mortality rate of 100 deaths per lakh live births, quoting Union Health Minister Nadda. She also quoted the World Health Organization’s position that Many pregnancy-related complications going undetected and untreated, based on the results of a study published in the Lancet Global Health. She also reported on the Prime Minister’s speech on how the country was aiming for last mile delivery of care with digital infrastructure; and how the Indian pharma sector’s value can grow 150% to ₹10 lakh crore by partnering with academia.
As has always been stated by experts, Endogamy — a major cause for health disparity in India. The persistent practice of endogamy, or marrying within small communities is the primary cause for population-specific diseases in India, says a recent study led by CSIR Bhatnagar Fellow at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology. One of the key findings of this study was identifying that the widespread prevalence of ‘ankylosing spondylitis’, a type of arthritis that causes inflammation in the joints and ligaments of the spine, is linked to the ‘HLA-B27:04 risk allele’, a genetic variant that increases the likelihood of developing a disease.
Among other important studies that we wrote about during the week, was the Study that showed antimicrobial resistance in soil bacteria without using antibiotics. It looked at how the presence of the bacterium Myxococcus xanthus affects the number of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in soil samples. In famine-like conditions, which are very common in soil environments, these bacterial cells form stress-resistant structures called fruiting bodies that are filled with spores. During the development of fruiting bodies, only a minority of cells succeed in becoming spores, whereas the majority of the bacterial cells undergo lysis (rupture) and release growth-inhibitory substances into the environment. The researchers believe that exposure to these growth inhibitory molecules is the reason behind the increased frequency of resistant isolates in the soil bacterial community. Interestingly, not all strains of M. xanthus triggered enrichment of resistance; it was the ones with higher diversity of biosynthetic clusters that seemed to drive it.
It is going to be the decade when humans begin understanding the gut, if trends are to be believed. I write here, on yet another study in which a microbiome from the gut has been used in animal models to halt vitiligo patches. Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disorder where the body’s defence system begins to attack the pigment-producing cells and causes de-pigmented white patches on the skin. While usually the condition is only cosmetic, these patches on the skin can be stigmatising for the patient, particularly if they are present on the face or arms, and thus obvious to others. New research from Northwestern University from a pre-clinical trial in mice has shown that a natural compound derived from gut-friendly bacteria significantly slows down the progression of vitiligo and may restore pigmentation.
Marking World Hearing Day, we bring in experts who stress on the need to ensure affordable and equitable hearing care.
An IIT-Kharagpur professor wins UNESCO award for developing low-cost medical diagnostic solutions and the tailpiece slot. His body of work apparently boasts a plethora of affordable, simple-to-execute, and innovative diagnostic solutions covering various medical challenges such as anaemia, cancer, COVID-19, tuberculosis etc.
For our list of explainers for the week, do see the following
C. Maya Why is leptospirosis claiming so many lives in Kerala?
Dr. Anitha S. writes: All you need to know about: menopause
Dr. Krishna Chaitanya Gunda asks Is there a link between pain killers and kidney disease
All you need to know about: endometriosis
Dr. J. Naveen Kumar brings us the latest advancements in cleft lift and palate treatments.
If you have a few extra moments, do also read:
R. Prasad 100-day TB elimination campaign far from achieving main objective
Serena Josephine M. profiles Chennai’s Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital that makes preventive health checks affordable
Nellore Sravani writes on the factors that prevent people from accessing mental health care services in Andhra Pradesh: Silent suffering in the hinterland
NCBS study identifies key protein whose dysfunction could trigger neurodegenerative diseases
Experts discuss role of low-sodium salt substitutes in reducing hypertension
New version of Merck’s cancer drug faces possible patent battle
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Published – March 11, 2025 04:45 pm IST