Beware of health misinformation!

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Remember the good old days when most of the time only confirmed and reliable health information used to reach you. Your source of this information was through academic journals, books, newspapers, brochures, booklets, pamphlets, or your doctor's and health organizations.  But the growing social media platforms has created hurdles in the reach of genuine information to the masses. Instead what reaches them is health misinformation through social media posts created by people who have no knowledge about health. These are quacks operating. And social media helps spread this misinformation like fire. This is dangerous. It is playing with the lives of people.  Read here: Politicians vs doctors: believe whom? Most of this information is false and not accurate. It can be misleading. Sadly, even governments assist in spread of this misinformation. Most politicians these days are illiterate and shameless who boast about past and have no vision for the present or the future. Moreover, s...
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Triple mutant variant of coronavirus: What it is? How it is different? What are the problems of it?

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 Coronavirus has hit the masses of the world badly and is now peaking. The second wave, as expected, is worse than the first wave. The virus has mutated in several countries. And now the virus with multiple mutations is in circulation. This is not good news because increasingly samples with triple mutations are reported from. India. And this mutated virus is replicating and spreading faster than the original virus of December 2019. The caseload is rising and more patients seek medical assistance. Many go for hospitalizations and need critical care with oxygen. Deaths are also more. 

Triple mutant variant of coronavirus 

Viruses are known to have mutations in order to help them survive, replicate, and remain in the population. Its infectivity and transmission increases with such mutations. Currently, in India triple mutated coronavirus is doing the round. 

B.1.167 was a double mutant variant. It was potentially more faster in spreading. Vinod Scaria, a scientist at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’s Institute of Genomic and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB) in New Delhi tweeted:

"B.1.618 - a new lineage of SARS-CoV-2 predominantly found in India and characterized by a distinct set of genetic variants including E484K , a major immune escape variant,"

Triple mutant variant of coronavirus (Source: The Logical Indian) 

This started from West Bengal. He added:

"There are many unknowns for this lineage at this moment including its capability to cause reinfections as well as vaccine breakthrough infections. Additional experimental data is also required to assess the efficacy of vaccines against this variant," 

The current problem of coronavirus in India 

In India, coronavirus has reached alarming numbers. The land is recording more than 300k cases daily. It has the highest single-day rise of cases: a record that no country can break now. Many other countries of the world have stopped flights to and from India in the wake of this new variant of the virus. 

More young people are now getting infected and getting admitted to hospitals. More deaths amongst them is also noticed. Besides, new symptoms is being reported in such cases of triple mutations patients. It is a matter of concern. It is unclear whether current vaccines would prevent an individual against the new variant. Also not sure whether the diagnostic kits can pick all these variants or might miss them. This would complicate matters since false negatives would lead to more spread of the virus in the community. Additionally, monoclonal antibodies might also fail against the virus. 

What should be done? 

Prompt measures to minimize the spread of the virus in the general population should be initiated. Face masks, social distancing and hand washing should be reinforced  and monitored vigilantly. Health should get priority over other issues such as religion, construction, and economy. Research into the genetic structure of the new variant and usefulness of current vaccines against it should be evaluated soon. Other antiviral medicine against the virus should be looked into. Education of masses as regards this new variant should be widened. 

Also read, Bizarre rituals of India! 



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