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The union government has advised states and union territories (UTs) to increase community awareness on adherence to respiratory and hand hygiene in light of the growing A Influenza type H3N2 cases across the nation. The centre has additionally requested that the state units of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) keep vigil over cases of influenza-like illnesses and severe acute respiratory illnesses (ILIs and SARIs) and refer a sufficient number of samples for testing for influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and adenovirus. In a letter to the states and UTs sent after an interministerial review conference with the NITI Ayog, Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), acknowledged that an increasing trend in ILI/SARI cases was being seen nationwide. Integrated sentinel-based surveillance of ILI and SARI has detected an increase in influenza A cases during the second half of December 2022. Bhushan specifically raised as a matter of particular concern the prevalence of Influenza A (H3N2) observed in the samples examined in several labs in his letter. Young children, the elderly, and those with co-morbidities are more at risk for and vulnerable to H1N1, H3N2, adenoviruses, etc., according to the Government of India (GoI). The letter also highlighted the growing incidence of other respiratory ailments across the nation. The steadily rising COVID-19 test positivity rates were brought up by the Union Health Secretary as an urgent concern. The health official stated, “Despite low number of new cases, equally low number of hospitalisations and significant advances made in terms of COVID-19 vaccination coverage, there is still a need to remain vigilant and focus on the five-fold strategy of test-track-treat- vaccination and adherence to COVID-appropriate behavior.” The “Operational Guidelines for Revised Surveillance Strategy in Context of COVID-19” are to be put into full effect by the states and UTs in order to conduct integrated surveillance of respiratory pathogens that manifest as ILI/SARS cases. The number of Adenovirus cases in the nation has also increased. According to the testing of the samples being done by many of the ICMR’s VRDL network labs, over 25.4% of respiratory samples have tested positive for adenoviruses since January 1, 2023. The letter continued that while the majority of these agents typically result in a similar mild and frequently self-limiting illness, in some instances an acute respiratory infection with fever and cough, especially in older people, people with obesity and other comorbidities (like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic renal and liver disease, etc.), as well as pregnant women, may experience a more severe manifestation of these diseases requiring immediate medical attention. The centre has urged more community awareness of issues including often washing hands, not spitting in public, using a mask in crowded locations, covering one’s mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, etc. The union health secretary also gave state governments advice on improving human resource capacity based on current recommendations, ensuring that people are immunised against COVID-19 and influenza, and assessing hospital preparedness, including the availability of pharmaceutical drugs, medical equipment, medical oxygen, etc.

According to the market research firm Euromonitor, the global market for children’s over-the-counter cough, cold, and allergy medications was expected to reach $2.5 billion in 2022. These medications combine active components like paracetamol, often known as acetaminophen in the US, to lower the body temperature with a glycerin or propylene glycol syrup that is safe, sweet, and simple to take. Global health authorities in Gambia found two extremely toxic substances, ethylene glycol (EG) and diethylene glycol (DEG), in imported children’s cough syrup. According to Dr. Chaitanya Kumar Koduri, director of regulatory engagement at U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), a non-profit that aids in setting worldwide standards for the manufacturing of drugs, both may be byproducts of the production of propylene glycol. According to Kumar Koduri, manufacturers of propylene glycol for medicinal usage must purify it to get rid of any toxins. Only trace levels of EG and DEG are permitted by international standards in medicines; this equates to 0.10 percent of weight per volume or 0.10 grammes per 100 millilitres of syrup. Similar properties can be found in all the substances. Propylene glycol is not toxic, however DEG and EG are very harmful. If not treated quickly after ingestion, pathologists warn that they can cause kidney failure and ultimately death. The dosage’s lethality is partially influenced by the patient’s weight. Children are more susceptible than adults since they are smaller. Human error is a possibility, according to Kumar Koduri. However, suppliers or manufacturers have in the past used industrial grade propylene glycol or even pure DEG or EG as a substitute because they are less expensive. Two websites selling the chemicals claim that EG and DEG can be less expensive than half the cost of propylene glycol. Over 90 children in Haiti and over 200 in Bangladesh died in the 1990s as a result of DEG in paracetamol syrups. Children have recently died in separate incidents in Panama, India, and Nigeria. Since then, the World Health Organization’s international guidelines have been tightened, and manufacturers are being urged to test more of their -ingredients and finished products. But, it is up to individual countries to enact laws to make sure they are followed at both the manufacturing and consumption points. Source: Reuters

Due to a packaging error, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories is recalling over 4,000 bottles of a generic drug in the US. 4,320 bottles of Tacrolimus Capsules, which are aimed at preventing the body from rejecting a transplanted organ, are being recalled by the Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company. A unit of the company, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Inc., based in New Jersey, is recalling the affected lot as a result of “the presence of one Tacrolimus 1 mg capsule co-mingled in a bottle containing and labelled as Tacrolimus 0.5 mg capsules,” according to the USFDA’s latest Enforcement Report. The company’s production facility in Bachupally, India, produced the impacted lot, which its American division then marketed in the United States. On February 8 of this year, Dr. Reddy’s started the Class II nationwide recall. According to the USFDA, a Class II recall is started when using or being exposed to a product that is in violation may result in short-term or medically treatable adverse health effects or when the likelihood of substantial adverse health effects is remote.