Eight COVID-19 patients in the Karnataka state capital Bengaluru have been found to have contracted a rare fungal infection. Six of the eight people who contracted COVID-19 – caused severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or, simply, coronavirus – died while also having contracted sino-orbital invasive disease. This disease, caused by the fungus Mucormycosis, […]
COVID-19
COVID-19 symptoms may persist longer than six months
More than three quarters of those who have contracted COVID-19 still have some form of symptom six months later according to a recent study published in The Lancet. “Because COVID-19 is such a new disease, we are only beginning to understand some of its long-term effects on patients’ health.” said Professor Bin Cao, from the […]
New mutant COVID-19 strain identified in Japan
A new mutant strain of COVID-19 has been identified according to a statement issued by the Japanese Health Ministry. This new mutant strain has been identified to be entirely isolated from the strains arising in the UK and South Africa, with the variant traced to travellers arriving in Japan on flights from Brazil. Four individuals […]
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 at more than ninety million globally
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 have surpassed ninety million. The global death toll due to the disease inches towards two million as fatalities number at more than 1.9 million. India remains the country with the second-highest number of confirmed infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the novel coronavirus which […]
Mutant strain: India’s infections rise to 82
Cases of the mutant strain of COVID-19 first detected in the United Kingdom now number at 82 in India, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The mutant strain of the disease – caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – has raised concerns as it is considered more contagious […]
COVID-19 vaccine supplies imminent, states and UTs told
India’s states and union territories (UTs) can expect to receive COVID-19 vaccine supplies soon and should be prepared, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has said. A communique from Dr Pradeep Halder, an advisor on reproductive and child health in the Ministry reportedly said “all the states and UTs are likely to receive […]
Experts underscore uncertainty about AstraZeneca’s dosage and efficacy
This weekend’s approval of AstraZeneca’s vaccine by the Drugs Controller General of India has stirred some controversy in the public and the scientific community. Apart from the most obvious point – the vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University showed only 62.1 percent efficacy, much lower than other major vaccines already approved for use in […]
COVID-19 vaccine exports from India in the next few weeks
COVID-19 vaccine exports will commence in the weeks to come, the Government has confirmed. This is despite earlier confusion that the country’s largest vaccine manufacturer was not authorised to do so. India is gearing up for a mass vaccination campaign expected to begin next week. This follows emergency use authorisation for two vaccine candidates: one […]
The cost of the COVID-19 vaccine
The cost of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca will total US$3-4 per dose for the Government and US$6-8 for the private sector. This is according to Adar Poonawalla, the chief executive officer of the Serum Institute of India (SII) – the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer. Poonawalla said “we want […]
New COVID-19 variant continues to spread in India
The new COVID-19 variant continues to spread in India, with the total number of cases reaching 58 following twenty new infections. The United Kingdom first identified the new COVID-19 variant last year. The variant of the novel coronavirus – severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – which causes COVID-19 is considered to be more […]