Chilean dogs sniff out coronavirus in early stages

Chilean police are training sniffer dogs to detect the coronavirus in peoples sweat at an early stage, after a similar trial in the UK showed encouraging results. ,Four dogs have been selected for the initial training, a mix of labradors and golden retrievers who sport green "biodetector" jackets for their task. They are being trained at the Chilean Carabineros specialist training base in the capital Santiago. ,Sniffer dogs are best-known for detecting drugs, explosives and people but have also previously been trained to detect other diseases including malaria, cancer and Parkinsons disease. ....read more

CMAAO Coronavirus Facts and Myth Buster: COVID Update

With inputs from Dr Monica Vasudev1031: Can Trained Dogs Identify COVID-19 Infections? Following some training, dogs may be able to sniff out and spot the individuals infected with the coronavirus, revealed a study published in BMC Infectious Diseases. ,This was a small pilot project tested by the German Armed Forces, the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover and the Hanover Medical School. ,Eight dogs who were part of the German Armed Forces, were trained for a week to identify the virus in samples of saliva. This was followed by giving them over 1,000 infected and non-infected samples. The dogs could detect 94% of cases. They were able to correctly identify 157 positive samples and 792 negative samples; however, they missed 30 positive samples and gave false positive finding for 33 samples. ....read more

World COVID Meter 1st August: India Number 3, 213 Countries Affected

Cases: 1M April 2, 2M April 15, 3M April 27, 4M May 8, 5M May 20, 6M May 30, 7M June 7, 8M June 15, 9M June 22, 10M June 29th, 11M July 4, 12M July 8, 13M July 13, 14M July 17, 15M July 23, 16M July 25, 17M July 29 ,Ground Zero: Wuhan - in live animal market or cafeteria for animal pathogens: 10th January; Total cases are based on RT PCR, 67% sensitivity ,Coronavirus Cases: 17,754,183,Deaths: 682,885,Recovered: 11,158,280,ACTIVE CASES 5,913,018,Currently Infected Patients 5,847,455 (99%) in Mild Condition ....read more

The science behind observing Shradhs

According to the Vedas, every individual has three debts to be paid off - firstly, of the Devtas (Dev Rin), secondly of Guru and teachers (Rishi Rin) and, thirdly, of Ancestors (Pitra Rin). From the scientific point of view, devtas represent people with Daivik qualities; teachers the ones who have taught us and Pitra, three generations of our ancestors. Rin from scientific point of view would mean unfinished desires or tasks. ,The rituals scientifically would mean detaching oneself from the guilt of unfinished tasks of our ancestors by detoxifying our mind. ....read more

Healthcare News Monitor

Japan secures 120 mn doses of potential corona-vaccine: pharma group

ET Health

Berlin: Japan has signed a deal to secure 120 million doses of a potential coronavirus vaccine, German pharmaceutical group BioNTech, which is developing the drug with US pharma giant Pfizer, said Friday. ,Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, with BioNTech saying the terms were based on the timing of the delivery and volume of doses. ,But an agreement announced recently between the labs and the United States put the price of 100 million doses of the potential vaccine at almost $2 billion. ,First deliveries to Japan are planned for the first half of 2021, added the Mainz-based company.

Oxford vaccine human trial in India a step closer as panel clears Serum Institute protocol

ThePrint

New Delhi: The Oxford University-led Covid vaccine project, partnered by Swedish-British firm AstraZeneca and Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), Friday came one step closer to human trials in the country, ThePrint has learnt. ,The subject expert committee, which advises regulator Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on proposals seeking approvals for new drugs, vaccines or clinical trials, Friday approved the revised protocol submitted by SII to kick-start human trials in India. ,The protocol will now be moved to DCGI V.G. Somani, who is likely to take a “decision by the end of the week” given the urgency of the Covid challenge.

Amid pandemic, J&K to recruit 900 doctors on fast-track basis to cope with worsening situation

The Tribune

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the J&K government is going to recruit 900 doctors to ‘treating’ the ‘ailing’ the health infrastructure in the peripheral and far-flung areas. ,Recruitment will be made on a fast-track basis and candidates have been asked to apply only online. ,A notification in this regard was issued by the newly constituted J&K Public Service Commission on Thursday, in which online applications were invited for 900 posts of medical officers (MOs). These posts are likely to be increased after clarification from the administrative department. ,It is clearly mentioned in the recruitment notification that the selected candidates will have to work in peripheral and far-flung areas of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.