coronavirus outbreak

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preventive Measures

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Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preventive Measures

The novel Coronavirus (COVID2019) outbreak identified in China is causing global concern. It has spread to more than 200 countries worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s live report, there are more than 13,00,000 confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Approximately, 74,306 number of people died due to the novel Coronavirus. The United States accounts for highest cases (363,321) followed by Spain (135,032), Italy (132,547), Germany (99,225) China (83,157) and France (73,488).

There are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. Several clinical trials are undergoing for evaluating the potential treatments. Hence, it is essential to prevent Coronavirus infection and slowing the rate of transmission.

“Prevention is better than cure”

Preventive measures for Coronavirus are as follows:

  • Wash Your Hands

Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, or clean them with alcohol-based hand rub

  • Avoid Close Contact

Maintain at least 1 metre distance with the people coughing or sneezing

  • Social Distancing & Stay Home

Stay home and Practice physical distancing by avoiding unnecessary travel and staying away from large groups of people

  • Wear Facemask

Wear a facemask if you are sick

  • Cook Food

Cook food thoroughly

  • Elbow Coughing

Use Elbow to cough into it

  • Cleanliness

Clean frequently touch surfaces daily

  • Cover coughs and sneezes

Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing

  • Avoid touching surfaces

Avoid touching doorknobs and banisters

World Health Day

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World Health Day

Every year, World Health Day is celebrated on April 7 under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as other related organizations.

This year, World Health Day i.e. April 7, 2020, will focus on the vital role played by nurses and midwives in providing healthcare worldwide. It will highlight the current status of nursing across the globe. WHO and its partners would make a series of recommendations to strengthen the nursing and midwifery workforce.

This world health day, we pay tribute to the contribution of nurses and midwives for their vital role in keeping the world healthy. Nurses and other health workers who are at the frontlines in providing the treatment and care to patients suffering from novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak by putting their own health at risk to protect the community.

We are thankful for their commitment and hard work for saving lives!

Impact of Coronavirus (COVID19) on India Pharmaceuticals

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Impact of Coronavirus (COVID19) on India Pharmaceuticals

India is one of the largest providers of generic drugs worldwide. India pharmaceutical industry supplies approximately 50% of vaccines worldwide, 40% of generics in the United States and 25% of all medicines in the United Kingdom. India exports bulk drugs, intermediates, drug formulations, biologicals, Ayush & herbal products, and surgicals to various countries.

According to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), the Indian pharmaceutical sector had a market size of USD 33 Billion in 2017. India’s pharmaceutical exports had witnessed an increase from USD 19.14 Billion in 2019 to USD 17.27 billion in 2018.

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak had a negative impact on the India pharmaceutical industry in the following ways:

  • India has restricted the export of several drugs such as paracetamol, antibiotics such as tinidazole and erythromycin, hormone progesterone, which is used in the contraceptive pill, and vitamins B12, B1 and B6. These drugs account for approximately 10% of all India’s pharmaceutical exports.
  • The Indian government have imposed limits on the export of 26 pharmaceutical ingredients
  • Indian pharmaceutical companies are now close to exhausting their supply of raw materials such as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Moreover, the inventories related to the pharmaceutical ingredients are running low.
  • Several pharmaceutical companies who have contracts with domestic clients and various state governments to supply medicines have been crippled, as manufacturing has come to a halt due to a shortage of raw materials from China
  • Pharmaceutical companies are not able to procure pharmaceutical ingredients for Mintelukast, used for asthma, pain medication Nimesulide, and Amoxicillin, Ofloxaicin, and Chloramphenicol, which are used to treat bacterial infections, and antibiotic Metronidazole
  • Small and medium companies have been most  affected as they depend on traders and keep lower inventory
  • There is a drastic increase of 20-30% in the prices of raw materials used in medicines like Amoxicillin and Paracetamol.
  • The pharmaceutical logistics is facing the difficulties in receiving the raw material from other parts of the country

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Recent Updates

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Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

FDA Approves First Rapid Point-Of-Care COVID-19 Diagnostic Test

Sunnyvale-based molecular diagnostic company Cepheid received FDA approval for the first rapid coronavirus test with a 45-minute detection time. This test will be used primarily in hospitals and emergency rooms.

Abbott receives FDA Emergency Use Authorization and Launches Test to Detect Novel Coronavirus

Abbott has received FDA emergency use authorization for a molecular test for novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The Abbott m2000 RealTime System is a molecular solution featuring a broad menu of tests, including ones for infectious diseases. The platform uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, which amplifies a single piece (or few copies of a piece) of DNA to quickly and accurately diagnose a patient. The m2000 is currently used in labs around the world.

Roche begins shipments of first 400,000 COVID-19 tests to laboratories across the US to begin patient testing under FDA Emergency Use Authorization

Roche plans to ship an additional 400,000 tests per week to the laboratory testing sites across the nation that are set up to run the test immediately under the guidelines of the FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The Cobas SARS-CoV-2 Test provides reliable and high-quality results for clinical decision-making for the improved management of COVID-19 patients and to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) infection. These highly automated tests provide results in 3-½ hours.

Eli Lilly teams with Indiana Health Agency to provide speedy Coronavirus Testing to Indiana Residents

Eli Lilly teams with the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) to rapidly expand and accelerate testing for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in Indiana.

Thermo Fisher plans to produce up to 5 million of a new test to detect the Novel Coronavirus

Thermo Fisher, the largest maker of scientific tools, plans to produce up to 5 million of a new test to detect the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19. The Food and Drug Administration granted the new test an emergency use authorization status.

*Emergency Use Authorization (EUA): Under section 564 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), the FDA Commissioner may allow unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in an emergency to diagnose, treat, or prevent serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions caused by CBRN threat agents when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.