Doctors to get 10 years jail for illegal organ trade: Doctors and touts involved in illegal organ transplantation will be put
behind bars for 10 years, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said
Thursday soon after the union cabinet approved his ministry's proposal
to amend the Transplantation of Human Organs Act.
800 doctors recruited in one day in Assam: The Assam government Wednesday appointed nearly 800 doctors in a
recruitment drive that is expected to revolutionise the region's rural
healthcare sector.
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection:
Thanks to media hype about H1N1. The hype in media about the utility
of face masks and N95 respirators as a tool for general protection against H1N1
can't be deplored enough. Yesterday, a friend who listened wanted me to write
down briefly what I advised so that he could tell others in similar words.
Hence this short email to friends whom I have advised recently (and others whom
I haven't yet). Please realize that this is not an official advice, especially
the one about face masks or N95. Most N95 respirators are designed to filter 95% particulates of 0.3µ,
while the size of H1N1 virus is about 0.1µ. Hence, dependence on N95 to protect
against H1N1 is like protecting against rain with an umbrella made of mosquito
net. Tamiflu does not kill but prevents H1N1 from further proliferation
till the virus limits itself in about 1-2 weeks (its natural cycle). H1N1, like
other Influenza A viruses, only infects the upper respiratory tract and
proliferates (only) there. The only portals of entry are the nostrils and
mouth/ throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not
coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is
not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in
order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of
secondary infections, some very simple steps - not fully highlighted in most
official communications - can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock
N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official
communications).
2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to
touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).
3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you
don't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the
throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple
gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the
same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't
underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day
with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti
(very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose hard once
a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is
very effective in bringing down viral population.
5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C
(Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C
tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6. Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquids has
the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off
proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot
survive, proliferate or do any harm.
All these are simple ways to prevent, within means of most households, and
certainly much less painful than to wait in long queues outside public
hospitals.
