ROTAVIRUS INFECTION-HOW SERIOUS IT IS IN INDIA?

Rotavirus infection is known to cause serious damage to health especially among infants and children and the symptoms include severe diarrhea and consequent dehydration leading to death if not properly treated. About half a million children are reported to be dying yearly world wide because of Rotavirus infection. The virus attacks the cells that line the small intestine causing diarrhea. Though about 2 million infections are reported world wide, it is believed that every child is exposed to this virus at least once till it reaches the age of 5. The most common of the 5 types, Rotavirus A accounts for 90% of the infection and vaccines are now available for infants for routine administration. Most children gain immunity if infected mildly and as they grow they do not face any threat subsequently. In the absence of reliable statistics about this infection in India, it is difficult to conclude as to how many cases of diarrhea occurring in the country can be attributed to this virus. Still the recent news that a low cost vaccine has been developed in India is indeed welcome. Here is the report which highlights the achievement of Indian virologists.

While two common vaccines against rotavirus made by GSK and Merck cost around Rs 900 per dose, Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech plans to sell the Indian product at Rs 54 (one dollar) per dose. Children need three dosages at sixth, tenth and 14th weeks of their lives.   Developed after 28 years of research, the indigenous vaccine against rotavirus shows promise in clinical trials. The last part of the trial (phase–III) demonstrates 60 per cent efficacy and lesser number of deaths. The two commercial vaccines too have similar efficacy in India.  Diarrhoea is the third leading killer of children in India, accounting for 13 per cent of all deaths in children below five years and kills an estimated 3,00,000 children each year, almost half of which are caused by rotavirus. Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhoea causing 4,57,000 to 8,84,000 hospitalisations, two million outpatient visits and 1,22,000-1,53,000 deaths.  A Global Enteric Multicentre Study – published in the "Lancet" on Tuesday – showed one in five children in the developing countries of Asia and Africa below two years of age suffered from moderate-to-severe diarrhoea each year, which not only increased their risk of death 8.5 times more, but also led to stunted growth over a two-month follow-up period.

Viewed from a global perspective a vaccine that costs one twentieth of that made in developed countries can be of immense relevance to most nations in Asia, Africa and South America. If the vaccine is eventually produced commercially no effort should be spared to distribute the same to fellow countries for massive inoculation of infants at an early stage. International organizations like WHO and UNICEF must take action to promote this vaccine though there may be stiff resistance from the existing private vaccine manufacturing industry as it may impinge on their business.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

REUSABLE GROCERY BAGS-POTENTIAL DANGERS

Reusable bags for carrying groceries are increasingly being adopted by consumers world over because of better awareness about the damages plastics can cause to the environment. It is almost two decades since the harmful environmental effects of plastics , when they are discarded indiscriminately, became an issue and tireless campaigns and a few policy orchestration by the government authorities have created some sensitivity among the consumers regarding the undesirability of continued use of plastics. Two prime considerations that weigh against plastics are that it is mostly made from the unsustainable fossil fuels and plastics are not biodegradable for long periods, as long as 800 years. Besides the ultra voilet  degradation generates artifacts which are more dangerous to the environment. Pacific ocean is one of the most polluted water bodies containing millions of tons of plastic substances. The devastating Mumbai floods in India, a few years ago which caused severe damage to the city, was attributed to choking of storm drains with discarded plastics. Many governments have tried to put a ban on production of plastic films with thickness less than 20 microns but not with any degree of success. Now that reusable bags are gaining acceptance, the dangers inherent in not taking care of these bags have been highlighted in an advisory by the Canadian health agencies which is contained in the report below. 

"Health Canada is reminding Canadians to take steps to prevent cross-contamination of foods when shopping with reusable grocery bags and bins. As an environmental choice, many Canadians are now shopping with reusable bins, plastic bags and cloth bags to reduce the amount of plastic they are using. Health Canada supports the proper use of these products, but it is important to use them safely to prevent cross-contamination of food with bacteria that can cause food borne illness. Because these bags and bins are reused frequently, they can pick up bacteria from the foods they carry, or from their environment (the ground, the back of your car or the items stored in them between grocery trips). The following steps can help to prevent cross-contamination:
-- Wash cloth bags frequently, especially after carrying fresh produce, meat, poultry or fish. Reusable grocery bags may not all be machine washable. If yours are not, you should wash them by hand frequently with hot soapy water. Plastic bins should be washed using hot soapy water on a regular basis as well. It is also important to dry grocery bags and bins after washing.
-- Put fresh or frozen raw meat, poultry and fish in separate bins or bags from fresh produce and other ready-to-eat foods.

-- Putting your fresh or frozen raw meat, poultry or fish in plastic bags (the clear bags found in the produce and some meat sections work well) will help to prevent the juices from leaking and contaminating your reusable containers and other foods. Fresh produce should also be put in plastic bags to help protect it from contamination.

-- If you are using your grocery bags or bins to store or transport non-food items, they should be washed thoroughly before using them for groceries.
It is estimated that there are approximately 11 million cases of food-related illness in Canada every year. Many of these cases could be prevented by following proper food handling and preparation technique".

Before the advent of plastics in countries like India people have been using cloth bags for shopping and regular cleaning was a feature embedded in the daily lives of the people. It is true that the the extent of danger is enhanced when moist foods are carried and raw meat carries maximum risks. Cloth bags also pose danger during rainy season when humidity is high and an improperly dried bag can attract mold growth with some risks of microbial contamination in foods. Also in vogue was the practice of using old news papers for wrapping grocery items before the implementation of the packed commodities regulations making it illegal to indulge in loose vending by the retailers. Probably it is only in India that used news papers have a market for making paper bags for use by grocery shops. Many modern retail stores use reinforced paper bags with high strength in place of plastic bags though it could cost a few cents extra to the customers. Use of paper makes eminent sense because of its sustainable nature with recycling technology well developed. Ultimately cloth bags can only provide a lasting solution and if necessary care is taken, nothing else can come any where near to this age old traditional "carry bag" system.  

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com