At its worst, polio causes paralysis: 'Polio Paul' Alexander had to spend 70 years in an iron lung after surviving the disease as a child. Children are still at risk in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where polio is endemic. Polio is a very contagious viral disease caused by the poliovirus. It can cause permanent disability and even death, especially in children under the age of five. There are two types of polio present in the world today: Wild poliovirus and vaccine-derived poliovirus. The latter originates from an oral polio vaccine, known as the Sabin vaccine, or OPV.  Wild poliovirus has been eradicated in most countries, aside from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Vaccine-derived poliovirus has been found in Yemen and central Africa. Both the wild and the vaccine-derived forms have three types of viruses — types 1, 2 and 3. Although vaccine-derived polio can take the form of any of the three types, type 1 is the only remaining form of wild poliovirus. Types 2 and 3 were declared eradicated in 2015 and 2019. Although all wild poliovirus types can cause the same symptoms, there are differences in how damaging they can be, and immunity to one type does not protect against the other types. What are the symptoms? Most people infected with polio are asymptomatic. Around one in four people experience flu-like symptoms, such as a sore throat, fever, headaches or stomach pain. Generally, these symptoms go away on their own after two to five days.  Although rare, a very small percentage — less than 1% — of people infected with the poliovirus experience very dangerous symptoms, such as permanent paralysis, which can lead to a permanent disability, and even death when the virus affects the muscles required for breathing. Sometimes children that seem to have fully recovered can later, as adults, develop post-polio syndrome, which is characterized by new muscle pain, weakness or even paralysis. How is polio transmitted? The virus infects a person's intestines and throat. It can survive there for many weeks. It spreads through a community via contact with an infected person's respiratory droplets or feces. In places with poor sanitation, the virus can also contaminate food and drinking water. Infected people can spread the virus to others right before symptoms appear and until up to two weeks after. Where is polio present today? Polio has not yet been eradicated worldwide — the wild form of the virus still exists in Afghanistan and Pakistan. And although Africa has been considered free of wild polio since August 2020, imported cases were reported in Malawi and Mozambique .  In July 2022, the US reported its first case of vaccine-derived polio in a decade. Vaccine-derived poliovirus was also detected in sewage samples in the UK and Israel. It was a "stark reminder that if we do not deliver our goal of ending polio everywhere, it may resurge globally," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the time. More than a hundred countries have been declared polio-free thanks to the development of polio vaccines in the middle of the 20th century and aggressive global innoculation campaigns. What are the two types of polio vaccine? There is no cure for polio, but there are vaccines for preventing the disease: The oral polio vaccine (OPV) and inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). The oral polio vaccine is administered as an oral liquid and has been key for international eradication because it protects the individual and stops the virus from spreading. The OPV uses live but weakened forms of the poliovirus that are modified not to cause disease in the person taking the vaccine. But if the OPV-weakened virus is able to stay alive and circulate in places with poor sanitation, such as in wastewater, where there is a high number of unvaccinated people, it can mutate back into a disease-causing form of the virus. The inactivated polio vaccine is given as an injection and is extremely effective at protecting the receiver from serious disease. Because it's inactivated, it cannot cause vaccine-derived poliovirus. However, unlike the OPV, it doesn't stop the spread of the virus if the person is already infected. The OPV is cheaper than IPV and does not need to be administered by a health professional. But more and more countries are using IPV, because of the risk of vaccine-derived poliovirus. There are some types of care that can help with symptoms caused by polio, like bed rest, painkillers, breathing assistance and physical therapy.

Scientists hope a new type of vaccine could help treat autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Type 1 diabetes, allergic asthma, or Crohn's disease. In autoimmune diseases, the body's immune system —  our defense against illness — can't tell the difference between good cells and bad cells, and ends up attacking them all. So you get sick either way.   But in a study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering this month, the scientists say a so-called "inverse vaccine" helped them stop an immune response from attacking healthy cells when it was faced with a laboratory model of an autoimmune disease. Jeffrey Hubbell, who led the research, told DW that inverse vaccines were "a whole new concept of vaccination" that may one day treat many autoimmune diseases. The vaccine is still in development, and has not been tested on humans. What is an inverse vaccine? Conventional vaccines train the immune system to spot infectious diseases and stop them from multiplying and spreading.  Take the COVID-19 vaccine, for example. It contains elements that represent the coronavirus spike protein — the thing that attaches itself to cells and infects them, and makes you sick. If you've had a COVID vaccine, your body should be able to recognize that spikey shape of the virus attached to a cell and kill it. An inverse vaccine, on the other hand, stops the immune system from attacking cells — specifically, good, healthy cells.  Instead, it retrains the immune system to save healthy cells, essentially by adding a "do not attack" flag. What illnesses might inverse vaccines treat? Researchers hope inverse vaccines will be used to treat a variety of auto-immune diseases, including MS, where immune cells attack cells of the brain and spinal cord, or in Type I diabetes, where immune cells attack the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Autoimmune diseases are usually treated with drugs that suppress the immune system to stop the immune cells from attacking any cells, including healthy ones. They can be effective, but have their disadvantages, too. "By dampening down the immune [system], patients can't fight infectious disease as well [as they would otherwise], and don't response well to vaccines, [so] they're more susceptible to diseases [in general]," said Hubbell. The inverse vaccine works differently. Instead of giving a general message to the immune system to dampen it down, it gives a specific message to stop attacking the body's own — healthy — cells. "[It] suppresses a dysfunctional immune response, leaving the healthy parts of the immune system intact," said Chris Jewell, a bioengineer at University of Maryland, US, who also works on inverse vaccines but was not involved in the study. How adaptable are inverse vaccines to different diseases? The concept of an inverse vaccine is not new. It was pioneered by Stanford researcher Lawrence Steinman in the early 2000s. But Hubbell says his research offers a new approach to creating adjustable inverse vaccines, specific to different autoimmune diseases. "The basic structure [of the vaccine] can be applied to different diseases. We're also working on food allergies and allergic asthma," said Hubbell. When will inverse vaccines be ready for patients? Hubbell's inverse vaccine is not yet ready for testing in human trials, and no other inverse vaccines have been clinically approved, either. But early safety trials are under way, including for their use with celiac disease, an autoimmune disease associated with eating wheat, barley and rye, and Phase 1 safety trials for MS. "A lot of the first indications of success are [with] celiac disease, so you could treat people to respond better to gluten. It could be really transformative," said Jewell. Jewell said they hoped to see more developments in the field of inverse vaccines in the next five to ten years.

Among young people, heart disease is on the rise. According to experts, the risk of heart disease is increasing among most of the youth due to uncontrolled lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits and work stress. Various studies have shown that young people tend to eat processed foods, excess salt and sugar, which leads to diabetes, cholesterol and other compounds in the blood from an early age. Liver problems also increase with metabolic rate variation. These habits increase the risk of heart disease. What is the way to get rid of it? Quitting smoking or drinking reduces the risk of heart disease. According to doctors, not only control but also the regular health checkup should be done to avoid this problem. After 40 years, health checkup should be done on a regular basis. However, doctors are now advising to have a health check-up from the age of 30. Besides, there is no alternative to exercise. If you don't have much time, you can walk in the morning and at night.

The number of patients suffering from heart disease is increasing globally. Death can occur if it reaches severe levels. Many times it can occur due to lack of understanding even after symptoms appear.  According to the data provided by the World Health Organization, about 1 crore 79 lakhs people die every year due to heart disease. So there is no substitute for awareness. The main cause of heart problems is the lack of proper blood circulation in the heart. This disease can occur due to unhealthy lifestyle and eating habits. Besides, genetic reasons can cause heart problems. This problem does not only occur with age. Many people are affected by heart disease even at a young age. Knowing about some of the symptoms of heart problems will make it easier to prevent them. Let's find out- Chest tightness or chest pain can be a sign of heart problems. This problem occurs when blood can not flow in a proper way in the heart.  In medical terms, it is called coronary artery disease. Accumulation of plaque in this duct creates a problem. Be alert for symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, chest heaviness. Do not ignore this problem at all. You should go to the doctor immediately. During a heart attack, not only chest pain, but also you can feel the  pain everywhere in the body. It can even spread to your face.  Experts say, if you have a sudden pain in the jaw or neck, be careful. Do not ignore such problems. Flatulence, nausea are the symptoms of heart problems. This problem is more common in women. So if these problems occur along with chest pain, consult a doctor quickly. Then it will be easy for you to avoid heart disease. Or the disease can reach a fatal stage. However, such a problem does not necessarily mean that it is a heart disease. So it is better to examine and be sure. Fatigue can be due to various reasons. The main reason for this may be that the blood does not reach all parts of your body part properly. It can also cause breathing problems. Be careful if you have this kind of problem for a long time. Heart disease can be responsible for this. Sometimes prolonged work stress can also cause fatigue. So don't get scared, know the reason and take action accordingly.

People with controlled chronic diseases, homeopathic and traditional medicine receivers can take COVID-19 vaccines, an official release said today (Wednesday). Apart from controlled chronic diseases, people with controlled respiratory disease also would be eligible for receiving coronavirus inoculations, it said, adding along with priority group of people, different professionals including teachers at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, cleaners and transport workers can receive vaccines, it added. People with uncontrolled diabetes, children aged below 18, cancer patients, who are taking injections, lactating mothers, pregnant women, COVID-19 positive patients, who did not pass one month, are not allowed to receive vaccines. The health authorities said mild side effects including light fever, headache, body pain and vomiting will be felt after taking COVID-19 medicine. People have been registered through visiting www.surokkha.gov.bd website to receive COVID-19 vaccination. Emergency hotline numbers for taking vaccines are 16263, 333 and 10655. The health ministry sources said people aged 40 years and above will be allowed to receive COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccination drive is underway at 50 hospitals in Dhaka city and 1005 hospitals outside the capital, it said, adding the immunization began at 8am and it will continue till 2.30 pm. But some hospitals will continue the vaccination programme throughout the day. The inoculation would be administered among people in government hospitals up to upazila level while 9.7 lakh people so far got them registered to be inoculated, according to Directorate General of Health Services. According to earlier decision of the government, people aged 55 and above were only eligible for taking vaccines but the decision has been revised a day after launching of the countrywide COVID-19 vaccination campaign on February 7. Source: BSS AH

Basic protective measures against the new coronavirus- Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority. COVID-19 is still affecting mostly people in China with some outbreaks in other countries. Most people who become infected experience mild illness and recover, but it can be more severe for others. Take care of your health and protect others by doing the following: Wash your hands frequently Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands. Maintain social distancing Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick. Practice respiratory hygiene Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately. Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19. If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early. Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority. Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections. Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider, your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves. Source- WHO/UNB AH

Five people of a family died from unidentified disease with span of 15 days at Marichpara village bordering India under Baliadangi upazila of Thakurgaon district. Four others are taking treatment after being infected. The villagers are panicked at the moment. The upazila administration has declared the educational institutions closed. Besides, people’s movement was restricted with a radius of one kilometer centering the house where the death occurred. Upazila education officer Shamsul Alam said, after consultation with the UNO two schools nearby the village were remained closed for Tuesday. Those will be open on Wednesday. According to the villagers, Yusuf Ali and his younger brother Mehedi Hasan from Marichpara village were admitted at local health complex on Sunday with symptoms of sudden severe fever, severe body pain and itching. While shifting for better treatment in Rangpur Medical College Hospital Yusuf died on the way. Later Mehedi died while undergoing treatment in the hospital. On February 21 after being infected with fever and pain Yusuf’s mother Hosne Ara and brother in law Habibur Rahman died. Earlier after being infected with this kind of disease Yusuf’s father Abu Taher died on February 9. At present three of the family members, one neighbor and an ambulance driver are infected with the disease. Of them four are undergoing treatment in Rangpur Medical College Hospital. In this regard Baliadangi Dhantala union council Chairman Samar Kumar Chatterjee said, local people are panicked following the death one by one. People are advised for not travelling area near the house. People are also advised to wear musk while movement. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Masudur Rahman Masud said, as an immediate step ban was imposed over people’s movement with one kilometer radius centering the house where death occurred. Village police were deployed in the area to prevent people going there. Besides, 2 hundred musks were distributed. A control room was opened to provide treatment for round the clock and a medical team was placed. In this regard Acting Civil Surgeon of Thakurgaon Dr. Md. Shahjahan Newaz said, an expert team of Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) from Dhaka has arrived in the area to investigate the incident. AH