The Delhi government is set to notify human rabies as a notifiable disease in the National Capital Territory under the Epidemic Diseases Act, Health Minister Pankaj Kumar announced on Sunday. The step is aimed at improving disease monitoring, ensuring faster reporting of cases, and allowing authorities to act quickly to curb the spread of rabies.

According to the minister, once the notification comes into force, all government and private healthcare facilities, including medical colleges and individual doctors, will be legally required to report suspected, probable, and confirmed human rabies cases to the relevant health departments. Kumar stressed that rabies is “nearly 100 per cent fatal once symptoms begin,” but added that it can be fully prevented if medical care is sought on time. “Timely reporting is critical. It can save lives and help stop further transmission,” he said.

What Is Rabies?

Rabies is a life-threatening viral disease that can be prevented through vaccination. It affects the central nervous system and leads to severe inflammation of the brain, known as encephalitis. The infection spreads mainly through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, as the virus is present in saliva. According to the World Health Organization, rabies is almost always fatal after symptoms develop. Early signs may resemble flu, but the disease can progress to agitation, paralysis, and hydrophobia, or fear of water.

What Is A Notifiable Disease?

A notifiable disease is one that must be reported to public health authorities by law when a case is diagnosed or even suspected. This reporting system allows health officials to track diseases in real time, respond quickly, and plan interventions based on reliable data. In India, this approach has already been used for illnesses such as tuberculosis and COVID-19 to identify trends and manage resources more effectively.

Rabies To Be Declared A Notifiable Disease

With human rabies set to be classified as a notifiable disease in Delhi under the Epidemic Diseases Act, all healthcare institutions will be required to inform authorities immediately when a case is identified. This move is expected to strengthen the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), the country’s main disease monitoring system, enabling officials to detect cases early and take prompt action to prevent wider spread.

What Are The Symptoms Of Rabies?

According to the Mayo Clinic, early symptoms of rabies can closely resemble those of the flu and may persist for several days.

Later symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Hyperactivity
• Difficulty swallowing
• Excessive salivation
• Fear triggered by attempts to drink fluids due to difficulty swallowing water
• Fear triggered by air blown on the face
• Hallucinations
• Insomnia
• Partial paralysis

Why Does Rabies Surveillance Matter?

Rabies continues to pose a serious public health challenge in India and across the world.

• Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal, making early detection and reporting crucial.
• The WHO estimates that rabies causes around 59,000 human deaths every year worldwide, with dog bites responsible for nearly 99 per cent of infections.
• India alone accounts for an estimated 18,000 to 20,000 rabies deaths annually, with a significant number of cases seen in children under the age of 15.

Although rabies is completely preventable through timely post-exposure prophylaxis, which includes proper wound cleaning, vaccination, and the use of rabies immunoglobulin, poor reporting and limited access to care have remained major obstacles.

Declaring human rabies a notifiable disease in Delhi signals an important change in public health policy, one that has the potential to greatly improve how cases are identified, managed, and ultimately prevented.

DengiAll, India's first indigenous dengue vaccination, has completed its Phase-III human trials across 19 locations in India and is now waiting for final approval before being distributed across the country.

The vaccine, which has been in development since 2008 and is set to hit shelves in 2027, is a single dose medication that protects patients from all four variants of dengue fever.

Made by Panacea Biotec with technology from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), the vaccine aims to provide long-term immunity and reduce the significant public health burden of dengue fever in India and globally.

Dr Syed Khalid Ali, Chief Scientific Officer at Panacea Biotec told The Print, "Dengue has puzzled scientists and immunologists for decades now. People infected with it can show anything from mild flu-like symptoms to even death. A lot of it has to do with the serotypes of dengue, and how they interact with each other.

"DengiAll has been in the making for over 15 years, and it comes at a time when half the world’s population is at risk of dengue. There’s no question about need. We needed such a vaccine yesterday.”

How Does It Work?

DengiAll works by using live, weakened versions of all four dengue virus types (DEN1, DEN2, DEN3 and DEN4) in a single shot to train the immune system to recognize and fight all variants of the virus and and protect the body from future natural infections.

The vaccine is also a tetravalent vaccine meaning that it is designed to provide balanced immunity against all four variants and overcome the challenge of each of the different types, making it a crucial feature as getting a second dengue infection with a different serotype can be more severe and deadly.

Dr Ali explains, "The catch is, if you get infected with one serotype, you’re only protected from that one type. You can very likely get infected with dengue again, with another serotype. In fact, the second infection is more likely to be severe, even life-threatening."

Why Is This Vaccine Necessary?

Transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, dengue presents with high fever, headache, joint pain and rash, and while often severe forms can be fatal. Over the years,

the mosquito-borne disease has become a major public health concern in India, ranking among the top 30 countries with the highest incidence of the disease.

States such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra often report high case numbers annually after monsoons due to climate change, urbanization, and multiple virus strains. According to Global HealthCare Academy, around 1.5 to 2 lakh people fall sick from it every year.

The global incidence of dengue has been steadily increasing over the past two decades, with more than 129 countries reporting dengue viral disease by the end of 2023, according to the World Health Organization.

Apart from DengiAll, Butantan-DV is the only other single-dose, live-attenuated dengue vaccine approved in Brazil for ages 12-59 and is expected to rollout in 2026.

Brett Favre, legendary NFL player shared a heart breaking news with his fans. Talking about his health update, he revealed that it has been little over a year since he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's. As of now, the Hall of Fame quarterback has not succumbed to the devastating disease, and he continues to create new content for his 4th and Favre podcast.

Health Update Of Brett Favre

Speaking before a House Ways and Means Committee hearing in September 2024, Favre revealed that he was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. At that time, Favre had been speaking to the House Ways and Means Committee about a company he invested in that was said to be making a concussion drug, as reported by ESPN. Favre said that he may have endured more than 1,000 concussions during his 20-year NFL career.

"I'm in the early stages of Parkinson's," Favre shared on the podcast. "I’m probably like most people – I thought there was just one Parkinson’s and that was it. There’s not. There’s multiple, many forms of Parkinson’s, and I have what’s called idiopathic, which is the most common. And I think the other thing most people think when they hear of Parkinson’s is they think of shaking," he shares during the podcast.

"I get from time to time, ‘Oh you must not be too bad because you don’t shake.’ I have very little shaking. I have some, but it’s pretty rare," Favre said on the podcast. "But as I’ve learned, the Parkinson’s that I have has three different characteristics. One of those three you’ll have as the dominant side effect. It’s cognitive and memory is one. Shaking and tremors is two. And rigidity and stiffness is three. I major in the rigidity and stiffness."

Read: Billy Connolly Has Been “Incredibly Brave” in His Battle With Parkinson’s Disease, Says Actor Martin Compston

What Is Parkinson's Disease?

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says that while an average age of onset of Parkinson's disease in a person is in early to mid 60s, there could be some people who may have the disease before the age of 50.

In fact, a 2019 study in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease notes that while the mortality rate of Parkinson's disease is higher in women, risk of developing it is twice as high in men than women.

Parkinson’s disease is a slowly progressing disorder that affects movement and the nervous system. It develops when certain nerve cells in the brain weaken, become damaged, or die. As a result, people may experience tremors, stiffness, slowed movement, and balance problems. Over time, these symptoms can make everyday activities like walking, talking, and simple tasks more difficult.

Here Are 5 Supplements That Could Help You Manage Parkinson's Disease

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Coenzyme Q 10 is a powerful antioxidant that may support mitochondrial function and protect against neurodegeneration. Studies have revealed that supplementation with CoQ10 may help slow the progressive impairment of the brain. Fatty fish, meats and whole grains contain coenzyme Q10, which improves brain function and cognitive health. It is readily available in the form of supplements.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency is common among the elderly, and people with Parkinson’s disease are at a higher risk. Deficiency of vitamin D is also known to increase disease severity and progression. People suffering from this condition should consult with a healthcare provider to evaluate their vitamin D levels. If deficient, the doctors may recommend vitamin D supplements to manage bone health and improve neuroprotective functions.

Read: Memory Issues In Dementia & Parkinson’s Patients Linked To Natural Mouth & Gut Bacteria

Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil)

Several pieces of evidence have disclosed that omega-3 fatty acids may be a valuable nutrient for people with Parkinson’s disease. They benefit a person by combating inflammation, promoting neuron growth and health and preventing free radical oxidation. While its anti-inflammatory actions support brain health and ease symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can decrease levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS or free radicals). High levels of ROS can result in oxidative stress and increase the risk of inflammation and cell damage. A study found that vitamin C deficiency may be related to Parkinson’s disease, and supplementing with vitamin C may promote brain function and manage symptoms.

B Vitamins

B complex vitamins are essential for memory and coordination and help manage symptoms related to Parkinson’s disease. Studies found that people with Parkinson’s disease were deficient in vitamin B6 and B12 12, and supplementation supported the regulating the condition.

AIIMS New Delhi launched free cervical cancer screening through January as a public interest drive. In India, in every 8 minutes, 1 woman loses her life to cervical cancer, however, doctors say that it is highly preventable. Thus, as part of the Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, Preventative Oncology at the Institute of Rotary Cancer Hospital and the National Cancer Institute, in collaboration with the College of Nursing, is offering the WHO-recommended HPV testing, follow-up care, and vaccination.

Who Can Undergo These Screening?

• Women who are of the age 30 to 65 years can undergo cervical and breast cancer screening from Monday to Friday between 9am to 3pm.

• HPV vaccination is available for girls aged 9 to 14 years on Saturday between 9am to 12 noon at the New RAK Building, AIIMS.

• Community screening drives are also conducted across NCI Jhajjar through January 2026.

Dr Pallavi Shukla, Associate Professor of Preventative Oncology, AIIMS, who is coordinating the programme said, "This is one cancer which is absolutely preventable. Women should not neglect their health at any age, we must make earnest efforts to eliminate cervical cancer from India."

Also Read: Every Two Minutes, One Woman Loses Her Life To Cervical Cancer: UN

What Is Cervical cancer?

Cervical Cancer is a type of cancer that develops in layers of the cervix. It is caused by abnormal cell growth that can spread to another part of your body. There are two main types of cervical cancer. These are squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

Cervix is located in the pelvic cavity, about 3 to 6 inches inside the vaginal canal. It serves as the entrance to the uterus to the vagina. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), almost all cervial cancer are linked to human papillomaviruses (HPV) which are transmitted through sexual contact.

What Are The Symptoms Of Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer has no symptoms in the early days and therefore, is hard to detect until it has spread.

Early-Stage Cervical Cancer Symptoms

• Vaginal bleeding after sex
• Vaginal bleeding post-menopause
• Vaginal bleeding between periods or unusually heavy/long periods
• Watery vaginal discharge with a strong odour or containing blood
• Pelvic pain or pain during intercourse
• Advanced Cervical Cancer Symptoms (when cancer has spread beyond the cervix):

Persistent symptoms of early-stage cervical cancer

• Painful or difficult bowel movements or rectal bleeding
• Painful or difficult urination or blood in the urine
• Persistent dull backache
• Swelling of the legs
• Pain in the pelvis or lower abdomen

How Can Cervical Cancer Be Prevented?

Cervical cancer is largely preventable and, when detected early, highly treatable. The World Health Organization recommends HPV vaccination for girls aged 9 to 14, before they become sexually active, along with regular cervical screening from age 30, or 25 for women living with HIV.

Despite this, unequal access to vaccination, screening and treatment continues to drive higher rates of illness and deaths in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, Central America and Southeast Asia.