LONDON: India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and Indonesia account for over 16 million or half of the global cases of a deadly lung infection in children each year, a study led by an Indian-origin researcher in the UK has found.
A team led by the University of Edinburgh analysed data from 329 studies of Respiratory Syncytical Virus (RSV) infection worldwide.
Their estimates, published in The Lancet journal, indicate that there are more than 33 million cases of RSV infection in children under five globally each year.
Five countries – India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and Indonesia – account for half of the estimated cases of RSV worldwide, researchers said.
RSV is a common and highly contagious virus that infects the respiratory tract of most children before their second birthday.
Around three million are admitted to hospital each year with the virus, which causes breathing difficulties and wheezing.
Experts report that more than 115,000 children under five are dying each year from complications associated with the infection.
Almost half of those who die in hospital are younger than six months old and more than 99 per cent of deaths occur in developing countries, the study estimated.
“We are at an opportune time to step up efforts to prevent RSV infection in young children. With more than 60 candidate vaccines in clinical development, it is likely that an RSV vaccine will be available in the next 5-7 years,” said lead researcher Harish Nair, professor at the University of Edinburgh.
“Our findings will provide better evidence to inform global funding priorities to accelerate vaccine development. It will assist policy makers and experts prepare for early introduction of this vaccine in developing countries,” he added.
Researchers say more data is needed from Africa and South Asia, where the number of RSV infections may be even higher.
For most babies and young children, it causes nothing more than symptoms of a cold. In some cases, however, it can lead to severe lung complications such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis, researchers said. (AGENCIES)
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ENTERTAINMENT-JAGGA JASOOS-GOVINDA
Did my job as actor, now it’s the director’s
call: Govinda on his scenes deleted from ‘Jagga Jasoos’
NEW DELHI, July 8:
Clearly unhappy over his scenes in ‘Jagga Jasoos’ being deleted from the final edit of the film, Bollywood actor Govinda has slammed the makers for doing so.
In a series of tweets, Govinda said he did the film out of respect to the (Kapoor) family and because he (Ranbir Kapoor) was his senior’s (Rishi Kapoor) son.
Govinda also alleged that the filmmakers floated negative stories about him in the media because of which the “film was remembered for three years.”
He said that he did his job as an actor and if the director was not happy it was completely his call.
”I gave full respect to Kapoor family. I did the film because he is my senior’s son. I was told I will get the script. I was told they will narrate the film in South Africa and I did not even charge my signing amount, made no contracts,” Govinda tweeted.
He said that he shot for the film despite being unwell.
”I was unwell and on drips but still I traveled to South Africa and did my shoot,”he said.
”There were various negative stories and negative articles only for ‘Govinda’ and that’s how the film was remembered for 3 yrs,” he said.
On his scenes being chopped off from the final edit of the film, the actor said, ”I did my job as an actor and if the director is not happy it’s completely his call.”
Jagga Jasoos went on floors in 2013 and initially there were reports of delay due to discord between Ranbir and Katrina, who were dating at that time.
There were also reports of Govinda’s ‘starry tantrums’ on the sets and that he also demanded for changes in the script.
Directed by Anurag Basu, ‘Jagga Jasoos’ is scheduled for release on July 14.
(AGENCIES)
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