Clinical profiles of neonates born to mothers with COVID-19

Background The risk of congenital infections in neonates born to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected mothers and those breastfed by infected mothers remains largely unknown. Objective To describe the outcomes and clinical features of neonates born to mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy, to follow up neonates who were positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the time of delivery for a period of 1 month, and to identify potential risk factors associated with disease transmission. Methods This prospective observational study on neonates born to SARS-CoV-2-infected mothers between June 2020 and January 2021 was carried out after getting written informed consent in a tertiary care government hospital (Government Medical college Kannur, North Kerala, India). The clinical and demographic characteristics of infected mothers were reviewed. Neonates were tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection within 24 hours of birth, with repeat testing on day 5 for those who were negative at birth. The demographic and clinical characteristics as well as potential risk factors for disease transmission in these neonates were evaluated. Results A total of 342 neonates (95.3%) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection at birth. Rooming-in and breastfeeding was practiced in 75% of at-risk neonates. Fifty neonates tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection at birth (14.3%);293 neonates who tested negative at birth remained so on day 5, except one baby isolated with a caretaker who also tested positive, indicating postnatal infection. There was no statistically significant increased risk of infection in neonates born to SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers compared to those born to mothers who had already become negative at delivery. Mild symptoms were present in 8% of positive neonates. On one-month follow up, all neonates were well and gaining weight. Conclusion Vertical transmission, in particular trans-placental, may be possible in SARS-CoV-2-infected mothers. Maternal infection at the time of delivery is not a predictor for increased vertical transmission compared to mothers whose infections had resolved prior to delivery. Breastfeeding with appropriate hygiene measures is not a risk factor for horizontal transmission.

A study on causes of stress to the farmers during COVID-19 pandemic

Background of the Study:India has experienced various epidemics such as cholera (1817-1923), Flu (1918), Small pox (1974), Plague (1994), Swine Flu (2009) have had a great impact on the economy, the environment and all other human activities, such as Dairy, livestock, agriculture, transport, education, tourism, health, fishing, mining, production, commerce, etc. Currently, humankind is facing another pandemic, the infection of the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that produces the disease known as COVID-19. As on today the second wave of coronavirus is threatening India, people are in the fear of survival and expecting another lockdown. In this pandemic situation almost every one of us has a fair reason to get stressed. This paper is an attempt to study the causes of stress to the famers during COVID-19. The objective of this paper is to analyse thecasus of stressto farmers due to the impact of COVID-19 and lockdown and their level of psychological stress in Selected Districts of Tamil Nadu and suggest some measures to moderate the problems. Methodology: To study the casus of stressto farmers due the Coronavirus and the Lockdown, the researcher has selected Two Districts (Salem & Dharmapui) on convenient basis. The researcher has collected 350 samples through interview technique and collected secondary data from Press media. Findings: The researcher found, the famers are having stress due to factors like inadequate price for the product and so on. And the causes are differing based on gender and size of land possessed by the respondent.

The COVID19 pandemic crisis and the relevance of a farm-system-for-nutrition approach.

The Covid19 pandemic should be seen as a wake-up call for humanity, to reflect, rethink and redesign food systems that are safe, healthy, sustainable, and beneficial to all. This crisis has disrupted food supply chains, affecting lives and livelihoods. Hunger and malnutrition is expected to increase and the poor and vulnerable will suffer the most. There is urgent need to build resilient food systems. A location specific farm-system-for-nutrition approach, based on sustainable use of natural resources and local agri-food value chains can help improve household diet diversity and address nutrition deficiencies. The food-based approach can improve preparedness and resilience of communities to withstand the challenge posed by crises in general, and COVID19 in particular.