New Delhi: Molnupiravir, an oral antiviral drug used in the treatment of COVID-19 should not be administered to the younger population as it adversely affects their reproductive system, said Dr NK Arora, Chairman of COVID-19 Working Group of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI).In an interview, Dr Arora pointed out the irrational use of the drug is “dangerous”.
Molnupiravir benefits when given at an early stage of the infection. It reduces the possibility of hospitalisation and ICU admissions. Irrational use is dangerous. It will contribute in the treatment of senior citizens, particularly those with comorbidities and if given at an early stage, it will reduce the chances of severe disease, Dr Arora said.
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Molnupiravir should not be given to youths, especially those in their reproductive age because it causes mutations in the human body impacting the reproductive system, the expert explained. Earlier, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) head Dr Balram Bhargava had stated that Molnupiravir capsules have not been included in the national task force treatment for COVID-19 as it has side effects. Some doctors have even stopped prescribing Molnupiravir, which was rolled out on January 3 to treat COVID-19 patients. In December, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) granted Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) to Cipla for the launch of Molnupiravir in the country for COVID-19 treatment.
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On new guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) which advised on no testing for contacts of CVOID-19 infected patients, Dr Arora explained, Anybody who is infected with COVID will have contacts. These contacts will be of two types, symptomatic and asymptomatic. All symptomatic must undergo a test while the asymptomatic category can further be divided into two — those at ‘high-risk’ of severe disease and those who are not at high risk of severe disease. People in high-risk category are generally those with comorbidities and elderly above the age of 60. It is the high-risk contacts who are asymptomatic that need to be tested.
Therefore, he said, that the strategy is to not miss symptomatic cases and to treat asymptomatic cases in high-risk category at the earliest.
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NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, that is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
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