NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday that there is no evidence that can validate claims about multiple global focal points for the Covid-19 outbreak, amid China claiming the coronavirus broke out simultaneously in several countries last year.
During an interaction with his social media followers on the sixth episode of “Sunday Samvaad,” Vardhan said that the reported Wuhan Covid-19 outbreak in China continues to be recognized as the world’s first report.
Responding to a question, he said that China has claimed that there was a simultaneous outbreak of the disease in many nations.
“However, to validate this claim that there were multiple focal points around the world requires consistent and timely reporting data of the occurrence of confirmed and diagnosed cases from multiple countries at the same time. Evidence of this type is not yet available. in this regard. Therefore, the reported Wuhan Covid-19 outbreak in China has been recognized as the world’s first report, “the minister said.
Responding to another question about the flooded market for oximeters made in China, he said: “Consumers should look for FDA or CE approved products with ISO or IEC specifications while purchasing a pulse oximeter in the market or online retailers.”
However, he made it clear that a drop in oxygen saturation level is not a symptom of Covid-19, as it can also occur due to other underlying medical conditions.
Vardhan further said that no mutation of the coronavirus has been detected so far in India, which is more efficient in transmission or more pathogenic.
In response to another question, the minister said that although there are no intranasal Covid-19 vaccines in testing in the country at the moment, the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech are expected to conduct clinical trials of such vaccines in the coming months after receive the vaccine. regulatory approval.
He clarified that the phase 3 clinical trial is generally with thousands of participants, sometimes even about 30,000 to 40,000. It is possible that from a specific city or hospital, a couple hundred participants are selected at any one time, but in general, the overall group of participants in phase 3 is much larger.
Sharing the details of the Drive for Adverse Drug Reaction (RAM) special report and the monitoring of drugs used in Covid-19, Vardhan clarified that the push is not due to a reported adverse reaction with an existing drug, but rather is part of a Covid-19 preparation program.
During an interaction with his social media followers on the sixth episode of “Sunday Samvaad,” Vardhan said that the reported Wuhan Covid-19 outbreak in China continues to be recognized as the world’s first report.
Responding to a question, he said that China has claimed that there was a simultaneous outbreak of the disease in many nations.
“However, to validate this claim that there were multiple focal points around the world requires consistent and timely reporting data of the occurrence of confirmed and diagnosed cases from multiple countries at the same time. Evidence of this type is not yet available. in this regard. Therefore, the reported Wuhan Covid-19 outbreak in China has been recognized as the world’s first report, “the minister said.
Responding to another question about the flooded market for oximeters made in China, he said: “Consumers should look for FDA or CE approved products with ISO or IEC specifications while purchasing a pulse oximeter in the market or online retailers.”
However, he made it clear that a drop in oxygen saturation level is not a symptom of Covid-19, as it can also occur due to other underlying medical conditions.
Vardhan further said that no mutation of the coronavirus has been detected so far in India, which is more efficient in transmission or more pathogenic.
In response to another question, the minister said that although there are no intranasal Covid-19 vaccines in testing in the country at the moment, the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech are expected to conduct clinical trials of such vaccines in the coming months after receive the vaccine. regulatory approval.
He clarified that the phase 3 clinical trial is generally with thousands of participants, sometimes even about 30,000 to 40,000. It is possible that from a specific city or hospital, a couple hundred participants are selected at any one time, but in general, the overall group of participants in phase 3 is much larger.
Sharing the details of the Drive for Adverse Drug Reaction (RAM) special report and the monitoring of drugs used in Covid-19, Vardhan clarified that the push is not due to a reported adverse reaction with an existing drug, but rather is part of a Covid-19 preparation program.
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