Hantavirus: Why is a dangerous infection with a mortality rate of up to 50 percent in the news now?

 Hantavirus: Why is a dangerous infection with a mortality rate of up to 50 percent in the news now?

Hantavirus is not usually transmitted from one person to another. However, in the case of the Andean species of hantavirus found in South America, a few cases of human-to-human transmission have been recorded.

Hantavirus is a very deadly ‘zoonotic’ virus that can become a global health challenge at any time. This virus, which is mainly transmitted to humans from rodents, causes serious damage to the lungs and heart if infected. After its sudden outbreak on a cruise ship operating in the Atlantic Ocean, it has become a topic of renewed discussion and concern among health experts and the general public around the world.

What is Hantavirus?

Hantavirus is a group of viruses belonging to the ‘Bunyaviridae’ family. It is named after the ‘Hantan’ river in South Korea, where it was first identified in 1978.

So far, scientists have discovered more than 20 species of it in different parts of the world, which affect human health in different ways.

Based on their effects and geographical presence, hantaviruses are mainly classified into two categories. The New World hantavirus species, found mainly in the American continent, causes ‘Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome’ (HPS) or ‘Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome’ (HCPS). This causes serious damage to the human respiratory system and heart function.

Similarly, the Old World hantavirus species, which is more active in Europe, Asia and Africa, causes ‘Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome’ (HFRS). This type of infection has a risk of direct and fatal effects on the human kidneys.

Recent Outbreak: Hantavirus Scare on Cruise Ships

The main reason why Hantavirus has recently become the focus of international media attention is the sudden outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship operating in the Atlantic Ocean. The ship, operated by the Dutch Oceanwide Expeditions company, departed Argentina on April 1. The health crisis on the ship, which is on a tour of remote islands such as Antarctica, South Georgia and Tristan da Cunha, has caught the attention of the world.

According to the latest report from the World Health Organization, seven of the 147 passengers and crew members on board the ship have been confirmed or suspected to be infected with Hantavirus. Three of the infected have died, while one is still receiving treatment in a serious condition. The other three have shown mild symptoms.

The deceased include a German citizen and a Dutch couple. According to the information received, the husband of the Dutch couple died on the ship on April 11, while the wife died in a hospital in South Africa on April 26. This tragic incident has sparked a new debate about the risk of the virus in closed environments such as cruise ships.

Source of infection and transmission

The main source of infection with Hantavirus is rodents. The virus is mainly transmitted to humans through the urine, feces or saliva of rats. When a person breathes in an area contaminated with rat feces, tiny particles of the virus mixed in the air directly enter the respiratory system. This is the most common and major route of infection. In addition, the virus can also enter the body when a rat bites, eats food contaminated with the virus, or touches a contaminated surface and then touches the eyes, nose or mouth with the same hand.

Hantavirus is not usually transmitted from one person to another. However, limited human-to-human transmission of the Andean hantavirus, a strain found in South America, has been recorded. According to the World Health Organization, such transmission is likely to occur through very close and prolonged physical contact.

The current outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship is also suspected to have involved human-to-human transmission. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s director of pandemic preparedness and response, said that the possibility of human-to-human transmission cannot be completely ruled out, as some of the infected people appeared to have had very close contact. However, she urged people not to be overly concerned, saying that the virus is not as easily airborne as flu or COVID-19 and that the risk to the general public is not currently high.

Treatment and prevention

There is no specific drug or specific vaccine developed to protect against hantavirus infection. Therefore, supportive care in hospitals remains the only option to save infected people. If the patient's condition is serious, they are placed in the intensive care unit (ICU) and oxygen therapy and ventilators are used to facilitate the respiratory process.

Since this virus is transmitted by rodents, the best way to avoid it is to avoid contact with rats. Proper arrangements should be made to prevent rats from entering your home, workplace or storage rooms.

Special care should be taken when cleaning areas that may have rat droppings. To prevent dust from flying in such areas, instead of sweeping the floor, only damp cleaning should be done using a disinfectant solution or bleach. The mandatory use of masks and gloves during such cleaning can prevent virus particles from entering the body.

In addition, Squirrels should always be kept in a secure container out of the reach of rodents. People who live or work outdoors or near forests need to pay extra attention to the cleanliness of their surroundings. In unusual circumstances, it is wise to maintain personal hygiene and social distancing, while fully following the instructions of health authorities. Since there is no cure for Hantavirus, awareness and caution are the strongest weapons in the fight against this deadly infection.

Selling hydropower to Silicon Valley in the name of data centers may not bring real benefits to Nepal

 Selling hydropower to Silicon Valley in the name of data centers may not bring real benefits to Nepal

A few months ago, a well-intentioned development consultant working in Nepal explained to me why Nepal is a perfect fit for green computing (environmentally friendly data centers). His argument was that the country is ideal because of its abundant hydropower, cool mountainous climate, and its location between two of the world’s largest digital economies. He was right in a way. But he failed to understand what all of this would ultimately lead to.

To put it simply, the proposal is to let a foreign company build a data center here, run it on Nepal’s own hydropower, attract foreign investment, and call it green. It sounds like a win, but personally, I don’t think it’s a win.

In green computing, the word ‘green’ refers almost entirely to the source of electricity. Everything else is left out of the equation. Data centers, in particular, are heavy users of water. Large hyperscale infrastructure can consume up to 10 million liters of water per day for cooling.

Nepal is facing a severe seasonal water crisis, and the rivers that feed the hydroelectric system are the same ones that farming communities have depended on for centuries. No one is talking about this water trade-off. That is, no one is talking about how much water is lost to agriculture and locals when water is used to run data centers, or what Nepal has to lose.

In addition, there is another big problem of embedded carbon (the hidden carbon emitted during the manufacture and transportation of goods). The cement and rods used to build buildings, and the large server machines transported by trucks and ships, are also contributing to pollution. These servers break down every three to five years and have to be replaced.

This leads to a huge amount of electronic waste. There is no effective system in Nepal to recycle and reuse such old machines or hardware. So this electronic waste will eventually end up in some corner of the country, where those foreign investors probably won't even notice. There are many other things that are good in Nepal, but our waste management or recycling system is not good.

If we look deeper into the issue of electricity, this argument also proves to be weak. It is true that Nepal produces more electricity. However, in my experience, this is only during the rainy season. Even today, when the water level in the rivers decreases during the dry season in winter, households and industries have to face electricity shortages.

If Nepal provides electricity to these data centers of foreign companies, that electricity cannot be sold to India at a good price. Similarly, domestic industries that are trying to produce something in the country do not get that electricity either. Nor can that electricity be delivered to the remote homes of Karnali, which are still burning kerosene.

What Nepal should not forget is that this country has spent the past few decades in extreme load shedding. The situation was so miserable that even in Kathmandu, the electricity was out for 16/17 hours a day. At that time, the phrase ‘lights gone out’ was always on people’s lips. I remember, I used to use the ‘lights come’ app myself to know when the electricity would come back. After such a long struggle, ending that dark era and letting the electricity that was barely collected run for our own country and not for our own country is like ‘walking in the opposite direction’.

The argument that these data centers ‘create jobs’ sounds the most tempting. But when you dig deeper, this is also the thing that proves to be the most hollow. In a large data center, barely a few dozen people get permanent jobs, and that too in security guards and general maintenance work. The main technical work that pays well is done by specialists, who are often foreigners.

It is true that they bring in big investments. But that money immediately goes abroad. Because that money could be used to buy server machines from America or other Asian countries and pay for software licenses. The government gives various tax breaks to bring such companies to Nepal, which also results in the loss of revenue that the country is supposed to get.

In the end, what happens is that Nepal gives its land, electricity, political support, and even the transmission line or infrastructure. However, all the profits from this go abroad.

My country, Ireland, said ‘yes’ to all these things (offshore data centers and tax breaks). And the situation there over the last 10 years has taught us a valuable lesson. Ireland’s calculations were not entirely wrong. Companies there were only charged 12.5 percent corporate tax (minimum tax). This not only filled the country with data centers, but also large technology companies like Google and Meta opened their European headquarters in the capital, Dublin. This really benefited the Irish economy. However, the story of the data centers is different.

In the 2010s, Ireland became a data center hub in Europe, thanks to its cool Atlantic climate, access to the European market, and low taxes. In 2015, data centers consumed only about 5 percent of the country's total electricity, but by 2023, they were consuming 21 percent. According to AirGrid, the country's national electricity transmission system operator, data centers will consume about a third of the country's electricity by the mid-2030s. .

On the one hand, Ireland has set its own goal of producing 70 percent renewable energy by 2030. But on the other hand, this goal has been undermined by the fact that foreign servers are consuming electricity. The electricity infrastructure there could not cope with this pressure. Due to which, in 2022, the Electricity Authority completely banned the connection of new data centers in the capital Dublin.

The biggest hit has been to the general public. According to the latest statistics (May 2026), the people of Ireland are buying electricity at the most expensive price in the European Union. Citizens there are paying almost 40 percent more than the average price in Europe. Having to pay more than 40 cents per unit, an average household is facing an additional financial burden of about 480 euros (about 82 thousand rupees) per year on its electricity bill alone.

The issue of water has also become another big problem there. Microsoft's data center at Grange Castle (for drawing too much water) has been the subject of so much controversy and scrutiny that when the UN's special representative visited Ireland to assess the state of the clean environment, Microsoft refused to let him enter its data center.

The number of jobs it has provided is no longer a mystery. Even if all the data centers across Ireland were combined, only a few thousand people would be directly employed there. This is an area that alone generates 20 percent (one-fifth) of the country's electricity. Billions have been invested in building transmission lines to deliver electricity to it. These data centers occupy so much land; many homes could be built there for the general public. In comparison, these jobs are a very small and disappointing return.

Ireland had many such facilities that Nepal does not have. Ireland is a member state of the European Union (EU), it has a reliable legal system. On top of that, the first language is English. In addition, the country has decades of experience in making deals with big tech companies. Its tax-free policies have not only brought data centers, but also large offices for companies like Google and Meta. Where tens of thousands of engineers found jobs and a ‘knowledge-based economy’ developed along with server machines.

But that may not be the case in Nepal. Nepal will only get server racks. But people will not get desks to work. Despite such favorable conditions, data centers in Ireland have crippled public infrastructure, caused electricity shortages and provided jobs to only a few people who could not fill a football stadium in the name of employment. In such a situation, Nepal will have to make deals on even weaker ground, the results of which are sure to be worse than Ireland’s.

I have been closely monitoring the actual development of the technology sector here, living in Nepal for more than a decade. As expected, Nepal’s IT services exports will reach $1 billion by 2025, which is more than double in the last three years.

Nepali engineers who studied at world-renowned universities like MIT and Carnegie Mellon in the US are returning home with investments and international networks. Nepal is really building a strong foundation now. This development is not happening by becoming ‘cheap workers’ in the supply chain of foreigners, but by Nepali engineers themselves becoming founders and owners of companies.

However, this so-called ‘green compute’ (foreign data center) plan is nowhere in line with the real progress of the country. It is trying to make Nepal a mere shepherd who provides water and electricity. Where local resources are used, but the real profit is taken by someone else.

Whose law applies to the data of a company kept in Nepal but registered abroad? What if a foreign government exerts legal pressure tomorrow? Such questions are never discussed seriously before an agreement is signed.

Nepal is between two large countries like India and China. Both these countries do not take digital infrastructure (data centers, etc.) built in their neighborhoods for granted. The decision to bring a US company to the Chinese border (Nepal) and set up a data center, or to allow a Chinese company to open a data center at a distance that India considers a security threat, cannot be dismissed for long as ‘it’s just a business decision’. This could quickly become a matter of geopolitical tension.

Once large data center buildings are built here and machines are connected, Nepal’s negotiating position becomes even weaker. Because those machines have to be repaired by foreign experts, and the spare parts needed to keep them running have to be imported from abroad. Thus, Nepal is forced to rely on foreigners structurally.

One argument is always heard in support of this. That is, isn’t it better to run a data center using hydropower in Nepal than to run a data center burning coal (and polluting it) in some other country? However, this is just an illusion created by showing a false alternative. The main question here is not what to use instead of coal. The main question is how Nepal uses the excess electricity it has and how to make good use of this short opportunity to benefit on its own terms.

Sell electricity directly to foreign countries at a good price, open industries in the country and invest in our own infrastructure in a way that benefits Nepalis first. These are the options that bring sustainable development to the country. However, a foreign data center is something that, if it were to arise from here tomorrow, would affect almost all of us. The money will be taken with it.

As I write this article, there is talk of more investment coming in. The first project approved will be called a pilot project. When the second project comes, it will be called momentum. And, when it reaches the third project, it will be given the form of policy.

Nepal has very little time left to decide what kind of economy it wants to build. Nepal must make a clear decision before this opportunity is lost. Otherwise, foreign consultants will move on to another country with favorable conditions.

(The author Jonathan Clark has been living in Nepal since 2015. This article is a translation of his blog. He published a blog titled ‘Who Actually Benefits When Nepal Sells Hydro to Silicon Valley’ on his website on 7 May 2026. He created a software called ‘ConX’ in 2015 and sold it to the American company ‘Houzz’ in 2021. Jonathan currently works as the ‘Director of Engineering’ in the same company. He mostly lives in Lalitpur.)

Food with ‘trans fat’ in abundance in the market, heart and brain are paying the penalty

 Food with ‘trans fat’ in abundance in the market, heart and brain are paying the penalty

Doctors say that the trans fat (very bad fat) hidden in bakery products, noodles, puffs and French fries, which are abundant in the market, is causing serious damage to the heart and nervous system at a young age.

Food with ‘trans fat’ in abundance in the market, heart and brain are paying the penalty

February 15, Kathmandu. ‘What is the worst fat found in?’ This is a question that senior cardiologist Dr. Ommurthy Anil often asks his patients who come to him for check-ups.

Most of those who come to check answer, ‘Red meat, ghee, milk, butter.’

Some add, ‘The fat in oil can be bad.’

He explains, ‘The worst fat in the world is found in foods containing trans fats.’

According to Dr. Anil, eating foods containing trans fats for a long time is fatal to the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and brain. But we do not find it unusual to eat biscuits with tea in the morning, puffed noodles in the afternoon, and french fries with friends in the evening.

But hidden within this easy and tasty option is ‘trans fat’, i.e. very bad fat (unhealthy fat).

According to the doctor, foods containing trans fats are causing chronic diseases in the body. This is not a ‘normal fat’, but a silent poison that opens the door to chronic diseases.

A monitoring conducted by the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control last November showed this alarming situation. During the monitoring, the ‘croissant’ of Nanglo Bakery and the puff produced by Khajuri Nepal Pvt. Ltd. were found to be harmful to health. After ‘trans fat’ was found to be more than the limit set by the government, the Food Department completely banned the sale and distribution and destroyed them.

Trans fat is considered one of the most harmful fats from a health perspective. According to experts, the reason for the increase in trans fat is unhealthy diet and urban lifestyle. Due to trans fat, heart attacks are increasing at a young age.

‘The trend of heart attacks that we are seeing in patients is directly related to diet,’ says senior cardiologist Dr. Prakash Raj Regmi, ‘Trans fat is an important reason for that.’

What is trans fat?

Trans fat is found from two sources, natural and artificial. It is found in the fat in red meat of animals such as cows, buffaloes, goats, and in dishes made from milk and yogurt. According to doctors, trans fats obtained from natural sources when consumed in small amounts do not have much negative impact on health. However, consuming excessive amounts can have negative impacts.

Industrial trans fats produced in the food industry are extremely harmful to health. They are obtained from artificial sources.

Industrial trans fats are mainly produced by converting vegetable oils into ghee through hydrogenation. In this process, it is produced by heating vegetable oils at high temperatures and adding hydrogen molecules. In this process, the liquid oil is converted into a solid state, i.e. vegetable ghee.

The vegetable ghee produced from this process is used to make various processed foods including bakery products, biscuits, cookies, ready-made noodles, bhujiya, dal moth, potato chips, etc.

Trans fats, which are produced by heating cheap oils in the industry and adding hydrogen, increase the amount of fat. In addition, foods cooked in such very bad fats become tasty and can be stored for many days.

Foods cooked in such oil are mostly used for packaged foods. Foods that look attractive from the outside are very harmful to health. Even if vegetable oil is heated many times, the amount of trans fat increases. Pakodas, samosas, potatoes, and chicken cooked in such oil are delicious to eat.

Another senior cardiologist, Dr. Premraj Vaidya, says, “It is considered good to eat one teaspoon of ghee a day. However, trans fat-rich foods are very dangerous.”

Senior cardiologist, Dr. Ommurthy Anil, says that heart attacks are increasing in people in their 30s and 40s. The main reason for this is a bad lifestyle and eating trans fat-rich foods. He says, “Trans fat-rich foods cause blockage in the blood vessels of a healthy person and lead to heart attacks. It affects everyone from children to senior citizens, pregnant women.

Transfats that poison the blood vessels

Ultra-bad fats (transfats) increase the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood and reduce the amount of good cholesterol. Similarly, they negatively affect the inner part of the arteries and increase the narrowing of the arteries.

'Not only does it narrow the blood vessels, it also causes inflammation (a condition like a swollen wound) in the inner part,' says Dr. Regmi, 'When cholesterol accumulates, blood blockage occurs. Which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.' Not only this, transfats increase the risk of type-2 diabetes.

Due to processed foods prepared for commercial purposes, fat accumulation around the stomach, weight gain and metabolic syndrome are increasing. There is an increasing addiction to junk food among children these days. Obesity, high blood pressure and pre-diabetes are starting to appear at school age, says Dr. Vaidya.

Experts say that excessive trans fat intake by pregnant women can affect fetal development. “There is a possibility that the effects of trans fat can reach the newborn through breastfeeding,” says Dr. Vaidya, “and the risk can last for a generation.” It is not limited. It has a bad effect on the health of the unborn child.

The fried and packaged foods in the market are rich in trans fats. Doctors say that excessive consumption of which leads to fatal diseases at an early age and many people die.

Dr. Regmi claimed that a young woman died after eating Bhujia after watching an advertisement. Recalling an incident a few years ago, he said, "Amitabh Bachchan had promoted Bikaji Bhujia in a very attractive way on Sony TV. A young woman is an Amitabh fan. After consuming Bhujia for a long time, she had reached a state of heart failure."

According to Dr. Regmi, continuous consumption of Bhujia weakened the heart muscle, increased blood pressure and cholesterol. Due to which the heart could not pump properly.

Heart disease is becoming the leading cause of death in the world. The main risk factors are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol consumption. A study by the World Health Organization has shown that high intake of trans fats increases the risk of death by 34 percent.

Effects of diet on the brain

Experts say that brain diseases have started increasing among Nepali youth due to changing diets along with modern lifestyle. According to neurologist Dr. Sushil Mohan Bhattarai, serious neurological diseases including stroke, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other diseases have started appearing even in young people in their 30s due to trans fat-rich foods and unhealthy lifestyle.

Dr. Bhattarai, who works at a civil hospital, says, 'Earlier, paralysis and brain stroke were considered diseases that occurred after reaching the age of 70. But now it is seen in young people in their 30s.'

According to Dr. Bhattarai, after trans fats enter the body, they go directly to the cell membrane. Cell membranes are very important for maintaining the structure of the body and for communicating from one cell to another.

In order for the brain to implement what the hand thinks, there must be continuous communication between the nerves. But when trans fats start to mix with cell membranes, communication is disrupted and brain functions gradually deteriorate.

According to Dr. Bhattarai, trans fats reduce the amount of serotonin, the ‘happy chemical’ produced in the brain. Due to this, people in the modern era have started to tend to be more sad, negative and depressed. Not only that, but the ability to learn new things and memory decline.

‘Many college-going students come to the clinic with problems with concentration,’ says Dr. Bhattarai.

Similarly, according to Dr. Rajiv Jha, senior neurosurgeon at Bir Hospital, when the amount of fat in the body increases, the blood vessels that carry blood begin to clot. When fat accumulates in the veins, the blood flow is blocked, due to which the amount of oxygen that should reach the brain decreases.

According to Dr. Jha, if blood circulation is blocked in any part of the brain, the risk of stroke is high. ‘When too much fat accumulates, the vessels become narrow or stiff. That leads to brain hemorrhage or stroke,’ says Dr. Jha says.

According to Dr. Bhattarai, smoking is the number one risk factor for stroke in young people. In second place is unhealthy diet and foods high in trans fats.

‘Brain-related diseases are more common in urban youth and they smoke and eat foods high in trans fats from a young age,’ said Dr. Bhattarai.

Regarding the direct link between trans fat intake and stroke, Dr. Jha says, ‘Obesity and high blood pressure are the main problems in many patients who come to the hospital. Patients who have strokes at a young age often have an unhealthy lifestyle, excessive consumption of junk food, and lack of physical activity.’

Trans fat-rich foods in abundance in the market

Data from the Food Department shows that some of the foods produced in the market are very harmful to health. The department had monitored 67 prepared food items and the raw materials used in them in the last one year.

Of these, 16 percent, or 11, were found to contain trans fats exceeding the standard. In which the total fat content of the food item was more than two percent.

Manita Vaidya, Director General of the department, says, ‘During the monitoring, up to 15.5 percent trans fat was found. Which is very harmful to health.’

Eight puffs were tested during the monitoring. Four puffs had trans fat levels exceeding the standard. Four of the six vegetable ghees tested had high trans fat levels. Vaidya claimed that the products found to have trans fat levels exceeding the standard were returned to the market.

Dr. Anil says, ‘Finding 15.5 percent trans fat in food in the market is a poison for health. Eating such foods directly blocks the blood vessels of the heart and causes heart attacks.’

In the race to increase profits, hotels, restaurants and roadside shops are repeatedly using oil to make fast food such as pakodas, samosas, puris, chicken fries, sausages, etc., which produces trans fat. Deep frying destroys all the nutrients in the food and adds harmful fats to it.

“Most of the sweet shops in the market are using vegetable ghee and oil containing trans fats to make sweets. These dishes, which look smooth, shiny and durable, are actually poisonous to the heart and blood vessels,” said Dr. Vaidya.

Dr. Regmi adds, “Repeatedly heating oil is harmful. It is used Not only is it linked to disease, but it is also linked to the risk of cancer. It is advisable to avoid using vegetable ghee as much as possible.

Main causes of death Heart and stroke

The mortality rate from non-communicable diseases is increasing in Nepal. According to statistics, a large part of the total deaths are due to respiratory diseases, heart diseases, and strokes.

According to experts, unhealthy diet and increased consumption of processed foods are one of the main reasons for this.

According to the 2023 data of 'Nepal Burden of Disease', respiratory diseases are the number one cause of death in Nepal, heart disease is the second, and stroke is the third.

Our diet, behavior, and lifestyle have emerged as the main root causes of the spread of non-communicable diseases. Experts say that non-communicable diseases are increasing as a 'dormant' epidemic in developing countries in recent times. The mortality rate is also increasing in proportion to that. According to the latest statistics, 71 percent of deaths in Nepal are due to non-communicable diseases.

Public health expert Dr. Rita Thapa says that the increase in the incidence of non-communicable diseases has become a matter of concern in recent years. According to Thapa, non-communicable diseases are increasing due to luxurious lifestyle and carelessness in eating, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

According to Dr. Thapa, the reasons are in our hands. There are things related to our lifestyle. Our behavior, junk food, lifestyle, use of tobacco products at a young age, and lack of exercise are the result.

‘Children at a young age consume tobacco products, junk food, and alcohol. Parents also give junk food to young children for lunch,’ Dr. Thapa clarified, saying, ‘The burden of non-communicable diseases is increasing due to lack of physical exertion and excessive stress.’

Is it right to call food ‘junk’? – Online Khabar

State silence, consumer health at risk

With the beginning of the 2000s, health agencies in various countries of the world began to implement regulations to control trans fats used in food. Denmark introduced stricter standards in 2003, while Switzerland banned trans fats in 2008.

Within the United States, New York banned trans fats in 2006 and California in 2008. Canada followed suit in 2008. These decisions led to very low trans fat levels in many foods and complete bans on many products.

Then, it was announced that heart attacks, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes in young people had decreased. Denmark announced that it had reduced the incidence of diseases in young people by 50 percent. But at the time, many countries found it difficult to believe what Denmark had announced.

The World Health Organization investigated the issue and declared Denmark a “trans fat-free” country.

In the United States and Canada, the amount of trans fat must be stated on the label of packaged foods sold.

The World Health Organization had launched a campaign with the goal of eliminating industrial trans fats from all countries of the world by 2023.

On 24 Magh 2078, the government passed the Multi-Sectoral Action Plan (2021-2025) for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases. Under this plan, there is a policy to keep trans fats below 2 percent of the total fat content of food.

The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control has implemented the standards since 25 Shrawan 2081 after the standards were approved by the Food Standards Committee. However, it has not been adequately monitored.

Consumer rights activists say that the state machinery is still not serious about trans fat-containing foods being sold openly in the market. Consumer rights activist Madhav Timalsina says that the problem will worsen unless the state comes up with a clear and strict policy. According to him, the problem extends from production to regulation.

‘First of all, there should be stricter restrictions on the import of raw materials. Trans fat testing should be made mandatory at customs and quarantine checkpoints. But it does not seem to be happening effectively,' said Timalsina.

Stating that merely setting standards is not enough, he says that strictness is needed in implementation.

'The policy is limited to paper. There is no will to implement it. The terror of trans fats in the market will not stop until a comprehensive awareness campaign is launched among the government, industrialists, importers and consumers,' said Timalsina.

Department spokesperson Bal Kumari Sharma claims that food products have been monitored regularly lately.

'Last November, we recalled the puff produced by Khajuri from the market after it was found to be substandard,' says Sharma. 'We found that it was safe to eat in subsequent monitoring.'

Lax regulation

The Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2081, clearly provides for mandatory labeling of food and beverages. It is the responsibility of producers and sellers to provide consumers with accurate and clear information about the nature, quality, quantity, expiration date and potential risks of the product.

Similarly, the Consumer Protection Act, 2075 BS, has ensured the right of consumers to be informed about price, quality, results and purity, and has provided a legal basis to protect them from the sale and distribution of products that are harmful to human health.

But the law seems to be limited to paper. Unlabeled food products are found being sold openly in the market. Some products do not even mention the details of ingredients, production and expiry date. Due to this, consumers are directly at risk due to weak state monitoring.

The Advertisement (Regulation) Act, 2076 BS and the Consumer Protection Act, 2075 BS clearly prohibit misleading and false advertisements related to health and nutrition. Who is it? These legal provisions could have been enough to stop the aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods, sugary drinks, and industrial trans-fat products targeting children. But implementation is weak. The Food Technology and Quality Control Department and provincial-level laboratories have cited a lack of manpower as the reason for their inability to conduct effective monitoring.

The argument of limited technical capacity and weak laboratory infrastructure at the food department, provincial laboratories, and local levels has been repeated. The growing market for highly processed foods, the tendency to not follow labeling, and a weak monitoring system have made the situation more complicated. The regulatory mechanism is in disarray, increasing the health risks to consumers.

Health experts say that mandatory mention of trans-fat content on food labels, clear visual warnings, and targeted implementation strategies are necessary to control industrial trans-fat. They suggest that inspection and laboratory capacity should be strengthened by implementing tax policies and strict labeling at the provincial level.

Consumer rights activists in Timalsina say that there should be no delay in making market monitoring effective and banning the sale and promotion of high-trans-fat products in schools and communities.

Preparations to bring a multi-sectoral action plan

The government has said that preparations are underway to bring a new multi-sectoral action plan for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. According to Health Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bikas Devkota, the action plan implemented from 2021 to 2025 has expired. Now, the process of formulating a new strategy for 2026 to 2030 has been initiated.

Stating that the main causes of non-communicable diseases lie outside the health sector, Dr. Devkota says that multi-sectoral cooperation is indispensable.

‘About 80 percent of the causes of non-communicable diseases are related to factors outside the health sector,’ says Dr. Devkota. ‘They are linked to other ministries and agencies on issues such as environmental pollution, chemical substances, waste management, and pesticides.’

According to him, although the previous action plan tried to include a multi-sectoral concept, sufficient success was not achieved in practical implementation.

‘The health sector alone cannot be held responsible; other sectors should also reduce the causes that negatively affect health through their policies, investments, and practices,’ he emphasized. He also said that a strategy will be prepared so that various ministries and stakeholders can clearly contribute through policies, resources and programs.

‘A plan is being prepared to incorporate the lessons learned from the previous period into a new strategy and address the weaknesses and challenges seen in implementation,’ says Dr. Devkota, adding, ‘A more effective and clear multi-sectoral approach is now needed to control non-communicable diseases.’

‘A person smiling on the outside may be in pain on the inside’

 ‘A person smiling on the outside may be in pain on the inside’

A hectic lifestyle, economic insecurity, rising unemployment, social expectations and fear of the future, as well as the influence of excessive social media, are further increasing mental pressure.

‘A person smiling on the outside may be in pain on the inside’

The \'Let's talk about our hearts\' campaign launched by the Nepal government is a national initiative to make mental health a social priority and break the silence.

The campaign aims to encourage adolescents, youth and the general public to seek awareness, empathy and support about mental health.

We live in a society bound by collective thinking and culture. It is our habit to talk to each other, gather, and exchange experiences. Whether at home, in a tea shop, in the office or on social media - there is no shortage of words. But one important thing is often lost in all this dialogue - the heart.

From the outside, many people look normal and happy. They have a smile on their face, and their behavior is easy. But that smile is not always genuine. Some people put on a show of their pain so that no one can see it. On the inside, they may be tired, scared, confused, and depressed. These mental struggles that are not visible on the outside are not easily understood, and are often ignored.

The Importance of the ‘Let’s Talk About It’ Campaign

The ‘Let’s Talk About It’ campaign launched by the Government of Nepal is not just an information program, it is a national initiative to make mental health a social priority, break the silence, give courage to speak up, and encourage people to seek help.

The campaign focuses on promoting awareness, empathy, compassion, and dialogue about mental health, especially among adolescents, youth, and the general public. It aims to remove discrimination and misconceptions, develop stress management and various skills, and encourage people to seek professional help when needed. In addition, the campaign also covers social safety and support services such as digital wellness, family and community support, and the 1166 helpline.

The Pain Behind the Smile

In daily life, many people are fulfilling their responsibilities with a smile, but on the inside, they are suffering. They want to express their feelings, but they are afraid - 'If I tell my pain, will society think I am weak, will they criticize me, will they blame me?' Worries like these prevent them from speaking up.

Because of these thoughts and fears, the pain of the mind remains hidden inside. Over time, these problems become deeper and begin to affect the person's performance, relationships, and enthusiasm for life. Eventually, it may become difficult to even do normal tasks.

How do mental problems look?

Many in our society still associate mental problems with 'madness'. Most people easily assume that 'he is depressed' or 'he is crazy' when they see symptoms such as sadness, anxiety, fatigue, or inability to concentrate. But the reality is different from such simple perceptions.

Mental problems come in many forms and can manifest differently in each person. While some may suffer from constant sadness, lack of confidence, or insomnia, others may experience excessive anger, anxiety, social distancing, or changes in behavior.

Some people may experience difficulty expressing their feelings, losing focus at work or school, or having difficulty fulfilling daily responsibilities. Similarly, there may be a more severe mental health problem that can have a long-term impact.

Importantly, not all mental health problems are always obvious from the outside. Some people hide their suffering and act as if they are normal, which can mislead society. Therefore, a sensitive approach is needed to understand each person’s experiences, circumstances, and inner feelings, rather than judging mental health problems solely based on external behavior.

Why is a mental health campaign necessary now?

Mental health problems are not new in Nepal. But the environment for talking about them openly was not created for a long time. Many still associate mental health with ‘weakness’ or ‘madness’. These are challenging times – a hectic lifestyle, economic insecurity, rising unemployment, social expectations and fear of the future, as well as the influence of excessive social media, are increasing mental pressure.

These are the reasons why people are stressed inside. In such situations, the ‘Speak Your Mind’ campaign works to break the silence, encourage people to speak up, and create an environment that inspires them to seek help.

Listening: Our Shared Responsibility

Many people ask – what can we do if we are not the treating doctors?’ The answer is simple – we can listen. This means listening attentively, not interrupting, and not imposing immediate solutions. Without denying feelings, sometimes a simple statement like ‘I understand you’ can be a great support.

When is it necessary to seek help from a specialist?

Not all problems can be solved by yourself or with the help of a friend. If the problem persists for a long time, begins to affect work, studies, or relationships, persistent negative thinking increases, or thoughts of self-harm/suicide begin to arise, it is essential to seek help immediately.

In this case, consulting a doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional can be a life-saving step. Seeking help in a timely manner can help Health problems are easier to manage and have a positive impact on a person's life, performance and overall health.

Only when we speak our minds, understand others and show empathy, can we build a healthy, cooperative society. The 'Speak Your Mind' campaign gives us this message - speaking up is not weakness, it is courage. Sometimes, a little listening and a little support can save a life.

Children may be deficient in vitamin D in winter, what to do?

 Children may be deficient in vitamin D in winter, what to do?

Sunlight is the best natural source to compensate for the problem of vitamin D deficiency.

Children may be deficient in vitamin D in winter, what to do?

Vitamin D helps strengthen children's bones and teeth, helps in height growth, and increases their ability to fight disease.

Children are deficient in vitamin D due to less exposure to sunlight in winter, wearing thick clothes, and not taking them outside much.

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for the healthy development of children. Vitamin D strengthens children's bones and teeth, helps in height growth, increases their ability to fight disease, and helps in muscle development.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, vitamin D deficiency can cause problems such as 'rickets', a softening of bones in children, which weakens bones. But vitamin D deficiency in children is seen due to less exposure to sunlight in winter, not taking children outside for a long time, and wearing thick clothes.

Parents need to know why children develop vitamin D deficiency during the winter, how to recognize it, and how to prevent and treat it.

Causes of vitamin D deficiency in newborns:

Vitamin D deficiency in newborns is often associated with pregnancy. The baby gets vitamin D from the mother while she is in the womb. If the mother does not spend enough time in the sun during pregnancy or is deficient in vitamin D, the baby can also be born with a deficiency. According to the Mayo Clinic, vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women increases the risk of rickets in the baby.

Although breast milk is the best food, it contains low levels of vitamin D. Therefore, exclusively breastfed babies may need vitamin D supplements.

In winter, if the baby is not exposed to the sun due to fear of cold, the skin cannot produce vitamin D. The body produces vitamin D from UVB rays, which are less in winter.

Babies born prematurely have low vitamin D stores in the body, which increases the risk of deficiency by 2-4 times.

Children with dark skin produce less vitamin D from the sun, and this problem is also more common in polluted areas.

Why is vitamin D deficiency more common in winter?

The main reasons for vitamin D deficiency in winter are:

- The sun's rays are shorter in winter.

- Morning and evening sunlight are not effective, because the 'UVB' rays are weaker.

- The child's body is covered with thick clothes, which blocks the skin from the sun.

- Especially in cold weather, children play less outside.

- Fog and pollution block the sun, which reduces UVB rays.

For all these reasons, the child's skin cannot produce enough vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency weakens the immune system, which leads to frequent infections.

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency

The symptoms of vitamin D deficiency vary according to age.

In newborns and young infants: from birth to 12 months

- Excessive crying, irritability.

-Low milk intake or loss of appetite.

-Slowness in lying down, sitting up or crawling - 'delayed motor development'.

-Soft skull bones.

-Excessive sweating, especially on the head, even at a young age.

-Vitamin D deficiency causes fatigue and weak bones.

In older children: above 1 year

-Leg pain or fatigue.

-Fatigue or muscle weakness when walking.

-Bold legs.

-Frequent illness, such as respiratory infections.

-Height and weight not growing as expected.

Treatment and prevention of vitamin D deficiency

The sun is the best natural source to replenish vitamin D deficiency. Therefore, you should expose your hands, feet or face to the sun for at least 3-4 days a week, for 15-30 minutes.

Newborns can be given vitamin D drops as recommended by a doctor. Do not increase the amount yourself, as excessive amounts can cause problems.

Foods rich in vitamin D can be given after 6 months.

-Egg yolk

-Milk yogurt, ghee in small quantities

-Sun-dried mushrooms

Vitamin D deficiency can be prevented with these foods. Salmon and eggs are also suitable for pregnant women.

Tips for parents:

-Mothers should take vitamin D daily during pregnancy. For that, they should pay attention to sunlight and nutrition.

-The baby should be safely exposed to sunlight regularly, but sunburn should be avoided.

-Vitamin D drops can be given to babies who are exclusively breastfed on the advice of a doctor.

-The child's development should be monitored regularly, such as height, weight and motor skills.

-If there is any doubt, a health worker should be consulted.

By adopting these measures, children's vitamin D levels can be maintained even in winter, which improves their overall health.

Why is a postmortem necessary in unnatural deaths?

 Why is a postmortem necessary in unnatural deaths?

A postmortem is an examination of a body after death and is mandatory according to law in unnatural deaths.

A postmortem helps in finding the cause of death and helps in justice and helps in protecting the future from accidents and diseases.

A postmortem is an examination of a body after death. There are many misconceptions and misconceptions about postmortem in Nepali society. Due to such misconceptions and misconceptions in our society regarding postmortem, most of the relatives of the deceased do not want to perform a postmortem on the body of their loved one after death.

During a postmortem, the body has to be cut open and the internal organs examined. For this reason, people in Nepali society do not want to perform postmortems as much as possible due to religious and cultural issues.

However, if the death occurred in an unnatural manner, then a postmortem of such a body is necessary. For example: if someone finds a body in a murder, suicide, suspicious death, accidental death, sudden death, or a dead body, the police must be notified and a postmortem must be performed according to law. Since such deaths are suspicious, the cause of death must be found for the police investigation, for which a postmortem must be performed.

History of Postmortem

When digging into the history of postmortem, we have to go back to the beginning of the 14th century. In 1302, a postmortem of a body was performed for the purpose of investigating a death in Bologna, Italy. Similarly, since centuries ago, postmortems have also been performed in France, Egypt, and China to assist the law.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, postmortems gradually developed after the traditions of China and Babylon and the advanced use of European medical science. It was born separately in medicine, which was named ‘forensic medicine’. This field includes postmortems of bodies and medico-legal cases.

This branch of medicine is also known and understood as forensic pathology or legal medicine in some countries. In Nepal, the practice of performing postmortems in suspicious deaths seems to have started since 1960. The government doctor of Kathmandu's Prison Hospital officially started postmortems for the first time at Bir Hospital.

Why do postmortems?

Section 20 of the Criminal Procedure (Code) Act 2074 BS states that in the Nepali Constitution, in case of an accident, suicide or suspicious death within the territory of Nepal, the postmortem of the deceased must be paid by the government at all costs. Postmortems are performed at the request of the legal authorities responsible for investigating accidental and unnatural deaths, and the Nepal Police has the legal authority in Nepal.

A question that comes to the police every time after a death is why do we perform postmortems? What is the benefit of performing postmortems? The dead person is already dead, so why should we cause more suffering?

First of all, what should we understand is that we perform postmortems for the living rather than for the dying person. Postmortems provide a basis for finding out the facts and the cause of death, punishing the guilty and saving the innocent.

It helps in justice. In addition, performing a postmortem reveals many details about the death, which not only helps in investigating the death but also helps in making the living aware of diseases and causes of death.

In the event of a vehicle accident, the nature of the internal injuries can be examined and the safety systems of vehicles can be made aware. Previously, it was through such research that helmets were worn while riding a motorcycle, seat belts were made mandatory while driving, and airbags were made mandatory in vehicles, as well as head rests in the event of an accident.

Reasons for performing a postmortem

1. In fatal accidents

A postmortem is mandatory in fatal accidents because it can be found out which part of the human body is most affected in an accident and which part is most affected and leads to death. This helps in knowing about the measures to be taken to avoid the accident, the methods to be adopted in treatment, and awareness. This helps in reducing the number of deaths caused by fatal accidents.

2. In case of sudden death

In case of sudden death, postmortem can be done to find out the disease that most people die from. Postmortem can be done to find out which part of the body is affected by such diseases. By finding out the nature and condition of the disease, society can be helped to save it from diseases. Similarly, this can also help to find out about hereditary diseases and alert other family members in time to save it from premature death.

3. Help the law

The police must conduct a postmortem when investigating a death. The cause of death is mentioned on the basis of the postmortem report, based on which further legal investigation is carried out.

In case of suspicious death, the family, relatives and eyewitnesses of the deceased also make various statements according to their interests. Preparing a postmortem report based on statements affects the police investigation, therefore, postmortem is also mandatory from a legal point of view to help in finding out the exact cause of death and conducting a fair investigation.

3. For scientific research

The nature of the wounds on the body may vary between a vehicle accident, a fall, and a beating, which will allow proper scientific research to examine the nature of the injuries on disputed bodies in the future and determine whether the injuries were caused by a vehicle accident, a duty-related death (beating), or a fall. There may be grounds for distinguishing between the two.

How is a postmortem performed?

A postmortem is performed in all district hospitals or large government hospitals in Nepal. After a police report, it should be performed by a forensic expert or a doctor registered with the Nepal Medical Council. During a postmortem, the body is completely naked, the outer covering is noted, and the body is completely dissected and examined.

Sometimes, pieces of various parts of the body are removed to provide additional evidence for the police to investigate and the doctor performing the postmortem to determine the cause of death. And it is also sent to the police forensic laboratory for further examination. After the postmortem, a report with the doctor's signature is submitted to the police.

Postmortem related mistakes

1. The body is not dismembered during a postmortem

During a postmortem, the body is dissected as needed, and after examining the vital organs, the body is re-stitched and handed over to the relatives in its original state.

2. The organs of the body are not removed during the postmortem

The main purpose of performing a postmortem is to find out the cause of death. Therefore, the body is dissected and examined for important organs. Then the organs are placed inside the body and sewn up and sent. In any suspicious situation, small pieces of organs can be removed for testing for poisons and other chemicals as needed. Then the organs are sewn up in their entirety. After death, no organ works for another person.

3. A postmortem cannot be done without dissecting the body

In Nepal, a postmortem cannot be done without dissecting the body. However, sometimes, since hospital reports reveal the cause of death based on CT scans and X-rays, a postmortem can be done even with minimal incisions. Therefore, the hospital report is important after death.

4. Is it known whether a person is dead or not after an autopsy?

A postmortem is basically to find out the cause of death. After the cause of death is determined, the investigation into whether the death was accidental, accidental, or suicide remains. After the doctor determines the cause of death, the police investigate based on that. The doctor who performs the autopsy does not reveal the exact cause.

But sometimes, based on the nature of the injuries on the body, the doctor can give an opinion to the court about accidental, accidental, or suicide.

Postmortem Neglected

Postmortem plays an important role in determining the cause of death and minimizing deaths due to potential disasters.

Due to the state's lack of importance in this field, the new methods introduced by medical science in this field have not yet been introduced in Nepal, which is why even today the postmortem space in government hospitals in Nepal is limited to a dark room.

In developed countries, postmortem examination rooms are equipped with postmortem X-rays and CT scans, as well as labs for DNA, drug and poison testing, to minimize the amount of dissection required during postmortems. However, ironically, in Nepal, state agencies are less knowledgeable about what constitutes a dead body and have neglected this area in every way.

What is Alpha School in America, where AI teaches instead of teachers!

 What is Alpha School in America, where AI teaches instead of teachers!

What comes to mind when you think of ‘school’? Surely, for many, classrooms from kindergarten to 12th grade, front-line teachers, and long lessons come to mind. This is how schools have been set up for centuries. But now, as AI is changing our lifestyle, the traditional way of learning and schooling has also started to take a new form.

Alpha School, located in Texas, USA, has become a global sensation due to its unique and modern way of teaching students. Instead of a teacher teaching 25-40 students at a time as per the traditional style, it is said that in this school, students are instructed individually by AI guides. It is said that the AI ​​system also analyzes their progress and provides immediate feedback, which helps them improve their weaknesses.

At Alpha School, students are said to have to study for only 2 hours a day. According to international media, after two hours of study, Alpha School students spend time on physical activity, problem-solving activities, leadership exercises, and life skills. These include activities ranging from long bike rides to creative projects and entrepreneurship training.

Another feature of Alpha School is its financial rewards system. Students are said to earn money for completing assignments, projects, or mastering skills, which they can spend on their own projects or interests, or even invest.

According to international media, Alpha School is not a school that appeared overnight or became famous. It has been operating on campuses in Texas, Florida, and California for more than a decade, and is now preparing to expand to New York City. It is said that a new Alpha campus is planned to open in Manhattan next September, with annual tuition fees ranging from $40,000 to $65,000, depending on the location.

This unique and technological teaching style demonstrated by Alpha School has shown the potential for education to take on a completely new form through innovation, not just limited to books and teachers.

What are the procedures for postmortems and identification of those who died in the protests?

 What are the procedures for postmortems and identification of those who died in the protests?

Coordination between forensic science, police, and hospitals is necessary to identify and determine the cause of death of those who died during the protests.

An official letter of medico-legal examination from the police is required before the postmortem is conducted, which confirms the cause of death.

DNA analysis and other scientific methods are used to identify bodies that have been burned, but identifying completely burned bodies is challenging.

Violent incidents during protests cause great human loss. In such incidents, a complex and sensitive procedure is adopted to identify and determine the cause of death of those who die due to gunshots, fire, or other injuries.

Coordination between forensic science, as well as the police, and hospitals is very important to identify and determine the cause of death of the deceased. This process is sensitive from both a scientific and legal perspective.

Incident and initial procedures

People who die during the protests are often taken to the hospital immediately by eyewitnesses or friends. The name of the deceased is registered in the hospital and treatment is attempted. If the person is confirmed not to be alive, the body is sent for postmortem. Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu is a well-equipped centre for mortuary storage and postmortem. The body is preserved in a freezer facility. The teaching hospital has the necessary equipment for proper management of the body and postmortem, which makes the process systematic.

Identification process of the deceased

Initial identification

The identity cards, jewellery or other personal belongings of the deceased form the initial basis for identification. The name and address of the deceased can be ascertained from such items. If such items are not available, the relatives come to the hospital and identify the body.

Personal belongings are of great help in the identification process, but sometimes other scientific methods have to be used in cases where these items are destroyed.

Notification to relatives

Once the details of the deceased are registered in the hospital, the relatives are informed. The hospital maintains a list of the names of the deceased, which the relatives look at to identify the body. Once the identity is confirmed, the postmortem process proceeds.

Postmortem and medico-legal process

A medical-legal examination is required from the police before a postmortem can be conducted. In cases where police stations are affected, such a letter is issued by the Kathmandu Police Complex. A postmortem determines the cause of death, such as gunshot wounds, injuries or fire. This process is important for the relatives of the deceased and the community to uncover the truth.

The main causes of death during the protests currently include gunshot wounds, internal injuries, head injuries or fire. In cases of gunshot deaths, doctors analyze the nature of the bullet and the damage to the body.

Identification of people who died in a fire

The identification of bodies that died in a fire is complicated. For example, in the case of seven people who died in a fire in Bhatbhateni, identification is challenging. Methods such as presumptive identification and DNA analysis are used to identify burned bodies. If jewelry, clothes or other personal belongings are left, they can be used to identify them.

DNA Analysis

When a body is not completely burned and some tissue remains, DNA is extracted and analyzed. This process is carried out at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory of the Nepal Police. DNA analysis can confirm the identity of the deceased, but this process is time-consuming and resource-intensive.

DNA Analysis Process

DNA Extraction

DNA is extracted from white blood cells, because red blood cells do not have a nucleus. DNA can be extracted from bones or teeth in burned bodies, if they are not destroyed.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR-M)

If the amount of DNA is low, the amount of DNA is increased by the PCR-M process. This makes it easier to analyze the DNA sequence adenine, guanine, thymine, cytosine.

Profile Matching

The DNA profile of the deceased is compared with the DNA of his father or mother. A 50 percent match between the father or mother's DNA confirms the identity.

Challenges in completely burnt bodies

If the body is completely burnt and the tissues are destroyed, DNA analysis is not possible. In such a case, identification becomes impossible. Also, if the relatives of the deceased do not contact them in time, the process becomes more complicated. The possibility of identifying completely burnt bodies is limited, but we must make the most of the resources and technology available.

This process is not only to identify the deceased and determine the cause of death, but it is also a means of ensuring truth and justice in society. Such sensitive processes provide comfort to the victim’s family and provide truthful information to society.