A team of scientists has discovered a new type of chickenpox virus, called clade 9, in India for the first time.
The Indian National Institute of Virology (NIV) said it had detected 9 different types of varicella zoster virus (VZV) while conducting surveillance for cases of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox).
“During mpox surveillance, we encountered varicella zoster virus (VZV) in suspected mpox cases among children and adults,” the study revealed.
She said that out of 331 suspected cases of smallpox, 28 were found to be positive for VZV.
Experts revealed that the Clade 9 strain is the most common strain of the virus that causes chickenpox in countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. While other VZV variants - clade 1 and clade 5 - have been previously found in India, this is the first time that clade 9 has been discovered.
VZV, which causes chickenpox, is highly contagious, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It is generally transmitted through contact with infected droplets, aerosols (particles suspended in the air), or direct contact with respiratory secretions.
It can cause mild symptoms in children, but is more severe in adults.
Common symptoms of clade 9 infection include: skin rash, headache, loss of appetite, and a general feeling of weakness in the body, which appear only two to three weeks after exposure to the virus.
In rare cases, VZV can cause serious complications after moving to the body's central nervous system.
“It is important to distinguish between chickenpox, measles, bacterial skin infections, scabies, syphilis, drug-related allergies, and viral chickenpox,” the researchers said in the study.
Reveal the consequences of drinking too little water
According to Dr. Yelena Solomatina, a Russian nutrition expert, not drinking enough water can lead to serious health problems, including blood clots.
Solomatina points out that high blood viscosity doubles the risk of blood clots in general. Because viscous blood is difficult to pump, the heart is forced to work twice as hard.
She says: “Water is necessary for the production of stomach juice and enzymes, for the normal digestion of food, and for emptying the intestines. If there is not a sufficient amount of it, the bile becomes sticky like plasticine (a plastic substance consisting of calcium salts, petroleum jelly, and an aliphatic compound), which increases the risk of stone formation.” Gallbladder".
The expert adds that lack of water in the human body can lead to the formation of stones in the kidneys and bladder and other problems.
“These are all important and vital organs,” she says. “If there is no water, the stool will be dry - and this is a problem that many elderly people suffer from.” She warns that the stool in this case stagnates in the intestines and causes poisoning, meaning that the intestines absorb toxins and reach the blood.
The expert advises drinking 30 milliliters of water per kilogram of body weight, in order to maintain normal body functions.