Headaches are a common symptom of a stressful lifestyle, your body not feeling well and other issues. While headaches can be dealt with easily, migraines are not so easy to handle. Migraines are a type of headache that feels like severe throbbing and pulsing sensation, almost like you are hearing your own heartbeat in your brain, usually on one side of the brain. Many people believe that migraines are not that big of a deal because you just have to deal with the pain, but that is not all migraine is, some people find it very difficult to do their daily tasks as they experience dizzying spells, nausea and extreme sensitivity to light and sound! These attacks can last hours and make it difficult for people to go about their daily lives as well. While there are medications available for migraine patients, these medications need time to take effect, so you may be in a lot of pain, but there are not many quick reliefs you can have in place other than learning the symptoms of a migraine attack and taking medication before it happens. But a new approval by the FDA may change this!

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Symbravo, a new medicine to treat acute migraine attacks in adults. This means adults can now use Symbravo to get relief from their migraine symptoms. The FDA's decision was based on the results of three big studies, called Phase 3 trials. These trials involved over 21,000 migraine attacks, so the FDA has a lot of information about how well Symbravo works and how safe it is. The FDA only approves medicines that have been shown to be both safe and effective through a thorough testing process.

Importance of New Treatment Option

"Migraine attacks can happen suddenly and really mess up people's lives. It's estimated that over 39 million people in the U.S. alone get migraines," said Herriot Tabuteau, M.D., CEO of Axsome Therapeutics told US News. This shows how common migraines are and how important it is to have good treatments. "Symbravo gives patients and doctors a new option that can quickly stop a migraine attack, keep it away, and let people get back to their normal activities, all with just one dose." Having a medicine that can give fast and long-lasting relief from migraine pain is a big deal for millions of people. This new treatment is a real step forward in how we treat migraines.

Symbravo Trial Results, How Was It Approved

The trials took place in 3 steps, the Momentum trial study focused on people whose migraines had moderate to severe pain. The results showed that a lot more people taking Symbravo felt pain-free two hours after taking the medicine compared to those who took a placebo which is a dummy pill. Even better, many people felt relief for up to 24 and even 48 hours after just one dose. This long-lasting relief is really important for people with migraines because it means they can get back to their normal lives without worrying about the pain coming back. The study also looked at how many people were free from their worst symptom, like sensitivity to light or sound, or nausea. Symbravo worked better than the placebo in this area too.

While the intercept trial looked at people who took Symbravo when their migraine pain was still mild. Even when the pain was just starting, Symbravo was effective. The results were similar to the MOMENTUM trial, with many people getting pain relief and relief from their worst symptoms. Treating migraines early is often better because it can stop the pain from getting really bad.

And lastly the Movement trial which was to see how safe the medication is when people take it regularly. This study followed 706 people who had at least two migraines a month. The most common side effects people experienced were sleepiness and dizziness. While these side effects are important to know about, the study showed that Symbravo is generally safe for people to use on a regular basis.

One of the most effective ways to prevent rabies deaths could be by vaccinating dogs rather than just people before they are bitten. A new study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia modelled different strategies in Kerala for eradicating human rabies deaths between 2026 and 2035.

The study found that mass vaccination of dogs could bring the annual rabies deaths among people in Kerala close to zero within about three years even if 70% of the dog population were vaccinated.

On the other hand, vaccinating children before exposure to rabies was projected to prevent relatively few additional deaths at substantially higher cost.

India carries one of the worst largest rabies burdens. That's why the study could point towards a feasible and practical solution to eradicate the deadly infection.

Could Vaccinating Dogs Help?

Most human rabies deaths in India are linked to bites from infected dogs. This means that the disease can be tackled at its source by reducing transmission among dogs.

India records an estimated 9.1 million animal bites every year, with more than three-quarters caused by dogs. A 2024 estimate from the Indian Council of Medical Research's National Institute of Epidemiology estimates India's annual human rabies deaths to be about 5,726, which is an alarming public health issue.

The study puts emphasis on the fact that vaccinating a person after a bite protects that individual, whereas, vaccinating dogs reduces the probability that an infected dog will transmit rabies to many people in the first place.

Also read: Bhutan Eliminates Rabies While India Battles Persistent Deaths: What Can India Learn From Its Neighbour?

About The Study

Researchers from the University of Glasgow, Kerala's health and animal-husbandry departments, Kerala University of Health Sciences and the London School of Economics and Political Science used mathematical modelling to compare different strategies to combat rabies in Kerala.

One strategy was routine pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for children. Another focused on mass dog vaccination, while the model also considered improvements to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), the treatment given after a potentially rabid bite.

The researchers found that adding routine childhood PrEP provided minimal additional protection, preventing fewer than 10 deaths on average over a decade, while costing considerably more than strategies focused on controlling rabies transmission among dogs.

The model estimated that achieving 70% vaccination coverage among dogs could reduce annual human rabies deaths in Kerala to near zero within approximately three years.

Also read: Abhayrab Rabies Vaccine Batch Found Misbranded, ‘Not Of Standard Quality’: DCGI Alerts States

India's Alarming Rabies Situation

One of the study's striking findings was about the size of Kerala's stray-dog population. The researchers' modelling suggested that the state's actual stray-dog population could be around five times higher than official census estimates.

If vaccination programmes are based on an underestimated dog population, authorities could believe they have reached adequate coverage while a large proportion of dogs remain unvaccinated. That creates what epidemiologists call an immunity gap, allowing rabies transmission to continue.

Additionally, dog vaccination does not make human post-exposure treatment unnecessary. If a person is bitten or scratched by an animal that could have rabies, the wound should be washed thoroughly with soap and running water and medical care should be sought immediately.

Depending on the exposure, PEP can include rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). This is particularly important because rabies becomes extremely difficult to treat once symptoms begin.

The study also found that improving timely access to PEP could prevent more deaths than expanding routine pre-exposure vaccination of children.

The death of Lady Joan Branson, wife of billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, has highlighted the risk of a blood clot after fractures that travels to the lungs.

Lady Branson, 80, died at Lister Hospital in London in November 2025 after being admitted following a fall at her home on Necker Island. An inquest heard that she had developed a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and subsequently suffered a massive pulmonary embolism (PE).

The coroner, Professor Fiona Wilcox, concluded that her death could probably have been prevented if anti-clotting treatment had been given earlier. She said: “If this lady had been given [anti-clotting medication] early on ... her death, on the balance of probability, would have been prevented.”

What exactly happens after a fracture that can make a blood clot so dangerous?

Fracture Increases The Risk Of Blood Clots

A fracture can trigger several conditions that encourage the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE), the collective term for DVT and PE.

First, injury itself activates the body's clotting system. The body naturally increases clot formation after tissue damage to prevent bleeding.

Second, a person with a fracture may become significantly less mobile. When the leg muscles are not moving normally, the muscle pump that helps push blood through the veins becomes less effective. Blood can therefore pool in the deep veins, particularly in the legs. Hospitalisation, surgery, older age, previous blood clots and certain medical conditions can add further risk.

A clot that remains in a leg vein can cause swelling and pain. But when part of it breaks and gets away, it can travel through the bloodstream to the lungs, leading to a pulmonary embolism.

Also read: 9/11 Toxic Air Exposed Thousands: What New Records Reveal 25 Years Later

How Does A DVT Become A Pulmonary Embolism?

A clot forming in a deep vein, usually in the leg, can detach and travel through the veins into the right side of the heart. From there, it can enter the pulmonary arteries, which carry blood to the lungs.

If the clot is large enough, it can obstruct blood flow through the lungs and suddenly increase pressure on the right side of the heart.

A large or massive PE can therefore cause severe breathlessness, low blood pressure, cardiac arrest and sudden death.

This is why PE can sometimes appear dramatically, even when the original DVT produced few obvious symptoms.

Also read: Small-Cell Lung Cancer Is One Of The Hardest Cancers To Treat: What This New Drug Combination Could Change

Could Blood-Thinning Medication Have Prevented Lady Branson’s Death?

According to the inquest, Lady Branson had a history of blood clots dating back to 2010, and doctors heard evidence that she had previously used anti-clotting injections.

However, she was not given enoxaparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin commonly used to prevent or treat harmful blood clots, during her hospital stay.

One doctor, Dr Inaki Bovill, told the inquest that a venous thromboembolism risk assessment should have been carried out and that the medication should have been prescribed. He said: “It is to my great regret that I did not.”

Another doctor, Dr George Adams, a consultant haematologist at Imperial College London, told the inquest that earlier anticoagulation would have made cardiac arrest less likely in her particular case.

Lady Branson's daughter, Dr Holly Branson, disputed the suggestion that her mother had refused the injections because of previous pain or bruising. She told the inquest that this was “not consistent with my knowledge of her usual practice or attitude.”

What Are The Warning Signs Of A Blood Clot?

A DVT can cause:

• Swelling, usually in one leg
• Pain or tenderness in the calf or thigh
• Warmth or redness over the affected area

A PE may cause:

• Sudden unexplained breathlessness
• Chest pain, particularly pain that worsens when breathing
• Rapid heartbeat or breathing
• Coughing up blood
• Dizziness, fainting or collapse

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Bovismorbificans infections in multiple states. According to reports, the at least infection cases are being linked to recalled broccoli sprouts across four states, including two hospitalisations. The outbreak hasn't resulted in any casualties yet.

The outbreak has been linked to broccoli sprouts grown by Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC, based in Moyie Springs, Idaho. The FDA and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating the outbreak with state and local health authorities.

The FDA has issued a clear warning: “Do not eat, serve, or sell recalled broccoli sprouts grown by Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC.”

How Were The Broccoli Sprouts Linked To The Outbreak?

Also read: Granola Marketed For Nursing Mothers In US Recalled Over Potential Salmonella Contamination

According to the FDA, illnesses began between July 7 and August 26, 2026. Out of the 19 infected people who were interviewed by investigators, all 19 reported eating sprouts, while 17 specifically reported eating broccoli sprouts. That epidemiological pattern helped investigators identify sprouts as the likely driver of the infection.

Traceback investigations by the FDA and state partners then identified Evergreen Fresh Sprouts as the common grower of broccoli sprouts eaten by patients before they became sick.

On September 4, the company initiated a recall after Montana state officials found Salmonella in a sample of its broccoli sprout. Whole-genome sequencing showed that the Salmonella found in the product was the same strain causing illnesses in the outbreak.

The recalled products were sold in plastic bags or plastic clamshell containers and have expiration dates of September 7, 9, 11, 14 or 16, 2026.

Distribution has been confirmed in Idaho, Montana and Washington, although the FDA said the products may have reached additional states. The 22 cases are from Idaho, Montana, Utah and Washington.

What Is Salmonella And How Serious Can It Be?

Also read: Cyclospora to Alzheimer’s: Trump Administration Scales Back Key Health Research

Salmonella is a group of bacteria that can cause salmonellosis, a gastrointestinal infection usually acquired by consuming contaminated food or water.

Symptoms typically begin 12 to 72 hours after exposure and can include diarrhoea, fever and abdominal cramps. Most people recover within four to seven days without specific treatment, but some infections can become severe.

Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of serious complications from the infection. In severe cases, Salmonella can cause dehydration or allow the bacteria to enter the bloodstream, potentially leading to invasive infection and complications affecting other organs.

Why Can Raw Sprouts Carry Salmonella?

Sprouts are grown in warm, moist conditions, which help seeds germinate but can also provide favourable conditions for bacterial growth.

The seeds themselves can become contaminated before sprouting. Once bacteria are present, the warm and humid environment used to produce sprouts can allow them to multiply. Since sprouts are often eaten raw, there may be no cooking step to eliminate the bacteria.

The current FDA investigation involves broccoli sprouts, and it is separate from another ongoing US investigation involving Salmonella and E. coli infections linked to alfalfa sprouts.

Consumers, restaurants and retailers should not eat, sell or serve the recalled Evergreen Fresh Sprouts broccoli sprouts.

The FDA also advises people who purchased or received the recalled product to carefully clean and sanitise surfaces and containers that may have come into contact with the sprouts. This is important because Salmonella can spread through cross-contamination.

Anyone who develops symptoms resembling Salmonella infection after eating the recalled sprouts should contact a healthcare provider.