Cigarettes with ultralow nicotine levels are now being called the game-changer in the fight against smoking. If you are having trouble in quitting smoking, then, it is for you, that soon the Biden White House is expected to formally propose a plan that will order cigarette nicotine levels to be reduced, reports The Washington Post. For now though, it has been a failure, as these cigarettes, also known as VLN cigarettes that stands for very low nicotine are only available in 5,100 stores in 26 states. This is a very small fraction of the overall market for cigarettes. The company that makes it, 22nd Century, is struggling not because of the low supply, but also from the advocates who have long believed slashing nicotine levels altogether.

The Advent and ideation

Nicotine is a chemical that is produced naturally from tobacco that makes the cigarette and also keeps people hooked. While it is believed that it makes people alert, and get the "hit" to keep them going, it exposes the users to harmful substances, carcinogens, and increases the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, and other illness.

Ultralow-nicotine cigarettes, like the VLN brand, contain about 95% less nicotine than the regular cigarettes. The idea is quite simple: without the addictive grip of nicotine, smokers will find it easier to quit. Research too has shown some promise. For instance, the studies funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse revealed that very low nicotine cigarettes reduced addiction potential significantly without having users to increase their smoking frequency. However, the problem is, why would anyone choose for a low-nicotine that does not make them feel the same way, when the high-nicotine cigarette is right next to it, making them feel the same way, with the same alertness, sold at the same price.

“It’s very hard to imagine someone actively choosing to continue to use a low-nicotine product for the same price when a high-nicotine product is right next to it,” said Eric Donny, a Wake Forest University School of Medicine nicotine researcher.

No wonder, the experiment with low nicotine product by Philip Morris' Next cigarettes in the 1980s and Vector Tobacco's Quest brand in the early 2000s, flopped.

FDA's Role in the Push

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has supported the development of such products, even allowing VLN cigarettes to be marketed as lower-risk options. However, these products remain a niche market, available in only a fraction of U.S. stores.

Recently, the Biden administration has considered a bold step—mandating a dramatic reduction in nicotine levels for all cigarettes sold in the United States. Supporters believe this move could save millions of lives, while critics, including tobacco companies, warn of potential unintended consequences.

What Could Be The Challenges?

Resistance from Big Tobacco Companies: They could argue that slashing nicotine levels could backfire. Their claim is, smokers will turn to black markets or smoke more to satisfy their cravings, which may lead to greater exposure to harmful substances.

Consumer Reluctance: History is proof to the instances of smokers being hesitant to embrace the low-nicotine products.

Political Hurdle: It may face political roadblocks, as under the Trump administration, plans to cut nicotine were shelved.

Could Low-Nicotine Cigarettes Be The Solution?

Advocates believe that ultralow-nicotine cigarettes could be a game-changer, comparing them to decaf coffee or non-alcoholic beer—products that reduce harm while offering a similar experience.

Some experts warn that a black market for traditional cigarettes could undermine these efforts. They also stress the need for safer alternatives, such as vaping products, to support smokers transitioning away from traditional cigarettes.

The Ebola Bundibugyo virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is showing early signs of slowing in some areas, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a hybrid press briefing, Tedros said there were “encouraging signs” that the response was gaining ground, while warning that the epidemic continues to grow and cause deaths.

“We are now starting to see encouraging signs that we are gaining ground.”

Where Is Ebola Transmission Falling?

According to Tedros, transmission is declining in some of the worst-affected parts of Ituri province.

Other signs of progress include:

• South Kivu has reported no new cases since May.
• More than 1,700 people have recovered.
• After four months, the epidemic has remained mostly contained in northeastern DRC.
• Trials of treatments and post-exposure prophylaxis are picking up speed, helped by increased community engagement.
• Vaccine trials are expected to begin in the coming weeks.

Is The Ebola Epidemic Winding Down?

Not yet. Tedros stressed that the “epidemic continues to grow, and continues to kill.”

More than 7,200 cases and over 3,500 deaths have been reported across seven provinces.

Although transmission has declined in parts of Ituri, it is falling from a high level. In the past week alone, around 300 new cases and 160 deaths were reported from Ituri, accounting for nearly half the national total, the WHO chief said.

In North Kivu, meanwhile, cases are rising rapidly. Over the past two weeks, the number of weekly cases has almost doubled, from about 100 to more than 200.

“The area is so vast that it is hard to speak of a single epidemic. It is many outbreaks, in many places. We must get the response right in every one of them,” Dr Tedros said.

Ebola Cases Were Also Falling In Some Health Zones

Read More: 1 In 60 Adults In Fiji May Now Have HIV As Meth Use, Unsafe Injecting And Treatment Gaps Fuel Surge

Last week, Congolese Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said transmission of the Bundibugyo virus had declined, with daily cases falling from about 120 at the peak in mid-August to around 80.

“We are fighting a very dangerous virus that is killing many of our people. Today, we can say that the outbreak is under control,” he said.

“At one point, we were recording about 120 cases per day; today, we’re seeing about 80 per day. So the number of new cases is decreasing every day.”

Kamba said 10 of the 62 affected health zones had reported no new cases for more than 22 days. Six health zones had gone more than 42 days without a new case, while four had gone more than 21 days without one.

He described the figures as “encouraging” but stressed that people must remain fully mobilized and not lower their guard.

DRC’s 17th Ebola Outbreak

The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, was declared by the WHO on May 15. It is the DRC’s 17th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in 1976.

It is also the second-deadliest Ebola outbreak on record, behind the West African outbreak that lasted from 2014 to 2016.

Clinical trials of vaccines and treatments against the Bundibugyo virus are ongoing. The DRC also received more than 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine last month. Ervebo is approved for protection against the more common Zaire Ebola virus.

US President Donald Trump has nominated Dr Nicole Saphier to serve as US Surgeon General, making her the third person he has chosen for the position.

Saphier’s nomination comes after Trump withdrew the nomination of Dr Casey Means in April after her confirmation stalled in the Senate. Trump had earlier withdrawn his first nominee, Fox News medical contributor Dr Janette Nesheiwat, following questions over her academic credentials.

Saphier will need to be confirmed by the Senate before she can take up the position. She is appearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on Wednesday for her confirmation hearing.

Who Is Dr Nicole Saphier?

Saphier is the director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth, according to her profile on the New York-based cancer centre’s website. She earned her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Barbados and completed fellowships at Mayo Clinic, according to the profile.

She is also a former Fox News contributor and has been a public voice on issues including breast cancer prevention, COVID-19 policies, vaccines and chronic disease.

“Dr. Nicole Saphier is an accomplished physician who has practiced radiology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering and has been an outspoken voice on breast cancer prevention, intrusive COVID-19 mandates, the politicization of science, and the federal government’s role in America’s chronic disease epidemic,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement.

“She has been a powerful asset for President Trump and works tirelessly to deliver on every facet of his MAHA agenda,” Desai added.

Saphier Faces Questions On Vaccines And Public Health

Read More: Meet Heidi Overton: Trump Set to Nominate White House Adviser to Lead FDA

While senators may scrutinise Saphier’s credentials and professional background, she is also expected to face questions about how she would navigate Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s public-health policies if confirmed.

Vaccination policy is likely to be a major focus. The administration has moved to reconsider aspects of federal vaccine guidance, while measles outbreaks have raised concerns among public-health experts.

Lawmakers from both parties have criticised Kennedy’s positions on vaccines, and senators are expected to question Saphier about whether she would take a stronger stance in support of vaccination if confirmed.

Saphier has questioned the need for every newborn to receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, a longstanding recommendation that the Trump administration has also sought to change.

At the same time, she has disagreed with Trump and Kennedy on some health issues. In an interview with The Associated Press last year, she said Trump’s warnings about pregnant women taking Tylenol were oversimplistic and “patronizing.”

Saphier's Social Media And Supplement Business

Also read: Dr. Erica Schwartz Confirmed As CDC’s First Permanent Director In Nearly A Year

Saphier also has a significant social-media presence, with about 147,000 followers on Instagram. Her profile identifies her as the creator of DropRx, a brand of liquid herbal supplements.

According to her financial disclosure and ethics forms, Saphier will divest holdings in a range of companies, including those in the food, soda and pharmaceutical industries.

Her ethics agreement also states that, if confirmed by the Senate, she will resign from DropRx, her dietary and herbal supplement company, and Empower MD, which owns DropRx.

What Will Senators Ask Nicole Saphier?

Vaccination policy is expected to be a major focus of Saphier’s confirmation hearing.

Senators are also expected to question the nominees about the cancellation of government grants and the US opioid crisis.

Saphier is appearing before the HELP Committee alongside Chris Klomp, Trump's nominee for Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Timothy Westlake, his pick to lead the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency after recent reports and estimates showed that around one in every 60 adults may now be living with HIV.

The estimate has sparked concern as it marks a sharp rise from about one in 167 adults five years ago.

Fiji recorded more than 2,000 new HIV diagnoses in 2025. Health officials have attributed the grim development to unsafe injecting practices, lack of sterile equipment and major gaps in HIV treatment and prevention.

Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu said the scale and reach of the epidemic required a response that is more effective than existing outbreak measures.

“The findings also show the seriousness of the epidemic and the gaps we must close in prevention, treatment and continuing care. We have acted on that evidence. An outbreak-level response is no longer sufficient. The Ministry of Health cannot meet this challenge alone. It requires coordinated action across Government, alongside communities and our partners.”

Factors Driving Rising HIV Cases In Fiji

Health officials and HIV experts have identified injectable drug use, especially meth, as a major driver of the current surge.

The concern is not methamphetamine abuse itself transmitting HIV. The risk arises when people who inject drugs share needles and syringes to ingest the drugs.

Dr Jason Mitchell, chair of Fiji’s National HIV Outbreak and Cluster Response Taskforce, said, “Fiji is currently navigating the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in the world, and what is driving this epidemic now is risky injecting drug use of people who currently inject methamphetamines.”

He added, “The unavailability of sterile needles and syringes has resulted in people who use drugs sharing needles, syringes and drug-mixing equipment.”

UNAIDS has previously highlighted the scale of the change. It reported that new HIV infections in Fiji had increased tenfold since 2014, while only 36% of people living with HIV were estimated to know their status in 2024 and just 24% were receiving treatment.

Also read: Thailand’s HIV Cases Cross 550,000 In 2026; Over 25,000 Among 15–24s

Growing Treatment Gap

Finding people with HIV is only the first step. They need to remain connected to treatment to contain transmission.

Recent reports found that the proportion of diagnosed people receiving antiretroviral therapy had fallen from more than 98% before 2021 to around 56%.

“We are now finding people faster than we are able to keep them in care,” Mitchell said.

Antiretroviral therapy suppresses HIV in the body and allows people living with HIV to lead long, healthy lives.

When treatment reduces the virus to an undetectable level, people do not sexually transmit HIV, a principle known as U=U, or undetectable equals untransmittable.

Also read: Exclusive With Leading HIV Expert: What's Driving Rising HIV Cases Among India's Youth And How To Prevent It

Fiji Plans Needle Exchange And More PrEP

The government says its response will include expanded HIV testing and treatment, greater access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the introduction of a formal needle and syringe programme.

It also plans to strengthen its follow-up care system so people diagnosed with HIV remain connected to treatment.

The emergency declaration comes as HIV prevalence among women attending antenatal care has reached around 2%, or about one in 50 pregnant women.

That figure raises the concern of mother-to-child transmission. HIV can be transmitted during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding, but effective treatment and preventive care can dramatically reduce this risk.