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 United States is in the middle of its worst measles outbreak in more than three decades as Pennsylvania has recorded more than 1,000 cases. New York also declared a disaster emergency across the state recently as the highly contagious infection continues to spread.

Pennsylvania health department reported 1,004 measles cases as of October 5, that includes 198 hospitalisations and five deaths. Lancaster County, the hardest-hit area, has reported 391 cases alone. All five people who died in the state this year were unvaccinated, according to Reuters.

The outbreak is the worst recorded in the US since the major measles resurgence between 1989 and 1991. The CDC reported 3,887 confirmed measles cases in the country as of October 1, 2026.

Measles Has Resurfaced In The US

Measles was eliminated in the US in 2000. It means that there was no continuous spread of the virus within the country. However, elimination does not always mean that the virus has disappeared globally. Imported infections can still trigger outbreaks when they infiltrate communities where vaccination coverage is insufficient.

The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine provides about 97% protection against measles after two doses. But protection at the community level depends on high vaccination coverage as measles is extremely contagious. The CDC says more than 95% of people in a community need to be vaccinated to maintain herd immunity.

Vaccination coverage has fallen in several parts of the country, leaving several parts of communities more vulnerable to transmission.

Also read: Measles Cases Are Rising in US—Who Should Get A Booster Shot?

New York Declares A Disaster Emergency

On Monday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a statewide disaster emergency after the state recorded 108 measles cases through October 3. Among these, 92 cases were reported since July 15 across 18 counties, especially in under-immunised rural communities.

The emergency, which remains in effect till November 4, authorises other group of healthcare professionals like nurses and pharmacists who can administer MMR vaccines. The state has also increased testing and vaccination efforts in affected areas.

“No ⁠one should get seriously ill or die from a vaccine-preventable disease,” Hochul said. More than 1,000 MMR doses have already been administered in rural areas since July 15.

Also read: Pennsylvania Reports Fifth Measles-Related Death As Outbreak Continues To Spread

Who May Need a Measles Booster?

The first measles vaccine was introduced in the US in 1963, but the formulation used between 1963 and 1967 was less effective than current versions. Adults vaccinated during that period may need another dose if they have not received a later measles vaccine.

People born before 1957 are generally considered to have presumptive evidence of immunity because measles circulated widely before routine vaccination, and most people in this age group were naturally infected.

Some people may need individualized vaccination guidance rather than standard recommendations, including:

• People with uncertain vaccination status or no vaccination records
• People who received an inactivated measles vaccine between 1963 and 1967
• People with a weakened immune system
• Pregnant people

Also read: Rabies Day Exclusive: ‘We Need To Target The Source’ For A Rabies-Free India By 2030, Says Veterinary Epidemiologist

Death Toll According To CDC & Pennsylvania

The CDC has reported 13 measles deaths in the US so far in 2026. The deaths have occurred among people who were not fully vaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown.

There is a striking discrepancy in the reported death toll. Pennsylvania health officials say five residents have died after getting infected with measles this year, but the CDC’s national tally lists only two measles-related deaths across the US.

The CDC has shifted to relying on death-certificate data reviewed by the National Center for Health Statistics, while Pennsylvania uses the state definition that considers factors including a positive measles test, symptoms and the timing of death. The CDC has said it is working with state epidemiologists on a standard definition and that its count could change after reviews.

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads through respiratory droplets and can remain in the air after an infected person leaves an area. It commonly causes high fever, cough, runny nose and a characteristic rash, but complications can get serious. These can include pneumonia, swelling of the brain and, in extreme cases, death.

Young children, pregnant women and people with weak immunity systems are more prone to develop serious complications of measles.

A new drug combination has shown promise in treating people diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), reducing the risk of progression or death by 51% compared to the current treatment alone.

The findings come from the Phase 3 EPCORE DLBCL-2 trial, which tested the addition of epcoritamab to R-CHOP, a standard chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimen used to treat DLBCL. The companies developing the drug, Genmab and AbbVie, announced the ]results on October 5.

Findings From The Lymphoma Trial

The trial evaluated newly diagnosed patients with DLBCL and other large B-cell lymphomas who had an International Prognostic Index (IPI) score of 2 to 5, indicating varying levels of disease risk.

Patients received either epcoritamab plus R-CHOP or R-CHOP alone. The combination reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 51%, with a hazard ratio of 0.49 and a p-value below 0.0001. The benefit was seen in the trial’s primary higher-risk group as well as the broader population included in the study.

The companies said this is the first Phase 3 study of a bispecific antibody combination to demonstrate a significant improvement in progression-free survival in newly diagnosed DLBCL.

Also read: World Meningitis Day: Why 1 In 3 Meningitis Deaths Occur In Children Under 5

How Does Epcoritamab Work?

Epcoritamab is a bispecific antibody that engages T-cell. Unlike chemotherapy, which directly targets rapidly dividing cells, the drug is designed to bring the body’s immune cells into closer contact with cancer cells.

It binds to CD3 on T cells and CD20 on B cells, effectively directing T cells towards CD20-positive cancer cells so they can attack them.

R-CHOP, meanwhile, combines rituximab with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone and has been a standard treatment for DLBCL for decades.

“DLBCL is an aggressive disease and the need to advance treatment options is critical. These positive topline results suggest that epcoritamab combined with R-CHOP could offer a new standard of care in newly diagnosed DLBCL patients,” said Daejin Abidoye, MD, Vice President, Therapeutic Area Head, Oncology, Solid Tumor and Hematology, AbbVie.

Also read: Can Obeldesivir Prevent Ebola Symptoms After Exposure? Drug Trial Moves Forward As Death Toll Crosses 4,000

Hope For A New Course Of Treatment In Blood Cancer

DLBCL is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, accounting for around 25% to 30% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases worldwide. Although R-CHOP has improved outcomes, some patients still experience disease progression or relapse.

The new findings suggest that bringing a bispecific antibody into treatment from the time of initial diagnosis could improve how long patients remain free from disease progression.

“As an investigator with firsthand experience in both the landmark trial that established R-CHOP as a standard of care nearly 25 years ago and EPCORE DLBCL-2, it is particularly meaningful to see the potential benefit of bispecific antibody therapy in newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma,” said Gilles Salles, MD, PhD, Chief of the Lymphoma Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

But the combination is still investigational and has not been approved for newly diagnosed DLBCL. The companies said they plan to engage regulatory authorities globally based on the results.

Full trial data will also be presented at a future medical meeting, meaning detailed results, including the complete safety and survival data, are still awaited.

The US and European Union are closely monitoring a suspected case of pneumonic plague in Russia’s Siberian region of Irkutsk after the death of a 28-year-old laboratory worker at an anti-plague research institute.

Nearly 200 people who may have had contact with the woman have reportedly been placed under medical observation. However, Russian authorities have not confirmed plague.

The woman, identified in reports as Darya Shipilova, worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute. Reports said she may have accidentally broken a test tube containing Yersinia pestis while collecting samples on September 25.

Russia’s consumer safety watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, said her diagnosis was “pneumonia of unknown etiology.” Expanded testing did not identify microorganisms associated with her professional activities.

Rospotrebnadzor said the sanitary and epidemiological situation in Irkutsk and Shelekhov remained stable and that special measures had been implemented following her death.

Also read: Russia Plague Outbreak: Lab Worker Dies Of 'Unknown Infection' After Suspected Exposure

What Did the EU Say?

The European Commission said it was “monitoring very closely” reports of the laboratory incident.

“We are aware of the reports concerning the laboratory incident in Russia, seemingly involving a pathogen causing plague,” European Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova said.

She said the Commission was in contact with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and stressed that timely and transparent reporting and access to reliable epidemiological and laboratory findings are essential.

The EU also said it has strengthened its preparedness for health emergencies since the Covid-19 pandemic.

What Did the US Say?

The US State Department said it was monitoring the reports in coordination with the CDC and other agencies.

CDC officials said many details of the incident remain unconfirmed and urged Russian authorities to share accurate information promptly and transparently. They noted that plague is a known and treatable disease, with common antibiotics particularly effective when treatment begins early, and that cases occur naturally in several parts of the world.

US officials also urged Russia to “share accurate information quickly and openly.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the situation was “not cause for alarm” but was a reason for focus and continued monitoring.

What Does WHO Say?

Read More: Russia Plague Scare: Could It Trigger A New Pandemic? Experts Explain

WHO said it was aware of the reports and was working to verify the details with Russian health authorities, including laboratory results, contact tracing and the health status of contacts.

Based on unofficial information available, WHO said the public-health risk to the general population appeared low, while noting that the assessment could change as more information becomes available, POLITICO reported.

Can Pneumonic Plague Spread Between People?

READ: ‘American Covid’ Strain Drives 50% Surge in UK Hospital Admissions: XFG Symptoms to Know

Pneumonic plague is caused by Yersinia pestis and can spread directly between people through respiratory droplets.

However, a suspected case does not mean an outbreak or pandemic is underway. Rapid diagnosis, isolation, contact tracing and prompt antibiotic treatment would be critical if plague is confirmed.

“Transparency, rapid diagnosis and effective contact tracing would be the most important factors in managing an outbreak,” said Dr Richard Hirschson, a specialist general physician at Sydney Adventist Hospital.

In a post on social media platform X, the expert said that a local laboratory exposure would not necessarily translate into global spread. He added isolation and preventive antibiotic treatment for exposed contacts could help limit transmission if pneumonic plague were confirmed.

What Is Pneumonic Plague?

Plague is caused by Yersinia pestis, a bacterium generally found in small mammals and their fleas.

Pneumonic plague occurs when the infection affects the lungs and is the form most capable of spreading directly between people.

It can become rapidly life-threatening without treatment, but plague is treatable with antibiotics when diagnosed and treated promptly.