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.

Ahead of the high-voltage FIFA World Cup, which begins on June 11, the US has called on the European Union to impose travel restrictions on people who have recently been in Central African countries affected by the Ebola outbreak to curb the wider spread of the deadly virus.

On June 1, the US issued a demarche — a formal diplomatic statement of concern — urging European countries to implement travel restrictions related to the outbreak, a European Union diplomat based in Africa and a second source familiar with the matter said. The diplomat said EU states had not responded, Reuters reported.

"Other countries must do their part to ensure this outbreak does not spread further. Action is required now. That includes financial contributions and implementing common-sense restrictions on travel from the affected area," said the official, who provided comment anonymously.

"We are engaging diplomatically with countries around the world to coordinate our approach to protect our citizens, including the millions of visitors, fans, athletes and tourists expected during the FIFA World Cup," he added.

Meanwhile, the State Department said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed the Ebola response in a call on June 9.

"The Department's highest priority and focus remain protecting the health of the American people and preventing this Ebola outbreak from reaching our shores," spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a readout of that call.

Also read: Ebola Crisis Deepens: DR Congo Cases Near 600 Amid Risk Of Cross-Border Spread

Countries Imposing Ebola Travel Bans

The Ebola outbreak has complicated some travel plans ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico and held across 16 cities in the three countries.

United States: Last month, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an order barring non-citizens who had been in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days from entering the US. Americans were told to travel through select airports for screenings. The restrictions were later expanded to include green-card holders.

Rubio has said Ebola must not be allowed to enter the US, and the administration's efforts have focused on keeping anyone potentially exposed to the virus overseas, even though the country has facilities equipped to treat Ebola cases while containing the spread of the virus.

Read More: Ebola Bundibugyo Outbreak: UK Scientists Identify 23 Unique Mutations

Canada – Imposed a 90-day entry ban on residents of the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan, along with quarantine measures for some returning travelers.

The Bahamas – Introduced a temporary ban on travellers from affected countries.

Jordan – Suspended entry for travellers arriving from Ebola-affected countries.

Bahrain – Implemented temporary entry restrictions on travellers from affected regions.

United Arab Emirates – UAE authorities halted all new visa issuances for citizens of the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan, and barred anyone travelling from or transiting through these countries.

Countries with additional restrictions, screening or quarantine measures include:

• Mexico
• India
• Thailand
• Kenya
• Zambia
• Cayman Islands

Is A Travel Ban Effective To Curb Ebola?

The World Health Organization (WHO) does not recommend any ban on international travel or trade during the ongoing Ebola outbreak centered in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

The United Nations has called on airlines and governments to adhere strictly to protocols established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) during the global COVID-19 pandemic. These include using electronic health declarations and contactless border processes, it said on June 9.

The ICAO said that, for now, international flights are safe. It urged countries not to close borders or impose restrictions on travel or trade and instead focus on exit screening for departing passengers rather than entry screening for arrivals.

"Exit screening can be implemented in affected countries for all persons at international airports for unexplained illness associated with fever and consistent with other symptoms of potential BVD," the ICAO said in a statement.

The WHO has maintained that the risk of transmission of Ebola virus disease during air travel is low. Unlike infections such as

influenza or tuberculosis, Ebola is not spread by breathing air, or airborne particles, from an infected person.

Transmission requires direct contact with blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected living or dead persons or animals, all of which are unlikely exposures for the average traveler.

Further, travelers are advised to avoid such contacts and routinely practice careful hygiene, including handwashing.

Importantly, the virus spreads only after an infected person has started showing symptoms. A person usually has no symptoms for two to 21 days (the incubation period). Symptoms include fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash and, in some cases, bleeding.

The risk of a traveler becoming infected with the Ebola virus during a visit to affected countries and developing the disease after returning is also very low, even if the visit includes travel to areas where cases have been reported, the WHO has said.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported 598 confirmed Ebola infections and 115 deaths, according to the latest update released by national health authorities.

The outbreak saw a huge surge on Monday, when officials recorded 48 new confirmed cases and 14 additional deaths in a single day. Meanwhile, three more patients recovered from the disease, bringing the total number of recoveries to 22.

Public health officials said the number of new cases reported each week continues to rise, indicating sustained community transmission. They cautioned that without intensified containment efforts and stronger public health measures, the outbreak could quickly expand into new regions.

As of Monday, a total of 297 people were being isolated or receiving treatment, including 113 confirmed Ebola patients and 184 individuals classified as suspected cases.

Uganda Dispatches Medics To Congo Border Regions

Diana Atwine, permanent secretary at Uganda's Ministry of Health, said that Uganda has deployed a team of health workers to DRC to contain the outbreak. She made that statement while she was in a meeting with visiting World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Kampala.

According to a post by Uganda's health ministry, it is also setting up 50-bed treatment units to support Ebola response efforts in eastern DRC, which is considered the epicenter of the disease.

The World Health Organization's (WHO) current assessment rates the threat level as very high in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and high in neighboring Uganda and adjacent border areas. However, the risk remains low for the rest of Africa and the world.

The security conditions in many regions of the DRC are preventing health authorities from operating effectively. The regions are infested by armed groups and plagued by constant violence. The epicenter of the outbreak, Ituri province itself, is one of the most active conflict zones. Thus, the help to the patients there is not up to the mark. As a result, the disease is also spreading fast.

Also Read: Salmonella Outbreak: Instant Noodles Sicken Over 80 In The UK, Europe

Track Record Of Ebola Outbreaks

Ebola is a highly lethal viral hemorrhagic fever. Over the past five decades, it has caused over 30 outbreaks, primarily in Central and West Africa. The virus takes its name from the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Three strains of the virus — Ebola virus, Sudan virus, and Bundibugyo virus — have caused the largest outbreaks in Africa. Among them, the Ebola virus is considered the deadliest, with fatality rates reaching up to 90% without treatment.

The current outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, was officially declared by the DRC health ministry on May 15.

Measles cases continue to rise rapidly in Bangladesh, with confirmed infections nearing 10,000 and hundreds of deaths reported since the outbreak began in March this year.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reported 1,092 additional measles cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the country's total to 80,104 cases, including 9,779 confirmed infections, since March 15, according to The Outbreak Today.

Eight additional deaths were also reported, taking the total death toll to 628, including 92 confirmed measles-related fatalities.

A total of 65,237 suspected measles patients have been hospitalized, of whom 61,278 have recovered, according to the DGHS.

The capital city, Dhaka, remains the epicentre of the outbreak. Health authorities have reported approximately 37,387 suspected measles cases and 6,794 confirmed cases across the wider Dhaka Division.

“There is no sign of a downtrend in measles infection rate across the country,” Dr. Ariful Bashar from Mohakhali Contagious Disease Hospital told Arab News.

“Measles is a highly contagious disease, even six times more than COVID-19. Unless 95 percent immunity is achieved through vaccination, there will be no downtrend in the infection rate,” he added.

Since March, hospitals across the country have been overwhelmed as they struggle to isolate and treat hundreds of children admitted every day.

Most Cases And Deaths Among Young Children

Also read: Kerala Records 85 Shigella Cases This Year: Know The Symptoms And Risks

Four out of five measles patients are younger than five years, according to The New York Times. The vast majority of deaths have also occurred in this age group, which is highly vulnerable to the airborne virus.

According to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Bangladesh had largely contained measles outbreaks since the 1990s through vaccination campaigns. However, immunization efforts were disrupted in 2024 after student-led protests overthrew the government.

The interim administration that governed Bangladesh until elections in late February did not conduct a supplementary mass vaccination campaign as recommended.

Last week, UNICEF said it had repeatedly warned the country’s interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, through written communications and meetings with Health Ministry officials about vaccine shortages that could trigger a major health crisis, local media reported.

Vaccination Drive Underway

Read More: India Concerned Over Measles Outbreak, Action Underway: Dr N K Arora| Exclusive

In April, Bangladesh’s new government launched an emergency campaign to vaccinate 20 million children.

Although the campaign has reportedly achieved 110 percent of its target and remains ongoing, experts note that only one of the two doses required for strong and durable immunity has been administered so far. In addition, it takes four to six weeks for immunity to develop after vaccination.

Outbreak Spreads Nationwide

The outbreak began in January in Rohingya refugee camps near the Myanmar border and quickly spread nationwide. It has now reached 58 of Bangladesh’s 64 districts, causing more than 21,000 hospitalizations.

In an April 23 update, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of a “considerable risk” of spread to Myanmar, where civil strife has disrupted immunization efforts, and to India, which remains vulnerable. WHO described the outbreak as “a reversal from Bangladesh’s previous progress towards measles elimination.”