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.

Josie Gibson has shared a candid update about her ongoing health condition, saying it has been getting “worse and worse” as she grows older. The 40-year-old Big Brother winner recently revealed that she has been living with lipoedema, a condition that leads to an uneven and excessive build-up of fat, and explained that neither intense workouts nor strict training routines can reduce it.

The TV presenter, who regularly appears on ITV’s This Morning alongside relief hosts such as Craig Doyle and Dermot O’Leary, featured as a guest on Thursday’s episode of the show. During the segment, she spoke openly with main presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard and offered an update on her health. Below, we explain what this condition involves.

Also Read: Father Donates Liver To Save His One-Year-Old Son From A Rare Liver Disorder

Josie Gibson Opens Up About Battle with Lipoedema

Josie Gibson, best known for her work on ITV’s This Morning, recently spoke about her health during an appearance with regular hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard. In a frank discussion, she revealed that her lipoedema has been progressing with age. Reflecting on her diagnosis, she said she had long sensed something was not right with her body but did not know what lipoedema was. She was diagnosed around a year ago and underwent surgery in September. Sharing what doctors have explained to her, Josie said she has consulted specialists in Berlin and met three experts in London.

According to them, her body stores fat differently. Despite training regularly, eating sensibly, and maintaining good overall fitness, she was told that even exercising every day would not remove lipoedema fat, which she described as feeling like hardened or congealed fat.

What Is Lipoedema?

Types of Lipoedema

Some people may experience more than one type of lipoedema at the same time, depending on where symptoms appear. The types include:

• Type I: Fat accumulates between the belly button and the hips.
• Type II: Fat develops from the pelvis down to the knees.
• Type III: Fat extends from the pelvis to the ankles.
• Type IV: Fat appears between the shoulders and the wrists.
• Type V: Fat is mainly seen between the knees and the ankles.

Lipoedema: How Common Is It?

Researchers suggest that around 1 in 72,000 people are affected by lipoedema, though this figure is likely underestimated because the condition is often mistaken for obesity or lymphoedema. Other global estimates indicate that up to 11% of women may have lipoedema. The condition is considered rare among men.

Lipoedema: What Are The Early Symptoms?

Common symptoms of lipoedema include:

• Fat accumulation in the buttocks, thighs, calves, and sometimes the upper arms, affecting both sides of the body.
• Small lumps within the fat that feel like something is sitting under the skin.
• Pain that can range from mild to severe and may be constant or triggered by pressure.
• A persistent heavy sensation in the legs.
• Swelling.
• Skin that bruises easily.
• Ongoing fatigue or feeling unusually tired.

Josie, who has also appeared on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! along with several other television programmes, admitted that the condition even affected her while she was working. She recalled filming A Taste of the South West and struggling to stay upright in the kitchen, often leaning against surfaces for support. At the time, she chose not to mention it to anyone, but explained that her legs felt extremely heavy throughout the shoot.

The United States is in the middle of one of its worst flu seasons, according to the data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These cases are surging, along with an increase in hospitalization, driven by a mutated influenza A variant, H3N2, 'subclade K'. Experts have warned that flu activity could further increase in the weeks to come. Unlike past years, parents may have to jump through extra hoops to get their children a flu shot.

On January 5, the CDC dropped a long-held universal flu vaccine recommendation for kids 6 months and older. The recommendations stated that the shots should only be given after a discussion with a health care provider. This shift is feared by most experts as it could lead to a further decline in the number of people getting vaccinated. The shift has also come at the time when flu is hitting children hard, and at least 17 children have died from the flu season so far. The pediatric flu hospitalization rate is also the second highest for this point in the season in 15 years, reported NBC News.

Flu metrics have surpassed last season, as one of the deadliest for children in more than 20 years.

Pediatric Flu Deaths In 2024-25 Season

The 2024-25 flu season led to 280 flu-related pediatric deaths. This has been the highest number since the CDC started reporting these in 2004. Nearly all the children were unvaccinated.

Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, a pediatric infectious disease epidemiologist and professor at Stanford University, told TODAY.com, “It’s more than unfortunate; it's tragic," for the CDC to change its flu shot guidance for kids. “(Flu shots) probably are the most effective intervention in the last 100 years to reduce child deaths in this country.”

The change in the flu shot recommendation also drew criticism from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Infectious Disease Society of America.

Experts have warned that the new guidance creates confusion, which could lead to fewer children getting vaccinated. However, doctors time and again have said that the best line of defense remains to be the flu shots. Dr Pedro Piedra, professor of molecular virology and pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine told Today.com, "There is plenty of data showing the effectiveness... of the influenza vaccine in children." The CDC website also states that the "flu vaccine can prevent severe, life-threatening complications in children."

How Effective Is The Flu Vaccine?

The flu shot helps the immune system learn how to fight the virus by exposing it to harmless pieces of killed or weakened flu germs, allowing the body to build antibodies that can quickly recognize and stop the infection if exposed later.

While the flu shot may not always stop you from catching the virus, its biggest strength lies in making the illness far less dangerous. Vaccinated people are significantly less likely to be hospitalized, need intensive care, or die from flu-related complications.

Overall flu shot effectiveness usually falls between 40 to 60 percent, depending on the season, but studies show the protection is often stronger in children. A 2022 study cited by the CDC found that flu vaccination reduced the risk of severe illness in children by 75 percent. Another CDC-listed study from 2020 showed the vaccine lowered flu-related hospitalizations by 41 percent and emergency room visits by 50 percent during the severe 2017–2018 flu season. Earlier research from 2017 also found that flu vaccination cut a child’s risk of dying from the flu by up to 65 percent, even among otherwise healthy children.

Measles case, the first of 2026 is confirmed in Kentucky state, as the health officials announced the state's first positive measles case of the year on Thursday. The Kentucky Department for Public Health reports that an unvaccinated Jessamine County resident tested positive for measles. Officials have confirmed that the person was exposed to measles when an out-of0state travel who was infectious visited Fayette County between December 31, 2025 to January 2, 2026.

Previously, it was also reported by the health officials that the infectious person stayed at the Hyatt Place in Hamburg from December 31 and January 3. The person ate at Panera in Hamburg on January 1. This information will help in contract tracing.

Why Is Measles Making A Comeback In The US?

The measles outbreak in South Carolina started in October and from thereon, it showed no signs of slowing. In fact, Dr Linda Bell, South Carolina's state epidemiologist said at a news conference on Wednesday, this has happened because country's "lower-than-hoped-for vaccination coverage".

Read: Measles Warning: 'Be Careful, Holidays Worry Us', Says Doctor

Vaccination Rates Have Gone Down

In the 2024–25 school year, roughly 90 percent of students in Spartanburg County received all their required childhood vaccines, including the measles, mumps and rubella shot. While that number may sound high, it still falls short of the national average and the 95 percent coverage that experts say is needed to stop measles from spreading in a community.

Several of the schools where students are now in quarantine have vaccination rates that drop well below 90 percent, based on state data.

Health officials pointed out that measles can disrupt lives even for those who never get sick. In South Carolina, a few unvaccinated students were exposed to the virus twice, which meant they had to quarantine twice for 21 days each time. That is more than a month of missed school.

“That’s a significant amount of time,” Dr. Bell said. “Vaccination continues to be the best way to prevent the disruption that measles is causing to people’s education and to employment.”

State officials have increased their outreach around the MMR vaccine, although it is still unclear if these efforts are making a real difference. Uptake has been limited, according to Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services. He said vaccination remains “the best way to protect against measles” and encouraged people to speak with a doctor about what makes the most sense for them.

This is not just the case of South Carolina, but every where else the vaccination rates have fallen down, noted Harvard Health. In fact, same is the case with flu vaccines as rates have gone down, exposing more vulnerable population to such diseases.

Also Read: How Did This Once Eliminated Disease Come Back?

What Is Measles?

Measles, also known as rubeola, is a highly contagious viral illness that typically causes fever, cough, a runny nose, red and watery eyes, and a distinctive red, blotchy rash that usually begins on the face and spreads downward. The virus spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia or brain inflammation. Despite its severity, measles is preventable through a safe and effective vaccine, as per the Mayo Clinic.

How Contagious Is Measles?

Measles is among the most contagious diseases in the world. The virus spreads through airborne droplets that can linger in the air or on surfaces for hours. Up to 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed to measles will become infected. A single infected person can pass the virus to an estimated 12 to 18 others through close contact or shared spaces. People can transmit the virus days before symptoms become obvious and continue spreading it after the rash appears, according to the World Health Organization.

How Long Is Someone Contagious With Measles?

Someone infected with measles can spread the virus from four days before the rash develops to four days after it appears. The virus spreads so efficiently that about 90% of people who are unvaccinated or have never had measles will become infected after being exposed.

In November, Canada lost its measles elimination status following a significant outbreak, according to the Pan American Health Organization, which works closely with the World Health Organization.

“It’s important to say that all the other 34 countries in the region, they keep their certification as measles-free,” said PAHO/WHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa at the time, as per NPR News.

U.S. health officials have also warned that genetic links between outbreaks in different states suggest continued spread.

“The trajectory that we’re looking at now is that we do anticipate more cases well into January,” Bell said. “What that means for us nationally in terms of how they are defining our designation in this country as having eliminated measles is unclear.”