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.

Kerala is battling a highly contagious bacterial disease called shigellosis (bacillary dysentery), caused by the bacteria Shigella. The southern state has recorded 85 cases of the intestinal infection called shigellosis since the beginning of this year.

All districts in the state have reported sporadic cases of the disease, which is primarily caused by contaminated food and water or poor hygiene practices.

Currently, cases have been reported from northern districts such as Wayanad, Kozhikode, Alappuzha, and Malappuram.

This week, two cases involving a four-and-a-half-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl were confirmed among children at Mar Baselios School in Wayanad.

About 25 students with suspected Shigella infection have been admitted to the Sultan Bathery Taluk Headquarters Hospital. However, Kerala Health Minister K. Muraleedharan said their conditions are stable, ANI reported.

Earlier, a four-year-old girl undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College died after being infected with Shigella.

Also read: Kerala Reports 5 Suspected West Nile Fever Cases: Know All About The Mosquito-borne Disease

According to health authorities, 339 people have reported symptoms associated with the infection. Of these, 21 are undergoing treatment at Sultan Bathery Taluk Headquarters Hospital, while 38 others are receiving treatment at private hospitals.

Officials said none of the patients is currently in serious condition. A total of 21 samples were sent for laboratory testing. Two samples have tested positive so far, while the results of the remaining samples are awaited.

Muraleedharan also asserted that the Shigella outbreak reported in parts of the state remains under control, even as health authorities continue monitoring cases in Wayanad and other districts.

The Health Minister noted that a special medical team from Kozhikode Medical College has been deployed to Wayanad, where several students were admitted to hospital following reports of shigellosis, a highly contagious bacterial intestinal infection.

Shigella: Why Are Young Children at High Risk?

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Ex-President of IMA Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell, Kerala, explained that even a small number of bacteria—as few as 10—is enough to cause infection.

It is because the Shigella bacteria “is able to withstand the hostile acidic environment of the human stomach. Outside the human body, it can stay alive in water for weeks together,” he said.

Shigella is most severe in children below the age of five, as their immune systems are less efficient at clearing the infection early.

“Adults also become ill, but acquired immunity from childhood keeps the infection mild in many instances,” the expert said.

How Does Shigella Spread?

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Shigella spreads through:

• Touching contaminated surfaces or objects
• Physical contact with an infected individual
• Drinking contaminated water or ice made from unclean water

“Shigella outbreaks can occur in crowded places such as anganwadis, where children come into close physical contact with each other and share toys. Very young children also have the habit of putting their fingers in their mouths, which enables the bacteria to gain access to their gut,” Dr. Jayadevan said.

The expert noted that houseflies can also spread the bacteria. Flies transmit the bacteria from human feces to food, water, and surfaces, contributing to up to 37 percent of cases in some regions, according to a study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Shigella: What Are the Symptoms?

The disease typically develops within one to three days after ingestion of the bacteria and may begin with:

• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Body aches
• Headache

Once the infection involves the large intestine, bloody diarrhea can occur along with severe abdominal cramps.

How to Prevent Shigella

Dr. Jayadevan stressed the need for early recognition and treatment with appropriate antibiotics. ORS can help prevent dehydration, while zinc tablets can enhance recovery.

Other measures to reduce the risk of spread include:

• Washing hands with soap and water, especially before touching food and after using the toilet
• Maintaining hygiene among food handlers
• Controlling flies.

From 130 maternal deaths per lakh live births during 2014–16, India has achieved a 43-point reduction in the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) between 2022 and 2024, according to the government.

Currently, the MMR in the country stands at 87 maternal deaths per lakh live births.

In an official statement, the government credited the achievement to Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyaan (PMSMA), which today completed a decade.

Launched in June 2016, PMSMA provides free, comprehensive antenatal care to pregnant women at designated government health facilities on the 9th of every month.

More than 7.50 crore pregnant women have received antenatal services under PMSMA in addition to routine ANC check-up services in the last 10 years. The Extended PMSMA, launched in 2022, strengthens follow-up care and tracking for high-risk pregnancies.

"Over the past decade, the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyaan has transformed the delivery of antenatal care in India. Quality maternal healthcare is now more accessible, systematic and responsive," the statement said.

“The remarkable decline in the Maternal Mortality Ratio from 130 to 87 over the past decade demonstrates how focused interventions can save thousands of lives,” it added.

How PMSMA Works

The government noted that PMSMA works through:

• Early identification of high-risk pregnancies
• Regular monitoring
• Timely medical intervention

"PMSMA has demonstrated that when quality healthcare reaches women at the right time, it saves lives, prevents complications and creates healthier beginnings for families and future generations," the govt said.

Services Offered Under PMSMA

The PMSMA service package includes clinical examinations, laboratory investigations (blood and urine tests), ultrasonography, medicines, and counselling on nutrition, birth planning, and safe pregnancy practices.

Key features include:

• Minimum one comprehensive and quality antenatal check-up by an Obstetrician and Gynecologist or a Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) trained doctor during the second or third trimester.
• Mobilizing pregnant women for specialist antenatal care services at designated public health facilities.
• High-risk pregnancy identification by screening for 25 high-risk factors and management at an early stage.
• Linking high-risk pregnancies to the nearest First Referral Unit (FRU) for safe delivery.
• Empanelment of private service providers for PMSMA service provision.
• Essential blood and urine investigations and ultrasonography.
• Counselling on nutrition, appropriate birth planning, and complication readiness for every pregnant woman.

Who Can Access PMSMA Services?

The program is available to:

• Pregnant women in their second trimester (13–27 weeks) or third trimester (28 weeks until delivery).
• Indian citizens residing in India who are willing to visit designated government health facilities on the 9th of every month.
• High-risk pregnancy cases, which receive priority attention and follow-up care.
• Women who are dropouts from regular antenatal care and are actively encouraged to participate.

What Is Maternal Mortality Ratio?

MMR is defined as the number of maternal deaths per one lakh live births during a given period.

A maternal death refers to the death of a woman during pregnancy or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy due to causes related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, excluding accidental or incidental causes.

Maternal health remains one of the clearest indicators of the strength and inclusiveness of a country's healthcare system.

"As India marches towards Viksit Bharat@2047, PMSMA will continue to transform the maternal healthcare landscape by ensuring that every pregnancy is safer and every mother receives the care she deserves. With continued commitment and collective action, PMSMA can help usher in an era where no woman loses her life while giving life, strengthening the foundations of a healthier and more prosperous India," the statement said.

Brazil has decided to temporarily suspend the world's first-ever dengue vaccine after two deaths. The jab, Butantan-DV, was stalled by Brazil's Ministry of Health on Monday. The authorities have reported that the decision came as a preventive step; it does not conclude that the deaths were connected with the shot.

The ministry has also given information that about 500 thousand doses of vaccine already administered by 30th May 2026, and among them 3,703 reports of adverse effects, thus it is roughly 0.7% of those vaccinated. Among these 42 cases, one was severe dengue and caused abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, and bleeding; thus, this group represents about 0.008% of the total immunized.

The National Pharmacovigilance Committee recommended this suspension. Analyzing the situation and studying reports made by municipal, state, and federal surveillance systems.

According to the Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, three cases were classified as severe. Of this total, two resulted in death.

As per the reports, the Butantan Institute is going to convene a committee of experts for epidemiological investigation. The institute will be responsible for sharing data with the health authorities. According to Butantan, the vaccine has a global efficacy of 79.6% and 89% protection against severe dengue in a study published in the scientific journal Nature.

The Butantan-DV Vaccine

The Butantan-DV vaccine is tetravalent and offers protection against the four known serotypes: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4.

The vaccine uses live viruses that have been “weakened” (attenuated) in a laboratory.

Once administered, the vaccine controls replication of these attenuated viruses in the body -- a process which induces the immune system to produce neutralizing antibodies specific to each of the four serotypes.

The vaccines create immunity specific to each serotype to enable the body to recognize and neutralize each variant individually.

The Butantan-DV vaccine was approved by the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) on November 26, 2025, for use by the Brazilian population aged 12 to 59.

The country's Ministry of Health has incorporated the vaccine into the national immunization program in January

launched a pilot project to immunize 90 percent of the target population in states with a high burden

rolled out vaccination of primary care health professionals in February.

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What Is Dengue?

Dengue is a viral infection that is primarily transmitted to the human body through mosquito bites. About 100 to 400 million people across the globe get infected with this disease every year. Usually, this condition is asymptomatic in its initial stages and leads to mild illness. However, occasionally, the virus can develop severe dengue infections that can even cause the death of the infected person.