Smokers who make the decision to quit will experience immediate health benefits, including a rapid reduction in their risk of atrial fibrillation (A-Fib), according to new research published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology. The study, conducted by Dr. Gregory Marcus, a cardiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, offers compelling evidence for smokers to quit, showing that it’s never too late to avoid the damaging effects of smoking on heart health.

Dr. Marcus, the senior author of the study, emphasized that A-Fib can be prevented even in individuals who have smoked for years. "The findings provide a compelling new reason to show current smokers that it’s not too late to quit, and that having smoked in the past doesn’t mean you’re ‘destined’ to develop A-Fib," Marcus explained. "Even for the current and longtime smoker, A-Fib can still be avoided."

What is Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib)?

"There’s strong evidence that smoking increases the risk of A-Fib," Marcus said. "But the benefits of quitting smoking have been less certain." With this in mind, his team sought to determine whether quitting could significantly lower a person’s risk of developing A-Fib, or if the risk would remain the same.

The research team analyzed data from over 146,700 current and former smokers, tracking their smoking habits and health over a 12-year period using data from the UK Biobank database. The results were promising: former smokers had a 13% lower risk of developing A-Fib compared to current smokers, while those who quit during the study saw an 18% reduction in their risk.

"This is likely a testament to the potency of reducing atrial fibrillation risk pretty shortly after quitting," Marcus said in a statement from the American College of Cardiology.

The findings highlight the importance of quitting smoking, not only for general health but specifically for reducing the risk of serious heart conditions like A-Fib.

Tips for Quitting Smoking

Quitting smoking is one of the most effective ways to lower the risk of A-Fib and improve overall heart health. While it can be challenging, the benefits of quitting are clear and immediate. Here are some tips to help you quit smoking successfully:

1. Choose a specific date to quit smoking and stick to it. Prepare yourself mentally and physically for this change.

2. Reach out to family, friends, or a support group to help keep you accountable. Sharing your goals with others can provide encouragement.

3. Options like nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges can help ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings.

4. Identify situations that make you want to smoke, such as stress or social gatherings, and find healthy ways to cope with them.

5. Regular exercise can help distract you from cravings and improve your mood during the quitting process.

6. Drinking water can help flush nicotine out of your system faster, reducing cravings.

7. Activities like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises can help manage stress, a common trigger for smoking.

Quitting smoking offers immediate and significant benefits, particularly in reducing the risk of atrial fibrillation. The latest research provides smokers with more motivation to quit, showing that it's never too late to take control of their heart health.

Several people who came into contact with a woman who died of pneumonia of unknown etiology in Russia’s Irkutsk Region have tested positive for COVID-19 and rhinovirus, the country’s sanitary watchdog said.

“Laboratory tests have confirmed two COVID-19 and two rhinovirus infection cases,” Rospotrebnadzor said, adding that no other infectious disease pathogens were detected among the contacts, according to Russia’s TASS news agency.

The development comes amid reports that the woman, a researcher at an anti-plague institute in Siberia, may have been exposed to Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes plague. Russian authorities have not confirmed plague as the cause of her illness or death.

What Happened in Russia?

The researcher was identified by Russian reports as 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, who worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute.

Russian media initially reported that Shipilova had broken a test tube containing plague bacteria in late September, subsequently developed severe pneumonia and died.

However, Rospotrebnadzor said her diagnosis was “pneumonia of unknown etiology.” Expanded testing did not identify microorganisms associated with her professional activities.

The World Health Organization said Shipilova died of severe pneumonia overnight into October 2 and that the cause of death had not been confirmed, The CBS News Report said.

Nearly 200 people who may have had contact with her have reportedly been placed under medical observation.

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

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed that Rospotrebnadzor was the lead agency with expertise in the matter and urged Russians to follow information from its “highly qualified professionals”, media reports said.

Trump Offers US Help

US President Donald Trump has offered to help Russia after a laboratory worker died following an illness at an anti-plague research institute in Siberia, amid reports of a suspected pneumonic plague case.

Russian authorities, however, have said the situation is under control and have not confirmed plague.

“We’ll help,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “Everybody who has that kind of a problem, we’ll always help”.

Describing the plague as a “rough disease,” Trump said he had not spoken to Russian officials about the case but that the US would do what it could to help.

“That’s a disease we used to be able to control,” Trump said, adding that “somehow those microbes have gotten stronger and stronger, they’re like an army.”

“They called it pneumonia, and pneumonia, you know, years ago, you could treat pneumonia easier. The microbes and the germs have gotten stronger disproportionately. But we’ll help them, we’ll help them,” Trump said.

US, EU Monitor Situation

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

CDC officials said plague is a known and treatable disease, with antibiotics particularly effective when treatment begins early.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the situation was “not cause for alarm” but warranted continued monitoring.

The European Commission said it was “monitoring very closely” the reports and was in contact with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

WHO Says Public Risk Is Low

The World Health Organization said testing was underway and the cause of death had not been confirmed.

The WHO said it was in contact with Russian authorities and had offered support if needed. Based on available information, it assessed the risk to the general public as low.

What Is Pneumonic Plague?

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

The same bacterium caused the Black Death, which swept across Europe in the 14th century and killed an estimated 25 million to 50 million people.

Plague can occur in several forms. Bubonic plague primarily affects the lymph nodes, while pneumonic plague affects the lungs and is the form most capable of spreading directly between people.

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

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.