Japan could become one of the first countries in the world to end the HIV epidemic, says the president of Gilead Sciences Japan, Kennet Brysting. The idea for now could seem a little too ambitious, but it is not entirely unrealistic, given that the availability of medicines that can prevent transmission of HIV. Drugs are not the cure, but control over the spread of virus to the point where the disease is no longer a major public health threat.

What Is The Role Of Preventative HIV Medicines?

Gilead's have two key drugs, Truvada and lenacapavir. These two are playing a crucial role in prevention. Truvada is taken as a daily pill, while lenacapavir requires two injections per year. It can make the virus undetectable in infected individuals and prevent transmission to those who are not infected yet. In trials, lenacapavir showed 100% efficacy in preventing HIV infections. This is why it is describe as "almost a vaccine".

In 2024, Japan also approved Truvada for HIV prevention, but the country has yet to approve lenacapavir for the same. Until now, people in Japan had been importing generic versions of Truvada or purchasing it from clinics that source it from overseas.

HIV In Japan

Up until now, Japan reported around 25,000 HIV infections, whereas 669 new cases were reported in 2023. For seven consecutive years, the number of new infections remained under 1,000. The downward trend thus shows that the virus has been controlled, however, getting to zero new infections remains the ultimate goal.

Brysting too acknowledged that simply having effective drug is not enough. What is important is to have a proper implementation, access and healthcare support to make sure that these treatments are widely available and effective.

What Are The Challenges In Implementation?

The biggest challenges is testing rates. There is a need to increase testing rates. At this very moment, around 86% people infective with Japan have been tested, but the goal is to increase it up to 95%, with an ideal goal of 100%. Without widespread testing, many infected people may not even know that they are infected and it could transmit the virus.

Another measure issue is the cost of preventative medication. While Japan's health insurance covers treatments for diseases, it does not cover preventative drugs. Those who purchase Truvada for prevention, pay around $470 per month. Some clinics in Tokyo offer generic alternatives too, which is cheaper, but they are not ideal.

Better Healthcare Support

Brysting expressed concern that individuals importing medications might not be consulting doctors regularly, which is essential for monitoring HIV status and overall health. Truvada users need to be tested for HIV initially and every three months, along with screenings for other infections and kidney function checks. Without proper medical supervision, there is a risk of misuse and inadequate protection.

Gilead is in discussions with Japanese authorities to improve access and insurance coverage for Truvada, and progress is being made. Japan has shown efficiency in approving critical medicines, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic when Gilead’s remdesivir was approved in just three days.

What Is The Way Ahead?

Gilead at this moment is not only focused on HIV and hepatitis C, but also expanding into oncology with innovative treatments like CAR-T cell therapy, which strengthens a patient's immune system to fight cancer.

However, Japan’s strict approval processes can slow down drug availability. Phase 3 clinical trials often need to be conducted within the country, and Japan tends to approve medicines much later than other regions. For instance, Truvada was approved for prevention in Japan 12 years after the U.S. and nearly 20 years after its approval for treatment. inancial factors also play a role. The Japanese government adjusts drug prices annually, often reducing them, which can make long-term investment challenging for pharmaceutical companies.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that the Salmonella outbreak that infected 34 people in 13 states in the country is linked to backyard poultry.

The CDC, in its latest report, noted that backyard poultry, like chickens and ducks, can carry Salmonella germs even if they look healthy and clean. To date, no deaths have been associated with this outbreak, which started on February 26 and lasted up to March 31. However, 13 people have been hospitalized, the federal agency said.

Notably, the CDC analysis revealed that the Salmonella strain may be resistant to the antibiotic fosfomycin. Samples from eight of those patients showed there could be resistance to other antibiotics commonly used in Salmonella infections.

States Reporting Salmonella Outbreak

Michigan has the most cases, with six, followed by Wisconsin and Ohio, each of which has five cases.

Indiana, Kentucky, and Maine each have three cases. Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, New Hampshire, and Tennessee have each confirmed a single case.

Children Under Age 5 More Affected

Forty-one percent of case-patients in this outbreak are under the age of 5 years, and of the 29 people interviewed by investigators, 23 (79%) reported contact with backyard poultry in the days prior to illness.

“Children younger than 5 years old shouldn't handle the birds (including chicks and ducklings) or anything in the area where the birds live and roam. They are more likely to get sick from Salmonella,” the CDC said.

“Of 14 people who reported owning backyard poultry, 13 (93%) bought or obtained poultry since January 1, 2026,” the CDC said. “People reported getting their poultry from various places, including agricultural retail stores.”

The CDC said it will continue to investigate the hatcheries associated with cases.

What Can You Do To Be Safe?

• Always wash your hands for 20 seconds after touching birds, their supplies, or collecting eggs.
• Use a pair of dedicated shoes or boots for your coop and don't wear them inside your house.
• Keep birds and supplies outside the house to prevent spreading germs into your house.
• Children younger than 5 years old shouldn't handle the birds (including chicks and ducklings) or anything in the area where the birds live and roam. They are more likely to get sick from Salmonella.

The CDC also advised businesses to

• Source poultry from hatcheries that take steps to reduce Salmonella contamination.
• Clean and sanitize poultry display areas between shipments of new poultry.
• Provide handwashing stations or hand sanitizers next to poultry display areas and tell customers to wash their hands right after leaving these areas.
• Display poultry out of reach of customers, especially chil­dren, so they cannot easily touch the poultry.

What is Salmonella?

As per the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Salmonella is a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever called salmonellosis. It can be spread by food handlers who do not wash their hands and/or the surfaces and tools they use between food preparation steps. It can also happen when people consume uncooked and raw food. Salmonella can also spread from animals to people.

The FDA notes that people who have direct contact with certain animals, including poultry and reptiles, can spread the bacteria from the animal to food if hand washing hygiene is not practiced.

Pets, too, could spread the bacteria within the home environment if they eat food contaminated with Salmonella.

Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps 6 hours to 6 days after being exposed to the bacteria.

The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment.

In some people, the illness may be so severe that the patient is hospitalized.

Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe illness.

US President Donald Trump-backed decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to stop recommending giving infants a dose of the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours after birth is likely to lead to hundreds more infections, deaths, and millions of dollars in higher costs, according to new research.

The research, published in JAMA Pediatrics, comes as federal vaccine advisers to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. voted in December 2025 to reverse the long-standing recommendation to delay the first shot until at least two months of age for infants born to mothers who test negative for the virus.

While pediatricians, public health experts, and dozens of medical groups warned that it could harm children and their families, the new JAMA studies modelled the potential impact of the policy.

What Did The Studies Predict?

The first study estimated that delaying the first hepatitis B vaccine dose by two months for babies born in a single year to mothers who tested negative — about 80 percent of the 3.6 million US births annually — would increase lifetime health-care costs by at least $16 million, The Washington Post reported.

If vaccination were delayed by seven months, it would cost an additional $19.8 million.

The second study modeled what would happen if only 10 per cent of babies born to unscreened mothers received a birth dose; an additional 628 babies would get infected.

“One of the most concerning implications is how many more infected Hep B babies will we see,” said co-author Rachel Epstein, a pediatric and adult infectious diseases clinician at Boston Medical Center.

“A universal birth dose helps prevent a substantial number of infections in babies of a lifelong condition that we do not have a cure for,” she added.

CDC Had No evidence To Overturn Hepatitis B Vaccine Policy

Since 1991, all infants born in the US have received the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth, a strategy that led to close to a 99 percent decline in infections among children.

Calling the universal birth-dose policy "a safety net", public health and medical experts noted that nearly 15 percent of pregnant women miss recommended hepatitis B screening. More than half of those who test positive do not receive appropriate follow-up care.

Delaying the initial dose also decreases the likelihood that a child will complete the three-shot series needed for full protection, hepatitis experts have said.

The authors argued that the CDC advisory panel departed from standards established for over three decades and failed to weigh key evidence.

“We noticed that the committee did not have the evidence they needed to inform their decision,” co-author Eric Hall, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Oregon Health and Science University, was quoted as saying to The Post.

“But this group kind of blew past all that and didn’t make any effort to fill the evidence gaps that they might have had. They just went ahead anyway.”

Also read: Hepatitis Infections Claims 1.3 Million Lives Worldwide, India Among Top Contributors: WHO

What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver. It is highly contagious and spreads when blood, semen, or other bodily fluids from a person who carries the virus enter the body of someone who is not infected.

Hepatitis B can also pass from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth, whether through a vaginal delivery or a C-section. It is the most common route of transmission.

Vaccination is the most reliable way to prevent hepatitis B. The shots offer strong protection in infancy and continue to shield individuals well into adulthood.

Babies usually receive a three-dose series. A scientific review by the Vaccine Integrity Project found that 95 percent of healthy infants develop enough immunity after the third dose. The vaccine also lowers the risk of infection by nearly 70 percent in babies born to mothers who have hepatitis B.

A biryani feast followed by a serving of watermelon proved deadly for a family of four in Mumbai on Sunday. The incident was reported from the Pydhonie area, where an entire family passed away after eating biryani for dinner and some watermelon before calling it a night. They had watermelon around 1.00 am or 1.30 am, and their condition started to deteriorate around 5.00 am. They all experienced diarrhoea and nausea and eventually passed away. The mystery now remains: was it a case of accidental watermelon poisoning or something else? Abdullah Dokadia (40), his wife Nasreen Dokadia (35), and their two daughters, Ayesha (16) and Zainab (13), lost their lives, and the police are currently suspecting it to be a case of food poisoning. But can eating watermelon really kill you? Let us find out.

What are the signs of watermelon poisoning?

Watermelon is a popular summer fruit that people enjoy eating during the hotter months. It is 70 per cent water, highly hydrating, and also beneficial for weight loss. However, going overboard is discouraged by doctors, as overeating or consuming adulterated watermelon can lead to abdominal discomfort and digestive distress. Watermelon-related food poisoning can occur because of E. coli or salmonella infections. It can cause rapid dehydration, diarrhoea, cramps, fever, weakness, and, in extreme cases, even death.

What happens when you eat too much watermelon?

Dr Aarti Ullal, Physician and Diabetologist at Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, in an interaction with Health and Me, said, “Eating too much watermelon may lead to bloating, stomach discomfort, or loose motions, mainly because of its high water and natural sugar content. In some individuals, especially those with sensitive digestion, it can also cause acidity or mild cramps and disturb their peace of mind.”

Dr Ullal also stated that watermelon poisoning can occur when the fruit is contaminated with pesticides, chemicals, or bacteria due to poor handling or improper storage. The symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and weakness. These are typically short-term digestive issues but may require medical attention if severe or if they interfere with daily routine. However, questions also arise regarding watermelon allergies. Watermelon allergy is rare and may cause itching in the mouth, swelling, rashes, or stomach upset soon after consumption.

How to check if your watermelon is adulterated?

To check if a watermelon is adulterated, look for an unnaturally bright red colour, cracks, a chemical smell, or an overly soft texture. Always wash the outer surface, as it may contain pesticides or chemicals, before cutting. Make sure to buy from trusted sources to avoid any health issues. Watermelon is safe and healthy to consume, but moderation and proper hygiene are key.

Can eating a watermelon kill you?

Conclusively, it can be said that eating a watermelon specifically should not cause deaths. However, if you bring the fruit home, it is advised to check it for signs of adulteration before consuming. It helps eliminate the possibility of side effects, just in case. However, if you experience food poisoning-like symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.