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.

India's flagship health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), which covers more than 62 crore people, could soon offer higher financial protection if a key parliamentary recommendation is accepted.

A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare has recommended increasing the insurance cover under PM-JAY from the current Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, according to a report by The Times of India.

The committee said the existing coverage is inadequate to meet the cost of several life-saving treatments, including liver transplants, complex cardiac surgeries, and immunotherapy.

Key recommendations

The panel has proposed:

• Increasing PM-JAY health insurance coverage from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh.
• Introducing special high-cost treatment packages for expensive procedures.
• Adopting a differential pricing model for complex and advanced medical interventions.
Supporting higher coverage through:

• Pooled financing
• Negotiated pricing with hospitals and medical device manufacturers
• Co-funding mechanisms with states.

Recommendations To Improve Cashless Treatment

To improve the efficiency of the scheme, the committee also recommended:

• Strict enforcement of the six-hour turnaround time for pre-authorization of cashless treatment.
• Imposing penalties on hospitals or agencies responsible for unnecessary delays.
• Conducting regular audits of pre-authorization workflows.
• Expanding auto-approval for more low-risk procedures.
• Deploying AI-enabled case tracking to speed up approvals and improve transparency.

What is Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY?

Launched in September 2018, Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) is the world's largest government-funded health assurance program.

The scheme currently provides Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization, covering around 12 crore families, representing the bottom 40 per cent of India's population.

It was later expanded to include around 6 crore senior citizens aged 70 years and above from 4.5 crore families, irrespective of their socio-economic status. The scheme also covers poor and vulnerable families, as well as gig and platform workers.

Recent milestones

Last month, West Bengal became the 36th state to implement the Centre's flagship health insurance scheme.

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda recently said one of the government's biggest achievements has been reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure, which has fallen from 64.6 per cent before 2018 to 43.4 per cent. He added that AB PM-JAY has enabled timely access to quality healthcare through a cashless, paperless, and fully digital platform.

According to the government, the scheme has achieved the following milestones:

• More than 44 crore Ayushman Cards have been created.
• Over 12 crore hospital admissions have been authorized under the scheme.
• Women account for nearly half of all beneficiaries.
• More than 104 crore health records have been linked to over 93 crore ABHA accounts.

Universal health coverage by 2033

In March, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told Parliament that the government aims to achieve universal health coverage by 2033.

Addressing the Rajya Sabha, she said health insurance has become a priority area for the government, with the sector covering 58 crore lives during 2024-25, according to news agency PTI.

"Health insurance is a priority for this government. In fact, we are hoping that by 2033 we will have insurance cover for all," Sitharaman said.

A diarrheal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis is spreading across multiple US states, with federal health officials reporting a higher-than-expected number of cyclosporiasis cases this summer. While several outbreaks have been identified, investigators have yet to pinpoint a common source.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating clusters of infections in Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Some clusters have been linked to Mexican-style restaurants, a grocery chain and a catered event, but officials say there is no evidence yet that they are part of a single nationwide outbreak, CNN reported.

Meanwhile, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is tracing fresh produce, including white and green onions, cucumbers and cilantro, as potential sources of contamination.

Michigan has reported the largest outbreak so far. As of July 6, the state had confirmed 678 cases of cyclosporiasis, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The state typically records around 50 cases annually, making this year's outbreak more than 13 times higher than normal.

Ohio has also seen a sharp rise, reporting 177 cases as of July 2. Nearly 171 of those infections were recorded after June 20, with cases confirmed across 43 counties.

Nationally, excluding Michigan, the CDC reported 145 confirmed cases across 17 states between May 1 and June 16. At least 20 people have been hospitalized, though no deaths have been reported. Patients ranged in age from 5 to 86 years, with a median age of 42, and about 61% of cases were reported in women.

Why Is It So Difficult To Find The Source?

Experts say Cyclospora cayetanensis is much harder to trace than common foodborne bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella.

Investigators often rely on DNA fingerprinting to connect bacterial infections to contaminated food through laboratory networks such as PulseNet. However, this approach is far less effective for Cyclospora because the parasite has a far more complex genetic makeup, making it difficult to link cases to a single food item or supplier.

Dr. Max Teplitski, former head of the Division of Food Safety at the US Department of Agriculture and now chief science officer at the International Fresh Produce Association, said the parasite remains one of the most difficult foodborne pathogens to investigate, contributing to delays in identifying the outbreak source, CNN reported.

How To Prevent Cyclospora Infection

The CDC recommends the following precautions to reduce the risk of infection:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling fresh produce.
• Rinse fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting or cooking them.
• Do not rewash produce labeled "prewashed."
• Scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
• Cut away bruised or damaged portions before eating.
• Refrigerate cut, peeled or cooked fruits and vegetables within two hours.

Cyclospora spreads through food or water contaminated with human feces and is not transmitted directly from person to person.

Dr. Darien Sutton, an emergency medicine physician and ABC News medical correspondent, stressed that proper handwashing is essential because alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not effective against the parasite.

"This type of parasite doesn't easily go away with alcohol-based hand sanitizer. So, good old handwashing is really key here," Sutton said.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a recall of organic frozen blueberries sold at Publix stores across eight US states after they were linked to a potential outbreak of E. coli infections.

GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries were first recalled by Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. of San Carlos, Chile, which supplied the product to grocery chain Publix. Publix then recalled the frozen blueberries from its stores on July 3, 2026, according to a company statement.

According to FDA, the outbreak has resulted in 12 confirmed cases of E. coli-related gastrointestinal illness, including four hospitalizations. The FDA also said it has received reports of illness after consumers ate the frozen blueberries.

While many strains of E. coli are harmless, the bacteria involved in this recall is Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).

"E. coli O145 is a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) that can cause illness characterised by severe stomach cramps, diarrhoea (which may be bloody), and vomiting," the FDA said.

The agency added that although most healthy people recover within a week, some infections can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication that can cause kidney damage, particularly in young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

Which States Are Affected?

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The recalled blueberries were distributed to Publix stores in:

• Alabama
• Florida
• Georgia
• Kentucky
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Virginia

Which Blueberries Are Being Recalled?

The FDA advises consumers to check their freezers for the following product:

• Product: Frozen GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries
• Package Size: 10 oz
• Lot Code: 60401
• Best By Date: February 9, 2028

Consumers who have the affected product should not eat it. Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. said it is working closely with regulatory authorities and customers. The company has instructed all customers who received the affected lot to immediately isolate the product, stop distributing it, and notify any downstream customers.

What Is E. coli?

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a group of bacteria that normally lives in the intestines of humans and animals. Most strains are harmless and help with digestion. However, certain strains produce toxins that can cause serious illness when ingested through contaminated food or water.

What Happens During an E. coli Infection?

An E. coli infection most commonly affects the digestive system, causing:

• Watery diarrhoea
• Severe abdominal cramps
• Gastroenteritis
• Vomiting
• Mild fever
• Loss of appetite

Some infections, particularly those caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a potentially life-threatening condition that damages the kidneys.

How to Protect Yourself From E. coli

You can reduce your risk of E. coli infection by:

• Washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
• Handling raw and cooked foods separately.
• Cooking food, especially meat, thoroughly.
• Washing fruits and vegetables before eating.
• Drinking safe, clean water and avoiding unpasteurised products.