The current measles outbreak has gripped US states like Texas and New Mexico leaving people worried whether it would become a new pandemic. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services as of February 21, 90 cases were diagnosed in the last month in the South Plains area, with at least 77 of them were reported in children and teens under 17.

Measles is highly contagious and can be deadly. The outbreak, which started spreading in late January, has resulted in multiple hospitalizations, with at least nine confirmed cases and three probable cases as of early February. Health officials caution that at least one in five infected individuals will have to be hospitalized, highlighting the severity of the situation.

Misinformation surrounding vaccines and with the new Trump administration anti-vaccine campaigs, has causing parents to hesitate or refuse vaccination.

Furthermore, the country down under Australia is also witnessing a surge in measles cases as health officials in Sydney have issued an urgent alert, urging residents to watch for measles symptoms after an infected individual visited several places in Sydney over the last seven days.

Authorities report that the traveller had returned from South East Asia where there are ongoing outbreaks of measles.

What Are The Symptoms Measles?

Key symptoms of measles include fever, a runny nose, sore eyes, and a cough. Typically, a red, blotchy rash appears three to four days later, spreading from the head down to the body. Symptoms can manifest between 7 and 18 days after exposure.

Anyone who experiences these symptoms after potential exposure should immediately contact their doctor or emergency department. It is crucial to call ahead before visiting to avoid potentially exposing others in the waiting room. Dr. Selvey also highlighted that ongoing measles outbreaks are occurring in various parts of the world, making awareness and prompt action essential.

Why It Is Important To Get Vaccinated?

According to CDC everyone should get the MMR vaccine. It protects you from measles, mumps, and rubella. Getting vaccinated helps stop these diseases from spreading. There are two safe MMR vaccines available. They work the same way, so it doesn't matter which one you get. Kids can also get a shot that protects against chickenpox too, but this is only for children.

Who Should Get Vaccinated?

Kids Need Two Shots

All children should get two MMR shots. The first shot should be given when they are between 12 and 15 months old. The second shot should be given when they are between 4 and 6 years old. If needed, the second shot can be given earlier, but it must be at least 28 days after the first shot.

College Students Need to Be Protected

Students going to college or other schools after high school, need two shots if they are not already immune. The shots must be at least 28 days apart.

Adults Need at Least One Shot

Most adults need at least one MMR shot. Some adults need two shots, especially those who work in healthcare, travel a lot, or go to college. These people should get two shots, with 28 days between them.

Travelers Need to Be Extra Careful

Anyone traveling to other countries should make sure they are protected. Babies 6 to 11 months old should get one shot before traveling. Kids 12 months and older, teens, and adults need two shots, with 28 days between them.

Healthcare Workers Must Be Immune

People who work in healthcare should have proof that they are immune to measles, mumps, and rubella. If they are not immune, they need two MMR shots, spaced 28 days apart.

Women Thinking About Having Babies

Women who might get pregnant should talk to their doctor about the MMR vaccine. It's safe to get the shot while breastfeeding.

Panic has gripped the residents of two villages in Rajasthan's Salumbar district, where five children have reportedly died within five days. The reason: an unknown disease characterized by a sudden onset of fever that worsens rapidly, and claims the lives of children within 24 hours.

According to officials, the children who died were between 2 and 4 years old, and all of them developed high fever, convulsions, and vomiting before their condition worsened rapidly.

Besides the five children who died, another 8 children are reportedly showing similar symptoms of the unknown disease.

The incident has been reported from Ghata and Lalpura villages in Lasadiya block.

The Disease Yet To Be Identified

The deaths have created fear among villagers, who submitted a memorandum to the SDM and health officials, seeking immediate action and identification of the disease.

District officials, along with a medical team, have reached the villages. The District Collector has ordered an inquiry. Medical teams are currently stationed in the villages, according to local media reports. Blood samples and other tests are being conducted to check for viral infection, brain fever, or any seasonal illness.

After preliminary treatment, five of the eight children newly affected with the mystery illness were referred from Lasadiya CHC to Udaipur District Hospital. Meanwhile, three children were referred to Salumbar District Hospital.

"Seventeen teams have been deployed in Lalpura and Ghata villages. Around 562 families live in this area," said Dr. Dinesh Rai Sapela, Additional District Collector.

Health teams are also conducting door-to-door screening, as well as collecting blood samples. These samples have been sent to RNT Medical College in Udaipur for testing.

“The exact cause behind the deaths is not yet known. It could be a viral infection or a seasonal disease, but confirmation will only come after test results,” said BCMO Dr Sintu Kumawat.

Meanwhile, Gayatri Rathore, Principal Secretary of the Medical and Health Department, stated that the Chief Medical and Health Officer of the Salumbar district has been instructed to form teams of health workers to ensure intensive screening of children exhibiting fever symptoms—not only in the affected villages but also throughout Salumbar and its surrounding regions, media reports said.

“Immediate treatment will be provided to any child showing symptoms. Critically ill children are to be referred without delay to district hospitals or medical college facilities,” Rathore said.

Authorities have also initiated preventive measures against possible mosquito-borne diseases, including anti-larval activities, source reduction, and fogging operations in the affected areas.

The Delhi government has announced the expansion of the newborn screening program to improve long-term health outcomes of children.

The move is aimed at achieving near-universal screening at government health facilities and outreach centers, according to an official statement.

From the earlier mandated 1.5 lakh children, the government has expanded the Mission ANMOL (Advanced Newborn Monitoring for Optimal Lifecare) to 2.5 lakh infants to ensure early detection of congenital disorders, PTI news agency quoted the officials as saying.

“The scale-up would enable early identification and management of metabolic, endocrine, functional, and visible congenital conditions, improving long-term health outcomes,” said Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh.

Notably, the program will focus on timely intervention and follow-up care for conditions such as

• congenital hypothyroidism,
• congenital heart defects,
• hearing impairment,
• retinopathy of prematurity.

What Is Mission ANMOL

Mission ANMOL was announced by the Delhi government on March 24, 2026, during the Delhi Budget session 2026–27.

Under the ANMOL scheme, 56 types of tests will be conducted using a single drop of blood from newborns, completely free of cost in both public and private hospitals.

Delhi Chief Minister, while presenting the Budget, said the scheme aims to ensure that such tests are not seen as a burden.

"Children are dear to all, they are ‘anmol' (translated as invaluable). To prevent genetic disorders, which are extremely expensive to treat, we are launching this scheme," the Chief Minister said.

Also read: Cancer Is The 10th Leading Cause Of Death In Indian Children: Study

How Will Mission ANMOL Work?

Mission ANMOL will adopt a technology-driven and integrated approach aligned with national guidelines to make comprehensive newborn screening a standard practice across Delhi's public health system.

To support implementation, the government has approved 148 positions under the program, including continuation of 73 existing staff and addition of 60 staff nurses and 15 optometrists, according to officials.

The nurses will assist in sample collection, especially for pre-term and critically ill infants, and help coordinate care and transport, while optometrists will support screening for retinopathy of prematurity, they said.

The initiative will also strengthen coordination among hospitals, laboratories, and program units to ensure all newborns are screened before discharge, with special emphasis on high-delivery-load hospitals and neonatal intensive care units.

Singh said the expanded program reflects the government's commitment to strengthening neonatal healthcare and ensuring that no child is left behind.

Also read: 41 million children aged 5-19 living with high BMI in India: Study

Why Newborn Screening Is Important?

Newborn screening can find the disease before the baby looks sick, and enable early treatment and possible cure for many genetic and metabolic diseases.

Genetic disorders can be life-threatening, impact growth, and even lead to physical and intellectual disabilities. The early screening tests detect hidden conditions early, preventing irreversible brain damage or physical disabilities.

Screening within 24 to 72 hours of birth can provide early access to medical care.

The screening test typically collects a blood sample from the heel of the baby by pricking, and the sample is sent to a laboratory for a biochemical test for screening of inherited conditions.

South Africa's National Department of Health has announced that it has received a first consignment of 37,920 doses of the groundbreaking, six-monthly HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir.

Lenacapavir is the first twice-yearly injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) product that can help tackle the burden of HIV worldwide.

South Africa has the world's largest HIV-positive population of approximately 8 million people, with over 6 million currently on antiretroviral treatment.

“The department will, in the next few weeks, announce the official launch of this game changer where the phased implementation plan will be outlined,” said department spokesperson Foster Mohale, in a statement.

"Lenacapavir is preventive medicine, not a vaccine, considered one of the most exciting HIV prevention advances in years," Mohale said.

The Department noted that the medicine is expected to be sustain nearly half a million people in South Africa over the next two years, the statement said, adding that is will be officially rolled out in May.

Notably, the initial phase will target high-incidence districts and vulnerable groups.

What Is Lenacapavir?

Lenacapavir is a critical tool for reaching the Global AIDS Strategy goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Lenacapavir injection as an additional PrEP option offers a highly effective, long-acting alternative to daily oral pills and other shorter-acting options.

With just two doses per year, lenacapavir is a transformative step forward in protecting people at risk of HIV -- particularly those who face challenges with daily adherence, stigma, or access to health care.

Marketed under the brand name Yeztugo, lenacapavir, developed by global pharma major Gilead Sciences, costs $28,218 per person per year.

However, it is being provided to South Africa through a $29-million USD grant from the Global Fund.

The shot was tested in two major studies involving high-risk groups: one with young women and teenage girls in South Africa and Uganda, and another with gay men and gender-diverse individuals in several countries. In both cases, the results were striking.

The women who received the shot had zero new HIV infections, compared to around 2% in those on daily pills. In the second study, the twice-yearly shot proved just as effective for men and gender non-conforming individuals.

“This really has the possibility of ending HIV transmission,” said Greg Millett of amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research.

Lenacapavir: How Does It Work?

Yeztugo is administered as two small injections in the abdomen, forming a medication "depot" that slowly releases the drug into the body over six months.

However, people must test negative for HIV before receiving it, as it doesn’t treat existing infections or prevent other sexually transmitted diseases.

Lenacapavir: Why Access Is A Challenge?

Despite its potential, concerns remain over who will actually benefit from lenacapavir.

In the US, only about 400,000 people currently use any form of PrEP — a small fraction of those who could benefit. And structural issues like cuts to public health funding, limited insurance access, and stigma pose significant barriers.

Globally, the challenge is even greater. While Gilead has struck deals with six generic drug makers, including four Indian, to provide low-cost versions of the shot for 120 low-income countries, critics argue that middle-income nations have been left out.

UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima noted that at current prices, the shot “will change nothing” for many who need it.