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.

The UK is seeing a rise in COVID-19 infections ahead of winter, with the XFG variant, also known as Stratus, among the circulating strains.

Cases, hospital admissions and deaths have increased, while flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are also concerns heading into the colder months.

COVID Cases And Deaths Rise In UK

Latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data show around 2.46 COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people each week.

The UK recorded 3,942 confirmed cases in October so far, compared with 4,589 in September and 1,374 in August.

People aged 85 and older remain the most vulnerable, with almost 27 hospital admissions per 100,000 people, more than 10 times the national average. Around 13.5% of this age group tested positive, compared with 8.8% across all age groups.

COVID-19 deaths rose 46.4%, from 28 to 41, in the week ending October 2. Cases increased 13.5% in the week to October 7, according to UKHSA data.

Unusual COVID Symptoms: Red And Itchy Eyes

Also read: XFG Variant In Spain: COVID-19 Cases Rise Amid Respiratory Infection Surge

A persistent cough, fever and sore throat are familiar COVID-19 symptoms. However, eye irritation and conjunctivitis may also signal infection, pharmacist Noel Wicks told The Mirror.

“The COVID-19 virus can enter the body through our eyes where it may cause symptoms.”

Wicks said conjunctivitis, which causes red, irritated and sometimes sticky eyes, can occur even without other COVID-19 symptoms.

“Clinical studies have demonstrated that conjunctivitis (red eye) is present in people who test positive for coronavirus, with rates of conjunctivitis ranging from 2% to over 14%, even if people don’t have any other COVID symptoms. In fact, conjunctivitis can be the first and/or the only symptom of COVID,” he said.

Research involving 6,308 people found that approximately 11% of COVID-19 patients experienced eye symptoms. These included conjunctivitis, dryness, redness, watering and itching.

Signs Of COVID-Related Conjunctivitis

Read More: XFG COVID Variant: What India Should Watch As Cases Rise In UK And France

According to Wicks, symptoms may include:

• Pink or red whites of the eyes
• Sore or inflamed eyelids
• Gritty, itchy eyes
• White or yellow discharge

“These symptoms need to be tackled very quickly,” he said.

There is no established evidence that XFG causes eye symptoms more frequently than other COVID-19 variants. Allergies, bacterial infections and other viruses can also cause eye irritation, so these symptoms alone cannot confirm COVID-19.

How To Manage Eye Irritation

Wicks recommends gently cleaning the eyes, avoiding rubbing them and temporarily stopping contact lens use and eye makeup until symptoms improve.

“Make sure to keep your eyes clean by washing them gently with a clean flannel to remove any crusts. Don’t rub your eyes as this can transfer infection from your hands to your eyes. Remove contact lenses and don’t wear eye makeup until the infection is better,” he advised.

Persistent irritation warrants advice from a healthcare professional. Eye pain, sensitivity to light or changes in vision require urgent medical assessment.

READ: Japanese Study On 778,000 People Links COVID-19 To Higher Allergy Drug Use

What Is The COVID XFG Variant?

XFG, also known as Stratus, is a recombinant Omicron lineage formed when two Omicron sub-lineages combined. The World Health Organization classified it as a variant under monitoring in 2025 because of its growth advantage.

Although XFG carries mutations in its spike protein, studies suggest its ability to evade immunity differs only slightly from that of other JN.1 descendants.

There is no evidence that XFG causes more severe illness than other circulating Omicron variants. However, increased transmission can still raise hospital admissions by increasing the overall number of infections.

Fatty liver disease, which affects nearly 30% of adults worldwide, may comprise five biologically distinct subtypes, according to new research.

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic and Virginia Tech in the US found that each subtype may carry different risks of liver failure, cancer, heart disease and other serious complications.

The study, published in Nature Communications, suggests that metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) can develop through different biological pathways. Some are closely linked to obesity and diabetes, while others appear to be driven by inherited genetic factors.

The findings suggest that genetic forms of the disease may progress to advanced liver damage even in people without typical metabolic risk factors.

Why Fatty Liver Disease Can Be Dangerous

Also read: NAFLD to MASLD: Experts Explain Why This Common Yet Dangerous Liver Condition Got Renamed

MASLD, previously known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, develops when excess fat accumulates in the liver. Many people experience no noticeable symptoms, allowing the condition to go undetected for years.

Although the disease does not always cause serious complications, it can progress to inflammation, scarring and permanent liver damage. In advanced cases, it may lead to cirrhosis, in which extensive scarring impairs liver function.

MASLD is a major contributor to cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver transplantation worldwide. Understanding why some patients develop severe complications while others do not is therefore an important research priority.

Genetic Analysis Reveals Five Distinct Subtypes

To investigate the differences, the researchers analyzed genetic sequencing results alongside detailed medical records from more than 4,600 patients with MASLD.

The data included liver enzyme measurements, body mass index, blood lipid levels and other indicators of metabolic health. The researchers also examined coexisting conditions, including diabetes, depression and sleep apnea.

Using computational models, they identified five groups of patients who shared distinct biological characteristics. The findings suggest that people with the same MASLD diagnosis may have different underlying disease processes and risks of complications.

“When clinical and genomic data are analyzed together at this scale, you begin to see patterns of disease progression that would otherwise remain hidden,” said Shulan Tian, Ph.D., co-senior author and a bioinformatician at Mayo Clinic. “Once you separate these subtypes, you can start to match treatments to the biology that's actually driving the disease.”

Links to Depression, Sleep Apnea and Migraines

Read More: Lancet Study Shows Metabolic Liver Disease To Rise Over 38% By 2050: What’s Behind The Surge

The findings also suggest that the differences between MASLD subtypes extend beyond the liver.

Researchers identified associations between specific subtypes and conditions such as depression, sleep apnea and migraine. These links suggest that the biological processes underlying some forms of fatty liver disease may also be associated with health problems affecting other parts of the body.

However, the findings do not establish that MASLD directly causes these conditions.

Could the Findings Improve Treatment?

Identifying distinct subtypes could eventually help doctors recognize high-risk patients earlier, improve screening and develop more personalized treatment strategies.

Eric Klee, a research and innovation leader at Mayo Clinic, said the approach could help researchers better understand disease progression and identify opportunities to intervene before severe damage occurs.

The team plans to evaluate the findings in larger and more diverse patient populations and investigate whether the subtypes respond differently to treatments, including GLP-1 receptor agonists.

If further studies validate the results, the research could help move MASLD care toward earlier intervention and treatments tailored to the biological processes driving each patient's disease.

Even as Republicans struggle to win over female voters two weeks before the midterm elections, US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order backed by First Lady Melania Trump to advance the health of women in America.

The initiative will establish a new Division of Women’s Health within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a Women’s Health Task Force within the White House.

The executive order aims to advance women’s health by ensuring that medical research, diagnosis, prevention and treatment reflect the highest-quality scientific evidence, to improve health outcomes at every stage of life.

“Our mission must serve women at every stage of life, from young girls just starting out to mothers dealing with a complex range of responsibilities, to mature women who deserve to have vitality, dignity and independence,” the first lady said.

Trump called the announcement “a big deal” and credited himself with introducing a new initiative. “When I heard about it, I said, ‘Are you sure they don’t have that?’” the president said. “Who the hell wouldn’t have a women’s health division?”

Is This the First US Women’s Health Research Initiative?

Also read: EXCLUSIVE: Ex-CDC Vaccine Advisor Says Measles Outbreak Bigger Than Reported, Slams RFK Jr’s ‘No-See Evil’ Approach

The US has had a dedicated office for women’s health research since 1990, when the Office of Research on Women’s Health was established at the NIH during President George H.W. Bush’s administration.

In April 2025, a few months after Trump took office, the Department of Health and Human Services decided to slash funding for the Women’s Health Initiative, a long-running, taxpayer-funded study of a broad range of women’s health issues that began in the 1990s. Officials restored the funding after a public outcry.

“These studies represent critical contributions to our better understanding of women’s health,” Emily G. Hilliard, a department spokeswoman, said at the time.

The new division will operate in coordination with the existing Office of Research on Women’s Health rather than replace it. Under the order, it must be established within an appropriate NIH institute or center within 90 days.

The White House said the move is intended to broaden the government’s focus beyond research and prioritize translating scientific discoveries into clinical care for women and girls.

What Are Melania Trump’s Five Pillars of Women’s Health Innovation?

Read More: Nearly 4,000 Measles Cases In US: CDC Director Says MMR Vaccine Is ‘Absolutely Safe’

Melania highlighted her “First Lady’s Five Pillars of Women’s Health Innovation,” which outline the initiative’s proposed approach:

1. Direct research funding: Support research aimed at finding cures for conditions that uniquely affect women.
2. Use artificial intelligence: Leverage advanced AI capabilities to improve understanding of female biology and accelerate medical discoveries.
3. Speed up treatment development: Accelerate the transition of promising therapies from laboratories to female patients while maintaining strict safety standards.
4. Improve access and affordability: Ensure medical breakthroughs are accessible and affordable to women, regardless of their financial circumstances.
5. Encourage open conversations: Replace generations of silence with open discussion, education and compassion around women’s health.

The Women’s Health Task Force will work in collaboration with the private sector to advance new technologies and solutions for women’s health.

It aims to develop high-quality, scientifically supported medical information and care while advancing new treatments, therapies and cures for women.

It will be led by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who recently completed treatment for breast cancer, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

While Trump said the panel will coordinate with various federal agencies and programs, the executive order does not specify funding targets.

Which Health Conditions Will the New Division Study?

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the division will study conditions that uniquely or disproportionately affect women, including:

• Cardiovascular disease and cancer
• Autoimmune and inflammatory conditions
• Chronic pain
• Endometriosis and fibroids
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Infertility and menopause
• Alzheimer’s disease and osteoporosis.