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.

Wegovy pill by Novo Nordisk is now under scrutiny after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raised concerns over a television advertisement. FDA said that the commercial includes "false and misleading" claims about the obesity drug's benefits.

In a letter (reported first by Bloomberg) dated February 5, the FDA said the advertisement misbrands the oral weight loss drug. FDA said that it made its distribution a potential violation of federal law. FDA has asked the Danish drugmaker to take immediate corrective action, which include:

• Pulling the ad
• Revising all advertisements that contain misleading statements

Wegovy Pill: FDA Questions Claims of Superiority and Emotional Benefits

As per the letter, the FDA found that the ad misleadingly suggests the Wegovy pill offers superior benefits when compared to other approved GLP-1 weight loss drugs. The regulator flagged phrases such as “live lighter” and “a way forward,” saying they imply greater weight loss and added advantages without evidence to support those claims.

The FDA also took issue with what it describes as emotional and psychological messaging, saying that the ad appears to imply benefits beyond physical weight loss, including emotional relief, reduced psychological burden, hope, or direction in life. FDA notes that this claim positions the drug as a solution to broader life challenges rather than just a treatment to obesity.

Furthermore, FDA said that the ad failed to adequately present risk information in both audio and text formats, which is mandatory requirement for television drug advertising.

Wegovy Pill: Novo Nordisk Responds To FDA Notice

Novo Nordisk confirmed on Monday that it has received the FDA’s letter. The company clarified that while the advertisement has been running since the pill’s launch, it is not linked to its Super Bowl advertising.

“We take all regulatory feedback seriously and are in the process of responding to the FDA to address their concerns regarding the advertisement’s presentation,” said Liz Skrbkova, Novo Nordisk’s head of US media and stakeholder relations, in a statement.

Novo Nordisk is already under pressure to defend its position in the weight loss market, as it is facing a stiff competition from rival Eli Lilly. Furthermore, on Monday, Novo also filed a lawsuit against telehealth company Hims & Hers, seeking to block the mass marketing of compounded versions of its Wegovy pill and injections.

Read: Wegovy Pills Now Available At Your Pharmacies, Here's What To Know About Its Usage

Wegovy Pill: How Effective Is It?

After injection by Novo Nordisk, of the same name, Wegovy, which has been on the market since 2021, its popularity grew so much that it was in short supply until February 2025. The pill version has now come out, which many experts believe will expand its accessibility. As the monthly supply of pill is expected to be cheaper than the monthly supply of the weight loss injection.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine show that a 25 milligram Wegovy pill led to 13.6% reduction in weight on average over 64 weeks. When compared to placebo, the result was only 2.2% of weight loss. Novo Nordisk says that those who stayed on the treatment and reduced their calorie intake, it would lead to a loss of 16.6% of their weight.

Wegovy Pill: What Are The Side Effects?

Digestive problems such as nausea and vomiting remain the most common side effects of GLP-1 drugs. These issues were also reported in studies of the pill versions. Around 7 percent of participants taking the Wegovy pill stopped treatment because of side effects, compared with 6 percent in the placebo group. In orforglipron’s trial, up to 10 percent of patients discontinued treatment, compared with 3 percent on placebo.

One key difference lies in how the medications are used. The Wegovy pill must be taken on an empty stomach with a small amount of water. Patients are advised not to eat, drink, or take other medicines for at least 30 minutes afterward. Doctors say this requirement has limited the use of Rybelsus, the pill form of semaglutide approved for diabetes, compared with Ozempic.

Two years before Jeffrey Epstein killed himself in his New York jail cell, he claimed that US President Donald Trump may be suffering from dementia.

The United States Department of Justice recently released more of the harrowing Epstein Files that lift the lid on years' worth of horrific crimes committed by the convicted American child sex offender, serial rapist and human trafficker.

Among the files, eagle eyed readers found an email sent to journalist and Trump biographer Michael Wolff on Dec. 29, 2017, where Epstein claimed that Trump has begun showing signs of memory loss during his first presidency after he failed to recognize some of his own friends.

In the email to the Landslide author, the convict wrote: "Some at dinner with donald last night, were concerned about dementia. tons of makeup. did not recognize old friends.”

And Epstein isn't alone. Former White House chief strategist and Trump associate, Steve Bannon allegedly believed the president had "early-stage dementia," according to former 60 Minutes producer Ira Rosen’s book Ticking Clock.

Bannon claimed that Donald “had no attention span, didn't read, and now doesn't listen. He said Donald repeats himself a lot, telling the same story minutes after he told it before," per Rosen's account, which the former chief strategist later denied.

The producer also claimed in the book that “Bannon tried to build support to have Trump removed” from office due to his concerns.

Family Members Say Trump Has Dementia

Mary Trump, a well-known critic of her uncle who frequently speaks about him on her YouTube channel, has implied that he could be suffering from Alzheimer's disease, noting similarities to her late grandfather, who also suffered from the neurodegenerative disease.

As per UK Express, Mary highlighted that she has seen resemblances to Fred Trump, Donald's late father and former real estate magnate, who battled Alzheimer’s before passing away in 1999 at the age of 93.

Speaking last year, Mary recounted witnessing her grandfather’s decline and suggested that Donald sometimes doesn’t seem “oriented,” pointing to a particular look. Talking about her grandfather, she told New York Magazine: "One of the first times I noticed it was at some event where he was being honored. And I looked at him and saw this deer-in-the-headlights look, like he had no idea where he was."

In further remarks, Mary said she now notices what the publication described as “flashes” of her grandfather in her uncle when she sees him on stage, pointing out the same “deer-in-the-headlights” expression.

She added: "Sometimes it does not seem like he's aware of time or place. And on occasion, I do see that deer-in-the-headlights look."

Trump Rejects Memory Loss Claims

Despite multiple reports, Trump and his team have consistently rejected such claims, noting that he has “aced” three cognitive tests and there is no possibility of him having Alzheimer's disease.

In a conversation with the New York Magazine, Trump also reflected on his father’s diagnosis: "He had one problem. At a certain age, about 86, 87, he started getting what do they call it?"

His press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, supplied the term for Trump, who referred to it as an “Alzheimer’s thing,” asserting that he did not “have it.” The health of the 79-year-old has been the subject of much public speculation recently, with observers noting bruises on his hands, what appear to be swollen ankles, and rambling speech.

READ MORE: New FDA Approved Blood Test Can Predict Alzheimer’s Disease Before Symptoms Appear

What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common forms of dementia and mostly affects adults over the age of 65.

About 8.8 million Indians aged 60 and above are estimated to being living with Alzheimer's disease. Over seven million people in the US 65 and older live with the condition and over 100,00 die from it annually.

Alzheimer's disease is believed to be caused by the development of toxic amyloid and beta proteins in the brain, which can accumulate in the brain and damage cells responsible for memory.

Amyloid protein molecules stick together in brain cells, forming clumps called plaques. At the same time, tau proteins twist together in fiber-like strands called tangles. The plaques and tangles block the brain's neurons from sending electrical and chemical signals back and forth.

Over time, this disruption causes permanent damage in the brain that leads to Alzheimer's disease and dementia, causing patients to lose their ability to speak, care for themselves or even respond to the world around them.

While there is no clear cause of Alzheimer's disease, experts believe it can develop due to genetic mutations and lifestyle choices, such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and social isolation.

Early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include forgetting recent events or conversations. Over time, Alzheimer's disease leads to serious memory loss and affects a person's ability to do everyday tasks.

There is no cure to this progressive brain disorder and in advanced stages, loss of brain function can cause dehydration, poor nutrition or infection. These complications can result in death.

Health officials in Washington, D.C. are warning that confirmed cases of measles may have spread during this year’s National March for Life rally and related events held in the capital late January. The annual anti-abortion gathering drew thousands of people to the National Mall and surrounding areas, raising concerns about potential large-scale exposure.

The D.C. Department of Health said it is actively working to identify individuals who may be at risk after learning that several people who later tested positive for measles were present in the city while contagious.

“DC Health was notified of multiple confirmed cases of measles whose carriers visited multiple locations in the District while contagious,” the agency said in a statement on Sunday. Officials are now contacting people who were at those locations during the exposure window.

Measles In DC: Transit Hubs and Campuses Among Exposure Sites

According to DC Health, potential exposure sites span a wide range of busy public locations between January 21 and February 2. These include Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Union Station, an Amtrak Northeast Regional train, and multiple stops within the city’s Metro subway system.

Health officials also flagged visits to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and Catholic University as part of the exposure timeline. Given the volume of visitors moving through these spaces daily, authorities say the risk of wider spread cannot be ruled out.

Measles In DC: Hospital Issues Public Health Notice

Children’s National Hospital has also issued a public health notice after a confirmed measles patient from Virginia visited its Emergency Department on February 2 while infectious. The hospital said it is coordinating with public health authorities to identify and notify anyone who may have been exposed during that time.

Measles is highly contagious and can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area, making hospital settings particularly vulnerable.

Measles In DC: Surge Across the United States

The situation in Washington comes as the United States faces its largest measles outbreak in decades. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 733 confirmed cases have been reported across 20 states so far this year. The CDC says about 95 percent of those cases involve people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

South Carolina remains one of the hardest-hit states. Its outbreak began in October 2025 and has now surpassed earlier outbreaks elsewhere in the country. State health officials reported 44 new cases on Friday, bringing the total to 920. While the pace of new cases has slowed slightly, officials continue to warn of possible exposure at public places such as a Target store in Taylors and a Social Security Administration office in Spartanburg, where the outbreak is centered.

Measles In DC: Vaccination Urged Amid Global Concern

Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz urged Americans to get vaccinated against measles. While recent federal policy changes have rolled back recommendations for some vaccines, guidance on measles immunization remains unchanged.

International health authorities are also watching closely. The World Health Organization’s Pan American Health Organization has invited U.S. officials to a meeting in April to review the country’s measles elimination status, which is now under threat.

D.C. health officials are urging anyone who may have been exposed and is not fully vaccinated, pregnant, or immunocompromised to contact a healthcare provider immediately.