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 US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified a new Cyclospora outbreak, which is not related to ongoing outbreaks in the country causing watery diarrhea and hospitalizations among thousands.

The agency said the outbreak has sickened 72 people and is linked to an unspecified product. The FDA said the source has "not yet been identified."

The announcement comes as the US continues to report one of its largest cyclospora outbreaks. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been 4,173 laboratory-confirmed and domestically acquired cases of cyclosporiasis across 41 states since May 1.

A total of 308 people with confirmed infections have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.

The CDC also reported 767 travel-associated cases during the same period, resulting in 33 hospitalizations and no deaths. These cases were linked to contaminated food or water consumed outside the US.

Lettuce-Linked Outbreak In 5 states

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, a Cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce distributed by Taylor Farms has sickened 7,664 people across Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia, with 160 hospitalizations.

Michigan has reported about 7,000 cases, while Ohio has recorded nearly 3,500 cases, according to the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department.

“I want to stress that our investigation continues, including into other potential sources and commodities for other clusters of illness,” said Kyle Diamantas, acting FDA commissioner. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. this week said the outbreak is “under control.”

Why Is It So Difficult To Find the Source?

Also read: Cyclospora Parasite Outbreak: Why You Should Avoid Packaged Salads and Go For Loose Greens

According to experts, Cyclospora infection caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis is much harder to trace than common foodborne bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella.

Investigators typically use DNA fingerprinting to connect bacterial infections to contaminated food through laboratory networks such as PulseNet. However, this method is much less effective for Cyclospora because the parasite has a more complex genetic makeup, making it difficult to link infections 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

Read More: Cyclospora Parasite Spreads to More US States: Foods to Avoid Right Now

The CDC recommends the following steps 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, emphasized that alcohol-based hand sanitizers are ineffective 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.

A relentless heatwave is sweeping across parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, pushing temperatures to dangerous levels and triggering widespread disruptions.

While France and Japan are battling scorching conditions and issuing health alerts, extreme heat in parts of Africa has reportedly killed camels, highlighting the growing human, environmental, and economic toll of intensifying climate extremes.

In addition, countries including Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal and Germany are also battling extreme heat and wildfire threats, while climate change is worsening wildfire risks in the US and Canada.

France Records Excess Deaths

A deadly heatwave in France in late June led to 5,764 excess deaths, according to updated data released by the country's public health agency.

The revised analysis found that 21,674 people died between June 17 and July 2, compared with the 15,910 deaths normally expected during the same period—a 36% increase in mortality.

Also read: World Brain Day: Climate Change Is Not Just Harming The Planet, It Could Also Be Affecting Your Brain

Japan Heatwave Leaves 14 Dead

Japan is also grappling with extreme temperatures. More than 450 people were taken to hospitals for heat-related illnesses in a single day in Tokyo—the highest daily figure since records began 16 years ago, emergency services said.

The update comes as the country endures a heatwave that has killed at least 14 people over the past week.

UK Issues Heat Health Alerts

The UK has issued yellow heat health alerts across central and southern England, with temperatures forecast to reach 30°C (86°F).

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned that the heat is expected to cause minor impacts on health and social care services while increasing risks for vulnerable people. The alerts remain in effect through Sunday as parts of the country continue to experience prolonged dry weather and drought conditions.

Read More: Europe Heatwave Causes 10,000 Excess Deaths; England, Wales Record 2,700 More Fatalities

Camels Struggle To Survive Extreme Heat

Camels, long regarded as the "ships of the desert," are also struggling with extreme heat in Africa.

The BBC reported that camel shepherds in Ethiopia's Afar region have observed blisters on camels' feet, watery eyes, and skin burns caused by scorching sand.

Research from Somalia found drought-related camel mortality affected nearly 46% of camel-owning households, while another study from Algeria reported a significant rise in camel deaths during summer heatwaves.

Scientists say prolonged heat and drought cause stress, dehydration, disease, and reduce access to water and vegetation essential for camel survival.

Europe Continues to Break Heat Records

According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), June 2026 was the hottest June ever recorded for western Europe and the second warmest globally.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said the heat has continued into July, fuelling wildfires in France and the Iberian Peninsula. Spain's Fabra Observatory recorded 40.5°C on July 8, the highest temperature in more than a century of observations.

"Heatwaves like this are what we expect to see in a changing climate," said John Kennedy, head of climate information at WMO.

"In the 50 years since the historic heatwave in 1976, Europe as a whole has warmed by around two degrees. It's one of the fastest warming continents and extremes of temperature have increased too."

Why Heatwaves Are So Dangerous

Heat is often called the "silent killer," with an estimated 489,000 heat-related deaths each year between 2000 and 2019.

"Prolonged exposure over several days, particularly when temperatures remain high at night, means the body enters each new day already stressed," said Lachlan McIver, Health Advisor at the WHO-WMO Climate and Health Joint Office.

According to scientists, climate change is driving increasingly severe heatwaves. A recent study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research found that warming ocean waters account for 50–64% of the increase in land heatwaves globally.

American R&B singer and songwriter Nivea has revealed that she is battling leukemia, a type of blood cancer that originates in the bone marrow, where the body produces blood cells.

The 44-year-old singer shared the news during an appearance on the Cadillac Chronicles interview series.

"I was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year, and I am so grateful to God," she said. "I've been going through treatment and everything is going great so far. And I expect it to continue. Amen. Amen. Amen. And I'm very grateful for life. It's so cliché to say, you know, you don't know the time nor the hour, and it's true."

She said living with gratitude has helped her through the diagnosis.

"I'm definitely back into my music. I'm going to school for audio engineering. I've always wanted to learn how to engineer and mix engineer in particular. But in general, just doing all the things, honey. Loving on my children and just being grateful."

Nivea rose to prominence in the early 2000s with a string of hit singles and earned a Grammy Award nomination for "Don't Mess With My Man."

What Is Leukemia?

Also read: Nara Smith's 2-Year-Old Daughter Diagnosed With Cancer; Why Childhood Cancer Remains A Global Concern

According to the Mayo Clinic, leukemia is a cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system.

It usually affects white blood cells, which are responsible for fighting infections. In people with leukemia, the bone marrow produces excessive abnormal white blood cells that do not function properly.

Treatment for leukemia depends on the type of leukemia and other factors, but several therapies are available to help manage the disease.

Types of Leukemia

The four main types of leukemia are:

• Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
• Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
• Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)

Nivea has not disclosed which type of leukemia she has.

Symptoms of Leukemia

Symptoms vary depending on the type of leukemia but commonly include:

• Fever or chills
• Persistent fatigue and weakness
• Frequent or severe infections
• Unexplained weight loss
• Swollen lymph nodes or an enlarged liver or spleen
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Recurrent nosebleeds
• Tiny red spots on the skin (petechiae)
• Excessive sweating, especially at night
• Bone pain or tenderness

How Common Is Leukemia?

Leukemia is the 10th most common cancer in the United States, accounting for about 3.2% of all new cancer cases.

Globally, leukemia cases increased by 28% between 1990 and 2021, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021).

An estimated 1.71 million people were living with leukemia worldwide in 2021. The disease is most commonly diagnosed in children aged 0-4 years and adults aged 70 years and older.

Who Is at Higher Risk?

While anyone can develop leukemia, certain factors may increase the risk:

• Previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• Smoking
• Exposure to industrial chemicals such as benzene
• Certain genetic disorders, including Down syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, neurofibromatosis and Shwachman-Diamond syndrome
• Family history of leukemia

Treatment Options

Treatment depends on the type of leukemia, the patient's age and overall health, and whether the cancer has spread. Common treatment options include:

• Chemotherapy: Uses drugs to destroy cancer cells.
• Radiation therapy: Uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells.
• Immunotherapy: Helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.
• Targeted therapy: Blocks specific molecules that help leukemia cells grow.
• Stem cell transplant: Replaces damaged bone marrow with healthy stem cells.
• CAR T-cell therapy: A form of immunotherapy in which a patient's T cells are modified to recognize and destroy cancer cells.