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.

In a landmark decision, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Moderna's first mRNA-based seasonal influenza vaccine.

This makes it the first flu shot developed on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology to receive clearance in the United States.

The vaccine, branded mFlusiva, has been approved for adults over the age of 50 and older, paving the way for a new generation of influenza vaccines beyond the traditional egg-based approach.

Who Is Eligible To Receive The Vaccine?

The approval has given Moderna commercial drug built on the mRNA platform that powered its COVID-19 vaccine. The development is expected to strengthen the company's efforts to grow its respiratory vaccine portfolio.

According to the FDA, the following groups of people are eligible to receive mFlusiva:

• Traditional approval for adults aged 50 to 64 years.
• Accelerated approval for adults aged 65 years and older, requiring Moderna to conduct additional studies to confirm the vaccine's benefit in this age group.

Also read: Ebola Outbreak: Moderna Begins First Human Trial Of Bundibugyo Vaccine As Cases Rise to 3,748

What Did The Trial Show?

The approval was based on a late-stage clinical trial involving more than 40,000 adults aged 50 years and above. According to trial results, mFlusiva was:

• 26.6% more effective than a licensed standard-dose flu vaccine in preventing influenza.
• It also produced stronger immune responses than Sanofi's high-dose flu vaccine in adults aged 65 years and older, although Moderna will now need to verify whether this translates into better real-world protection for seniors.

Commenting on the approval, Moderna said, "Flu remains a significant public health challenge, and mFlusiva provides an important new option for America's seniors."

Earlier this year, Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel had expressed confidence that the vaccine could become available ahead of the 2026-27 flu season if approved by regulators.

Also read: Protective Antibodies Fade After COVID-19 Vaccination- Should You Get A Booster Shot?

Why mRNA Could Revolutionise Flu Vaccination?

Unlike traditional flu vaccines, which are developed using viruses grown in chicken eggs, mRNA vaccines work by transmitting genetic instructions that alert the body's cells to produce harmless influenza proteins for an immune response.

Traditional flu vaccines must be designed and manufactured months before the flu season begins, requiring scientists to predict which influenza strains will circulate. If the circulating viruses keep evolving differently, the effectiveness of the vaccine can decline.

mRNA technology has a major advantage because it can potentially be updated and manufactured much faster, allowing vaccines to better match the strains that are spreading during a particular season.

In February 2026, the FDA initially declined to review Moderna's application, citing concerns that the company had compared its vaccine against a standard-dose flu shot rather than the high-dose vaccine commonly recommended for older adults.

After discussions with regulators, Moderna revised its submission, and the FDA agreed to proceed with the review under a condition that included additional studies for older patients.

Experts say the FDA's decision represents more than the approval of a single vaccine. It marks the first regulatory endorsement of mRNA technology for seasonal influenza, a milestone that could accelerate the development of next-generation vaccines against various infectious diseases.

Even as the US battles a Cyclospora outbreak that has caused two deaths and thousands of illnesses, the country is now grappling with a multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to Mexican jalapeño peppers.

The outbreak has sickened 345 people across 27 states and hospitalized 36, prompting recalls and renewed concerns over food safety. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has urged businesses to check their inventory for recalled jalapeño peppers and stop selling or serving them.

Outbreak Linked to Jalapeños from Mexico

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC, along with state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Javiana infections linked to jalapeño peppers grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors to distributors, restaurants, and food service companies, including Mexican-style restaurants across the US.

According to the CDC, illnesses began between June 19 and July 20. Of the 191 people interviewed, 177 (93%) reported eating at a Mexican-style restaurant before becoming ill, including Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA, with meal dates ranging from June 14 to July 14.

Source Identified, Restaurants Take Action

The CDC said epidemiological and traceback investigations identified jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico, distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors, as the source of the outbreak.

After being notified, Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA stopped serving the affected jalapeño peppers. The CDC and FDA said there is no ongoing risk to consumers at these establishments, as the products have been removed.

Coast Citrus Distributors has also agreed to recall the affected jalapeño peppers.

The CDC estimates Salmonella cause about 1.35 million infections in the United States every year. Contaminated food is the source for most of these illnesses.

Recalled Product

• Jalapeño peppers
• Distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors
• Grown in Sinaloa, Mexico

What Consumers Should Do

The recalled jalapeño peppers were primarily distributed to restaurants and wholesalers. Consumers should check with the place where they purchased or consumed jalapeños to confirm their source.

The FDA is investigating whether the affected peppers were also sold in grocery stores. If additional retail recalls are identified, the agency will announce them on its recalls page.

If you have recalled jalapeño peppers at home, do not eat them.

Symptoms of Salmonella Infection

Salmonella illness usually develops 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated food and typically lasts four to seven days.

Common symptoms include:

Diarrhea

Fever

Abdominal cramps

Children under 5 years, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of developing severe illness.

When to Seek Medical Care

Contact a healthcare provider if you experience:

Diarrhea with a fever higher than 102°F

Diarrhea lasting more than three days without improvement

Bloody diarrhea

Vomiting that prevents you from keeping liquids down

Signs of dehydration, including:

Urinating less than usual

Dry mouth and throat

Dizziness when standing

Advice for Businesses

• The health officials also advised businesses to:
• Stop selling or serving recalled jalapeño peppers.
• Wash and sanitize all items and surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled product.
• Follow the FDA's advisory for additional guidance.

A family trip to the beach ended in a painful ordeal for a 27-year-old man after he suffered third-degree burns after unknowingly stepping on sand that had been heated by a disposable barbecue.

The incident has prompted burn specialists to warn that the hidden danger can remain long after the flames have been extinguished.

What Happened?

The incident occurred at Cefn Sidan Beach in Carmarthenshire, Wales, where Sam Knight had arrived to spend the day with his family.

According to local reports, Knight moved the disposable barbecue with tongs and poured water over it to extinguish the residual flame before leaving.

Believing the area was safe, he later walked barefoot over the same spot, only to step onto extremely hot sand beneath the surface.

"I instantly knew something wasn't right. I couldn't stand on my feet," Knight recalled.

Family members had to carry him off the beach before he was taken to hospital for treatment. He was later referred to a specialist burns unit and was unable to work for two weeks while recovering.

Knight said he shared his experience to raise awareness about a hazard many beachgoers may not think about.

"I didn't realise the sand could stay that hot after the barbecue had been put out. I just don't want anyone else to go through what I did."

Also read: Europe Swelters Under Heatwave And Wildfires; 360,000+ Evacuated: What Are The Health Risks?

Why Hot Sand Can Be More Dangerous Than The Barbecue?

Burn specialists say the barbecue itself is not always the greatest risk. But the sand beneath it can absorb and retain extreme heat, remaining hot enough to cause third-degree burns even after the barbecue has been removed.

David Fligelstone, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Swansea Bay University Health Board's Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, warned that people often underestimate how long the heat can remain trapped.

"The sand underneath a disposable barbecue can stay dangerously hot even after the barbecue has been removed. People assume it's safe because they can't see the heat, but the injury can be severe," he said.

Also read: UK, France Brace for Another Heatwave: How Hot Weather Can Affect Medicines

How To Stay Safe?

These burns typically require specialist medical care and can take weeks or even months to heal. Burns affecting the feet are particularly concerning because they can make walking difficult and increase the risk of infection.

Experts recommend a few simple precautions when using disposable barbecues:

• Never place a disposable barbecue directly on sand.
• Use a suitable stand or designated barbecue area whenever possible.
• Allow the barbecue to cool completely before disposing of it.
• Do not bury hot coals or cover them with sand, as the heat can remain trapped beneath the surface.
• Keep children and pets away from areas where a barbecue has recently been used.
• If you are not sure whether sand is safe, avoid walking barefoot around area.