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.

Nearly 20 prescriptions for life-ending medication were reportedly issued in New York during the first month of its Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) law, according to a Columbia University bioethics expert.

However, state health officials have not yet released data showing how many patients actually used the medication.

New York’s Medical Aid in Dying Act took effect on August 5, making it the 14th US state to legalize medical aid in dying.

David Hoffman, assistant professor of professional practice in bioethics at Columbia University, told The New York Post that conversations with doctors, hospitals and organizations indicated that about 20 prescriptions had been issued since the law took effect.

“The state will have the data on a rolling basis. It’s an after-the-fact analysis,” Hoffman told The Post.

The New York State Department of Health has yet to release precise figures on the program’s use.

New York Assisted Suicide Law: Why Is It Controversial?

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The lack of publicly available data has drawn criticism from lawmakers who opposed the law. Upstate Republican Assemblyman Andrew Molitor told The New York Sun that New Yorkers should know how many people have requested and used medical aid in dying.

He said information should include patients’ socioeconomic status, insurance coverage, terminal condition, when prescriptions were filled and where the medication was administered.

Western New York Republican state Sen. George Borrello also criticized the wait for the state’s first annual report.

Critics have additionally raised concerns about whether the law could eventually be expanded. Borrello pointed to Canada, where medical assistance in dying was legalized in 2016.

Medical aid in dying remains controversial because it raises ethical, religious and moral questions. Critics warn about the potential coercion of vulnerable patients, while supporters emphasize personal autonomy and relief from prolonged, incurable suffering.

Medical aid in dying generally involves a patient voluntarily taking lethal medication prescribed by a doctor. Euthanasia, by contrast, involves a healthcare professional administering the lethal medication at the patient’s request.

Who Can Qualify For Medical Aid In Dying In New York?

Under New York’s law, patients must:

• Be at least 18 years old.

• Be a New York resident.

• Have a terminal illness with six months or less to live.

• Have the capacity to make an informed healthcare decision.

• Be physically capable of self-administering the medication.

• Receive approval from two physicians.

• Undergo a psychiatric evaluation when required to assess decision-making capacity.

• Make an oral request and provide an audio or video recording of that request.

The law also requires a five-day waiting period between obtaining and dispensing the prescription.

Medical aid in dying requires the patient to take the prescribed medication themselves. This differs from euthanasia, in which a healthcare professional administers the life-ending medication.

How Will New York Track The Program?

Also read: Can Right To Die Be Practiced By Non-Terminally Ill Patients?

The law requires the state health commissioner to submit an annual report to the Legislature detailing the program’s use.

Hoffman noted that doctors report when medication is prescribed, but the state may not immediately know whether a patient ultimately takes it.

A New York State Department of Health spokesperson told The Post that the department will publish an annual report with utilization data as required by law.

Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said end-of-life decisions are “deeply personal” and should be made individually in consultation with patients, doctors, families and loved ones. The department has also issued guidance and proposed regulations intended to prevent misuse or inappropriate application of the law.

Assisted-Dying Laws In Other Countries

The debate over medical aid in dying extends beyond New York and the US.

France’s National Assembly recently gave final approval to a bill that would allow certain adults with incurable illnesses to receive lethal medication, following years of debate over end-of-life care.

Assisted-dying legislation is also being debated in the UK, where a bill covering England and Wales is returning to Parliament.

Vitruvias Therapeutics’ thyroid medication, recalled nationwide in August, has been elevated to the highest risk level by the US FDA.

The recall was issued because the medication may be superpotent, potentially causing hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).

On Wednesday, the FDA updated the recall to Class I, its most serious recall classification. It applies when there is a “reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

Which Thyroid Tablets Have Been Recalled?

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The affected product is:

• Vitruvias Thyroid Tablets USP 30 mg
• Lot number: 504950
• Expiration date: September 30, 2026

In its August 24 recall notice, the company said the tablets were potentially superpotent.

Risks of Superpotent Thyroid Medicines

Millions of people with hypothyroidism rely on thyroid tablets every day to replace hormones their bodies cannot produce.

However, taking superpotent thyroid tablets can cause hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). It can force the body's metabolism into overdrive, speeding up organs and bodily functions.

Left untreated, this constant strain can cause serious health complications across multiple systems in the body.

In addition, people taking the medication can be at risk of

• weight loss,
• heat intolerance,
• fatigue,
• nervousness,
• muscle weakness,
• hypertension,
• chest pain,
• rapid heart rate,
• heart rhythm disturbances.

The lot was distributed nationwide in the US to Vitruvias Therapeutics’ direct accounts between January 31 and September 30, 2025. Of 3,655 units released, 1,955 were sold.

Read More: FDA Recalls Popular Thyroid Medication: What Levothyroxine Users Need to Know

Who Is At Greater Risk?

The company identified the following groups as being at greater risk from superpotent thyroid tablets:

• Elderly people
• Pregnant women
• Infants

Excess thyroid hormones in older adults have been associated with adverse outcomes, particularly those affecting the heart.

Vitruvias Therapeutics said it has not received any reports of adverse events known to be linked to the recall.

The company is notifying wholesalers to stop distributing the recalled product and arranging for its destruction.

What Should Patients Do?

Patients taking Thyroid, USP from Lot 504950 should not stop taking it without first contacting their healthcare provider for guidance and/or a replacement prescription.

Hypothyroidism vs Hyperthyroidism

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr Shruti Kotangale, Consultant Gynaecologist, Obstetrician and Infertility Expert at AIMS Hospital, Dombivli, explained that both conditions are commonly seen in women.

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid is underactive. Symptoms can include tiredness, weight gain, dry skin, hair fall, constipation, feeling cold, a slow heartbeat and low mood or depression.

Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid is overactive. Symptoms may include weight loss, a fast heartbeat, sweating, anxiety, tremors, irritability, frequent bowel movements and difficulty sleeping.

Women should seek medical attention and manage these symptoms without delay.

Common Symptoms Of Thyroid Disorders

Thyroid disorders may cause a range of symptoms, including:

• Fatigue
• Cognitive changes
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Sensitivity to cold
• Skin and hair changes
• Weight changes

How Is Thyroid Disease Diagnosed?

Diagnosis may involve:

• Physical examination: To check for swelling or nodules in the neck.
• Blood tests: These may measure TSH, T4 and T3 levels, along with thyroid antibodies when conditions such as Hashimoto’s disease or Graves’ disease are suspected.
• Ultrasound or thyroid scans may also be used to assess the thyroid’s structure.

American racing champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip has been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), his family has announced.

The 79-year-old former NASCAR driver and broadcaster will be stepping further away from public life following the diagnosis.

According to his family, Waltrip has FTD, which is being complicated by possible chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which they believe may be linked to injuries sustained during his racing career from 1972 to 2000.

“We wanted to share a health update with all of Darrell’s friends and fans who have supported him throughout his racing career. Recently, Darrell has been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) complicated by possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) — likely from injuries incurred during his racing career,” the family said in a statement.

The family said Waltrip currently has only “minor noticeable symptoms” and is “happy and otherwise healthy,” spending time with his wife, Stevie, and their two daughters.

Why Can Repeated Head Injuries Raise CTE Concerns?

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive brain disease believed to be associated with repeated head injuries. It has most commonly been studied in contact-sport athletes and military personnel exposed to repeated head trauma.

Experts are still studying how the number and severity of head injuries contribute to CTE risk. Importantly, not everyone exposed to repeated head injuries develops CTE, and the condition can currently be definitively diagnosed only after death through examination of brain tissue.

A 2026 study led by researchers at Boston University and Harvard Medical School found that roughly one in four former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE.

CTE And Racing

Although CTE has historically received considerable attention in American football and other contact sports, repeated head impacts can occur in motorsports as well.

Waltrip is not alone. NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen was diagnosed with CTE by researchers after he died in 2024.

What Is Frontotemporal Degeneration?

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Frontotemporal degeneration, also known as frontotemporal dementia (FTD), refers to a group of brain disorders that primarily affect the frontal and temporal lobes.

These areas are involved in personality, behavior, language, and other functions. Unlike Alzheimer's disease, memory loss may not be the first or most prominent symptom of FTD.

FTD can develop at a younger age than many other forms of dementia, sometimes affecting people in their 40s or 50s.

The condition can cause changes in:

• Personality and behavior
• Judgment and decision-making
• Emotional responses and empathy
• Speech and language
• Movement and coordination

What Are The Symptoms Of FTD?

Symptoms vary depending on which areas of the brain are most affected and generally worsen over time.

Behavioral Symptoms

• Personality and behavior changes
• Loss of empathy
• Poor judgment and impulsivity
• Socially inappropriate behavior
• Apathy or loss of interest
• Repetitive or compulsive behavior

• Difficulty finding words
• Trouble understanding speech or writing
• Difficulty naming objects
• Increasing difficulty speaking

• Tremors or stiffness
• Muscle weakness or spasms
• Poor balance and falls
• Difficulty swallowing
• Changes in speech or movement

Darrell Waltrip's Racing Legacy

Waltrip is one of NASCAR's most accomplished drivers, with 84 Cup Series victories and three Cup Series championships.

He won the Daytona 500 in 1989 and the Southern 500 in 1992. He also won the Coca-Cola 600 five times, making him the winningest driver in the race's history.

Waltrip later became a familiar voice in NASCAR broadcasting, working as a commentator for many years.