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.

A simple blood test that can accurately identify tuberculosis (TB) across people with different levels of exposure help earlier diagnosis and speedy treatment,, according to new research presented at the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM) 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting.

The study discovered that the experimental blood test can distinguish individuals with active tuberculosis from those who are healthy, regardless of whether they have had prior exposure to the disease.

Researchers say the findings could help address one of the biggest hurdles in TB control: identifying and tracing infectious patients before they unknowingly spread the disease.

"If validated in larger clinical studies, this test has the potential to transform tuberculosis screening by enabling earlier and more accurate detection of active disease," the study authors said. They observed that such a tool can significantly help control transmission, particularly in nations where TB still remains a public health issue.

Do We Need A Better TB Test?

Although TB is preventable and curable, delayed diagnosis continues to fuel transmission and contributes to deaths that are preventable.

Current diagnostic methods have important limitations. Sputum-based tests can be difficult to perform, especially in children and people with TB outside the lungs.

Meanwhile, commonly used blood tests can indicate exposure to the bacteria but cannot reliably distinguish between active disease and latent infection, meaning additional investigations are needed.

Also read: World Tuberculosis Day: A 2nd Surge In Tuberculosis Cases Again Seen In The US

About The New Blood Test For TB

According to the researchers, the new test examines the immune signatures in a blood sample to identify active tuberculosis, rather than merely detecting previous exposure.

In the study, the test successfully differentiated active TB cases from healthy individuals with varying degrees of TB exposure, suggesting it could be used as an effective screening tool across diverse populations.

The investigators emphasized that larger, multi-center studies are still needed before the test can become part of routine clinical practice. However, the early results point toward a faster and less invasive way of diagnosis.

Also read: Over 8 Million People Diagnosed With TB Last Month: Know Early Signs

Early Diagnosis Is Key

Early diagnosis is one of the most factors for controlling tuberculosis. Patients with untreated active TB can infect many others. A simple blood test that identifies active disease quickly could allow doctors to start treatment sooner, reduce transmission, and improve patient's health.

This could also be useful where resources are particularly limited. Places where collecting sputum samples is challenging and access to a sterile laboratory testing is limited can benefit from this blood test.

As blood samples are easier to obtain in many clinical situations, the test could help screen vulnerable populations, including children and people with extrapulmonary TB.

Public health experts have repeatedly stressed that improved diagnostics are essential for achieving the World Health Organization's End TB Strategy.

You May Carry TB And Not Know

Treating latent TB is like stopping the virus, while it's still small and easy to treat. It's much easier to kill the dormant germs than to fighting the active disease. You could be carrying the disease and not realise. This increases the risk of transmission.

A 2017 study published in the Viruses Journal explained that we all have slightly different versions of our genes (polymorphisms) and these differences can affect how our bodies react to any virus. Some gene variations might make your immune system stronger against a specific virus, while others might make you more vulnerable.

Michigan, the hardest-hit state in the ongoing nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak, has reported nearly 10,000 cases of the intestinal illness, which can cause severe, often "explosive," diarrhea, according to state health officials.

So far, the state has recorded 160 hospitalizations, with no deaths reported.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 6,707 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported since May 1.

The agency also said it is tracking more than 11,500 additional suspected cases that have not yet been laboratory confirmed or remain under investigation. Many of these reports have come from Michigan and Ohio.

What Did the FDA Probe Reveal?

A US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation has linked part of the outbreak to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants and supplied through Taylor Farms operations in central Mexico.

The FDA is continuing to investigate other potential sources of contamination. Taco Bell has stopped serving the affected lettuce, while Taylor Farms has voluntarily recalled dozens of iceberg lettuce products distributed across 27 states. The company also said it will no longer source iceberg lettuce from central Mexico for the remainder of the growing season.

The recalled lettuce has been linked to illnesses in five states—Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. However, investigators have not yet determined how many illnesses are directly connected to the recalled products.

Separately, the FDA is investigating another Cyclospora outbreak that is unrelated to the lettuce-linked cases. The second outbreak has sickened 72 people and has been traced to an unidentified food item. The agency said the source has "not yet been identified."

Could It Be More Than Lettuce?

Former CDC Director Robert Redfield told media that the US government may consider ending produce sourcing from central Mexico. He also suggested the outbreak may involve more than lettuce.

Officials are also investigating whether parsley and cilantro, in addition to lettuce, could be associated with the outbreak. The investigation is ongoing.

How to Check If Your Lettuce Is Safe

The FDA advises consumers to check salad and lettuce products purchased during the past week to determine whether they were sourced from Taylor Farms de Mexico in Guanajuato, Mexico.

The recalled retail products include:

• 12-ounce and 24-ounce Iceberg Salad with best-by dates between July 18 and Aug. 3
• 8-ounce and 16-ounce Shredded Lettuce with best-by dates between July 18 and Aug. 3

Consumers who purchased these products should throw them away or return them to the store where they were bought.

An additional 33 recalled lettuce products were distributed to restaurants and other food-service businesses and are unlikely to be found in home refrigerators. A complete list of recalled products is available on the FDA website.

At this time, no other lettuce varieties—including romaine or butter lettuce—have been linked to the outbreak, even if distributed by Taylor Farms. The company told Newsweek that, aside from the recalled iceberg lettuce, "no other Taylor Fresh Foods products across the country are impacted."

How To Reduce Your Risk

Health officials recommend:

• Avoid eating shredded iceberg lettuce linked to the recall.
• Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly under clean running water, even if they are labeled pre-washed.
• Follow safe food-handling practices.
• Stay updated on food recalls and outbreak alerts.
• Contact a healthcare provider if symptoms develop.

The Donald Trump administration plans to end Medicare Part D premium subsidies after 2026, ending a program that has helped keep prescription drug plan premiums stable, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The decision could affect millions of Americans, particularly those aged 65 and older, who may face higher prescription drug costs beginning next year.

The CMS said its review of insurers' 2027 bids found that health plans now have sufficient experience to accurately price Medicare Part D plans without government support, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Subsidy Program to End After 2026

The program, to end after 2026, provides insurance companies with an estimated $3.6 billion in subsidies this year to limit premium increases for Part D plans.

"We are stabilizing the market so this bailout is no longer needed. Premiums will go up by less than $10 for most ⁠Medicare recipients, with many even seeing lower premiums," CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said in a post on X.

"Every Medicare beneficiary still has access to low-cost plans, and we will continue to lower prescription drug prices for every American patient, from more MFN deals to our policy giving seniors access to GLP-1s for $50 a month,” he added.

Who Could Be Affected?

Around 25 million Americans enrolled in traditional Medicare have stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans, paying an average monthly premium of $36, according to KFF.

Another 31 million beneficiaries receive prescription drug coverage through Medicare Advantage, the privately managed alternative for people aged 65 and older.

The previous Biden administration had introduced the subsidy program ahead of the 2024 presidential election to offset policy changes that would have sharply increased Medicare Part D premiums in 2025.

Dr Oz said that the Biden administration’s approach was “unacceptable” and that it “gave BILLIONS of taxpayer money DIRECTLY to Big Insurance Companies.”

Uncertainty Over Premium Increases

However, it remains unclear how many beneficiaries will pay more or how large those increases will be. Premiums vary by plan, and beneficiaries will have an opportunity to compare and switch coverage during this fall's enrollment period. CMS said premiums for individual plans will be released in September.

AHIP, a major trade group representing health insurers, said it is reviewing the announcement, the New York Times reported.

“At a time of sharply rising prescription drug costs, health plans are focused on keeping Part D coverage and benefits as affordable as possible,” said Chris Bond, a spokesman, in a statement.

A Trump administration official told Bloomberg that the majority of older Americans will see no increase in premiums or may even pay less.

CMS Releases Preliminary 2027 Part D Details

CMS also released preliminary information on 2027 Medicare drug plan bids. The national average monthly bid amount, used to calculate government subsidies for plans, will be $296.05 in 2027.

The agency said the national base beneficiary premium for Medicare Part D will be $41.33 next year. Annual increases will remain capped at 6% through 2029 under provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act.