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.

Eleven forms of cancer are becoming increasingly common among young people in England. Experts at the Institute of Cancer Research and Imperial College London stressed that cancer among younger people is still rare, and that everyone can reduce their risk by simply switching to a healthier lifestyle. However, why tumours have started to develop in people in their late teens, or in their 20s, 30s and 40s, remains unclear. The study further shows that the reasons behind rising cancer cases are elusive. However, this research does indicate a decade-long pattern of people becoming overweight.

Why does one develop cancer?

A team of scientists worked towards understanding why a person develops cancer. They examined national trends in lifestyle and cancer to identify patterns. Researchers found that cases of the following types of cancer were rising:

1. Liver
2. Kidney
3. Thyroid
4. Bowel
5. Multiple myeloma
6. Womb lining
7. Mouth
8. Ovarian
9. Breast
10. Gallbladder
11. Pancreatic

Researchers found that breast and bowel cancers are common among younger adults, with 11,500 cases in a year, while gallbladder and pancreatic cancers were much rarer. It was also noted that ovarian and bowel cancers were exclusively being reported in young people, whereas the other nine were increasing in adults as well. The study by the Institute of Cancer Research and Imperial College London also analysed behavioural patterns known to raise cancer risk.

Researchers also found patterns related to alcohol intake, smoking levels, red and processed meat consumption, and diets low in fibre. These factors play a role in cancer development, but do not conclusively explain why cancer rates are increasing. Century-old tumour patterns, however, may explain why younger people are getting bowel cancer.

How to check for bowel cancer risk?

The report suggested that the only factors that align with an increased risk of cancer are obesity and being overweight, both of which have been on the rise since the 1990s. Extra fat tissue can alter hormones such as insulin, which can increase cancer risk. For instance, in the case of bowel cancer, for every 100 extra cases, 20 could be attributed to excess weight, while 80 remain unexplained. Researchers also note that it is important to prevent all cancers, not just the additional cases. It is estimated that nearly 40 per cent of cancers worldwide can be prevented through appropriate lifestyle choices, such as quitting smoking.

How to reduce cancer risk?

Quitting smoking and avoiding alcohol are among the simplest and most well-known ways of reducing cancer risk. However, experts say that other measures can also help. Maintaining a healthy body weight and staying physically active are simple ways to reduce cancer risk. Researchers also emphasise that while cancer rates are rising among younger people, the risk of tumours remains significantly higher in older age groups.

Researchers found that one in 1,000 people aged 20, 30 and 40 are diagnosed with cancer every year, compared to one in 100 among older age groups aged 50, 60 and 70. The search for other risk factors continues. Inflammation, sweetened drinks, gut bacteria, and air pollution must be addressed in time to reduce cancer risk. It is also being investigated whether improvements in cancer detection are contributing to earlier diagnoses in younger individuals.

The study’s findings are published in the BMJ Oncology.

Cervical cancer is a slow-developing cancer that occurs in the lower part of the uterus. It is caused by a persistent HPV infection, which usually occurs in women in their prime. Some of the symptoms of cervical cancer include pelvic pain and abnormal bleeding. Experts say that timely detection through a Pap smear or prevention with an HPV vaccine can make a difference. However, according to a study published in The Lancet, high-income countries are on the right track to eliminate cervical cancer.

What causes cervical cancer?

The study published in The Lancet notes that high-income countries are on the right track towards cervical cancer prevention through vaccination and screening. By 2048, low- and middle-income countries will see only slight reductions over the next century. As a result, the gap between regions will likely widen dramatically. Experts have found that 99 per cent of cervical cancer cases are linked to infection with human papillomaviruses (HPV), a virus that is transmitted through sexual contact.

Preventing cervical cancer

Cervical cancer, according to experts, can be prevented through the HPV vaccine and regular screenings. The elimination target set by the World Health Organization is fewer than four cases per one lakh women. Every country, as per the WHO, must meet the ‘90-70-90’ targets by 2030. This means 90 per cent HPV vaccine coverage among girls by the age of 15, 70 per cent of women screened between the ages of 35 and 45, and 90 per cent of women with pre-cancer and cancer treated. This would be considered being on track for cervical cancer elimination in the coming century.

Researchers note that reaching the WHO targets for screening and vaccination, for HPV elimination, or for introducing universal vaccination with high coverage, is essential for the elimination of cervical cancer. This could help bridge global inequalities in disease management. Achieving the 90-70-90 goal can avert 37 million cancer cases by the next century, thereby accelerating progress in eliminating the disease. The model, however, suggests that most countries are unlikely to reach the target without increasing investments in this direction.

The research model

Researchers proposed five HPV-centric prevention strategies. Under a status quo model, cervical cancer incidence could decline by 23 per cent, consequently leading to inequalities in disease management. Experts found that achieving 90 per cent vaccination coverage in low- and middle-income countries would reduce inequalities and help eliminate cancer. Research authors also noted that recent advancements, such as single-dose vaccines at a lower cost, could accelerate cervical cancer elimination worldwide.

Global efforts from international agencies and governments are also important. A September 2022 study published in The Lancet Oncology found that a single-dose cervical cancer vaccine with lasting protection and 90 per cent coverage could prevent 78 per cent of cancer cases in India.

After a long day at work, the occasional glass of wine helps many people unwind. However, some struggle to strike a balance and get involved in binge drinking habits. If you are someone who is unable to give up that frequent dose of cocktails, then a study claims that weight loss drugs can come to your rescue. Experts have found that alcoholics who are obese, when given Wegovy, could curb their drinking habits by as much as 70 per cent. A study in Denmark was led by experts from the Mental Health Centre Copenhagen and Frederiksberg Hospital, and experts used semaglutide on 108 obese patients seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder.

Can weight loss drugs help curb drinking habits?

Half the participants in the study were given 2.4 mg of the drug for six months. The other half were also given a dummy drug. Researchers found that people who were on weight loss drugs had fewer days of binge drinking. Furthermore, their alcohol cravings also dipped compared to people on placebo. Before the trial began, participants engaged in binge drinking on an average of 17 days per month.

Researchers also noted that people who were given semaglutide for six months saw their binge drinking days reduce to five in a 30-day period. This correlated to a 40 per cent dip in drinking days in a month, compared to a 26 per cent dip in the placebo group. These dummy drugs helped reduce drinking days to nine. In terms of alcohol quantity, trial participants drank roughly 2,200 g in the 30 days before the trial started. This meant about 154 drinks in a month, or five per day. Over a period of six months after the trial, there was an impressive 70 per cent dip — from an average of 154 drinks a month to 46 drinks a month in people who were taking semaglutide.

What are the benefits of semaglutide?

Alcohol consumption dipped by an impressive 47 per cent in the dummy drug group as well. The study found that overall alcohol consumption can be reduced among semaglutide users compared to people who were taking the placebo. Researchers found that semaglutide not only affects appetite but also influences biological mechanisms associated with addiction.

Independent researchers found that the results were encouraging and strong enough to be used in helping people struggling with alcohol use problems. However, more research is required in this area. Researchers also noted that there were no follow-ups with the participants after the semaglutide treatment ended. This means that experts could not be fully certain whether people reverted to their old drinking habits once they stopped using the medicine.

What are the health benefits of weight loss drugs?

Apart from inducing weight loss, weight loss drugs have the following health benefits:

1. Quitting smoking
2. Can help kick drug habits such as cocaine use
3. Lower risk of heart attack or stroke
4. May help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol to improve heart health
5. Lower risk of dementia