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.

Tiny plastic particles may be making their way into one of the body's most protected organs, the brain, according to new research. This has raised concerns about the long-term health effects of microplastic exposure, particularly on brain health.

In a study published in Nature Medicine, researchers found that microplastics and nanoplastics were present in brain tissue, with significantly higher concentrations than in liver and kidneys.

One of the most important findings is that these particles can cross the blood-brain barrier, a protective shield that normally blocks harmful substances from entering the brain.

The researchers analysed brain tissue samples collected over several years and observed that they contained seven to 30 times more plastic particles than other organs.

They also found an increase in brain plastic concentrations in more recent samples, reflecting the growing burden of plastic pollution worldwide in the last few years.

"Our data suggest a trend of increasing concentrations of micro- and nanoplastics in the brain," the study authors wrote. They stressed that the findings do not prove these particles cause disease.

Could Microplastic Exposure Increase Dementia Risk?

The researchers also reported higher concentrations of plastic particles in brain tissue from people diagnosed with dementia.

However, they cautioned that the study only identified an association and cannot determine whether microplastics contribute to dementia or whether brains diseased with dementia simply accumulate more particles.

Scientists are still trying to understand how these particles do harm once they reach the brain. Proposed theories include triggering inflammation, disrupting communication between nerve cells, or affecting blood flow, but none have yet been confirmed in humans.

Also read: Risks Of Plastic Pollution: Study Finds Microplastics In Heart Arteries Can Cause Severe Heart Attacks

How Can Microplastics Get Into The Brain?

Since nanoplastics are extremely small, researchers believe some may pass through the blood-brain barrier and become trapped in brain tissue.

The study found polyethylene, commonly used in food packaging and plastic bottles, was the most abundant type detected in the brain tissue.

Scientists emphasise that it is too early to conclude that microplastics directly damage the human brain.

"The findings are concerning, but they should not be interpreted as proof that microplastics cause neurological disease," the researchers emphasised. More studies are needed to determine whether the particles themselves are harmful or simply markers of environmental exposure.

Also read: Dementia Progression Observed To Slow Down When You Do This Exercise 3 Times A Week

How To Reduce Exposure To Microplastics?

While eliminating exposure entirely is nearly impossible, experts recommend practical steps that may lower intake:

• Avoid heating food in plastic containers.
• Choose glass or stainless steel for food and water storage when possible.
• Reduce consumption of heavily packaged and ultra-processed foods.
• Improve indoor ventilation and reduce household dust, another potential source of airborne microplastics.

The study adds to mounting evidence that microplastics are no longer just an environmental issue. They are increasingly being detected throughout the human body, including the blood, lungs, placenta and now the brain.

A new study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that nearly one in three patients who were hospitalised were diagnosed with invasive mould disease (IMD) died during their hospital stay.

The findings highlighted the urgent need for better surveillance, hygiene, early diagnosis, and greater awareness among healthcare professionals.

The findings come from the surveillance study of invasive mould infections conducted by the CDC across four hospitals in Atlanta and Georgia, between 2020 and 2024.

What Did The Study Find?

Researchers identified 499 confirmed cases of invasive mould disease during the five-year study period. Around 33% of these patients died while hospitalised, while the overall 90-day mortality rate reached 45%.

Nearly half of the patients needed intensive care, and about 50% needed ventilation, highlighting just how severe these infections can turn.

Patients who had a recent or current COVID-19 infection were found to be even worse. Their 90-day mortality rate was 66%, compared with 41% among patients without COVID-19.

"Our findings demonstrate that invasive mold disease is associated with substantial illness and death," the CDC researchers wrote, adding that active surveillance can help improve understanding of how common these infections are and guide prevention efforts.

Also read: DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Becomes World’s Second Largest As Death Toll Surpasses 1,500

What Is Invasive Mould Disease?

Unlike the mould that grows on damp walls or spoiled food, invasive mould disease occurs when fungal spores enter the body through the lungs, wounds, or contaminated medical equipment and spread into deep tissues, blood vessels, or organs.

The infections are most commonly caused by fungi such as Aspergillus, Mucorales, Fusarium, and Scedosporium. Once inside the body, they can rapidly become life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated early.

Also read: Vibrio Vulnificus: US Records First Flesh-eating Bacteria Death Of 2026

Who Is Most At Risk?

The disease rarely affects healthy individuals. Instead, it primarily targets people whose immune systems are already weakened, including:

• Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy
• Organ transplant recipients
• People taking long-term steroids or immunosuppressive drugs
• Patients in intensive care units
• Individuals recovering from severe COVID-19
• Older adults with multiple illnesses

Also read: Donald Trump Urges RFK Jr. To Accelerate Childhood Vaccine Rollback

Why Experts Are Concerned

One of the biggest challenges is that invasive mould disease is not a nationally reportable disease in the United States, meaning health authorities do not routinely collect nationwide data on cases. Researchers believe the actual burden may therefore be underestimated.

The CDC authors noted that active surveillance is essential to estimate disease incidence, identify outbreaks, and improve patient outcomes. They also highlighted that patients with COVID-19 experienced significantly more severe disease, suggesting clinicians should remain vigilant for fungal complications in critically ill patients.

Outside experts have also warned that factors such as climate change, extreme weather events, an ageing population, and rising antifungal drug resistance could contribute to an increase in serious fungal infections in the coming years.

Although invasive mould infections remain relatively uncommon, the study shows they carry an alarmingly high risk of severe illness and death among vulnerable patients. Researchers say increasing awareness, recognising symptoms early, improving hospital surveillance, and developing faster diagnostic tools could help identify infections sooner and improve survival.

Deadly superbug Candida auris remains a critical public health concern in the United States. Between 2022 and 2024, the number of clinical C. auris cases nearly doubled, rising from 2,882 to 6,197, according to the latest surveillance report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen infected at least 7,000 people across 27 US states by early 2026, according to the CDC. However, the agency's latest Surveillance Summaries report focuses on trends between 2022 and 2024.

The CDC noted that the drug-resistant fungus continues to pose a major challenge for hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities because it is difficult to treat and control.

"Candida auris is an emerging yeast that is frequently resistant to antifungal drugs. C. auris can cause invasive infections associated with high mortality and can colonize patients asymptomatically, which facilitates transmission in health care settings," the CDC said.

"Since it was first reported in the United States in 2016, C. auris has been identified in multiple states, with increasing numbers of cases reported annually. Monitoring national trends in cases identified through clinical testing and screening for colonization is critical to guide infection prevention and control efforts," the CDC report said.

Also read: One In Three Hospital Patients With Serious Mold Infections Died, CDC Study Finds

Key Findings From the CDC Report

• 13,507 clinical Candida auris cases were reported to the CDC between 2022 and 2024.
• Annual cases increased from 2,882 in 2022 to 4,428 in 2023 and 6,197 in 2024.
• The annual growth rate slowed, falling from 53.7% (2022–2023) to 39.9% (2023–2024), even as total cases continued to rise.
• Adults aged 45 years and older accounted for 87.8% of clinical cases, while 61.0% of cases occurred in males.
• The most common specimen types were urine (31.5%) and blood (30.2%).
• The proportion of blood specimens declined over the study period, from 34.4% in 2022 to 30.2% in 2023 and 25.6% in 2024.
• Most clinical cases were identified in acute care hospitals (76.6%), followed by long-term acute care hospitals (17.8%).

The CDC said the continued increase in cases highlights ongoing transmission in healthcare settings and underscores the need for sustained infection prevention and control efforts, supported by federal, state, and local public health partners.

Why Is Candida auris So Difficult to Control?

Unlike many other infections, Candida auris spreads easily through contaminated medical equipment and direct person-to-person contact. It can also survive on surfaces and is resistant to many commonly used disinfectants, making outbreaks difficult to contain once the fungus enters a healthcare facility.

Health officials say the steady increase in cases each year points to ongoing transmission in healthcare settings.

Read More: US Measles Cases Reach 2,371; RFK Jr Takes U-Turn, Urges Families to Vaccinate Kids

Candida auris: Symptoms and Health Risks

• Candida auris can infect the bloodstream, wounds, ears, and other parts of the body.
• Symptoms vary depending on the site and severity of the infection
• Some infected people may have no symptoms (asymptomatic infection)

The fungus is especially dangerous in hospitals and nursing facilities because it can survive for long periods on surfaces such as doorknobs, counters, and bed rails. Its resistance to multiple antifungal drugs makes infections difficult to treat and eliminate.

Candida auris: Who's At High Risk?

A 2025 study published by Cambridge University Press found that Candida auris typically enters the body through devices such as catheters, breathing tubes, feeding tubes, or peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC lines).

The study, which included 321 patients, found that people with Candida auris generally had significant underlying illnesses, with an average age of 60–64 years.

More than half of the patients required intensive care unit admission, over one-third needed mechanical ventilation, and more than half required blood transfusions.

People with healthy immune systems are generally better able to fight the infection than those who are elderly or have serious underlying illnesses. The CDC has previously estimated that, based on limited patient data, 30%–60% of people with Candida auris infections have died, although many had severe underlying medical conditions.