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.

Pancreatic cancer has long been one of the toughest challenges in oncology. With a five-year survival rate hovering around 13 per cent and recurrence rates approaching 80 per cent after treatment, the odds have historically been stacked against patients.

However, an experimental drug called daraxonrasib, developed by the US-based late-stage clinical oncology company Revolution Medicines, has shown promise in improving survival rates in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

“For patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, new treatment options are urgently needed to increase survival time and improve quality of life,” said Brian M. Wolpin, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and principal investigator for the trial.

Wolpin noted that the study “indicates that daraxonrasib provides a clear and highly meaningful step forward for patients with pancreatic cancer who have experienced progression on prior treatment, typically chemotherapy.”

What Is Daraxonrasib?

Daraxonrasib is a once-daily oral pill that demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared with standard intravenous chemotherapy.

Daraxonrasib, described as a multi-selective inhibitor of RAS(ON) proteins, is the first investigational drug in a new class of RAS inhibitors designed to target a broad spectrum of cancer-causing RAS mutations.

In the clinical trial, daraxonrasib showed a median overall survival of 13.2 months, compared with 6.7 months for chemotherapy.

The drug was generally well tolerated and showed a manageable safety profile, with no new safety concerns identified.

Daraxonrasib works by blocking KRAS signalling proteins that drive tumor growth.

Pancreatic cancer is considered one of the most RAS-addicted cancers, with more than 90 per cent of patients carrying tumours driven by RAS protein mutations.

Also read: Former US Senator Ben Sasse Opens Up About Battle With Terminal Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer

Daraxonrasib: The Clinical Trial

The controlled Phase 3 clinical trial evaluated daraxonrasib in patients with previously treated metastatic PDAC.

The trial included patients with pancreatic tumours carrying a wide range of RAS variants, as well as patients without identified RAS mutations.

The results showed that daraxonrasib significantly improved overall survival in patients with previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Similar RAS-targeting drugs are now being developed by other companies for pancreatic, lung, and colon cancers.

“It’s the beginning, not the end,” said Elizabeth Jaffee in comments to The New York Times.

What are the side effects?

According to the company, “Daraxonrasib was generally well tolerated, with a manageable safety profile and with no new safety signals.”

Prior studies with daraxonrasib have shown that rash is the most common side effect, with mouth sores, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting also common.

Also read: India Gets Its First Alzheimer’s Drug: Know All About Eli Lilly’s Lormalzi

FDA fast-tracks Daraxonrasib

Based on the first interim analysis, all progression-free survival and overall survival results are now considered final.

Revolution Medicines said it plans to submit the data to global regulators, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as part of a future New Drug Application under a Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher.

The findings are also expected to be presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

What Is Pancreatic Cancer? Know The Warning Signs

Pancreatic cancer typically begins in the ducts of the organ and can rapidly spread from there to the rest of the organ. Early-stage pancreatic tumors do not show up on imaging tests, making this version of the disease difficult to diagnose until it infects other organs.

The prevention and early detection remain vital.

Experts warn that pancreatic cancer often masquerades as common ailments, delaying diagnosis. Here are some early symptoms that should never be ignored:

• Abdominal or back pain that worsens over time or eases when leaning forward.
• Unexplained weight loss without changes in diet or exercise.
• Jaundice, including yellowing of the eyes and skin, sometimes with intense itching.
• Changes to urine or stool, such as dark urine or pale, greasy stools.
• New-onset diabetes without obvious risk factors.
• Persistent fatigue unrelated to poor sleep or lifestyle

A French woman infected with the deadly hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship is critically ill and is being treated using an artificial lung.

The woman is among the passengers evacuated from Spain’s Canary Islands. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 11 people have been affected by the rat-borne virus so far, of whom three have died.

A Dutch couple is believed to have been first exposed to the virus while visiting a birdwatching site in Argentina.

The WHO has confirmed that the Andes strain of hantavirus — the only strain known to spread from person to person — is behind the outbreak.

Patient Suffers Severe Lung And Heart Complications

The French passenger, currently hospitalized in Paris, has developed a severe form of the disease that has caused life-threatening lung and heart complications, Dr. Xavier Lescure, an infectious disease specialist at Bichat Hospital, told AP News Agency.

He explained that “the woman is on a life-support device that pumps blood through an artificial lung, providing it with oxygen and returning it to the body. The hope is that the device relieves enough pressure on the lungs and heart to give them some time to recover.”

Lescure described it as “the final stage of supportive care.”

With the evacuation of all passengers and many crew members completed, the MV Hondius is now sailing back to the Netherlands, where it will undergo cleaning and disinfection.

Also read: India Better Prepared For Hantavirus Outbreaks After COVID-19 Experience, Says Dr NK Ganguly | Exclusive

Hantavirus: No Pandemic Potential

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr. Amitav Banerjee, professor at DY Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, and former field epidemiologist in the Indian Armed Forces, said hantavirus does not spread easily from person to person.

Unlike COVID-19, it does not have significant aerosol or pandemic potential. Only certain strains, such as the Andes strain identified in South America, have shown limited person-to-person transmission, usually through very close or intimate contact involving body fluids.

“That is why the husband and wife may both have become infected. Even then, transmission is rare and requires prolonged close exposure. Basic precautions are generally sufficient, and asymptomatic individuals are unlikely to transmit the infection,” he said.

Dr. Amitav added that hantavirus does not have pandemic potential under natural conditions because it spreads poorly between humans and remains largely linked to rodent exposure.

Hantavirus: How to Prevent The Risk

Dr. Jatin Ahuja, Consultant in Infectious Diseases at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi, told HealthandMe that the general public has no reason for alarm.

“Hantavirus infections remain rare globally, and awareness about rodent control and early symptom recognition continues to be the most effective approach,” he said.

He recommended simple preventive measures to significantly reduce risk.

“People should avoid sweeping or vacuuming rodent-infested areas directly, as this may spread contaminated particles into the air. Instead, affected areas should be ventilated first and cleaned using disinfectants while wearing gloves and masks. Proper storage of food, sealing entry points for rodents, and maintaining hygiene in homes, warehouses, and workplaces are also important preventive steps,” the expert added.

Eli Lilly has launched Lormalzi, the Indian version of the US FDA-approved donanemab, for the early treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in the country. The drug can also be used for people with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia.

Dementia affects around 8.8 million people in India, and Alzheimer’s accounts for the majority of cases. The number is expected to nearly double by 2036.

The once-monthly therapy, administered as an intravenous infusion, targets amyloid plaques in the brain and may help slow disease progression in selected patients with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia.

“For 35 years, Lilly has been a global pioneer advancing research of therapies and diagnostics for people with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Winselow Tucker, President and General Manager of Eli Lilly India. He added that Alzheimer’s imposes a major emotional and economic burden on patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems.

What Is Lormalzi?

Lormalzi is a monoclonal antibody therapy designed to target amyloid-beta plaques in the brain — one of the hallmark features associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

The drug works by helping the immune system remove these abnormal protein deposits, which are believed to contribute to memory loss and cognitive decline.

The FDA approved the therapy in 2024 under the brand name Kisunla. Globally, Kisunla is sold in countries including the US, Japan, and parts of Europe.

Lormalzi: Who Can Get The Treatment?

Donanemab is best suited for people with:

• Early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease
• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s
• Mild Alzheimer’s dementia
• Amyloid-positive patients (confirmed by amyloid PET/CSF or blood biomarkers)

It is not meant for those who have already progressed to advanced stages.

Moreover, while the drug can dissolve the build-up of amyloid-beta protein in the brain, it cannot reverse the damage that has already occurred.

Also read: AI Can Fast-track Better Diagnostics, Cure For Alzheimer’s, Says OpenAI’s Sam Altman

Lormalzi: How Much Does It Cost In India?

Eli Lilly has priced Lormalzi at Rs 91,688 for a 350 mg vial in India. Reports suggest the treatment duration may extend up to 18 months, potentially making it expensive for many patients.

Lormalzi’s Safety And Efficacy: Are There Any Side Effects?

Clinical trial data from Eli Lilly’s Phase 3 TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 study showed that donanemab slowed cognitive and functional decline.

The study, involving 1,736 patients — 860 of whom received the infusion every four weeks until amyloid clumps cleared — found that donanemab slowed cognitive decline in early Alzheimer’s patients by 35.1 per cent over 76 weeks.

However, the drug is known to cause amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), including swelling or bleeding in the brain, most of which are asymptomatic. The study showed that 24 per cent of participants experienced ARIA involving brain swelling, while 19.7 per cent experienced brain bleeds. Three treatment-related deaths were also reported.

Symptoms may include headache, confusion, visual disturbances, and, in rare cases, seizures. Hence, MRI monitoring is essential during treatment.

Notably, the risk may be higher in people with APOE ε4 carriers and patients on blood thinners, Dr. Sudhir Kumar, neurologist at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, shared in a post on social media platform X.

Lecanemab vs Lormalzi

Read More: Another Norovirus Outbreak Confirmed Aboard Cruise Ship In France; Over 1,700 People Trapped

Leqembi (lecanemab) is not yet formally registered or widely marketed for general sale in India. While it is on track for introduction in the country, the Alzheimer’s therapy can reportedly be accessed through specialised import channels (Named Patient Supply) with a valid prescription.

Lecanemab is a disease-modifying therapy for early Alzheimer’s disease, administered via intravenous infusion every two weeks to slow cognitive decline.

In contrast, donanemab is administered once every four weeks.

Additionally, treatment with donanemab can be halted after a certain level of amyloid protein clearance is achieved, with patients in the study switching to placebo thereafter.

“In the absence of amyloid PET imaging, which is currently not available in India, the evidence-based approach is to treat patients with donanemab for 18 months,” the company said.

How Does The Treatment Work?

“Donanemab is a newer anti-amyloid antibody designed to slow progression of Alzheimer’s disease by clearing amyloid plaques from the brain,” Dr. Sudhir said.

He noted that “donanemab represents an important scientific advance because it targets underlying Alzheimer pathology rather than only symptoms”.

According to an Eli Lilly spokesperson, treatment in India is expected to continue for 18 months (76 weeks) in most patients because amyloid PET imaging, often used internationally to assess plaque clearance, is not yet widely available in India.

Treatment may be stopped earlier if:

• Serious safety concerns develop
• Patients experience adverse effects
• The disease progresses to moderate Alzheimer’s disease

Lormalzi: Is It A Cure For Alzheimer’s?

Dr. Sudhir stated that “not all dementia patients benefit”. He added that Lormalzi “is not a cure; it does not reverse established dementia”.

“The benefit is modest, but clinically meaningful in selected patients.” He also stressed the need for carefully selecting patients for the therapy.

“Lifestyle measures, cognitive engagement, vascular risk control, sleep, hearing correction, and caregiver support remain extremely important,” Dr. Sudhir said, adding that “Alzheimer’s care is still much more than a single drug”.