In what is being considered a huge leap in the field of reproductive health, a baby girl has been born to a mother with a donated womb in the UK. Grace Davidson, 36, was born with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, a rare condition in which the uterus is absent or underdeveloped, but the ovaries function normally. In 2023, she underwent the UK’s first successful womb transplant, receiving the uterus from her sister, Amy Purdie.

Two years after the groundbreaking transplant, Grace gave birth to her daughter, Amy, in February 2025. The name honours the woman who made the pregnancy possible. The new mother described the moment she first held Amy, who weighed just over two kilos (4.5 pounds), as "incredible" and "surreal." "It was quite overwhelming because we'd never really let ourselves imagine what it would be like for her to be here," she said.

Here's How It Happened

Grace first spoke to the BBC in 2018 about her hopes of becoming a mother through a womb transplant. Although her mother was initially considered as a donor, her uterus was found to be unsuitable. By 2019, Grace's sister Amy—already a mother of two—was being evaluated as a donor. After pre-surgery counselling and IVF treatment, Grace had several embryos stored.

The transplant, delayed due to the pandemic, was finally performed in February 2023. A surgical team of over 30 medics took 17 hours to remove Amy’s womb and successfully transplant it into Grace. Within two weeks, Grace experienced her first period and later conceived through IVF on the first attempt.

Grace described feeling her baby's first kick as "incredible" and the entire pregnancy as "really special." Baby Amy was born via Caesarean section at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital on 27 February. "It was an incredible moment, full of joy," said surgeon Isabel Quiroga, who led the transplant team.

The couple hopes to have a second child before the donated womb is removed. This will allow Grace to stop taking immunosuppressant drugs, which prevent organ rejection but can increase cancer risk if taken long-term. Surgeon Quiroga assured that the risk should return to baseline once the uterus is removed.

Around 15,000 Women Lack Functioning Uterus

Professor Richard Smith, a gynaecological surgeon at Imperial College Healthcare and head of Womb Transplant UK, called Amy's birth "astonishing and incredibly moving." He said around 15,000 women in the UK of childbearing age lack a functioning uterus, including about 5,000 born without one. His charity covered NHS costs for Grace’s transplant, with medical professionals donating their time.

Currently, 10 women are in fertility treatment or have embryos stored. Each transplant costs approximately £30,000, and the charity is funding two more. The clinical trial aims to complete 15 transplants—five from living donors and 10 from deceased ones. For Grace, the experience has deepened her bond with her sister. "It was incredibly difficult to let her do that for me," she said. "It's a huge act of sisterly love."

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Dengue fever has been a public health crisis for decades, especially in tropical and subtropical regions, and India has been one of the worst-hit countries in recent years. With rising cases and fatal outbreaks, the country has required a reliable and inexpensive vaccine to prevent the spread of the disease. That changed with the launch of DengiAll, India's indigenous tetravalent dengue vaccine. After all these years of research, trials, and international collaboration, the vaccine is now in the last stage of testing, and a breakthrough seems at hand.

Developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with Panacea Biotech, DengiAll will be a game-changer for India's battle against dengue. The vaccine is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials, which are being conducted at 19 sites in 18 states and union territories with more than 10,335 healthy volunteers enrolled so far. The trials have shown promising results, with earlier phases (1 and 2) being successful for the vaccine to combat dengue across various strains.

The significance of the vaccine is not just its possibility in dengue prevention but also that it's an indigenous development, carefully crafted to fulfill India's needs. Balram Bhargava, former Director General of ICMR, who has played a key role in India's fight against COVID-19, ensured that India's first indigenous tetravalent dengue vaccine will be in the market by mid-2026—a landmark moment for India's health sector.

Dengue fever, transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is one of the most common vector-borne diseases in India, especially prevalent during the monsoon season between May and September. The disease is characterized by fever, severe headache, joint pains, and sudden drop in platelet levels. It can, in severe cases, progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) or dengue shock syndrome (DSS), which will prove fatal without urgent medical treatment. The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that the worldwide incidence of dengue has grown eight times greater than two decades ago, thus emerging as a public health issue of major concern.

DengiAll is a tetravalent vaccine, and it has the goal of protecting against all four serotypes of the dengue virus (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4). This is a significant feature since dengue is a multi-serotype disease, and immunity to one serotype will not protect against others. In protecting against all four serotypes, the vaccine provides broad protection, which is extremely important in a country like India, where outbreaks are ever-present and in large part unpredictable.

The vaccine development is based on the TV003/TV005 strain, which was originally developed by the United States' National Institutes of Health (NIH). The strain was licensed to Panacea Biotech, a top Indian pharma company, and was adapted for domestic use. The company has achieved significant milestones in re-developing the vaccine to meet the specific needs of the Indian population, for whom it holds a process patent for development.

Highest Number of Cases Recorded In India

Approximately 188,401 cases were identified in 2017, with 325 deaths. Highest number of infections was reported from Tamil Nadu, followed by Kerala, Karnataka, then Punjab and West Bengal. In the 20th century, there was the significant rise in number of infections reported in 2003, 2010, 2012, and 2013, with an exponential increase beginning in 2015 onwards. During this time, repeated dengue outbreaks were reported in states of Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and West Bengal. In 2017, dengue cases were to be the highest in India.

India, in particular, has experienced frequent outbreaks in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Delhi, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. The outbreaks have claimed thousands of lives and loaded the healthcare system with a great burden. Over 5 million cases of dengue have been reported to date as of 2023, with the Indian contribution playing a significant role in the surge. Since DengiAll is presently in its final stages of trials, the vaccine is set to reduce significantly the incidence of dengue and its complications in the country.

Why Dengue Cases Are On A Steady Rise?

Although India has been battling with dengue for years now, the illness has also been on the rise globally. The WHO states that the number of dengue cases reported globally has grown over twice in the past few years, with a total of 10.6 million cases having been reported thus far in the year 2024 alone. The growth is driven by various factors:

• Warm, humid temperatures offer ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
• Overcrowded cities with poor waste management infrastructure facilitate the disease transmission.
• Increased international travel has led to dengue's expansion into non-endemic areas.

There is no cure for dengue known at the moment. It is treated with supportive care—hydration, management of fever, and close attention to platelet levels. If it is severe, hospitalization is required, and there are concerns regarding the burden this causes to the health system, especially in low-resource settings.

The presence of a dengue vaccine like DengiAll would be a welcome preventive. While a vaccine would not replace effective measures for mosquito control, it could be an extra tool in the public health arsenal, significantly reducing the number of severe cases and fatalities.

When Will Dengue Vaccine Hit the Market?

So far, DengiAll is in Phase 3 trials, and although it shows a great deal of promise, it should be kept in mind that the final approval phase could take time. If the ongoing trials continue to progress well, it is hoped that the vaccine would become available by mid-2026. This is a rough estimate, though, as it includes successful completion of the clinical trials and regulatory approvals.

Signs and Symptoms of Dengue Fever

Symptoms of dengue fever typically appear 4 to 10 days from the time of a bite from an infected mosquito and persist for 3 to 7 days. Asymptomatic cases are most common, but about 1 in 20 individuals will experience severe dengue when the initial symptoms start to resolve. Typical symptoms of dengue fever are:

• High fever
• Rash
• Severe pain behind the eyes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Muscle, bone, and joint pain

If you notice any of these symptoms, it is imperative that you receive medical care immediately, particularly if the symptoms are increasing.

Autism diagnoses for children in the United States continue to rise, with the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicating that one out of every 31 eight-year-olds have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The findings, published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, are a low-key but significant improvement over previous years and come at a time when the disease is facing heightened political scrutiny, including from the administration of President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

While the CDC attributes this steady rise to improved screening, increased awareness, and broader access to diagnostic care, Kennedy has introduced fresh unsubstantiated claims of a connection between autism and exposures to the environment and vaccines—despite decades of contradiction from empirical evidence suggesting no such association. His comments have stoked controversy surrounding the causes of autism even as experts emphasize that the evidence must be reflected in more comprehensive policies and support systems, not fear or misinformation.

Is Autism Really on the Rise Or Early Detection?

In its recent report both pointing to gains in early detection and persistent issues with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that autism rates in the United States have reached an all-time high. Through 2022, approximately 1 in 31 U.S. 8-year-olds had an autism diagnosis—an increase from 1 in 36 two years before. Though some have called this a "public health epidemic," health care providers and scientists credit the trend to a more longer-term shift in diagnostic patterns, increased awareness, and increasing access to services, especially within historically disenfranchised populations.

The CDC's latest biennial surveillance report, published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, includes a comprehensive picture of autism prevalence across the country. Using data collected from several Texas, Georgia, and California communities, the findings show significant regional variation. For example, in one San Diego metropolitan community, 1 in 19 children had been diagnosed with autism—the highest rate in the study.

Of note, these rises are not always a reflection of a rise in the prevalence of children with autism, but rather an increase in the ability to identify it, particularly at earlier stages in life. According to the CDC, enhanced screening tools, parent and pediatrician education campaigns, and community-based interventions have all contributed to this diagnostic shift.

The report comes on the heels of autism having received new political attention. President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. placed autism at the center of their healthcare agenda. Kennedy, who has long drawn criticism for linking autism with vaccines—a myth that has been often debunked by the scientific world—called the condition an "epidemic running rampant."

Contrary to Kennedy's assertions, the CDC and senior health leaders maintain that increases in autism diagnosis are primarily due to positive trends in detection and awareness, rather than an explosion of cases with environmental or medical causes.

Kennedy's call for new investigations into vaccines and autism has raised alarm among advocacy groups and scientists. The decades-long, peer-reviewed push against the myth that vaccines cause autism has demolished the trope. According to the CDC, vaccines remain safe and essential to public health.

This rhetoric does more harm than good," stated Christopher Banks, president and CEO of the Autism Society of America. "Prevalence data should drive equity and access—not fear, misinformation, or political rhetoric.".

Perhaps most notably, the CDC report highlights the growing trend of autism diagnoses in children of color. Traditionally disproportionately diagnosed in white, affluent communities, ASD increasingly is being diagnosed in Black, Hispanic, and Asian children. The trend, first reported in the 2020 CDC report, continues, a sign of growing outreach and access to care in historically underserved communities.

In fact, autism now happens less frequently in upscale neighborhoods than in socially disadvantaged communities—a reversal of the decades-ago trend. The CDC emphasized that the trend reversal is likely a result of concerted efforts to reduce gaps in early screening and diagnostic services, and not because there is any increased biological risk in some communities.

Autism remains significantly more common in boys than girls. In 2022, autism was diagnosed in boys at a rate 3.4 times higher than girls. While the disparity has lessened in recent years, scientists caution that the disparity is not wholly due to improved diagnostic practices in girls. The nuance and lower disruptive impact of ASD presentation in women—frequently more subtle and less disruptive—can still lead to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis.

Local variation in autism prevalence also tends to correlate with the existence of early intervention services. California, for example, has an excellent program training pediatricians to screen for early signs of autism and providing state-funded regional centers for kids with developmental disorders. These models that are based within communities provide roadmaps for the enhancement of autism identification and treatment systems across the country.

Likewise, Puerto Rico's recent investment in public autism awareness campaigns had a profound influence on diagnostic rates. Children born after the island-wide early detection initiative was initiated had one of the highest rates of diagnosis among their age group, a reflection of the effectiveness of preventive public health initiatives.

While the slight uptick in autism rates may sound alarming, health professionals urge the public to interpret the numbers with caution. “This is not an epidemic,” said one CDC epidemiologist familiar with the report. “What we’re seeing is the fruit of years of advocacy, education, and systemic change.”

Experts and autism advocacy leaders reinforce that message. "This entire generation of children is not damaged," said the Autism Society's Banks. "They are being seen, heard and served more than ever before."

Whooping cough cases are skyrocketing at a record rate across US, from Texas to Michigan, health departments are seeing a rise not seen in over a decade and it's not just the numbers that have experts alarmed. The most vulnerable are babies under the age of one, and in some tragic cases, the disease has been fatal.

State and local health departments across the United States are reporting an alarming surge in whooping cough, or pertussis, cases, a dramatic uptick in the respiratory disease that many had believed was in check. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there has been a staggering 1,500% increase in reported cases nationwide since 2021, fueling concerns of another widespread outbreak on top of measles.

The upward trajectory in the number of cases isn't just numeric, it's deadly. In Louisiana, two infant deaths have already been confirmed in 2025, the state's first pertussis deaths since 2018. In Texas, the Laredo Public Health Department has already tallied more cases this year than in all of 2024. North Carolina and Michigan are also in triple-digit outbreaks, with 166 and 520 cases, respectively.

In 2023, the U.S. recorded 7,063 cases of pertussis. That spiked to 35,435 in 2024, including 10 deaths—primarily infants under the age of one, reports the American Academy of Pediatrics. Stated Dr. Andrea Garcia, American Medical Association Vice President of Science, Medicine, and Public Health, "It's the highest number in more than a decade."

Historically, pre-pandemic years saw around 15,000–19,000 cases annually. The current spike is not just a statistical uptick, but a red flag for public health.

Why Is Whooping Cough So Dangerous?

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory bacterial infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. It infects the upper respiratory system by binding to cilia—microscopic hair-like appendages that function to clear airways—and producing toxins that kill these structures and lead to inflammation.

Whooping Cough Symptoms

The disease is especially dangerous for infants under one year of age, and approximately one out of three is hospitalized due to severe complications such as pneumonia, seizures, or apnea (life-threatening pauses in breathing).

Early symptoms are misleading: runny nose, low-grade fever, and a mild cough—so it's hard to rule out ordinary colds, COVID-19, or RSV. But within one to two weeks, the characteristic "whooping" cough appears, with violent coughing fits that sometimes conclude with a high-pitched "whoop" sound when breathing in.

The illness can last anywhere from 6 to 10 weeks, and while older children and adults may experience milder symptoms, they can still spread the infection to vulnerable populations.

How Long Is Whooping Cough Contagious?

One of the biggest questions for families and caregivers: How long is a pertussis victim contagious?

The patient can infect others as soon as symptoms of a cold appear and is contagious for up to 3 weeks after the onset of coughing.

If antibiotics such as azithromycin, clarithromycin, or erythromycin are given at an early phase, the patient typically is no longer contagious after 5 complete days of antibiotic therapy.

This prolonged period of contagion underscores the need for early detection and treatment—not just for the recovery of the patient but to break the chain of transmission.

What's Causing the Surge in Whooping Cough Cases?

One of the underlying reasons for the recent spike in cases is low vaccination rates, which public health officials say could jeopardize decades of progress.

Dr. Garcia and others blame the resurgence on populations with low or waning immunity, particularly where vaccine coverage has dropped. This not only includes children but also adults who are due for booster shots, as vaccine immunity wanes over time.

How to Stay Protected?

The most effective way to prevent whooping cough is through timely and complete vaccination. For infants and young children, the DTaP vaccine—protecting against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis—is administered at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, with booster doses given between 15 to 18 months and again at 4 to 6 years. As children grow into adolescence, a Tdap booster is recommended at ages 11 to 12.

Adults who have never received the Tdap should get a single dose, especially if they are in contact with infants. Pregnant women are advised to receive a Tdap booster during the third trimester of each pregnancy to pass on protective antibodies to their newborns, offering vital early immunity. Additionally, healthcare workers and international travelers—particularly those in close contact with infants or vulnerable individuals—should ensure their pertussis vaccinations are up to date to help curb the spread of this highly contagious illness.

In those who have been exposed to the infection, post-exposure prophylaxis with antibiotics will prevent the disease from developing. The household contact or close contact must be called by the local health provider for confirmation of pertussis.

The sharp increase in whooping cough infections is more than just a number, it's a public health warning sign. The disease, as preventable as it is, is killing infants and testing the limits of community immunity across the country. With its long infectious period, easily mistaken symptoms, and widening transmission rates, pertussis is a genuine threat, especially for infants.