Pakistan continues to be dealing with a polio outbreak as four fresh cases have emerged, pushing the national tally to 37 this year, according to health officials on October 19, 2024. Health officials said that the regional reference laboratory for polio eradication at the National Institute of Health in Islamabad confirmed wild poliovirus type-1 (WPV1) in two children-one from each Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

In recent cases, a girl has been affected from Pishin, and two boys from Chaman and Noshki of Balochistan, and a girl from Lakki Marwat in KP. These are the first detections of the virus within Noshki and Lakki Marwat this year; isolated cases of poliovirus were previously reported within Chaman and Pishin. The province of Balochistan was the worst hit with 20 cases, Sindh had 10, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had five, and Punjab and Islamabad had one case each.

A gigantic fight against polio has been on going in Pakistan- especially in Balochistan and southern KP-over the last two years. Immunisation campaigns have often been suspended or delayed because of local protests, insecurity, and community boycotts. Consequently, quite a number of children did not get the necessary vaccinations, making existing patches of vulnerability for the virus to flow within those pockets.

Noshki, located near Afghanistan's border, and Lakki Marwat have also recently reported some positive environmental samples that confirm the virus is present here, said a local reference laboratory official. Samples of latest cases are currently under genetic sequencing for checking spread of virus and origin.

As the threat of polio continues to grow, Pakistan has vowed to mount a nationwide campaign against it beginning from October 28. With the zeal to tackle the menace in the most effective manner, over 45 million children under the age of five will be vaccinated across the country.

Today, Afghanistan and Pakistan remain one of the few countries where polio has not yet been eradicated. The WHO said the virus remains a potential serious public health threat in areas with low vaccination coverage and weak surveillance.

India On Alert Against Polio

The country declared itself polio-free since 2014 and has kept the disease on bay almost a decade with very robust vaccination programs; however, two cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus cases reported in recent days from Meghalaya create some amount of doubts over a possible resurgence. Experts observe that in India, despite these detections taking place, strong coverage of vaccination at 90-95% and mandatory surveillance measures keep the risk of this widespread outbreak at bay.

The experts point out, however, that such stable situation in India requires continued surveillance. "Countries like Pakistan and parts of Africa remain at a high risk because vaccination rates in those areas are much lower," Dr. Siddharth, public health expert, said. Vaccination is an indispensable act in order to avoid the spread of this incapacitating disease that manifests most importantly as a nervous system affliction leading to the paralysis of a long period.

With concerted efforts from health authorities, there is hope someday that the scourge of polio will be completely eradicated from the face of the earth and future generations will never suffer from its effects.

The United States has reported 53 new measles cases, bringing the 2026 total to 2,371, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Amid the rising outbreak, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urged American parents to vaccinate their children against the highly contagious disease.

The CDC said that of the 53 new cases, 16 were locally acquired across 45 US jurisdictions, while the remaining cases were linked to international travel.

Highest Measles Toll In 35 Years

Although measles is preventable through vaccination, the 2,371 cases reported as of July 30 have already surpassed the 2,289 cases recorded during all of 2025. Both years represent the highest annual measles totals in the US since 1991.

The US was declared measles-free in 2000, but it could lose that status later this year when the Pan American Health Organization reviews transmission data.

Measles by the numbers:

• 2,371 measles cases reported in 2026.
• 20% of cases are in children under 5; 49% are in those 5–19 years.
• 7% of patients have been hospitalized, compared with 11% in 2025.
• No deaths have been reported.
• 93% of cases are in people who are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status.

Current measles hotspots:

• Pennsylvania: 31 new cases in the past week; 167 total cases in 2026.
• Ohio: Four new cases in unvaccinated individuals in Ashtabula and Tuscarawas counties; the state's third measles outbreak of 2026.
• Utah: Largest active outbreak with 514 cases; no new cases reported this week.
• Arizona: One new case; 120 total cases in 2026.
• Washington: Seven new cases; 53 total cases in 2026.

Kennedy Urges Parents to Vaccinate Children

In a notable shift, Kennedy urged American parents to vaccinate their children against measles during a CNN interview.

Long known as a vaccine skeptic, Kennedy has spent years amplifying misinformation about vaccines, including the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. His remarks came as US measles cases surpassed the 2025 annual total.

The past two years have seen more measles infections in the US than the rest of the 21st century combined. More than 90% of cases have occurred in people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

"I've never questioned the efficacy of the MMR vaccine," the Healthy Secretary said.

Kennedy also blamed low vaccination rates in some religious communities for ongoing outbreaks.

"The communities that are suffering from measles are almost all religious communities that just don't vaccinate," Kennedy told CNN.

Kennedy Repeats Debunked Vaccine Claims

During the interview, Kennedy also blamed pandemic lockdowns on Dr. Anthony Fauci while repeating several widely debunked claims about vaccines and other health issues.

He claimed that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of infant mortality, suggested Lyme disease was caused by laboratory manipulation of germs, repeated unsupported claims linking Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism, and questioned the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines for children.

Large studies conducted over several decades in multiple countries have consistently found no evidence that routine childhood vaccines cause autism.

Major medical associations also continue to consider acetaminophen the preferred pain reliever and fever reducer during pregnancy when used appropriately. They have also cautioned against avoiding acetaminophen altogether, noting that untreated high fever or severe pain during pregnancy can pose risks to both the mother and the developing baby.

Speaking to CNN, Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 response coordinator under President Joe Biden, said the rise in measles cases was not coincidental.

"The administration has not done enough to promote vaccines. It has not done enough to highlight the harms that come from measles."

Jha added that "accountability has to be with our political leaders," while criticizing Kennedy's false claims about vaccines.

A 58-year-old woman in the UK has become the first person in the world to receive an experimental cell therapy for ovarian cancer.

Tracy Tomlinson, who has been living with advanced ovarian cancer for more than five years, received the first dose of ZI-MA4-1 at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust as part of the ZIMA-101 clinical trial. The study is evaluating ZI-MA4-1, the world's first MAGE-A4-targeting TCR-NK cell therapy to enter clinical development.

"While this is an early-stage study primarily focused on safety, it represents an exciting step forward in efforts to develop new treatment options for people like Tracy with advanced solid tumors. We hope the knowledge gained will help shape future cancer treatments and ultimately improve outcomes for patients," said Professor Fiona Thistlethwaite, consultant medical oncologist at The Christie.

Tracy's Journey With Ovarian Cancer

Tracy, from Chadderton in Greater Manchester, was diagnosed with Stage 3C ovarian cancer shortly before Christmas 2020.

She first suspected something was wrong when what she thought was a urinary tract infection did not improve despite antibiotics prescribed by her GP. After blood tests, scans and further investigations, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer just two days before her birthday.

Over the next several years, Tracy underwent surgery, multiple rounds of chemotherapy and maintenance therapy. By the summer of 2021, scans showed no evidence of disease, but the cancer returned a year later. She underwent further surgery and treatment, followed by additional recurrences.

Since 2023, Tracy has been living with ongoing cancer while receiving additional lines of treatment.

"The cancer is relentless," she said. "For me, it's never seemed to leave me alone."

Treatment has also caused fatigue, nausea and nerve damage in her hands and feet, eventually forcing her to stop working as a credit controller.

As her treatment options became more limited, Tracy began exploring clinical trials. Last year, she was referred to The Christie's early-phase clinical trials team and was eventually found eligible for the ZIMA-101 study.

After extensive screening, including scans, biopsies and blood tests, she became the first patient in the world to receive ZI-MA4-1.

"I decided almost straight away that I was going to go for it," she said. "Then afterwards you think, 'Am I doing the right thing?' because it is a little bit scary being the first person."

Following her first dose, Tracy remained in hospital for planned monitoring before being discharged on July 23.

"There are no guarantees with any trial," she said. "It could have a fantastic outcome, it could have no outcome, or somewhere in between. But if there is a possibility that it could work, I've got to go for it."

She added, "Cancer is no longer a death sentence. Five years ago, I thought I was going to die, but I'm still here."

What Is ZI-MA4-1 Cell Therapy?

Developed by Zelluna, ZI-MA4-1 combines two immune-based approaches to target cancer. The therapy uses natural killer (NK) cells, which can detect and destroy abnormal cells, together with engineered T-cell receptors (TCRs) that enable them to recognize tumors expressing the protein MAGE-A4.

MAGE-A4 is found in several solid tumors, including ovarian cancer, making it a promising target for precision cancer therapies.

Unlike personalized cell therapies that require a patient's own cells to be collected and manufactured individually, ZI-MA4-1 uses donor-derived immune cells and is designed as an "off-the-shelf" treatment.

Researchers hope this approach could make advanced cell therapies available to more patients in less time.

Reducing sugar intake during pregnancy and the first two years of a child’s life could have life-changing benefits for brain health, particularly in lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

According to a new study, limiting sugar intake could reduce the risk Alzheimer’s by more than 45% in the future.

The research, published in npj Aging, found that people exposed to lower sugar intake during the first 1,000 days of life, from conception until age two, had a 46% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, a 27% lower risk of dementia, an 11% lower risk of depression, and a 20% lower risk of anxiety in later life.

Researchers analysed health and brain imaging data from more than 60,000 participants in the UK Biobank.

They used Britain’s World War II sugar rationing period as a natural experiment, comparing people born when sugar availability was restricted with those born after rationing ended.

Why The First 1,000 Days Matter?

Scientists say that early life is a critical phase for the brain, metabolism, and immune system. Nutrition during this period can shape long-term health, influencing disease risk of neurodegenerative disease decades later.

“Our findings suggest that limiting sugar intake during the first 1,000 days of life may have long-lasting benefits for brain health,” the researchers noted, adding that the effects appear to persist well into older adulthood.

Dr. Bing Zhang, a geriatric medicine researcher involved in the study, said the results support the idea that nutrition in early life can shape lifelong brain health through metabolic programming during critical stages of development.

The study also found key structural differences in the brain. MRI scans showed that participants who had lower sugar exposure early in life had brains that appeared approximately 0.4 years younger biologically.

Their brains showed greater grey matter volume and fewer signs of white matter damage that is often linked to healthier cognitive ageing.

Also read: Can Your Child’s Diet Shape Future Diabetes Risk? Study Links Ultra-Processed Foods To Early Insulin Responses

Does Sugar Cause Dementia?

The researchers found an association, not proof that sugar directly causes Alzheimer’s or dementia. Since the study is observational, other factors like overall diet, access to healthcare facilities and services, and lifestyle may also have contributed to the findings.

Dr. Sara Rodrigues of Alzheimer’s Research UK, who was not involved in the research, cautioned that while the results are compelling, they do not establish cause and effect. However, they add to the growing evidence that healthy eating throughout life plays an important role in maintaining brain health.

Ultra-Processed Foods Linked To Early Insulin Response

This comes after a recent study suggested that children who who consume higher amounts of ultra-processed foods may already be showing subtle changes in the way their bodies regulate insulin, potentially increasing the risk for type 2 diabetes in the future.

According to a new study published in the journal Nutrients, children who have higher amounts of in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) had reduced insulin sensitivity and higher insulin secretion, even though they did not have diabetes.

Researchers from Texas A&M University–San Antonio, University of Texas Health San Antonio, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and Wake Forest University School of Medicine discovered that the metabolic changes linked to diabetes may begin much earlier in life than previously thought.