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.

Doctors in London have performed the world’s first brain tumour surgery assisted by artificial intelligence. AI analysed the operation live, helping surgeons assess critical structures and protect the patient’s vision.

The procedure was carried out in May at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, part of University College London Hospitals (UCLH). The first patient, 48-year-old Rhys Hibbert, had an 11-mm tumour on his pituitary gland that had begun affecting his vision.

Hibbert’s vision had deteriorated to the point that he was using walking sticks. After surgery, he said he could see clearly when he woke up and was walking independently without glasses or sticks within a week.

How AI Helped During The Operation?

To answer the biggest question, the AI did not perform the surgery. The neurosurgeon was in complete control the whole time. The technology, instead, analysed live video from the surgical camera in real time. It identified and highlighted important structures in the brain, including blood vessels and nerves related to vision.

The pituitary gland is roughly the size of a marble, but it is located in a crowded and packed region at the base of the brain. It is surrounded by the optic nerves and major blood vessels. A tumour in this area can therefore cause vision problems by pressing against the nerves.

It's extremely delicate work as the pituitary gland, optic nerves and blood vessels are packed into an extremely small area. According to UCLH, being just a millimetre off target can potentially result in blindness, stroke or death.

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In Hibbert's case, the tumour had been discovered after he collapsed and suffered a seizure in December 2024. His symptoms later progressed to hormone imbalance and worsening vision.

Consultant neurosurgeon Professor Hani Marcus, who performed the operation alongside surgical resident Danyal Khan, said, “Huge thanks to the trial participants and to the team committed to improving patient outcomes by taking this important first step globally.”

The AI therefore acted more like an additional set of highly trained eyes, helping surgeons steer clear of the areas that needed to be avoided while removing as much of the tumour as safely possible.

The AI Was Trained On Hundreds Of Surgical Videos

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The system was developed by researchers at the UCL Hawkes Institute and trained AI with hundreds of videos from previous endoscopic pituitary surgeries.

Dr Sophia Bano, Associate Professor in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence at UCL and technical lead for the system, said the AI had been exposed to a breadth of surgical examples that would take a human surgeon many years to learn.

She said, “It is designed to help recognise critical anatomy, surgical instruments and tissue interactions in real time, supporting the surgeon during highly delicate procedures.”

The technology can also potentially track surgical instruments and how they interact with tissue, allowing the possibility of giving surgeons additional feedback during complex procedures.

AI Is Supporting Surgeons, Not Replacing Them

The significance of the procedure lies in real-time assistance. The surgeon interprets what is happening, makes decisions and controls the instruments, while the AI provides valuable additional information about the anatomy.

Health Innovation Minister James Frith described the procedure as an example of AI's potential in healthcare, while stressing that safeguards remain essential. He said, “AI needs proper safeguards and we will always ensure that safety is taken seriously.”

Actress Busy Philipps recently revealed that she underwent two surgeries this year after doctors found a rare brain tumour. They discovered it unexpectedly during a full-body MRI despite her not having obvious symptoms.

The Dawson's Creek and Cougar Town actor, 47, told PEOPLE that the tumour was discovered in February after she underwent a Prenuvo full-body scan. The scan showed a 2.6-cm mass in her brain, which was later diagnosed as a grade 2 oligodendroglioma.

She underwent surgery on March 2 to remove the tumour. She then needed a second operation after developing a staphylococcal infection at the surgical site. She has since returned to work and said she is now undergoing regular monitoring, without chemotherapy or radiation.

What Is An Oligodendroglioma?

An oligodendroglioma is a rare type of glioma, a tumour that develops from cells in the brain or spinal cord.

These tumours arise from oligodendrocytes, cells that help produce myelin, the protective coating surrounding nerve fibres.

Grade 2 oligodendrogliomas are generally slow-growing, although they are classified as malignant because they can grow back or become more aggressive over time.

Dr Alexandra Miller, Philipps' neuro-oncologist at NYU Langone, told PEOPLE that the tumour is considered malignant because of its ability to regrow. She also said oligodendroglioma affects approximately 1,100 to 1,300 people in the US each year.

“It is considered malignant, but it has the best prognosis of all of the malignant gliomas,” says Miller. “It’s sort of defined as a cancerous tumor based on the ability of the tumor to regrow over time, rather than it looking very malignant under the microscope.”

Philipps’s early detection, before she had any symptoms, was beneficial, Dr. John Golfinos of NYU Langone said. He said that If she had waited until having symptoms like seizures, the tumor — which was a grade 2 on a scale of 2 to 4 — “would have been two or three times the size. It might have been much harder to take the whole thing out."

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Brain Tumours Can Remain Hidden For Years

One striking part of Philipps' story is that she did not have obvious neurological symptoms. Oligodendrogliomas can sometimes grow slowly enough that people do not immediately notice anything is wrong.

Symptoms depend heavily on where the tumour develops and can include seizures, headaches, changes in behaviour or personality, problems with speech or vision, weakness and difficulties with memory or thinking.

Philipps has said that, in retrospect, she had noticed some changes in her emotions and behaviour, including episodes of irritability and crying, but did not know they could be due to a brain tumour.

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After Surgery, Why She Didn't Need Chemotherapy Or Radiation

Surgery is often the first treatment for oligodendroglioma. Doctors aim to remove as much of the tumour as possible while protecting healthy brain tissue, particularly parts responsible for speech, movement, memory and other essential functions.

Her doctor, Orrin Devinsky of NYU Langone, was the physician who reviewed her MRI and told her that the mass was a genuine tumour and needed to be removed.

In Philipps' case, surgeons successfully removed the 2.6-cm mass. The tissue was then examined to determine exactly what type of tumour she had.

They found that it wasn't the brain tumour type that requires immediate chemotherapy or radiation. Because Philipps had a grade 2 oligodendroglioma that was surgically removed, her medical team has opted for regular monitoring rather than additional treatment at this stage.

A city does not come to a standstill the moment one road narrows. First, traffic slows. Then detours become routine. People leave earlier, reach later, and modify their day around a problem that keeps getting worse.

The heart can face a similar bottleneck. A valve that should open freely may begin to narrow, forcing the heart to work harder to move blood forward. The change may feel gradual, so patients and families often adjust to it rather than question it. That is where delay begins.

Modern heart care has changed what can happen once the problem is recognized. TAVR has become an important option for many patients with severe narrowing of the aortic valve, offering a less invasive path than open-heart surgery for suitable candidates. The bigger challenge is often the myths that stop people from reaching the right evaluation at the right time.

Here are five myths about TAVR that modern heart care has outgrown, left, and what patients and families need to know before old beliefs turn into costly delays.

Myth 1: Heart valve treatment always means open-heart surgery

For many families, valve replacement still conjures a single image: a daunting operation, an extended hospital stay, and a recovery that seems hard to picture.

TAVR offers an alternative route for eligible patients. A replacement valve is delivered through a thin tube, most often through a blood vessel in the leg, and guided to the heart without opening the chest. Patients are also likely to spend less time in hospital after TAVR compared with surgical valve replacement.

Modern valve care may involve a less invasive procedure, a shorter hospital stay, and a more comfortable return to daily routine, depending on the patient’s condition.

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Myth 2: TAVR is only for very elderly or very high-risk patients

Many patients rule themselves out too early. Someone may feel too active, too independent, or “not sick enough” to ask about TAVR.

Modern valve care has moved beyond that narrow view. TAVR is now an established option for an expanded range of appropriately selected candidates with severe aortic stenosis.

Thus, TAVR should not be treated as a last-resort option. A timely valve evaluation can show whether TAVR, surgery, or continued monitoring is the right path.

Myth 3: Feeling okay means the valve problem can wait

A heart valve problem does not always announce itself clearly. Early signs can blend into ordinary explanations.

Breathlessness may be blamed on age. Fatigue may be blamed on stress. Dizziness may be managed as a blood pressure or sugar issue. These explanations can sound reasonable while valve disease continues in the background. Aortic stenosis can also worsen over time, even when symptoms are absent at first.

A new drop in stamina after 60 deserves attention. An echocardiogram can show whether the valve is narrowing and how well the heart is coping.

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Myth 4: Recovery from heart treatment always takes months

Fear of recovery can become one reason families postpone care.

TAVR can offer a gentler recovery for many older adults. Shorter hospital stays reduce the burden on caregivers. Earlier mobilisation can reduce deconditioning and anxiety after prolonged bed rest. Recovery still varies, and every patient needs a guided plan for activity, medicines, follow-ups, and rehabilitation when needed.

Recovery after TAVR is carefully guided and often far less disruptive than most patients expect.

Myth 5: TAVR is a one-size-fits-all procedure

The best valve plan is never borrowed from another patient’s story.

A heart team evaluates anatomy, valve characteristics, vascular access, and the full clinical picture before recommending TAVR or surgery. Current valve care also looks ahead, since some patients may need another procedure years later, and long-term follow-up is necessary. A lifetime heart-team approach is especially important as valve durability, surveillance, and future treatment options are planned.

TAVR is personalized care. The right question is whether it fits the patient’s anatomy, health, goals, and future needs.

What Families Must Remember

Old myths can make modern care feel more frightening than it needs to be. A practical response begins with noticing change early. New breathlessness, chest pressure, dizziness, fainting, unexplained fever, or a sudden drop in energy must prompt medical advice.

Care does not end after treatment. Ongoing checkups, echocardiograms, medications, dental care, walking routines, and cardiac rehab all help safeguard recovery and long-term valve health.

Modern valve care has advanced and moved. Patients and families can move forward too by asking timely questions, seeking the right evaluation, and choosing treatments based on today’s possibilities, not yesterday’s assumptions.

By Dr Maulik Parekh, Head – TAVR and Structural Heart Programme, Section Coordinator