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.

Indian President Droupadi Murmu, on the occasion of World Sickle Cell Day 2026, today expressed confidence that the country can eradicate sickle cell disease well before the 2047 target.

Addressing the International Sickle Cell Day commemoration at Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh, President Murmu noted that the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, launched in 2023, has so far "screened seven crore people, ranging from newborns to those up to 40 years of age."

Calling it "one of the largest initiatives for genetic disease screening in the world," she added that the mission has detected sickle cell disease "in approximately 2.5 lakh people so far, and over 20 lakh carriers of the disease have also been identified."

"Through the collective strength and active engagement of all states, we will succeed in achieving our national goal of eradicating sickle cell-related diseases from the country well before the year 2047," the President said.

The President highlighted three key dimensions of the mission:

• Spreading large-scale awareness and providing pre-marital genetic counselling;
• Identifying the disease in a timely manner through comprehensive screening; and
• Ensuring continuity of care while guaranteeing a holistic approach to management.

She also stressed the need for collective efforts to raise awareness and eliminate the genetic blood disorder, particularly among tribal communities.

Also read: Sickle Cell Disease: Why India Must Add Curative Treatment to Meet Its 2047 Elimination Goal

What Is Sickle Cell Disease?

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects the shape and function of red blood cells. Instead of being round and flexible, the red blood cells become sickle- or crescent-shaped, making it difficult for them to move smoothly through blood vessels.

The chronic single-gene disorder causes a debilitating systemic syndrome characterized by chronic anemia, acute painful episodes, organ infarction, chronic organ damage, and a significant reduction in life expectancy.

"Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of India’s most pressing inherited blood disorders, with an estimated 1 in 86 births among tribal and disadvantaged groups affected," Dr Manisha Madkaikar is Director - ICMR-National Institute for Research on Blood and Immune Disorders – Mumbai, told HealthandMe.

Children living with the condition often experience repeated hospital visits, missed school days and limitations in daily activities. Parents frequently face emotional distress, financial strain and the challenge of managing a lifelong medical condition.

What Is the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Program?

Read More:No Women Aged 20-24 Died of Cervical Cancer in England Over Five Years, Thanks to HPV Vaccine

The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Program, introduced in the Union Budget 2023, focuses on addressing the significant health challenges posed by sickle cell disease, particularly among tribal populations in the country.

Implemented across 17 high-focus states, the programme aims to improve care and outcomes for sickle cell disease patients while reducing the prevalence of the disorder. The states are Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, and Uttarakhand.

Implemented in mission mode under the National Health Mission (NHM), the program aims to eliminate sickle cell genetic transmission by 2047.

Over a three-year period from 2023-24 to 2025-26, the program targets screening approximately seven crore people, promoting early diagnosis and intervention on a large scale.

Did COVID-19 emerge naturally or from a laboratory leak? Nearly seven years after the pandemic began in late 2019, and despite more than 7.1 million confirmed deaths worldwide and numerous investigations, there is still no definitive answer about the virus's origins.

Now, Tulsi Gabbard, on her last day as the Director of National Intelligence, US, has reignited the debate by alleging that Anthony Fauci, who led the scientific and medical response to the COVID-19 pandemic in America, funded research at China's infamous Wuhan Institute of Virology that contributed to the pandemic.

"The COVID-19 pandemic caused tremendous hardship and pain for millions of Americans and countless people around the world," Gabbard said in a statement.

"After years of lies, censorship, and cover-ups, the American people deserve transparency, truth, and accountability."

What Are the Documents?

According to Gabbard's office, the materials were released following a year-long declassification review conducted by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) as part of President Trump's transparency initiative.

During the review, officials reportedly gathered testimony from intelligence community whistleblowers who alleged they faced retaliation for challenging official assessments of the virus's origins.

Gabbard said the testimony revealed a pattern of suppressing dissenting views, discouraging debate, and sidelining evidence that conflicted with prevailing intelligence assessments.

Also read: COVID-19 Vaccination Reduced Risk of Heart Attacks and Strokes in Elderly by 40%: Study

What Does The Documents Show?

According to Gabbard, the newly declassified communications and documents reveal that

• Fauci worked with intelligence officials to suppress information related to the COVID-19 lab-leak theory and allegedly had a role in directing US funding for coronavirus research.
• Fauci influenced Intelligence Community assessments regarding the origins of COVID-19.
• Fauci misled Congress during his 2024 testimony when he denied knowledge of or participation in discussions with intelligence officials about viral research.
• Fauci held significant influence during the pandemic and occupied multiple roles that shielded him from scrutiny.
• Fauci funded coronavirus research linked to efforts to develop so-called "universal vaccines."
• Fauci selected scientific advisers who encouraged intelligence agencies to support a natural-origin theory while downplaying the lab-leak hypothesis.
• Fauci publicly promoted narratives that discouraged debate over alternative explanations for the origins of COVID-19.
• Fauci maintained close relationships with intelligence officials, enabling him to influence both intelligence assessments and public narratives surrounding the pandemic.
• Fauci's statement — "not to my knowledge about COVID" — was inconsistent with documented communications regarding interactions with intelligence agencies.

Read More: 1 in 6 Americans May Be Suffering From Long COVID, Study Finds

Whistleblower Allegations

Importantly, the declassified materials also include testimony from whistleblowers who claim analysts supporting the lab-leak theory faced professional consequences. These include:

• A contractor was reportedly dismissed shortly after submitting a whistleblower complaint to ODNI.
• Analysts advocating for the lab-leak hypothesis were allegedly warned that career advancement decisions rested with leadership.
• Some whistleblowers claimed senior officials created barriers to anonymous reporting, fostering an atmosphere of intimidation.

Read: COVID Pandemic Left 55,000 Cancer Cases Undiagnosed In 7 Nations, Including Australia and the UK

What Happens Next?

Gabbard said these allegations have been referred to the intelligence community's inspector general for further review.

Whether the allegations lead to congressional hearings, legal action, or additional independent review remains uncertain.

Any conclusions will depend on careful examination of the documents, corroborating evidence, and responses from those named in the allegations. Fauci is yet to comment on the allegations.

The UK's human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program, initiated in 2018, has achieved a remarkable milestone: no women aged 20 to 24 died from cervical cancer in England between 2020 and 2024, according to a study published in the journal The Lancet.

England introduced the HPV vaccine for girls in 2008 and expanded the program to boys in 2019. By 2024, vaccine coverage among women aged 20-24 had reached nearly 90 per cent.

Researchers found that there were no cervical cancer deaths in this age group during the five-year period, compared with an estimated 23 deaths that would have been expected based on historical trends.

The study also estimated that HPV vaccination has prevented approximately 200 cervical cancer deaths among young women in England since the program began.

"It's amazing news that no women aged between 20 and 24 died from cervical cancer in the whole of England between 2020 and 2024," said Peter Sasieni, Professor of Cancer Epidemiology at Queen Mary University of London.

"That remarkable fact is thanks to nearly 90% of Gen Z women having received the HPV vaccine through the school vaccination and catch-up programs," he added.

This marks the first time that zero cervical cancer deaths have been recorded in this age group and provides compelling evidence of the vaccine's life-saving impact.

Children Vaccinated At 12-13 Had Near-Zero Risk

Read More: HPV Vaccine Can Help Curb Rising Head And Neck Cancers, Says Top US Doctor

The study found that girls vaccinated at ages 12-13 had an almost zero risk of dying from cervical cancer before the age of 30, highlighting the success of the school-based vaccination program.

While several countries have reported declines in cervical cancer rates following HPV vaccination campaigns, evidence linking vaccination programs directly to reductions in cervical cancer deaths has been limited.

"This is the first national-level evidence, albeit observational, linking high HPV vaccination coverage to a major reduction in cervical cancer deaths," the researchers noted.

How The Study Was Conducted

Researchers analyzed HPV vaccination rates and cervical cancer mortality data among women in England between 2001 and 2024.

In addition to recording zero cervical cancer deaths among women aged 20-24 between 2020 and 2024, the study found an 80 per cent reduction in cervical cancer deaths in the same age group between 2015 and 2019.

The findings underscore the importance of achieving high vaccination coverage against a disease that remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among younger women worldwide.

"We estimate that since its introduction, HPV vaccination has prevented nearly 200 young women from dying from cervical cancer in England," said Sasieni.

"But that's just the tip of the iceberg. As vaccinated generations grow older, we'll see many more lives saved from cervical cancer. It is incredible to think that a single jab can almost eliminate a particular type of cancer."

What Is HPV? How A vaccine helps?

Also read: Affordable India-Made HPV Test Offers Hope For Early Cervical Cancer Detection

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common viral infection worldwide, with more than 200 known types. While some types lead to benign skin warts, others are responsible for severe health threats, such as cervical, throat, anal, and penile cancers. The HPV vaccine provides strong protection against the most lethal strains, avoiding long-term health complications.

The HPV vaccine helps the immune system recognize and fight off high-risk strains of the virus before they cause harm. It protects against:

• Genital warts
• Cervical cancer
• Vaginal, vulvar, anal, and penile cancers
• Mouth, throat, head, and neck cancers linked to HPV.