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 Times Network India Health Summit 2026 – South Edition, held on June 20 in Hyderabad, honored outstanding contributions of doctors and innovations across the Indian healthcare sector.

The event brought together leading voices from government, medicine, research, and the healthcare industry to discuss the future of India's healthcare system.

Across three panel discussions, experts deliberated on the growing burden of obesity and anemia in the country, the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare and whether AI could outpace doctors, as well as the increasing incidence of violence against doctors and healthcare workers.

The summit featured renowned doctors, policymakers, hospital leaders, researchers and healthcare innovators. Discussions also covered preventive healthcare, artificial intelligence, women's health, public health policy and medical innovation.

The event was powered by Tamashii, with Gigglu as the associate partner, BMW Krishna Automotive as the automobile partner, Sumadhura as the real estate partner, and VOH (Voice of Healthcare) as the knowledge partner.

Also read: Times Network Health Summit 2026: Ignoring Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Can Lead to Anemia, Says Top Gynecologist

Times Network India Health Awards 2026 Winners

Award CategoryAward Winner Name1. Eminent Excellence in Functional Neuro Surgery (Telangana)Dr Dhanunjaya Rao - Apollo Hospitals2. Eminent Excellence in Robotic Joint Replacement Surgery (Telangana)Dr Vikram Byre - Yashoda Hospitals3.Legendary Excellence in Joint Replacement Surgeries (Telangana)Dr K Sudhir Reddy - Landmark Hospitals4.Legendary Excellence in Internal Medicine & Intensive Care (Telangana)Dr Rajib Paul - Apollo Hospitals5.Centre of Excellence in Varicose VeinsAVIS Vascular Center6.Legendary Excellence in Neurosurgery & Brain Stroke Prevention Public Health Services (Telangana)Dr Uday Goutam - Goutam Neuro Care7. Outstanding Philanthropic Contribution to Hearing Impairment Rehabilitation & InclusionSAHI (Society to Aid the Hearing Impaired)8. Centre of Excellence in Advanced Fertility Treatments (Telangana)Hegde Fertility9.Lifetime Achievement Award in Gastrointestinal & Minimally Invasive Surgery (Telangana)Dr G V Rao - Director AIG Hospitals10.Best Emerging Multi Specialty Hospital (Telangana)Sindhu Hospitals11.Centre of Excellence in Advanced Dentistry (Khammam)Sri Srinivasam Dental Hospital (Khammam)12.Centre of Excellence in Advanced Personalized Orthopedic Care (Telangana)My Ortho Centre13.Legendary Excellence in Dental Implants (Telangana)Dr Venkat Ratna Nag - The Dental Specialists14.Legendary Excellence in Advanced Otology (Telangana)Dr Jaswinder Singh Saluja - Apollo Hospitals15.Excellence in Robotic & Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgery (Telangana)Dr T Rajeshwari Reddy – Continental Hospitals16 Eminent Excellence in Transplant Pulmonology (Telangana)Dr Tapaswi Krishna - Yashoda Hospitals17.Legendary Excellence in Precision Eye Surgery (Telangana)Dr Sangeeta Das - Malla Reddy Hospital18.Excellence in Agentic AI for Clinical DiagnosticsNeurologic.AI19.Centre of Excellence in Advanced Clear Aligner & Smile Design Treatments (Telangana)PARK Dental Care20.Eminent Excellence in Surgical Oncology & Robotic Surgery (Telangana)Dr Ajay Chanakya Vallabhaneni21.Lifetime Achievement in Women's Healthcare & Maternal ExcellenceDr Evita Fernandez - Fernandez Hospitals22.Best Emerging Hospital in Vascular & Plastic Surgery (Telangana)IKIGAI Hospitals23..Emerging Excellence in Voice & Airway Disorders Management (Telangana)Dr Madhav Koka - Apollo Hospitals24. Legendary Excellence in Advanced Proctology & Anal Canal Surgery (Telangana)Dr Sanjeev Singh Yadav - EPIC International Hospital25.Lifetime Achievement Award in Global Oncology Excellence

Dr Nori Dattatreyudu26.Excellence in Advanced Medical Care & InnovationAJ Hospital & Research Centre27.Visionary Excellence in Robotic Laparoscopic SurgeryDr Rooma Sinha - Apollo Hospitals

Serena Williams has openly spoken up about her weight loss struggle after the birth of her second daughter in 2023. As she returns to competitive tennis at the age of 44, discussion around her much leaner appearance was sparked again. Williams has been candid about attributing her weight loss to a GLP-1 drug called Zepbound.

Serena Williams Lost 34 Pounds With Zepbound

As Serena Williams made a high-profile return to singles competition at Wimbledon on June 30, fans did not miss the difference in her physique.

In 2025, Williams revealed that she was able to shed about 34 to 38 pounds (15 to 17 kg) with the help of the prescription GLP-1 medication Zepbound (tirzepatide), alongside regular exercise and healthy eating.

Her comeback to the sport also sparked debate over whether GLP-1 medications provide a competitive advantage and if they should be banned. But as of now, GLP-1 drugs are not banned by the anti-doping authorities.

She also emphasized that the medication was an addition to, not a replacement for her existing fitness habits. According to NBC, she announced a partnership with the company Ro, which prescribes GLP-1 medications through telehealth.

Also read: Did Donald Trump Take Eli Lilly's Weight Loss Drug? What Did White House Say

The RO website features Williams, stating: “After kids, she was doing everything right, but nothing worked. Ro finally helped her get back to her strongest self," it says. "After losing weight with another GLP-1 provider, Serena chose Ro to continue her weight loss journey. She has used both branded vials and pens.”

In a conversation with People that her weight struggle began after the birth of her daughter. She said that she was not able to get to the weight she wanted regardless of her efforts.

She said, “It was crazy because I'd never been in a place like that in my life where I worked so hard, ate so healthy, and could never get down to where I needed to be at.”

Apart from weight loss, she also spoke about other benefits she experienced after starting Zepbound.

She said, “I just can do more. I'm more active. My joints don't hurt as much. I just feel like something as simple as just getting down is a lot easier for me. And I do it a lot faster. I feel like I have a lot of energy, and it's great. I just feel pretty good about it.”

What Is Zepbound And How It Is Different From Ozempic?

Zepbound’s active ingredient is tirzepatide. While it is called GLP-1 medication, it is more than that. It mirrors two hormones that your body naturally releases after you eat:

GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1)

This hormone makes you feel full sooner, slows stomach emptying, so food stays in your stomach longer, reducing appetite. It also helps the pancreas release insulin when blood sugar rises.

GIP (Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide)

This improves insulin response, enhances metabolism, and works together with GLP-1 to produce greater weight loss than GLP-1 alone.

Zepbound's two-way action is the biggest factor that distinguishes it from Ozempic. The latter mimics only one hormone, GLP 1, which reduces appetite and hunger by promoting a feeling of fullness.

Zepbound, on the other hand, performs the function of GLP-1 while also improving insulin sensitivity and fat metabolism effectively.

A suspected Ebola case at a hospital in Glasgow, Scotland, has been ruled out after the patient tested negative for the virus, health officials confirmed.

The patient was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in the early hours of June 30.

The precautionary response had prompted heightened infection control measures and an assessment by specialist teams, but authorities said there is no confirmed case of Ebola and no risk to the wider public based on current findings.

"The test result has now been received and is negative," said a spokesperson from the Public Health Scotland (PHS).

If confirmed, it would have been the first case in the UK since an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda in May.

The PHS noted it has established protocols including contact tracing, clinical assessment and precautionary testing for assessing and testing travelers arriving in the UK from areas affected by Ebola.

Ebola Outbreak Continues in Africa

Also read: Ebola Outbreak: The Unique Symptoms Seen In Patients Infected With Bundibugyo

The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has increased to 1,333, including 399 deaths, government data showed on Tuesday (June 30, 2026).

The confirmed cases have been recorded from three provinces – Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.

The virus has now also reached Haut-Uele province, which borders South Sudan and the Central African Republic, according to AFP.

Haut-Uele province is home to around 15 million people. Health officials said the first case in Haut-Uele was detected after an infected person travelled from Bunia, the capital of Ituri. The patient later died, according to sources at the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB).

The outbreak in Africa was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) in May. So far, the deadly disease has been limited to Congo and Uganda. A case of Ebola was reported in France in a doctor who contracted the virus while on a humanitarian mission in Congo.

Meanwhile, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has raised its emergency response to the outbreak to Level 1, its highest activation level. The designation, reserved for the most severe public health emergencies, allows the agency to deploy its maximum response capacity.

Despite the escalation, the CDC said the risk of Ebola spreading to the United States remains low.

What Is Ebola?

Ebola is a severe and often fatal viral hemorrhagic fever first identified in 1976. Since then, more than 30 outbreaks have been recorded, primarily in Central and West Africa.

Common Symptoms of Ebola

• Fever
• Headache
• Weakness and fatigue
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Muscle pain
• Sore throat
• Unexplained bleeding or bruising

In severe cases, the disease can lead to organ failure, internal bleeding, shock, and death. Aid organizations warn that without stronger surveillance, expanded testing, faster laboratory turnaround times, and more effective contact tracing, the outbreak could continue to grow in the coming weeks and months.

Unlike flu or Covid, Ebola is not an airborne virus, so it is not spread simply by being near an infected person.