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.

Long known to be a key risk factor for lungs and heart, a new study now shows that long-term exposure to air pollution and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 16%.

A rise of 10 micrograms per cubic metre in PM2.5 concentration was associated with a 10% to 16% increase in diabetes risk.

The findings come amid rising pollution levels in Delhi, highlighting the potential metabolic health consequences of prolonged exposure to poor air quality.

Published in the Journal of Vascular Diseases, the analysis found that air pollution is not just a cardiopulmonary concern but also a potential contributor to metabolic health problems.

What Did The Study Find?

The researchers analysed 13 major previous reviews, covering more than 200 million participant observations worldwide.

Reviews examining new diabetes cases consistently found an association between air pollution exposure and a higher risk of developing the disease.

The studies also reported higher diabetes prevalence, elevated blood sugar levels and an increased burden of related health complications.

The association was observed even among populations living in areas classified as having clean air. Since nearly everyone is exposed to outdoor air pollution, even relatively small increases in individual risk could translate into millions of additional diabetes cases worldwide.

South and East Asia are among the regions likely to face a particularly high burden.

Air Pollution Must Be Part Of Diabetes Prevention

Dr. Anoop Misra, Padma Shri, Executive Chairman and Director, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Fortis C-Doc Hospital for Diabetes and Allied Sciences, said air pollution should be recognised as a potential contributor to metabolic disorders, including diabetes, rather than viewed only as a respiratory and environmental concern.

“Air quality management must become a core part of diabetes prevention,” he said.

He also highlighted the growing public health burden in heavily polluted South Asian cities and stressed the need to integrate air quality management into diabetes prevention.

Yashendra Sethi, first author of the study, said India must focus on improving environmental conditions to protect metabolic health.

“If India wants to tackle both diabetes and pollution, we must improve metabolic health and clean up our environment. We cannot fight diabetes while ignoring the air we breathe,” Sethi said.

The researchers emphasised that diabetes prevention should be considered alongside heart and lung health when framing clean-air guidelines.

They recommended strengthening continuous air quality monitoring, tightening emissions standards and incorporating environmental factors into national healthcare policies.

Delhi Air Quality In Very Poor Category

Delhi's air quality slipped into the 'very poor' category on November 11, with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) settling at 313. This came a day after stronger winds brought some relief, pushing the AQI into the 'poor' category.

According to the Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations are also expected to rise over the next two days.

Of the 58 monitoring stations that recorded data on Wednesday, one reported 'severe' air quality, 34 were in the 'very poor' category, 22 in the 'poor' category and one in the 'moderate' category.

Weeks after revealing that she had been wrongly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), Emmy-winning actor Christina Applegate is exploring whether breast implant illness could explain her chronic pain and fatigue.

Applegate has been experiencing persistent pain and fatigue, which have also affected her mobility. She gradually withdrew from public life after her MS diagnosis in 2021, as she navigated the physical and emotional toll of the condition.

However, in October, the 54-year-old actor revealed that a doctor had told her she did not have MS. She is now undergoing tests for various conditions, including autoimmune diseases and Lyme disease, to determine the cause of her debilitating symptoms.

Applegate is also considering whether her breast implants could be contributing to her health problems. Speaking on the November 10 episode of her podcast, she said her suspicions were reinforced after someone sent her a study that described breast implant illness as "presenting as MS", USA Today reported.

"I swear, over the last five years I thought, 'What if they're leaking and they're poisoning me?'" Applegate said. "So that's one that I will be looking into, because it's something I've thought about."

Christina Applegate Opens Up About Her Symptoms

Also read: Christina Applegate Reveals Multiple Sclerosis Misdiagnosis: Why The Disease Is Hard To Diagnose

Applegate said she is struggling to understand what is causing her persistent pain and fatigue, describing how the symptoms have affected her mobility.

"I'm trying to figure out what's wrong with me; of course I know about these things," she said, referring to the messages she receives from people suggesting possible diagnoses.

She added that the number of possible explanations had become overwhelming.

"It's overwhelming because there's so many different things that could be going on, and this pain stuff – I don't know what's going on in my joints, but I can't move my right shoulder at all now. I can't lift my arm," she said.

In an earlier podcast episode in October, Applegate spoke emotionally about the uncertainty surrounding her health after learning that she did not have MS.

"I'm back at square one – that I don't know what's going on with me," she said.

Despite the news, Applegate said her symptoms have not improved.

“I haven’t gotten better. I still have to use wheelchairs when I go to the doctor’s office. I can’t walk from the car to the room. I’m still in this. Nothing magical happened when she said, ‘You don’t have MS.’ Nothing magical happened.”

Christina Applegate's Breast Cancer And Implant History

Applegate was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in 2008 and underwent a double mastectomy, followed by breast reconstruction.

She also discovered that she carries a BRCA1 gene mutation, which increases the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers.

The actor has previously spoken about her breast implants, saying she was "way overdue for having [the implants] replaced."

What Is Breast Implant Illness?

Breast implant illness (BII) is a term used to describe a range of systemic symptoms that some people report experiencing after receiving breast implants.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has highlighted several potential complications associated with breast implants, including capsular contracture, implant rupture, certain cancers and symptoms collectively described as breast implant illness.

Reported BII symptoms include:

• Persistent fatigue
• Memory and concentration problems, often described as brain fog
• Joint and muscle pain
• Hair loss
• Weight changes
• Anxiety and depression

However, BII is not a formally recognised medical diagnosis. The FDA notes that there are no specific tests or established diagnostic criteria to define or identify the condition.

While some people report improvements in symptoms after implant removal, the relationship between breast implants and these systemic symptoms remains an area of ongoing research. Applegate's concerns about a possible connection with her symptoms have not yet been medically established.

Twenty-six years later, the country is facing its worst outbreak of the highly contagious disease and is on the verge of losing its hard-earned elimination status.

As of November 5, 2026, the US had reported 5,182 confirmed measles cases, according to the CDC. It is the first time that the country has crossed 5,000 mark since 1991.

Further, Pennsylvania (six), New York (one) and Wisconsin (one) have reported a combined eight measles-associated deaths this year — more than the total recorded between 2000 and 2024.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), a regional office of the World Health Organization, is reviewing the country's status. An announcement is expected next week.

What Is Driving The Measles Resurgence In The US?

Also read: EXCLUSIVE: Ex-CDC Vaccine Advisor Says Measles Outbreak Bigger Than Reported, Slams RFK Jr’s ‘No-See Evil’ Approach

Vaccine hesitancy is a key factor behind the resurgence, said Professor Devi Sridhar, Professor and Chair of Global Public Health at the University of Edinburgh, in an exclusive conversation with HealthandMe.

"We're seeing more parents concerned about the side effects of vaccines. Perhaps they've seen a video online or read something that makes them nervous. So for a while in the 1990s, for example, the MMR vaccine was falsely linked to rising autism rates."

She noted that while the study has since been debunked, misinformation of this kind has contributed to vaccine hesitancy, with parents choosing not to vaccinate their children despite vaccines being available because they fear potential side effects.

Falling Vaccination Rates Allow Measles To Spread

Two doses of the MMR vaccine are approximately 97% effective at preventing measles. Even a single dose provides strong protection, offering about 93% effectiveness.

Sridhar said the number of vaccinated children was falling below the threshold needed to prevent the virus from circulating and causing deaths in the country.

"But what we're seeing is that the number of children vaccinated is falling underneath that threshold, which is around 85 to 90%. And once you get a population that is not vaccinated to that level, measles starts to circulate, then it starts to find children, and unfortunately they get infected. And because it's so serious, we are starting to see deaths even in the United States."

Sridhar also warned that misinformation online is undermining trust in vaccines. She said online claims about the MMR vaccine, including false links to autism and fears about side effects, can discourage parents from vaccinating their children.

"That's very dangerous now because as we know, the information on the internet and on social media isn't regulated."

Read More: What Happens After Measles Infection? The Hidden Risks That Can Last For Years

Can The US Rebuild Public Trust In Vaccines?

Sridhar pointed to changes in the country's public health and scientific institutions over the past two years, including the dismantling of the vaccine advisory group and a shift towards alternative therapies that has contributed to vaccine hesitancy.

However, with the recent Democratic gains in Congress, she is hopeful about the possibility of restoring science in government.

“Those who are scientifically trained, those who are doctors, clinicians, PhDs, people who have that kind of background will really help to hopefully bring science back into government and into government advice and help build that trust.”

How Is Measles-Elimination Status Determined?

PAHO considers endemic measles transmission to have been re-established when the same virus genotype and lineage circulates uninterrupted for at least 12 months within a country or defined geographical area.

The Regional Verification Commission reviews epidemiological and laboratory evidence, alongside information on vaccination coverage, surveillance and outbreak response, before making recommendations on a country's status.

Publicly available data shows that several chains of measles transmission have continued for more than a year in the US, according to scientists who analysed the data at the request of The New York Times.

Three separate transmission chains — two in Utah and one in Arizona — were continuing in July 2026 and could be traced to an outbreak in Texas more than a year earlier. One of these chains was still circulating in Utah in September, occasionally spilling over into Oregon and Washington.

Another transmission chain, detected in Virginia at the start of the year, was still spreading in Iowa, Indiana and Pennsylvania as of mid-October.