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.

Alzheimer’s patients have received discouraging news after the release of results from a major study. Novo Nordisk confirmed that its Alzheimer’s treatment did not show a “statistically significant” slowdown in the progression of the illness. Two trials evaluating the company’s weight loss medicine semaglutide in Alzheimer’s disease did not meet their targets, the firm said on Monday, as the drug failed to slow decline compared with a placebo.

Testing semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, for Alzheimer’s had always been viewed as a high-risk attempt, even though research has suggested the drug may influence several processes beyond metabolism. Still, Novo had raised interest in recent weeks by advertising roles connected to Alzheimer’s consumer marketing and medical affairs.

Novo Nordisk Says Alzheimer's Drug Trial Fails

Novo Nordisk said on Monday that an older oral form of semaglutide did not achieve its main outcome in late-stage trials assessing whether the drug could reduce cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer’s disease, sending its shares down by 10 percent.

The development dims expectations that Alzheimer’s could become a major new area for GLP-1 medicines like semaglutide, at a time when Novo is facing stronger competition for its leading products in obesity and diabetes. Treatment choices for Alzheimer’s patients remain limited. The company’s study had been closely followed as a potential sign of whether GLP-1 drugs, widely used for diabetes and weight control, might slow the condition’s advance.

The pill tested was Rybelsus, approved only for type 2 diabetes and containing semaglutide, as reported by Reuters.

Novo Nordisk: Lottery Ticket Fails

The firm’s Executive Vice President for Product and Portfolio Strategy, Ludovic Helfgott, had earlier described the Alzheimer’s trials as a “lottery ticket,” reflecting both the uncertainty and the considerable promise involved. Alzheimer’s and related dementias affect more than 55 million people worldwide, and no cure exists. “While semaglutide did not demonstrate efficacy in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, the extensive body of evidence supporting semaglutide continues to provide benefits for individuals with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and related comorbidities,” Chief Scientific Officer Martin Holst Lange said in a statement.

The findings from the two early-stage studies, EVOKE and EVOKE+, mark another setback for the Danish company and its new CEO Mike Doustdar. Novo had experienced remarkable success with Ozempic and Wegovy, but slower sales growth and a sharp drop in its stock value led to a leadership shift and significant job cuts.

The disappointment adds weight to analysts’ doubts about Novo’s Alzheimer’s plans, with UBS having earlier estimated only a 10 percent likelihood of success.

Novo Nordisk: Alzheimer’s Trial Stakes And Outcome

Alzheimer’s, marked by deep cognitive decline, fading memory and changes in behaviour, remains one of the hardest challenges in drug research. Novo had repeatedly acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding these studies. Even so, the possible payoff was significant. Analysts at Morgan Stanley had estimated that a breakthrough could have added up to $5 billion in yearly revenue.

“We believed it was important to assess whether semaglutide could offer any benefit,” Chief Scientific Officer Martin Holst Lange said, referring to the drug better known as Ozempic. The treatment did show improvement in certain biological markers connected to Alzheimer’s, but these gains did not lead to a slower progression of the condition.

Novo Nordisk Stock: Impact On Competition And Obesity Market

The company is also working to strengthen its footing in the obesity sector. Any sign that Wegovy could influence the most common form of dementia might have provided an edge over Eli Lilly’s Zepbound in the United States, where competition in this field is intensifying.

Delhi residents are once again dealing with heavy pollution as a dense layer of smog covered the city on November 22. In response to the worsening situation, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Saturday put GRAP Stage IV curbs into force, as several monitoring stations across the Capital recorded air in the ‘severe’ category.

Under the updated rules, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi and the NCR state administrations will decide whether public, municipal and private offices should function with only half their staff on site, with the remaining employees working from home. CAQM noted in its latest advisory, “CAQM has revised the GRAP schedule on 21.11.2025 to make it more stringent thus preventing further deterioration of air quality in Delhi-NCR.”

Which Measures Of GRAP 4 Are Being Taken Under GRAP 3?

As per CAQM, the following GRAP 4 steps will now be implemented during GRAP 3:

• NCR state governments and GNCTD will consider allowing public, municipal and private offices to operate at 50 percent capacity, with the remaining staff working remotely.
• The Central Government may also take a call on offering work-from-home options for employees in central government offices.

Other Restrictions In Delhi Under GRAP 3

Since GRAP 3 remains active in Delhi, activities such as non-essential construction, demolition work, and the use of older vehicle categories, including those below the Bharat Stage (BS)-IV emission norms, continue to be limited. People have been advised to minimise time spent outdoors, especially during the early mornings and late evenings when pollution is often at its peak. On Friday, the Delhi government also directed schools and other educational institutions to halt all sports and outdoor physical activities.

Stages of GRAP

GRAP follows four levels, each tied to the Air Quality Index (AQI) at the time.

Stage I of GRAP begins when air quality reaches the “poor” range (AQI between 201 and 300, which can cause breathing discomfort after prolonged exposure).

Stage II is enforced when air turns “very poor” (AQI between 301 and 400, which can result in respiratory issues with continued exposure).

Stage III comes into effect when pollution becomes “severe” (AQI between 401 and 500, a level at which even healthy individuals may feel the impact and those with existing conditions face serious health risks).

Stage IV of GRAP is declared when pollution crosses into the “severe+” range (AQI above 500).

India’s national AQI framework, created by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), categorises air quality based on its potential impact on health, ranging from mild discomfort to significant respiratory and heart-related problems.

Each stage of GRAP includes a fixed set of actions for authorities to follow. As pollution increases and GRAP moves to the next stage, measures from earlier levels continue. This creates a step-by-step response system designed to slow down the rise in pollution and prevent conditions from becoming even more harmful.

At the moment, GRAP III is in force in Delhi, as air quality has been shifting between the ‘severe’ and ‘very poor’ bands. A range of restrictions linked to this stage is already being implemented across the city.

As Delhi’s air grows heavier with pollution, citizens have begun stepping out in protest to raise their concerns. During a demonstration at the C Hexagon near India Gate, some protestors allegedly sprayed chilli solution on police officers, disrupted official duties and blocked traffic, according to the police. New Delhi DCP Devesh Kumar Mahla stated that this was the first time such a substance had been used against officers during an agitation. “For the first time, we witnessed chilli spray being used on police personnel. A few officers were hit in the eyes and are receiving care at RML Hospital. Legal action is underway,” the Delhi Police official told The Print.

This raises an important question. How harmful can a chilli spray actually be? Can spraying it put a person’s organs at risk? Here is a closer look.

How Is Chilli Spray Made?

Chilli spray, often known as pepper spray, is produced from oleoresin capsicum (OC), an oily extract taken from chilli peppers. Its main active compound is capsaicin, the same substance that gives chillies their heat, only in a far more concentrated and weaponised form.

The OC is mixed into a liquid base (such as water with an emulsifier like propylene glycol, or an alcohol solution) and is then pressurised so it can be dispersed as a fine aerosol spray, according to The Wire Science.

Physical Effects Of Chilli Spray

When pepper spray reaches the eyes, it brings on sudden eyelid closure, sharp pain and temporary loss of vision. Many describe the sensation as burning, bubbling or boiling, along with intense discomfort, as per Medical News Today.

It may also lead to:

• dry cough or wheezing
• shortness of breath or trouble drawing in air
• burning in the throat
• chest discomfort
• gagging
• runny nose
• gasping
• panic
• difficulty speaking
• dizziness
• fainting
• rashes, blisters or chemical burns where it touches the skin

How Does Chilli Spray Exposure Harm Your Airways?

Chilli spray affects your airways by provoking strong inflammation and irritation of the moist lining inside the nose, throat, and lungs. Capsaicin is the key driver of this reaction, and it can spark a wide set of breathing symptoms. In more serious instances, it may even lead to complications.

Chilli Spray Exposure To Eyes

The eyes react almost instantly to pepper spray. It causes heavy tearing, swelling, redness, stinging and momentary blindness. The cornea’s surface layer becomes disturbed, which means people with conditions like diabetes, dry eyes or recurrent corneal erosion may experience stronger effects than someone with healthy eyes, as reported by Medical News Today.

Anyone wearing contact lenses should remove them at once using clean fingers that have not touched the spray. The lenses must be thrown away because they cannot be salvaged.

Rubbing the eyes will make the pain far worse and should be avoided. Rinsing gently with saline can help. Blinking repeatedly also assists in washing the irritant out with tears.

What To Do After Exposure To Chilli Spray?

After being exposed to pepper spray, these steps can help shorten the discomfort:

• Move to an open area with clean air if possible.
• Rinse the affected parts with plenty of water to clear away the chemical.
• Do not use soap near the eyes, because it can aggravate irritation.
• Remove clothing that has come into contact with the spray to prevent the chemical from spreading. Cutting it off instead of pulling it over the head reduces further exposure to the eyes and skin.
• Keep hands away from the irritated areas to avoid transferring the oily chemical elsewhere on the body.
• Blink quickly to help tears flush out the substance.