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.

Malfunctioning glucose sensors made by Abbott Diabetes Care have been tied to more than seven hundred serious medical events and seven possible deaths, according to updates from both Abbott and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company issued a public notice on November 24 and sent letters to those who may be affected, explaining that it had begun a “medical device correction” for select FreeStyle Libre 3 and FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensors.

On December 2, the FDA released an early safety communication, which is the type of alert shared when a product is corrected or removed because of a significant risk before the agency can determine whether an official recall is necessary.

FDA: Seven Deaths Possibly Linked To Malfunctioning Glucose Monitors

Some FreeStyle Libre 3 sensors may show falsely low blood sugar levels, which can lead people with diabetes to make treatment choices that are not appropriate for their actual condition. When someone’s glucose appears low, they might delay their insulin dose or skip it altogether, or they may eat more carbohydrates in an effort to raise their levels, as noted by USA Today.

When treatment decisions are based on incorrect readings, blood sugar can quickly become unstable. Poor glucose control can result in dangerous medical complications, including injury or even death. Problems linked to mismanaged diabetes can include diabetic ketoacidosis, heart issues, stroke, kidney damage, nerve and eye problems, and a higher chance of infection.

USA Today reports that the issue affects nearly three million Libre 3 and Libre 3 Plus sensors sold in the United States, and Abbott estimates that roughly half of them have already been used or have expired. Worldwide, the company has received 736 reports of severe adverse events (57 in the U.S.) and seven reports of deaths (none in the U.S.) that may be associated with this problem.

Which Abbott Diabetes Care Products Are Impacted?

Only specific FreeStyle Libre 3 and FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems are affected. The FreeStyle Libre 3 handheld reader and mobile app are working normally.

No other Libre devices (FreeStyle Libre 14-day, FreeStyle Libre 2, FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus, or the FreeStyle Libre Pro sensors) or Abbott biowearable products are involved.

FreeStyle Libre 3 Sensor

• Model Numbers: 72081-01, 72080-01
• Unique Device Identifiers (UDI-DI): 00357599818005, 00357599819002

FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus Sensor

• Model Numbers: 78768-01, 78769-01
• Unique Device Identifiers (UDI-DI): 00357599844011, 00357599843014

The serial number for a FreeStyle Libre 3 or FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor is available in the app or reader, and it is also printed on the label at the bottom of the sensor applicator or on the carton. Consumers who are wearing a sensor that has been confirmed as part of the affected group should stop using it at once and safely discard it.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee will meet on Thursday and Friday to review the childhood vaccination schedule, look at adjuvants and possible contaminants, and revisit hepatitis B immunisation guidance.

This will be the third gathering this year of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed all 17 former members and brought in his own choices, many of whom have openly questioned long-standing vaccine policies.

It is also the first meeting since ACIP chair Martin Kulldorff, a former Harvard Medical School professor, accepted a permanent job at HHS. Pediatric cardiologist and former U.S. Air Force flight surgeon Dr. Kirk Milhoan will lead the committee during this session.

Hepatitis B: CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee Meeting

The latest battle in the US’ growing political, cultural, and scientific debate over vaccines will unfold inside a CDC meeting room in Atlanta later this week.

There, a key CDC advisory group — now entirely appointed by Kennedy who will vote on proposals that could significantly change long-accepted guidance meant to shield newborns from hepatitis B, a virus known to cause liver cancer.

The two-day ACIP meeting comes shortly after Kennedy instructed the CDC to alter language on its website, downplaying the agency’s long-standing statement that vaccines do not cause autism, even though extensive research has repeatedly found no connection.

Here is what public health experts say they will be watching during this week’s meeting, which will be livestreamed on Thursday and Friday.

Hepatitis B: Votes May Delay Or Limit Babies’ Protection Against Hepatitis B

According to the meeting agenda, Thursday’s discussions and votes will centre on major changes to hepatitis B guidance. Overnight, the committee released draft wording for two recommendations.

As per CNN, the first proposal would shift the current universal recommendation for newborn hepatitis B vaccination to an “individual-based decision” made by parents and a healthcare provider for babies born to mothers who test negative for the virus or whose status is unknown.

The language also gives parents and clinicians the freedom to “decide when or if their child will begin the HBV series.”

The second vote concerns draft wording that encourages parents to talk with clinicians about blood tests to check immunity levels before later hepatitis B doses. The draft states that insurance should cover these tests.

Currently, all newborns are advised to receive the vaccine shortly after birth to protect against infection from an undetected maternal case and from close contacts who may unknowingly carry the virus.

Committee members have previously urged better hepatitis B screening during pregnancy, while others have questioned whether only high-risk infants should get the vaccine.

Hepatitis B: How Contagious Is It?

Hepatitis B is highly contagious. It spreads through contact with infected blood and bodily fluids, often from people with no symptoms. While it can be passed during birth, through sex, or shared needles, it can also spread through shared items found in many homes: nail clippers, toothbrushes, and even certain pieces of jewellery.

Childhood And Adolescent Immunisation Schedule

It is not yet clear what parts of the schedule will be reviewed. The early agenda listed this topic for Friday without details. The final agenda shows that attorney Aaron Siri, a close adviser to Kennedy, will speak on this.

Critics, including Kennedy, have raised questions about the number of vaccines children receive and the timing between doses.

Discussion of “Adjuvants And Contaminants” In Vaccines

According to ABC News, the draft agenda included a Friday session on adjuvants and contaminants. The final programme describes the talk as examining aluminium exposure from vaccines before 24 months and rates of persistent asthma between ages 24 and 59 months.

Aluminum salts are used in several vaccines — including diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B—to strengthen the immune response, according to CNN.

The ACIP meeting also follows last week’s internal FDA memo claiming that Covid-19 vaccines may be connected to the deaths of ten children. Lakshmanan, O’Leary, and others say the committee could raise the issue during the discussions.

US President Donald Trump was seen struggling to stay alert several times during a three-hour Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Footage showed the 79-year-old president narrowing his eyes again and again and briefly closing them fully, even as Cabinet officials spoke about their work and praised his leadership.

At one point, he appeared to drift off while Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick addressed the room before shifting forward to reply. His tired look followed a long night on Truth Social, where he posted more than 160 times between 7 p.m. and midnight on Monday and resumed posting shortly before 6 a.m. on Tuesday, which added to the growing discussion around his health.

Donald Trump Appears to Fight Sleep During Televised Cabinet Meeting

President Donald Trump seemed to lose focus multiple times during the Dec. 2 Cabinet meeting. He repeatedly narrowed his eyes and, at one moment, kept them fully closed as his team outlined their achievements and spoke in his praise. While Howard Lutnick shared an update on the Commerce Department, Trump kept his eyes shut for several seconds before leaning in to answer him.

The president’s drained appearance followed a night of heavy activity on Truth Social, where he uploaded more than 160 posts from early evening to midnight on Dec. 1. He returned to the platform by 5:48 a.m. the next morning.

When PEOPLE reached out for comment, the White House shared a statement from press secretary Karoline Leavitt. She said, “President Trump was listening closely and leading the three-hour Cabinet meeting,” before repeating a recent administration claim that Somali immigrants do not belong in Minnesota.

She continued, “Watch his strong closing remarks in the press conference, where he called out America-Last Democrats for allowing radical Somali migrants to take advantage of American taxpayers.” She said that this moment captured the energy of Trump’s ninth Cabinet meeting of his second term, all of which have been fully open to the press.

“In each of these meetings,” she added, “the President and his team lay out the long list of accomplishments they have delivered for the American people to Make America Great Again.” Last year, Trump rejected reports that he had fallen asleep during his criminal trial in New York. Multiple outlets had described him slipping into brief naps, with The New York Times noting, “Mr. Trump appeared to nod off a few times, his mouth going slack and his head drooping onto his chest,” which Trump denied.

Donald Trump Health Questions Surge As He Was Caught Sleeping

Donald Trump is once again facing scrutiny over his health after a new video showed him looking sleepy during a Cabinet meeting. His slow eye movements and long pauses with his eyes shut set off fresh conversations online. A separate photograph from Mar-a-Lago, where he appeared with his eyes closed and mouth open, fuelled more worry.

As per PEOPLE, at the same time, an image of Joe Biden looking lively during a walk in Nantucket led to a wave of side-by-side comparisons on social media. The White House maintains that Trump remains in “excellent health”, pointing to recent tests, though his unclear remarks about undergoing an MRI have added to public questions. With both leaders under a microscope, discussions about presidential fitness have returned with new intensity.

Donald Trump MRI Scan Results

The White House on Monday released details from Donald Trump’s MRI, which he completed last month as concerns about his health continued. In a statement, Navy Captain Sean Barbabella, the physician to the president, outlined the results of Trump’s advanced imaging. He said the scan focused on Trump’s heart and abdominal region, showed no issues, and confirmed that the president is in “excellent health”. This type of preventive testing is common for men in his age group.

Even so, with this being his second MRI this year, speculation has grown about whether Trump is dealing with any health problems, and the recent moment where he seemed to fall asleep has heightened that speculation.