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 National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped trade margins on 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs at 30%. The move is expected to reduce the maximum retail prices (MRPs) of the cancer medicines by up to 70%.

Announced by the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the measure aims to curb excessive mark-ups in the distribution and sale of cancer medicines.

It covers a range of anti-cancer drugs, including patented treatments, and is intended to ease the financial burden on patients and their families.

The revised prices is reported to come into effect on November 9, 2026. Manufacturers have been directed to submit revised prices to the NPPA within seven days of the notification.

Indian Government Caps Trade Margins On Cancer Drugs

Also read: Dr Rachna Shroff: Indian-American Cancer Researcher Who Turned Her Diagnosis Into Advocacy

Trade margins are the difference between the price at which a medicine enters the distribution chain and the price charged as it moves further along that chain. These margins reflect in the final cost of the medicines to the patients.

According to the government, an analysis of market data found that non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines had an average trade mark-up of around 170%, some even reaching as high as 700%.

Non-scheduled medicines are drugs that do not fall under the scheduled list of medicines subject to specific ceiling prices under the Drug Price Control Order.

The latest intervention uses the government's powers under Paragraph 19 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, to cap trade margins in the affordable healthcare in serious illnesses like cancer.

By limiting these margins, the government expects to bring down prices of these medicines and help patients to avoid switching to different medicines solely because of cost.

The list includes 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs recommended by an expert committee under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The committee included oncologists, medical specialists, hospital experts and government officials. The medicines covered include pembrolizumab, ribociclib and abemaciclib, which are used in the management of certain cancers. Other medicines on the list include atezolizumab and bevacizumab.

Expected Savings Of Nearly ₹2,500 Crore For Patients

Also read: H. pylori And Cancer: US Gastroenterologist Explains How A Common Stomach Infection Raises Risk

With this measure, the government expects to generate annual savings of approximately ₹2,500 crore for patients. The expected reduction in MRP ranges roughly from 20% to 70%, depending on the medicine.

This is not the first the government has intervened in the pricing of anti-cancer drugs. In 2019, trade margins on 42 anti-cancer drugs were capped at 30%. After that, the MRPs of 526 brands of non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines were reduced by up to 90%, which generated annual estimated annual savings of ₹984 crore.

The latest measure expands the rule to a larger group of medicines to improve affordability and better access to cancer treatment.

NPPA's Directives To Drug Manufacturers

The NPPA has asked drug manufacturers to submit revised MRPs within seven days of the announcement and make the updated prices available through their websites, hospital pharmacies and retailers.

From November 9, hospitals and pharmacies must sell the cancer medicines at the revised prices without fail. Hospitals and retailers who sell anti-cancer medicines in substantial amounts everyday have specifically been asked to comply with the notification.

The government has also asked manufacturers to maintain production and supply levels to prevent shortages after the price changes. State drug controllers will monitor compliance among manufacturers, distributors, retailers and healthcare institutions.

Patients must confirm the exact brand, strength and formulation prescribed, as prices can differ across products from November 9. They should not change or discontinue cancer treatment on their own without consulting their oncologist.

A Yakima County resident in Washington has tested positive for avian influenza after exposure to infected dairy cattle, the Yakima Health District (YHD) and Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced.

The resident has not developed severe illness, has not required hospitalization and is isolating at home, officials said.

“We are working closely with our public health partners to follow up with people who have been in close contact with this individual. We want to make sure they know what symptoms to watch for and can access testing and treatment if needed,” said Dr. Dave Atteberry, health officer at the Yakima Health District.

H5N1 Detected In Washington Dairy Cattle

The case follows the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in dairy cattle on two Yakima County farms. The resident was exposed to the infected cattle.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture has placed both farms under quarantine and implemented biosecurity measures, officials said. Veterinarians are treating sick cows.

Washington State Veterinarian Amber Itle urged farms to strengthen biosecurity measures and promptly report symptoms in animals.

Also read: H5N1 Bird Flu Reaches New Zealand; 12 Human Infections Reported Worldwide

Should You Be Worried About Bird Flu?

The risk to the general public remains low, health officials said. Dairy workers and others who have close or prolonged contact with infected animals or contaminated environments face a higher risk.

Public health officials are contacting people who had close contact with the patient and monitoring them for symptoms for 14 days after their last exposure.

Have Human Bird Flu Cases Been Reported Before In The US?

Read More: H5 Bird Flu Spreads To Australian Mammals: Is It Nearing Humans?

Yes. The first reported human H5N1 case in the US was detected in April 2022 in a Colorado poultry worker exposed to infected birds. The first presumed cow-to-human H5N1 transmission in the country was reported in Texas in April 2024, involving a dairy worker exposed to infected cattle.

According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), 1,002 laboratory-confirmed human H5N1 infections and 479 deaths were reported across 25 countries between 2003 and August 7, 2026. In 2026 alone, nine cases, including two deaths, were reported worldwide.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 12 human H5N1 infections outside the US between August 4, 2025, and June 10, 2026: eight in Cambodia, three in Bangladesh and one in India. Three cases were fatal. The infections were associated with exposure to infected poultry or their environments; no person-to-person transmission was identified.

What Is Avian Influenza?

Avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, is caused by Type A influenza viruses found naturally in wild birds. The virus can spread to poultry and mammals, including dairy cattle. Humans can become infected through close contact with infected animals or contaminated environments.

Sustained human-to-human transmission of currently circulating H5N1 viruses has not been established.

How Can You Reduce Your Risk?

People who have close or prolonged contact with infected animals or contaminated environments face a higher risk. They include agricultural workers, backyard flock owners, hunters and wildlife workers.

To prevent the risk, it is recommended to:

• Avoid touching wild birds or other animals, including those that appear healthy. Stay away from sick or dead animals, bird droppings and potentially contaminated surfaces.
• Workers exposed to infected animals should follow recommended precautions, wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and report suspected illness in animals.
• Hunters should wear disposable gloves when handling harvested birds and practice good hygiene.
• Ask your healthcare provider about seasonal flu vaccination. It does not prevent bird flu but can reduce the risk of simultaneous infection with human and avian influenza viruses.

Are Dairy Products Safe To Consume?

Pasteurization kills HPAI viruses in milk, helping protect the commercial dairy supply. However, infected cows can shed the virus in their milk, making raw milk and unpasteurized dairy products unsafe.

Avoid raw dairy products. Do not give pets raw milk, unpasteurized dairy products or raw meat.

Female high school students in the United States had lower overall cardiovascular health scores than male students, with mean scores of 64.2 and 66.2, respectively, according to a nationwide survey by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The findings, based on the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 framework, showed that female students had lower mean scores for physical activity and sleep health but higher, more favorable BMI scores than male students.

Lower physical activity and sleep health scores were also observed among students in higher grades, while nicotine exposure scores were lower among students in higher grades.

CDC Study Assesses Heart Health Among US Teenagers

Also read: 4 in 10 US High School Students Report Binge Eating: What Are the Risks?

The 2025 biennial Youth Risk Behavior Survey included 10,710 students in grades 9–12. Of these, 5,192 had complete data for all five cardiovascular health measures: physical activity, diet, sleep health, body mass index (BMI), and nicotine exposure.

The findings, published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, showed that approximately 21% of students had high overall cardiovascular health scores, while 61% had moderate scores and 18% had low scores.

The prevalence of high overall scores was lower among female students and those in grades 10–12 than among male students and ninth-graders, respectively. Overall, approximately four in five students had low or moderate scores across the five assessed cardiovascular health measures.

Why Sleep, Diet and Exercise Matter for Teen Heart Health

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Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading causes of mortality in the US, and many CVD risk factors emerge in childhood and adolescence. Adolescence is a crucial period during which health behaviors develop and persist into adulthood.

A March 2026 study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology suggested that even small, combined improvements in daily habits may benefit cardiovascular health.

Sleeping an additional 11 minutes, engaging in five more minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and eating an extra quarter-cup of vegetables daily were associated with a 10% lower risk of heart attacks, strokes and other serious cardiovascular problems compared with less healthy habits.

Sleep is particularly important during adolescence, when the body and brain undergo significant developmental changes. Adequate sleep supports physical recovery, immune function, concentration and emotional well-being.

Teenagers generally need eight to 10 hours of sleep each night. However, schoolwork, extracurricular activities and screen time can interfere with sufficient rest. Research has also linked insufficient sleep with less healthy food choices and a greater tendency to eat later at night.

Elsie Taveras, a pediatrician at Mass General Brigham, highlights the importance of adequate sleep in reducing the risk of chronic conditions, including obesity and cardiovascular risk factors. Children from racial minority and lower-income households may face additional barriers to healthy sleep.

“Sleep health is something we need to pay attention to, and that we counsel teenagers and their families about,” Taveras said.

“We’ve found that shorter sleep duration and lower sleep quality in children and adolescents are associated with a higher risk of obesity and risk factors for heart disease. These are substantial effects that can affect children for years to come,” she added.