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 US Food and Drug Administration has recalled China-made over-the-counter cough drops and throat lozenges sold across the country over potential safety concerns.

The FDA in a notice stated that Xiamen Kang Zhongyuan Biotechnology from Xiamen in China, has issued a voluntary recall of numerous products based on March 20, 2026.

The regulator noted that the recall was started following the FDA’s recommendation based on observations noted during an August 15, 2025, inspection of the manufacturing facility that “may bear on product quality.”

The FDA classified the recall as Class II on April 10, 2026. Class II recalls apply to products that can cause “temporary or medically reversible” health problems.

While the FDA did not specify how many cough drops were under the recall, the recalled products include:

• Exchange Select (manufactured for Your Military Exchanges): 30-count bag of honey lemon and menthol flavored cough drops
• Caring Mill (distributed by FSA Store, Inc): 90-count bags of cherry cough drops
• Discount Drug Mart Food Market: 30-count bags of honey lemon cough drops
• MGC Health (distributed by Medical Group Care): 25-count and 30-count bags of sugar-free honey lemon cough drops and 80-count bags of honey lemon cough drops
• QC Quality Choice (distributed by CDMA, Inc): 25-count bags of black cherry sugar-free and regular cough drops; 25-count bags of sugar-free and regular honey lemon cough drops; 30-count bags of creamy strawberry throat soothing drops; 30-count bags of menthol cough drops; and 30-count bags of vanilla honey cough drops.

Safe Alternatives For Cough Drops

Coughs are often caused by viral infections, allergies, or environmental irritants such as dust or smoke.

Also read: Eye Drops: US FDA Recalls Over 3 Million Products Over Safety Concerns

Dr. Umashankar Sharma, Medical In-charge (B.N.Y.S), Kailash Institute of Naturopathy, Ayurveda & Yoga, recommends several safe home remedies that can ease both adults' and children’s discomfort naturally.

“Warm liquids like soups, clear broths, or mild herbal teas, such as chamomile, help keep the throat moist and reduce irritation. Honey is a great natural option for children over one year; half to one teaspoon before bedtime can help calm night-time coughing,” he said.

He also suggests using a cool-mist humidifier in the room to add moisture to the air, which can loosen mucus and ease breathing. Saline nasal drops or a short steam session in a warm shower can also help relieve congestion.

Ensuring plenty of rest and hydration with water or warm drinks is essential. Slightly elevating the head with an extra pillow at night can reduce coughing while sleeping.

These remedies are generally safe and effective. However, if the cough persists for more than two weeks, or if the individual experiences high fever, wheezing, or difficulty breathing, it’s important to consult a doctor to rule out more serious conditions.

Home Remedies For Sore Throat

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, throat pain linked to an upper respiratory infection usually improves within about a week. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or naproxen can help ease discomfort and may be more effective than acetaminophen because they reduce both pain and inflammation.

Alongside medication, certain home remedies may also provide relief. Options worth trying include saltwater gargle, honey and herbal tea, or other hot beverages such as soups.

The Metabolically Dysfunctional-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), affected 1.3 billion people around the globe in 2023, according to a new study published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology journal today.

The alarming study estimates the numbers to further spike by over 38 percent to reach 1.8 billion cases by 2050, causing substantial health and economic impacts worldwide.

The research, based on the Global Burden of Disease study across 204 countries and territories, showed that MASLD remains one of the most prevalent and rapidly growing liver conditions worldwide, with its prevalence marking a 143 percent increase between 1990 and 2023.

What Is MASLD? What Is Driving The Surge?

MASLD is an umbrella term for liver conditions that develop in the presence of 1 or more cardiometabolic risk factors—including high blood sugar, elevated body mass index (BMI), and hypertension—but in the absence of other causes of liver fat accumulation.

MAFLD, previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, can be defined by excess liver fat accumulation (more than 5 per cent of liver weight) in the presence of metabolic dysfunction, independent of alcohol intake.

It encompasses a spectrum from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

According to the study authors, the rising cases are primarily driven by global population growth in combination with changes in lifestyle, such as rising obesity and high blood sugar levels.

MASLD Lancet Study: Who Is More Affected?

The findings highlight that MASLD is increasingly affecting younger adults in low- and middle-income countries, amid urbanization and lifestyle changes.

Some regions, including North Africa and the Middle East, had disproportionately higher rates of MASLD compared with other regions.

India has shown a sharp rise in MASLD prevalence, up 23.19 per cent from 1990 to 2023. India’s age-standardized MASLD prevalence rate rose from 10,191 per 100,000 in 1990 to 12,555 per 100,000 in 2023. The findings show that the spike is increasingly driven by rising metabolic risk factors, including high blood sugar and obesity.

Also read: Why Metabolic Fatty Liver Disease Is Rising as India’s Most Common Liver Condition

The study examined 3 modifiable risk factors —smoking, high BMI, and high fasting plasma glucose. Of these, high fasting plasma glucose contributed the most to MASLD-related disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) globally, accounting for 2.2 per 100,000 people in 2023.

High BMI ranked second at 1.4 per 100,000, followed by smoking at 1.0 per 100,000. In North Africa and the Middle East, elevated fasting glucose alone contributed 9.13 DALYs per 100,000, approximately 4 times the global average.

Notably, men had higher age-standardized prevalence rates than women. However, women older than age 69 had higher DALY rates than men of the same age.

MASLD: Signs To Watch For? How To Prevent?

People with obesity, diabetes, central or abdominal fat, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance are more likely to have MASLD. Obesity is the strongest risk factor, with the likelihood rising steeply from overweight to severe obesity.

Other signs to watch for include

• persistent fatigue
• Digestive issues and bloating
• Unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight
• Skin changes

Rapid dietary transition towards ultra-processed, high-calorie foods compounds the risk. Thus, a balanced diet without or with very low sugar and ultra-processed food, which helps in control of diabetes and cholesterol can help slow down disease progression. Regular physical activity also improves insulin sensitivity.

The number of children who have died from a mysterious illness in the northern state of Rajasthan has risen to 13, as health officials continue efforts to determine the cause.

According to media reports, a six-year-old girl from Bhugabhatt village of Gram Panchayat Bharkundi was the latest victim on Sunday (April 12) morning. There was another death from this mysterious illness on Saturday, Udaipur Times reported.

So far, seven children have reportedly died from the Lasadiya of Salumbar district six succumbed from Parsola village in the state's Pratapgarh district.

Notably, two children died in Dholi Magri and two in Mahudi Kheda, as per administrators Narayanlal Meena of Ambav and Shankarlal Meena of Lohagarh from the Dhariyawad subdivision of Pratapgarh district. However, the authorities are yet to find a link between the two.

All children reportedly experienced a sudden onset of fever that worsened rapidly, and claimed the lives of children within 24 hours.

The Health officials noted that at least 85 children were hospitalized with similar symptoms.

Speaking to the media, Salumber’s district collector, Muhammed Junaid, said that two teams from the health department have been monitoring the situation constantly for the last few days.

“They have collected blood, stool, and saliva samples from children with suspected symptoms. Their samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune. We suspect it could be a kind of viral encephalitis, but we are yet to get the test report from NIV,” Junaid said

The Health Department has also started a door-to-door survey in the sub-division.

Junaid noted that the survey was conducted across 120,961 houses in the Udaipur division, during which over 940 children were found with similar symptoms.

The local MLA has written a letter to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma demanding an investigation into the matter.

Earlier, mosquito-borne viral encephalitis (brain infection) or a Chandipura virus variant was suspected to be the reason behind the illness and deaths. However, lab confirmation is still pending. Samples have been collected and sent for testing.

"Anti-larval activity has also been carried out in 5,532 places after medical teams suspected viral encephalitis,” Junaid said.

What Is Encephalitis?

Encephalitis is the inflammation of the brain, caused by viral or bacterial infections, or by immune cells mistakenly attacking the brain.

People with encephalitis often show mild flu-like symptoms such as

• fever,
• fatigue,
• headache,
• body aches,
• confusion,
• seizures,
• changes in behavior or personality.

What Is The Chandipura Virus Disease?

Chandipura virus is a type of arbovirus that is a member of the vesicular virus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family. It is transmitted primarily through phlebotomine sandflies and sometimes through ticks and mosquitoes.

First identified in India in 1965, the virus is named after the Chandipura village in Maharashtra where it was initially isolated.

Its symptoms include:

• sudden onset of high-grade fever,
• diarrhea,
• vomiting,
• seizures,
• altered sensorium which can ultimately lead to death within 24 to 72 hours.

How To Prevent?

The risk of getting encephalitis can be reduced by protecting oneself from mosquito bites and staying up-to-date with vaccinations.

One must ensure getting vaccinated against mumps, chickenpox, measles, and rubella.

Vector control measures such as the use of insecticides, bed nets, wearing full-sleeved clothes, and improving sanitation can also help prevent the disease.