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.

A UK-based surgeon from Egypt has been permanently barred from practising medicine after a medical tribunal found that he made a catastrophic blunder during an emergency bowel surgery.

Dr Yasser Adly Abdel Rahman, who was working as a locum surgeon at Royal Oldham Hospital in Greater Manchester, mistakenly connected the wrong parts of a patient’s digestive system, a procedure experts described as “not known to man.”

Here's What Happened

Dr Rahman carried out the operation on a young man in August 2020. Instead of restoring the patient’s bowel, the surgery created a “closed loop” that caused contents of the bowel to flow back into the stomach.

The error left the patient in unimaginable pain and in a condition deemed “not compatible with life.”

According to findings by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), the patient was left feeling severe pain, vomiting and an inability to pass stool after the surgery.

A second surgeon later performed emergency corrective surgery, creating a stoma and saved the patient’s life.

The tribunal heard that Dr Rahman failed to realise the seriousness of the patient’s deteriorating condition and did not adequately respond to concerns raised by the patient’s family and medical colleagues.

An expert from the General Medical Council (GMC) described the erroneous procedure as “as bad as it gets” and said the surgical connection was “not known to man.”

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The Surgeon Was Struck Off From The UK Medical Register

The tribunal ruled that Dr Rahman’s actions amounted to serious professional misconduct.

It also found that, in 2021, after restrictions were placed on his medical practice, he breached them by taking up a locum job in Affidea Express Care Clinic in Ireland in 2022.

Dr Rahman was absent at the misconduct hearing and instead maintained that he was a victim of a witch hint and had been made a “scapegoat.”

But, the tribunal concluded that his incompetence, failure to accept responsibility and repeated breaches of regulatory conditions meant he posed an ongoing risk to patients. He has now been permanently removed from the UK medical register.

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What Is A “Closed Loop” Bowel Obstruction?

A closed loop bowel obstruction occurs when a section of the intestine is blocked at two points, restricting its contents. This can fatally cut off blood supply to the bowel, causing tissue death, perforation, infection and sepsis if not treated urgently.

In this case, the incorrect surgical connections diverted bowel contents back into the patient’s stomach instead of allowing them to pass normally through the digestive tract, creating a life-threatening emergency that required immediate corrective surgery.

While surgical complications can occur even in experienced hands, medical experts told the tribunal this error was far from acceptable.

The case has also drawn attention because the surgeon allegedly ignored warning signs after the operation. He later breached restrictions placed on his medical licence by taking up a job elsewhere. These factors ultimately contributed to the decision to strike him off from the UK register permanently.

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About Dr. Yasser Adly Abdel Rahman

Dr Rahman qualified in 1993 from Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt. He trained as a general and colorectal surgeon.

He later worked in the UK as a locum consultant, meaning he was employed on temporary contracts rather than in a permanent consultant position.

At the time of the incident in August 2020, he had only been working at Royal Oldham Hospital in Greater Manchester for a few days before performing the emergency bowel surgery.

After several months of a statewide crackdown on food adulteration, Maharashtra has now banned the manufacture and sale of non-dairy paneer, commonly known as analogue paneer or analogue cottage cheese.

The move follows multiple raids on fake paneer manufacturing units and the seizure of large quantities of spurious dairy products.

Earlier this week, the Chhattisgarh government also banned the sale and use of analogue paneer across the state. The Health Department announced that the product will no longer be permitted in markets, hotels, restaurants or roadside eateries. Maharashtra has now become the second Indian state to impose such a ban.

Ban on Manufacture and Sale of Analogue Paneer

The order, issued by Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe in Maharashtra, prohibits the manufacture, processing, packing, storage, transportation, wholesale and retail sale, distribution, and offering for sale of analogue or non-dairy paneer across the state.

Violations can attract up to six months' imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

In cases where the consumption of unsafe food results in death, the law provides for life imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 10 lakh.

As per the Maharashtra Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), strict legal action will also be taken against individuals or establishments selling analogue paneer as genuine dairy paneer for misleading consumers.

Why Was the Ban Imposed?

The decision follows findings from the Maharashtra FDA's year-long enforcement and surveillance drive.

According to the regulator, routine inspections, food sampling and awareness campaigns failed to curb the sale of analogue paneer.

"The proportion of non-conforming samples remained persistently high at 35.4 per cent of the samples analysed," the FDA order stated. Between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, the FDA collected paneer and analogue paneer samples from across the state.

Further, the FDA stated that its year-long inspections found that hotels, restaurants, caterers and other food establishments were routinely using analogue paneer instead of genuine paneer without informing customers through menus, invoices or display boards.

Authorities also found that analogue paneer was often transported and sold without original packaging, mandatory labels, invoices, batch identification or traceability documents, making it difficult to identify its source and increasing risks to public health.

Analogue vs Diary Paneer

Traditional paneer is a fresh, soft, non-melting cheese commonly used in Indian cuisine. It is made by curdling milk with acidic ingredients such as lemon juice, vinegar, or citric acid, separating the curd from the whey. The curds are then drained and pressed to remove excess water.

On the other hand, analogue paneer is made using vegetable fats or oils, starches and other non-dairy ingredients instead of milk fat.

As per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations:

• Paneer must be made from milk.
• It should not contain added starch, non-dairy fats, or synthetic ingredients.
• Analogue paneer can be sold only if it is clearly labelled as "analogue" or "imitation" and not marketed as genuine paneer.

How to Identify Fake Paneer

FSSAI and experts recommend these simple checks:

• Check the texture: Genuine paneer is firm with a fresh milky smell. Fake paneer tends to crumble or melt quickly when heated.
• Read the label: Products made with non-dairy substitutes must be labelled as "analogue" or "imitation".
• Iodine test: Boil a piece of paneer, add a few drops of iodine tincture. If it turns blue, it may indicate the presence of starch.
• Toor dal test: Boil the paneer, cool it in water, add some toor dal and leave it for 10 minutes. If the water turns light red, it may indicate adulteration.

What Are the Health Risks?

Health experts warn that adulterated paneer can pose serious health risks, especially if manufactured using unsafe ingredients.

Possible risks include:

• Food poisoning
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Allergic reactions
• Kidney damage from nephrotoxic compounds
• Liver damage due to toxin accumulation
• Exposure to chemicals such as formalin, detergents or industrial stabilizers, if used in illicit preparations

Scottish swimmer Archie Goodburn has made an emotional appeal for greater investment in brain cancer research in the UK, urging the government to "give us a chance to fight for our lives." His plea prompted a response from UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who invited the 25-year-old to a personal meeting.

Goodburn, who was diagnosed with inoperable brain tumors two years ago, broke down in tears during an interview on BBC Breakfast as he highlighted the struggles faced by people living with brain cancer and their families.

"Give Us a Chance to Fight"

"Andy Burnham, if you believe and want to make a change and a difference to the future of our country and our young population, please listen to us," Goodburn said, addressing the Prime Minister directly.

He urged the government to establish a national brain cancer lead, saying patients are enduring "unbelievable and unjust" experiences.

"There are clinical trials around the world, in the US, Australia and China, that could change lives. We are not seeing them in the UK, and it is unfair and unjust," he said.

Goodburn also appealed for greater investment in research.

"Please invest and make the difference. I'm on my knees begging—not just for my own life—but for those of my best friends, those affected, and families around the country. This has to change. The suffering is unbearable."

Prime Minister Invites Goodburn to Meet

Responding to the video on TikTok, Burnham thanked Goodburn for speaking out despite his own illness, and invited him to meet.

"Archie, thank you for this. I know how hard it must have been.

"What you're doing for other people while you're going through all this yourself shows the best of us. I'd really like to meet you and hear from you directly, and I've asked my team to get in touch."

Calls for Stronger Brain Cancer Research

Since being diagnosed just over two years ago, Goodburn has become a vocal advocate for improving brain cancer research and treatment.

"One of my dreams is that we see a future where brain cancer isn't the biggest killer of patients under 40," Goodburn said during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he competed and achieved his goal of reaching the 50m breaststroke final, but narrowly missed out on a medal.

Goodburn also criticized the Rare Cancers Bill, introduced by Scott Arthur MP and enacted earlier this year, saying it does not go far enough to improve outcomes for brain cancer patients.

The legislation covers 14 rare cancers and aims to encourage research and investment into treatments. However, Goodburn argued that brain cancer, while classified as rare by diagnosis numbers, is disproportionately deadly.

"Brain cancer is one of these in terms of incidents of diagnosis, but it's not the same in terms of the number of deaths it causes. Yes, it's rare, but it's extremely deadly. This frustrates me immensely."

He further noted that the new clinical lead and research lead positions created under the law are part-time roles covering all 14 rare cancers, amounting to just 36 working days per year.

"I do not see how 36 days a year is going to make that change for 14 different types of cancers, let alone the most deadly type of cancer."

Brain Tumours in Young Adults

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr. Rakesh Patil, Consultant Medical Oncologist at AIMS Hospital, explained that brain tumours develop when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably within the brain or surrounding tissues. These tumours may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

While brain tumours are not among the most common cancers in young adults, they do occur. The exact cause remains unknown in most cases, though certain factors may increase risk, including:

• Genetic conditions
• Family history of brain tumours
• Previous exposure to radiation therapy
• Rare inherited disorders

Dr. Patil noted that many patients have no identifiable risk factors, making early diagnosis and timely treatment critical for improving outcomes.