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.

As India marks eight years of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the scheme’s expansion and its role in reducing the financial burden of medical treatment.

Launched on September 23, 2018, AB PM-JAY provides cashless hospitalisation cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually to economically vulnerable citizens. It is now implemented across all 36 States and Union Territories in India.

Over 60 Crore People Covered

In a post on X, PM Modi said more than 60 crore people are covered under the scheme.

“Eight years ago, Ayushman Bharat was rolled out with the idea that every Indian should have access to top-quality and affordable healthcare. Today, more than 60 crore beneficiaries have access to Rs. 5 lakh annual health cover, making it the largest healthcare scheme in the world. It has enabled record savings on medical expenses, thus benefitting the poor and middle class,” PM Modi said.

He emphasised that “healthcare is moving closer to every doorstep,” with Ayushman Arogya Mandirs strengthening primary healthcare at the grassroots and recording over 500 crore visits.

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Ayushman Bharat: Key Numbers

As of September 21, 2026:

• 60 crore+ people covered under AB PM-JAY
• 48.54 crore+ Ayushman cards created
• 13 crore+ people availed free treatment
• Rs 2 lakh crore+ worth of hospitalisation and treatment provided
• 38,000+ public and private hospitals empanelled
• 1,961 procedures covered across 27 medical specialties

Union Health Minister JP Nadda said, “behind every number is a story” — including families protected from medical debt and patients receiving timely treatment without the fear of financial hardship.

What Is Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY?

AB PM-JAY is the financial protection component of Ayushman Bharat, covering secondary and tertiary hospitalisation.

As of September 21, more than 48.51 crore people, or about 33% of India's population, held Ayushman cards.

As of August 31, the scheme had funded 13.25 crore hospital admissions worth Rs 2.03 lakh crore through more than 38,000 empanelled hospitals.

Ayushman Arogya Mandirs Expand Primary Care

Ayushman Arogya Mandirs form the primary healthcare component of Ayushman Bharat.

They have recorded more than 540 crore visits, while over 50 crore teleconsultations have been conducted as of September 17.

ABHA IDs Cross 97 Crore

Under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, more than 97.61 crore ABHA IDs were operational as of September 17, with over 119.95 crore health records linked to them.

The platform also had more than 5.78 lakh healthcare facilities and 11 lakh healthcare professionals registered.

PM-ABHIM Strengthens Health Infrastructure

The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) has a budget of Rs 64,180 crore for 2021-2026, focusing on health infrastructure, disease surveillance and health research.

Expansion of AB PM-JAY

In March 2024, AB PM-JAY was expanded to around 37 lakh families of ASHAs, anganwadi workers and anganwadi helpers. More than 44.81 lakh Ayushman cards had been created for them as of September 21.

The scheme was also expanded in September 2024 to cover all senior citizens aged 70 years and above. More than 1.36 crore Ayushman Vay Vandana cards had been issued as of September 21.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate hepatitis A outbreak linked to imported frozen clams.

At least 37 people have been infected across four states, according to the CDC. Thirty people have been hospitalized, while no deaths have been reported.

Cases have been reported in Massachusetts (three), Minnesota (three), New York (27) and Pennsylvania (four). Those infected range in age from 6 to 40 years.

Raw Shellfish Linked to Outbreak

Health officials interviewed people about foods they consumed before falling ill. The CDC said:

“Of the people interviewed, 77% reported eating ceviche (raw fish or shellfish marinated in citrus juice), 76% reported eating raw or undercooked shellfish, and 47% reported eating raw or undercooked conchas negras (black clams),” the CDC said.

Further analysis found that imported frozen clams were the likely source of the infection.

The CDC said the actual number of illnesses is likely higher than the 37 reported cases. Some people may recover without seeking medical care and therefore may not be tested for hepatitis A. Recent illnesses may also not yet have been linked to the outbreak because it can take weeks to determine whether an individual case is part of an outbreak.

Frozen Clam Products Recalled

La Serranita-brand concha negra (black shell) shell meat products were recalled by dealers in New York and New Jersey in April.

The shell meat products, imported from Ecuador, were distributed to restaurants and retailers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania and may have been distributed elsewhere.

What To Do If You Were Exposed

If you ate frozen La Serranita-brand concha negra shell meat raw or undercooked within the past 14 days and are not vaccinated against hepatitis A, contact your local health department or healthcare provider to discuss treatment, including post-exposure prophylaxis, the CDC said.

What Is Hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It spreads when people consume food or water contaminated with the virus or through close contact with an infected person. Hepatitis A is preventable through vaccination.

Hepatitis A Symptoms

Not everyone infected with hepatitis A develops symptoms. When symptoms occur, they usually appear 2–7 weeks after exposure and can include:

• Dark urine or clay-colored stools
• Diarrhea
• Feeling tired
• Fever
• Joint pain
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea, stomach pain or vomiting
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)

Adults are more likely than children to develop symptoms. People with hepatitis A may feel sick for several weeks to several months but usually recover completely.

In rare cases, hepatitis A can lead to hospitalization, liver failure and death. Severe disease is more common in older people and those with other serious health conditions, such as chronic liver disease.

President Droupadi Murmu has urged popular film artists not to endorse products that are harmful to health, highlighting their influence on children and young people.

Speaking at the 72nd National Film Awards in Kevadia, Gujarat, the President said successful film artists can influence the choices and habits of millions of young people.

“When successful film artists speak about the benefits of a disciplined lifestyle, millions of children and young people emulate them,” she said.

“I would like to request that popular artists refrain from endorsing substances that are harmful to health,” she added, saying that “a true star is one who spreads light, not darkness”.

Doctors Back President’s Message

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The President’s remarks come amid concerns over the influence of celebrity and influencer marketing on health choices, particularly among younger audiences.

Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max HealthCare, welcomed the message.

“There could not be a better message than this- many thanks to our President for saying it out clearly. The impact of such advertising on the minds of the youth is huge. I hope her appeal makes our film stars and sportspersons realise the harm they could be causing. At the same time, discouraging the sale of such products by deterrents for manufacturers and advertisers is much needed,” he said in a post on X.

The issue has also come into focus amid controversies over celebrity endorsements of ultra-processed foods and pan masala-linked products. The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration issued show-cause notices to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff over their appearance in a Vimal Elaichi advertisement.

Doctors Seek Curbs On Junk Food Ads

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The concerns extend beyond pan masala-linked products to foods and beverages high in fat, salt and sugar, particularly those marketed to children and families.

In August, a group of doctors, medical scientists and public health experts brought together by Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest-India (NAPi) urged the government to restrict advertising of foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS), as well as ultra-processed foods.

In a representation to Union Health Minister J P Nadda, the experts called for restrictions on HFSS and ultra-processed food advertising between 6 am and 11 pm across television, print, digital, streaming and social media.

They also sought mandatory front-of-pack warning labels identifying products high in sugar, salt or fat, along with restrictions on marketing practices aimed at children and families.

India’s Overweight, Obesity Burden Rises

The calls for tighter scrutiny of food marketing come amid rising overweight and obesity levels among Indian adults.

According to NFHS-6 (2023-24), 30.7% of women and 27.3% of men aged 15-49 years were overweight or obese, up from 24% and 22.9%, respectively, in NFHS-5 (2019-21).

NFHS-6 also recorded an increase in high or very high blood sugar, or the use of medication to control blood sugar, among adults aged 15 years and above. The proportion rose from 13.5% to 17.8% among women and from 15.6% to 20.9% among men between NFHS-5 and NFHS-6.

Data from World Obesity Atlas, more than 41 million children aged 5 to 19 in India suffer from high BMI (including 14 million living strictly with obesity).

FSSAI Warns Influencers Over Food Claims

Adding to the scrutiny around food marketing, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) last month cautioned celebrities and social media influencers against promoting misleading or unverified food claims.

FSSAI has warned that promoting misleading or unverified food claims can attract legal consequences.