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.

Scientists in Cuba have developed a novel vaccine against lung cancer that has shown the potential to improve survival rates among people living with the disease.

The vaccine, chemically known as racotumomab, has been developed in collaboration with scientists from Argentina. Vaxira has been approved in Cuba and Argentina for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

How Does Vaxira Work?

It helps the immune system recognize and destroy lung cancer cells.

According to the Cuban Embassy in the US, the vaccine "works by mimicking a molecule found on cancer cells but almost entirely absent in healthy human tissue". It also targets tumors with remarkable precision and has very few side effects.

While advanced NSCLC has limited curative options and poor survival rates, clinical trials of Vaxira showed a significant improvement in survival.

Notably, "one-year survival among patients receiving the vaccine nearly doubled compared with the control group," the post said.

"Real-world data shows median survival of up to 24.5 months in maintenance therapy," it added.

Improved Survival And Minimal Side Effects

Importantly, the vaccine has demonstrated minimal side effects and is considered suitable for long-term use.

The embassy described the vaccine as affordable and accessible compared with many immunotherapies.

In 2025, Vaxira also received Cuba's National Technological Innovation Award.

The commercial rollout of Vaxira is being facilitated by the international public-private consortium ReComBio, linking Havana's Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM) with Argentina's Elea Laboratories.

What Is Lung Cancer?

Lung Cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer. It is also the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with approximately 2.5 million new cases and 1.8 million deaths reported in 2022.

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer mainly occurs in older people. Most people diagnosed with lung cancer are 65 or older; a very small number of people diagnosed are younger than 45.

The average age of people when diagnosed is about 70.

It is also the leading cause of cancer death in the US, accounting for about 1 in 5 of all cancer deaths.

The two main types of lung cancers are:

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC): This is the most common form, making up about 80–85% of all cases. NSCLC includes three subtypes:

• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Adenocarcinoma
• Large-cell carcinoma

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC): Less common than NSCLC, this type tends to grow and spread more quickly.

Early Signs and Symptoms to Look Out For

Lung cancer symptoms can mimic less serious conditions, which is why they’re often dismissed or misdiagnosed. If you experience the following symptoms persistently, don’t ignore them—regardless of your age or smoking history:

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Unexplained shortness of breath
• Persistent cough or wheezing
• Shoulder, back, or rib pain
• Fatigue or sudden weight loss
• Blood in sputum (though not always present).

The International Space Station is conducting a very important study as Expedition 74 astronauts are researching how to manufacture large quantities of stem cells for treatment purposes on Earth. Research previously mostly worked on hardware to produce a large amount of stem cells, but now the InSPA-StemCellEX-H2 is trying to produce the cells for medical purposes.

This endeavor will rely on the process called “expansion”, which will use the stem cells from the human body and divide them. Though this is already possible on earth, the quality of created stem cells is far poorer than those from the human body, as it cannot create new cells in the blood, but the ones created in space will solve this problem, which will be crucial in the treatment of leukemia, as they need stem cells in the blood system post-chemotherapy.

Dr. Tobias Niederwieser, assistant research professor at BioServe Space Technologies within the University of Colorado Boulder, says, “The microgravity environment in space is much more suitable for keeping the stem cells in their high-quality state during expansion.” He added, “The result is really to benefit patients in hospitals here on Earth.”

Read Also: Pancreatic Cancer: What Is The Role Of Keratin 17 In Driving The Feared Disease?

What Are The Daily Habits That Can Reduce Cancer Risk?

• Consuming a healthy and balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can reduce cancer risk. Berries, nuts, and green leafy vegetables contain many antioxidant properties that are useful in fighting oxidative stress-induced cancer.

• Regular physical activity keeps the body fit and reduces the risk of breast, colon, and endometrial cancers. Participating in moderate exercise for at least 150 minutes per week or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, such as walking, swimming, or yoga.

• Avoid tobacco and cut down on alcohol consumption.

• Skin cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer. Applying sunscreen with high SPF, finding shade, and avoiding tanning beds would save you from harmful ultraviolet rays.

• Long-term stress can weaken the immune system and may contribute to an increased risk of cancer. Incorporating stress-relief techniques such as mindfulness, practising deep-breathing exercises, and engaging in enjoyable hobbies can enhance overall well-being. Also, having adequate sleep, 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night, aids cellular repair and maintains a robust immune system.

• Exposure to environmental elements like pesticides, pollutants, and workplace chemicals can increase the risk of cancer. To avoid this risk, wearing protective gear, opting for organic produce, and ensuring adequate ventilation in living or working areas can greatly assist.

The White House has announced that US President Donald Trump is in “excellent health”. But doctors flag missing medical details.

Trump, 79, underwent an annual medical examination at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on May 26. Shortly after the test that lasted three hours, he shared that “everything checked out perfectly.”

Dr. Sean Barbabella, physician to the president, in a memorandum released late last week, said that “President Trump is demonstrating strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and overall physical function.” He added that Trump is “fully fit to carry out all duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State.”

However, doctors stated that the test results authorized by the President for public release contain notable gaps.

Questions Raised Over Cardiovascular Details

According to experts, the physical examination lacks detailed results from tests used to assess cardiovascular health.

Barbabella’s description of Trump’s cardiac health cites results from a coronary CT angiography, an echocardiogram, and an artificial-intelligence-enhanced electrocardiogram analysis.

Jonathan Reiner, Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Interventional Cardiologist, in a post on social media platform X, questioned the need for another coronary artery CT on Trump, as he was last scanned in October.

"We don’t typically scan patients 6 months later unless we are concerned about a finding on the initial scan. What prompted the repeat CT?" he said.

Further, to fully assess the president’s cardiac health, other doctors said they would want to see a calcium score, a description of any plaque in the arteries, and a CAD-RADS score to assess narrowing in the arteries, The Wall Street Journal reported.

“If I were creating a report to send to another physician, I would have mentioned a little bit more about the carotid ultrasound,” William Shutze, a Texas vascular surgeon, was quoted as saying. “What amount of plaque there is going to be—because almost all of us are going to have some buildup there.”

Also Read: President Donald Trump Remains In Excellent Health, Says White House

Too Good Cholesterol Results

Further, Trump’s cholesterol numbers and medication regimen also attracted attention from physicians who reviewed the memorandum.

According to the report, his HDL (good cholesterol) level was 70 mg/dL, while his LDL (bad cholesterol) level was 53 mg/dL.

The report said Trump takes rosuvastatin and ezetimibe for cholesterol management.

“He’s got like the best cholesterol numbers you’ll see,” said Daniel Torrent, adding that it is unusual for medication alone to achieve such favorable values. “We don’t usually manage people to the point where they’re that good.”

“That report is almost too good to be true for somebody of his age,” Shutze said. “This seems to be a filtered narrative.”

Notably, neurological condition of Trump, the oldest elected as President of America, has remained a subject of serious discussion, with many doctors pointing out that he's suffering from dementia. But the test results revealed him to be in “normal mental status".

Cognitive function, assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), was also within normal limits, with a score of 30 out of 30.

"Why was the president again given a MOCA dementia screening test? He’s had 3 in the recent past," Reiner asked, while also questioning Trump's "more frequent than the traditional yearly exam?"

Also read: ‘Sea Or See?’ Donald Trump's Remark Sparks Fresh Cognitive Health Speculation

White House Responds

“President Trump has publicly released more detailed information about his health than any other president in history—showing he is in excellent health,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said in a written statement.

He criticized outside physicians for speculating about a report for a patient not under their care, the WSJ said.

The White House added that “the absence of discussion regarding a specific medication, dosage, or historical medical condition should not be interpreted as a lack of monitoring or treatment”.