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.

Every year on 25 April, World Malaria Day is observed to raise awareness about one of the deadliest yet preventable diseases.

According to the latest World Malaria Report 2025, there were 282 million cases of malaria in 2024, an increase of about 9 million cases (3 per cent) compared with 2023.

The estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 610,000 in 2024 compared to 598,000 in 2023.

With 37 countries reporting fewer than 1,000 cases in 2024, progress at the global level is stalling.

World Malaria Day 2026: Theme

The theme this year is "Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must."

According to the World Health Organization, for the first time, ending malaria seems to be a real possibility, as science is advancing faster than ever with new vaccines, treatments, malaria control tools and pioneering technologies.

That is why the theme "is a rallying cry to grasp the moment—to protect lives now and fund a malaria-free future".

The theme also builds on a strong line of focused global campaigns in recent years that resulted in 47 countries being certified malaria-free.

In the last few years, substantial progress has been made, with an estimated 2.3 billion malaria infections prevented and 14 million lives saved worldwide since 2000.

However, the WHO flagged that the gains are at risk due to multiple challenges, including

• drug resistance,
• insecticide resistance,
• diagnostic failure,
• severe reductions in funds.

The theme also underscores the need to end Malaria by 2030 with coordinated global action. As stronger community health systems have brought the world closer to this goal than ever before, the day presents the need to boost

• Advances in malaria vaccines,
• Improving diagnostic tools,
• Develop more effective treatments.

World Malaria Day: History

World Malaria Day was first celebrated internationally in 2008, building upon the earlier "Africa Malaria Day", which had been observed by African countries since 2001. The date, April 25, was established by the WHO in 2007 during the World Health Assembly.

In 2007, it was the 60th session of the World Health Assembly where the proposal to rename Africa Malaria Day to World Malaria Day was made to acknowledge the global presence of malaria.

Read: Thought A Heatwave Could Save You From Malaria? Expert Begs To Differ

World Malaria Day: Significance

The day has a strong significance in healthcare as it brings attention to the disease that still continues to take so many lives, especially in low-income and tropical regions. It also serves as an important reminder to continue spreading awareness about the disease as well as promoting its prevention, treatment, and continuous international cooperation to fight against it.

What Is Malaria?

The WHO describes malaria as a life-threatening disease spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes, mostly found in tropical countries. However, they are preventable and curable.

"Malaria is spread to people through the bites of some infected anopheles mosquitoes. Blood transfusion and contaminated needles may also transmit malaria," as per the WHO.

The first symptoms may be mild, similar to many febrile illnesses, and difficult to recognize as malaria. Left untreated, P. falciparum malaria can progress to severe illness and death within 24 hours.

The WHO notes 5 Plasmodium parasite species that cause malaria in humans.

• P. falciparum — the deadliest malaria parasite and the most prevalent on the African continent.
• P. vivax — the dominant malaria parasite in most countries outside of sub-Saharan Africa.

• P. malariae,
• P. ovale
• P. knowlesi.

Symptoms of Malaria

The early symptoms include fever, headache, and chills, which can usually start within 10 to 15 days of getting bitten by an infected mosquito.

Some types of malaria can cause severe illness and death. Infants, children under 5 years, pregnant women, travellers, and people with HIV or AIDS are at higher risk. Severe symptoms include:

• extreme tiredness and fatigue
• impaired consciousness
• multiple convulsions
• difficulty breathing
• dark or bloody urine
• jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)
• abnormal bleeding.

India is witnessing a concerning change in health patterns. Conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers are appearing in higher numbers and at younger ages than in previous generations. While lifestyle factors like diet, stress, and reduced physical activity play a role, there is a deeper, often overlooked driver: genetics.

Dr Ramesh Menon, Director of Personal Genomics and Genomic Medicine, MedGenome, said, "From the discovery of DNA's double helix in 1953 to the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003, today genomics, the study of our DNA, is helping us uncover these disease risks. Instead of studying DNA in isolation, scientists are using it to understand human health and disease. Why does one person develop cancer while another does not? Why are some people affected by Alzheimer’s early in life? Why do some people respond well to a drug while others experience severe side effects? Genomics is providing answers that matter."

Doctors can now identify genetic mutations linked to conditions like breast cancer, cystic fibrosis, or rare inherited disorders. In some cases, treatments are tailored to a patient’s genetic profile, a concept known as precision medicine. It is also helping reveal how inherited traits can interact with environmental factors to accelerate disease onset, helping identify risks early, enable timely screening, and tailor treatments more precisely. This DNA Day, we turn the spotlight on how understanding our genetics could be key to managing this early disease burden.

Why Indians Are Biologically More Vulnerable

Dr Menon said that studies suggest that Indians carry distinct genetic traits that may increase the chances of early onset of diseases. For instance, South Asians are more prone to insulin resistance and tend to develop Type 2 diabetes at a younger age compared to many Western populations. India is already home to over 100 million people living with diabetes, and that number is expected to rise sharply in the coming decades.

Another example is coronary artery disease, which tends to manifest nearly a decade earlier in Indians compared to many Western populations. Genetic variants affect cholesterol transport, inflammation, and arterial wall function, contributing to a higher risk, even among people who may seem to have healthy lifestyles. Similarly, certain cancers, such as breast and colorectal cancers, are increasingly being diagnosed earlier in Indian populations. Inherited genetic mutations linked to cell growth regulation and DNA repair, combined with environmental exposures, can increase the pace of tumour development.

What is more concerning is that a significant proportion of the population remains undiagnosed or is diagnosed at late stages, allowing diseases to progress silently.

The Sudden Lifestyle Flip

Dr Menon explained that just a generation ago, daily life involved far more physical movement, such as walking to work, manual labour, home-cooked meals, and limited access to processed food. Today, most of our routines are reversed. Desk jobs, high screen time, food and grocery delivery at the doorstep, and screen-heavy lifestyles mean many people burn fewer calories while consuming more energy-dense, ultra-processed foods. This imbalance is a key driver behind the increased rate of conditions such as cardiometabolic disorders and cancers.

What is striking is not just the increase in cases but also the decrease in the average age of disease onset. This is especially relevant for what many experts describe as an “F1 generation exposure." Our parents may not have lived with the same levels of inactivity or dietary change. Our genes, however, remain the same. The mismatch between genetic predisposition and rapid lifestyle shifts is where the problem intensifies.

Closing the Gap

In many Indian households, conditions like diabetes or heart disease are spoken about casually. “It runs in the family” is often said and quickly brushed aside. But genetics is not just about inherited risk. It also influences how early that risk shows up. If previous generations developed these conditions in their 50s and 60s, the timeline is now becoming shorter. That shift is subtle, but it is already playing out across India.

Perhaps the most critical gap lies in how we approach prevention. Indians are known to develop certain diseases nearly 8 to 10 years earlier than many Western populations, yet screening timelines often remain unchanged. Most people still begin serious health check-ups in their 40s. By then, metabolic changes may have been progressing quietly for years. The idea that a 30-year-old could already be at risk is still not widely accepted, even though the evidence increasingly suggests otherwise.

The larger shift we need is not just in how we treat disease but in how we anticipate it. Advances in genetic testing and preventive diagnostics now make it possible to identify risk much earlier and act before conditions fully develop. However, awareness remains the missing link. Moreover, health conversations in families are still reactive, not proactive. Something as simple as knowing when a parent was diagnosed or what conditions are common in the family can offer valuable insight into one’s own risk.

World Malaria Day is observed on April 25 every year to raise awareness of the infection, its causes, symptoms, and prevention strategies. At a time when the heatwave is at its most severe, many fall victim to the misconception that rising temperatures could mitigate infection risk. However, according to Dr Anil Ballani, Consulting Physician in Internal Medicine at Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, this is just a myth.

What is malaria?

Malaria is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes, mainly female Anopheles mosquitoes, which transmit parasites of the genus Plasmodium. The term ‘malaria’ is derived from the Italian words “ma laria”, which translates to ‘bad air’. Malaria remains one of the major health problems in India, even though the incidence rate has been brought down from 33 million to 3.2 million in the last three decades.

Is malaria only a monsoon concern?

On World Malaria Day, Dr Ballani explained that, contrary to popular belief, malaria is not just a concern during the monsoon season. Unfortunately, it can occur in summer as well. It is well known that malaria incidence is highest during the rainy season due to stagnant water. However, surprisingly, there is also a surge in malaria cases during the summer season. The hot days of summer act as a precursor, as the warm temperature accelerates mosquito breeding. Also, people tend to store water in drums and buckets during the summer due to shortages, and these serve as perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

High temperatures in summer accelerate the mosquito life cycle and maturation, resulting in increased multiplication of larvae. High humidity and high temperatures in summer create ideal conditions for the mosquito life cycle. Faster maturation of the parasite in the mosquito leads to the rapid spread of malaria. Consequently, the risk of malaria transmission also increases. There is often poor vector control prior to the monsoon, as fumigation usually starts after the monsoon sets in.

What makes children vulnerable to malaria?

Schools are closed during the summer, and children venture out more to play. People spend more time in gardens and parks during the early hours of the day and in the evenings due to cooler temperatures, and all this increases their risk of exposure to mosquito bites. Many people travel to their hometowns and villages during holidays when schools are closed, where the incidence of malaria is higher. Due to warm weather, people avoid wearing full sleeves and long clothing, resulting in greater exposure of the arms and legs and increasing the risk of mosquito bites. All these are precursors to a high incidence of malaria in the summer months.

Can malaria diagnosis be delayed?

On World Malaria Day, Dr Ballani answered an important question - can malaria diagnosis be delayed? The expert said that sometimes doctors may delay the diagnosis of malaria because of low suspicion during the summer months. Hence, for proper diagnosis, doctors must maintain a high index of suspicion even during summer months and remain vigilant throughout the year. India aims to eliminate malaria by the year 2030, as guided by the National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME), and measures such as maintaining a high index of suspicion will go a long way in making this a reality.