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 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, has reached 952 confirmed cases and 247 deaths, according to the latest update from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

As of June 18, the DRC accounts for 933 confirmed cases and 245 deaths, while Uganda has reported 19 confirmed cases and two deaths. Uganda has not shown the same level of sustained transmission seen in

the DRC.

The overall case fatality rate currently stands at 25.9 per cent.

The outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus currently has no approved treatment or vaccine, complicating efforts to contain the disease.

Ituri Province Remains The Epicenter

Ituri Province continues to be the hardest-hit region, accounting for approximately 91 per cent of all confirmed cases. The main hotspots include Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu.

Health officials are also concerned about North Kivu, where the case fatality rate has reached 58.4 per cent, with high mortality reported across several affected health zones.

The outbreak has now spread to 34 health zones in the DRC and one district in Uganda. In the DRC, the most affected provinces are Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. In Uganda, cases have been reported mainly in Kampala, including both imported and locally transmitted infections, the CDC said.

Treatment Centers Under Severe Pressure

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The CDC said response teams continue to expand surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control measures, laboratory testing, border screening, risk communication and community engagement activities.

A new laboratory in Aru, Ituri Province, has become operational, increasing the total number of Ebola testing sites to six.

Despite ongoing efforts, the response remains under significant strain. Treatment centres are operating beyond capacity, with bed occupancy reaching 102% and 349 patients currently admitted across affected health zones.

The CDC also reported several operational challenges, including delays in patient referrals, shortages of ambulances and vehicles, gaps in personal protective equipment (PPE), and limited access to some affected areas.

Contact Tracing Challenges Persist

Surveillance and contact tracing teams continue to face obstacles, including incomplete addresses, delayed investigations and difficulties accessing certain communities.

More than 7,200 contacts have been identified across the two countries and are being monitored, the CDC said.

Africa CDC also estimates that $21.5 million is urgently needed to address critical gaps in the outbreak response.

Outbreak Outpacing Response Efforts

The outbreak's impact has been particularly severe among vulnerable populations. Last week, another six-month-old girl died from Ebola. She was the third child to die at an orphanage in eastern Congo during the current outbreak.

"It has been a month after the Ebola outbreak and it is still outpacing our response efforts. There are big gaps in surveillance, diagnosis, contact tracing and community engagement," said Dr. Kerry Dierberg of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which is helping lead medical response efforts in Congo, the Indian Express reported.

Public health experts warned that the outbreak is spreading faster than health authorities can detect and contain it.

Many infected individuals are not reaching hospitals or health centers and may be dying without being identified as Ebola cases. As a result, health workers are struggling to determine the true scale of transmission, increasing the risk of further spread within the region, NPR reported.

Yoga helps people live a balanced life and is an expression of the human spirit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday while leading the 12th International Day of Yoga celebrations from Kolkata.

"From physical wellness to inner peace, yoga enriches every aspect of life. Delighted to join this year’s celebrations in Kolkata," PM Modi said, in a post on social media platform X.

Addressing a large gathering, PM Modi said yoga has evolved into the world's largest community celebration, bringing together people across countries, cultures, and generations.

"June 21, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, is now recognized worldwide as a day of yoga," he said.

"Yoga brings people together. I congratulate people across the world on this occasion. Yoga is not just physical exercise, nor is it restricted to any age group. It is an expression of the human spirit," the Prime Minister added.

Yoga Day Theme: Healthy Ageing

The theme for International Day of Yoga 2026 is "Yoga for Healthy Ageing," highlighting yoga's role in promoting physical health, mental well-being, emotional resilience, and active ageing, thereby improving overall quality of life.

PM Modi emphasized that yoga is a powerful tool for fostering both personal well-being and social harmony.

Thousands Join Yoga Session at Kolkata's Maidan

Participating in the Common Yoga Protocol session, the Prime Minister performed yoga alongside thousands of practitioners at Kolkata's iconic Maidan, with the Indian Army's Eastern Command headquarters forming part of the backdrop.

"Yoga helps us live in a balanced manner and teaches us what to do and what to avoid," PM Modi said.

"Our goal should be to be more energetic at 50 than we were at 30," he added.

Yoga Connects Mental and Physical Well-Being

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Highlighting the connection between mental and physical health, the Prime Minister said, "Yoga helps us find the path to physical fitness through mental well-being."

He urged people to make yoga an integral part of their daily lives rather than limiting it to special occasions.

"We should not restrict yoga to particular occasions; it must become a part of our lifestyle," he said.

UN Chief Highlights Yoga's Global Appeal

Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also extended greetings on the occasion of International Day of Yoga.

In a post on X, Guterres highlighted yoga's global appeal and its contribution to physical and mental well-being.

"From its deep roots in ancient India, yoga has become truly universal, helping millions of people of all faiths and cultures find calm, build strength, and live with purpose," he said.

A Global Movement Rooted in Ancient India

Over the years, International Day of Yoga has grown into a global movement, serving as a cultural bridge that connects people across continents. The word "yoga" is derived from the Sanskrit term yuj, meaning "to join" or "to unite," reflecting its essence of harmonizing the body, mind, and spirit.

The experts stressed the urgent need to tackle India's growing obesity crisis—particularly among children.

Speaking during a panel discussion on the future of women's and child healthcare, Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh, often referred to as the "ORS Lady of India," praised India's public health achievements, including the successful Pulse Polio Program, malaria control efforts, and improvements in child nutrition.

However, she cautioned that new challenges now threaten the country's health gains.

"There were many things we are lagging a bit also," Dr. Santosh said, stressing the need for fair food labelling, responsible marketing, and stricter regulation of irrational drug combinations.

She issued a stark warning about unhealthy eating habits, saying, "This junk food pandemic, this is where India needs to really, really focus on. Childhood obesity is a pandemic now. And it's like do or die right now for us."

Her comments highlighted growing concerns that poor nutrition and processed foods are driving obesity among children, increasing their risk of chronic illnesses later in life.

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Echoing the concerns, Dr. T. Rajeshwari Reddy, Senior Consultant Obstetrician, Gynecologist, and Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgeon at Continental Hospital, explained that unhealthy lifestyles beginning in childhood are now contributing to a rise in hormonal disorders, infertility, and high-risk pregnancies.

"We are seeing a lot of people with hormonal imbalances and a lot of issues from teens, and that is what gets translated into infertility and high-risk pregnancy," she said.

Dr. Rajeshwari stressed that prevention must begin early. "The beginning has to be from birth only," she said, urging families to prioritize home-cooked meals, healthy routines, adequate sleep, and reduced screen time. She added that preventive healthcare should become the foundation of India's health strategy over the next decade.

Experts agreed that the future of Indian healthcare will depend on preventive medicine, technology, artificial intelligence, and stronger public-private partnerships to improve access to healthcare, particularly in rural areas.

They urged that India's fight against childhood obesity and lifestyle-related diseases must begin at home, with healthier food choices, greater awareness, and prevention from an early age.

Meanwhile, the AI in healthcare panel featured Prof. Renu John, IIT Hyderabad; Nishan Ali, Founder & CEO, Neurologic AI; Dr. Rahul Sawakhande, CEO, Aakaar Medical Technologies; and Dr. Rajah V. Koppala, Vascular & Interventional Radiologist and Founder, AVIS Vascular Center. The experts discussed how AI is driving predictive, data-led healthcare by improving diagnostics, telemedicine, and early disease detection while complementing doctors. They also stressed the need for better regulations, India-specific datasets, stronger data privacy, and greater collaboration between clinicians and engineers to expand quality healthcare across India.

The Times Now India Health Summit 2026 – South Edition commenced in Hyderabad, bringing together leading voices from government, medicine, research, and the healthcare industry to discuss the future of India's healthcare system. The summit featured renowned doctors, policymakers, hospital leaders, researchers, and healthcare innovators, with discussions spanning preventive healthcare, artificial intelligence, women's health, public health policy, and medical innovation.