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.

Indore water contamination is linked to fecal bacteria like E coli and Klebsiella, confirmed officials. These bacteria are known to cause severe vomiting and diarrhea. The death toll too have risen to 10, confirmed the local officials. Indore councillor Kamal Waghela said that two more persons died on Thursday night. The laboratory tests of the water supplied through the Narmada pipeline in Bhagirathpura, which is the epicentre of the outbreak confirmed E coli and Klebsiella bacteria to be the culprits.

Also Read: Australian Cricketer Damien Martyn in Hospital With Meningitis

What Happened In Indore That Led To Water Contamination?

The outbreak occurred due to lapses in civic infrastructure. Investigation revealed that a toilet constructed directly above a main drinking pipeline near a police outpost, without a mandatory safety tank resulted in the sewage mixing with drinking water.

Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dilip Kumar said, “We have found that in case of the construction of the toilet, no safety tank was constructed beneath it. We are also probing the other lapses.”

What Is E. Coli - The Bacteria Found In Indore Contaminated Water?

Escherichia coli, or E.coli is a bacterium that lives in the human intestine and is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these bacteria are commonly found in environment, food, water, and the intestines of people and animals. While most E.coli are harmless, some can make people sick with diarrhea, urinary tract infection, pneumonia, sepsis, and other illnesses.

E. Coli from Contaminated Water

WebMD writes that one can swallow E.coli from contaminated water, as in the case of Indore, a toilet was constructed directly above the main drinking water pipeline, without a mandatory safety tank, which may have led to the contamination. Studies have also shown that some E.coli could regrow even after chlorine treatment.

What Is Klebsiella - The Bacteria Found In Indore Contaminated Water?

CDC notes that Klebsiella is a type of gram-negative bacteria which is also found in human stool and can cause healthcare-associated infections or HAIs. They are also highly resistant to antibiotics and can also resist carbapenems, which is the last line of defense against multi-drug resistant bacterial infections.

Klebsiella can cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, wound or surgical site infections and meningitis.

It can spread from person-to-person contact, which is one of the most common way of spreading. Other ways could also be from contact with contaminated water or soil, contact with contaminated equipment, for example, ventilators, breathing machines, or intravenous catheters. Klebsiella cannot spread through the air.

Also Read: Sewage Mixing With Drinking Water Kills 7 in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, Over 100 Remain Hospitalized

What Actions Have Been Taken So Far In Indore?

As of now, the water supply Assistant Engineer (AE) has been suspended, and the sub-engineer relieved of duty. The Zonal Officer has also been suspended for failing to ensure proper coordination. “The zonal officer has been suspended because he should have seen overall coordination,” Commissioner Kumar said.

“We have found a few chambers that intersect the distribution line. We are getting them diverted,” Kumar also noted.

Authorities have stepped up efforts to contain the crisis and avert further casualties. District Magistrate Shivam Verma said the response has been extensive, with around 149 people currently hospitalised and survey teams conducting door-to-door checks. By 31 December, 2025, nearly 2,700 houses had already been covered.

The survey has been extended to other surrounding areas in Indore to check the water quality and to know whether the contamination has spread beyond Bhagirathpura, which was the initial epicentre. for precaution, ASHA workers and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives are also distributing oral rehydration solution (ORS) to residents.

Deadly fungus, the superbug has now hit 27 states. Hospitals, nursing homes and other medical facilities are struggling to treat this, as it is a drug-resistant fungus. In 2025 alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that it has infected at least 7,000 people.

This fungus is known as Candida auris, which was first reported in the US in 2016. In the past several years, it has spread rapidly. This fungus can also survive on surfaces for a long period and thus could easily spread to people, especially in medical environment, through catheters, breathing tubes, or IVs.

Why Is this Superbug So Difficult To Control?

Unlike many other infections, Candida auris can spread easily through shared medical equipment and direct contact between people. Its ability to withstand commonly used disinfectants makes it difficult to eliminate once it enters a healthcare facility.

State health officials say cases have increased every year, pointing to a steady and worrying trend. “Each year, we have seen increases in our case counts which underscores the need for sustained vigilance,” the Alabama Department of Public Health told AL.com.

Also Read: What Is Candida Auris Infection? The Deadly Superbug Spreading In US

Origin of Superbug Candida Auris

This was first discovered in 2009 in Japan from the ear canal of a patient. Since then, it has spread to many countries, including India, where it was identified as a major public health threat in 2014.

Who Can Or Cannot Fight Off This Superbug

Healthy people could possibly fight off this infection on their own. However, the population vulnerable could find it more difficult to fight off this deadly fungus. Melissa Nolan, an assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of South Carolina told Nexstar, "If you get infected with this pathogen that’s resistant to any treatment, there’s no treatment we can give you to help combat it. You’re all on your own."

Like the mystery disease, adenovirus, this fungus too can survive on surfaces, said Nolan. “It’s really good at just being, generally speaking, in the environment. So if you have it on a patient’s bed for example, on the railing, and you go to wipe everything down, if in whatever way maybe a couple of pathogens didn’t get cleared, then they’re becoming resistant. And so over time, they can kind of grow and populate in that hospital environment," said Nolan.

The health department confirmed via email that it is following the CDC’s recommended containment strategy to limit further spread. Healthcare providers and laboratories in Alabama are voluntarily reporting cases, although the state’s figures are not currently listed on the CDC’s national tracking dashboard, as per USA Today.

Alabama is not alone in dealing with the superbug. Nearby states are also seeing significant numbers. CDC data shows Tennessee has reported 189 cases, Mississippi 108, and Georgia 377. Florida, like Alabama, does not yet have figures publicly listed on the CDC website.

Studies show that this superbug is not just limited to the US, but is spreading globally. It has already been found in at least 61 countries and on 6 continents. The study also found that the fungus is becoming more and more drug resistant, all due to its ability to switch from a yeast-like growth to a filament-driven spread. It also contains a cell wall that has proteins and makes it easier to stick on human skin "like glue". This is what enables it to colonize the human cells.

Who can live past 100 years? Well, to everyone's surprise, Maria Branyas Morea lived to the age of 117, with a bit of luck and a healthy diet. A study published in Cell Reports Medicine noted that her diet that included daily yogurts ensured that she could live this long. During her final year, in 2024, she was verified as the oldest living person, and drew a lot of attention of researchers from all over the world who wanted to explore the biology of aging.

The researchers also ran a DNA-test on her, and here's what they found.

Also Read: Candida Auris - The Deadly Superbug Spreads Across 27 States: Here’s Why the Fungus Is Surging

What A DNA Test On 117-year-old Revealed

Health evaluation of Maria Branyas suggest that she may have an exceptionally young genome. The rare genetic variant was what linked to longevity, immune function, and a healthy heart and brain. The researchers based in Spain said that they are now using these findings to "provide a fresh look at human aging biology, suggesting biomarkers for healthy aging, and potential strategies to increase life expectancy".

The tests scientists ran were based on blood, saliva, urine, and stool samples. Branyas volunteered to have these tests run on her before she passed in August 2024. The researchers reveal that her cells "felt" or "behaved" as though they were much younger than her chronological age. She is known to have exceeded the average life expectancy of women in her home of Catalonia by more than 30 years.

While she was 117, her cardiovascular health was marked excellent, with very low levels of inflammation. Her immune system and gut microbiome both had markers that matched much younger samples. The levels of 'bad' cholesterol and triglycerides were very low, while 'good' cholesterol was very high.

"Extreme human lifespan, exemplified by supercentenarians, presents a paradox in understanding aging: despite advanced age, they maintain relatively good health," write the researchers, led by epigeneticists Eloy Santos-Pujol and Aleix Noguera-Castells.

Maria Branyas didn’t just live long, she lived fully. Mentally sharp, socially engaged, and physically active well into old age, her lifestyle clearly mattered. Genetics helped too. While her Mediterranean diet, rich in yogurt and fermented foods, may have supported her health, scientists say extreme longevity is rarely about one habit alone. It is usually a mix of biology, environment, and chance.

Also Read: Australian Cricketer Damien Martyn in Hospital With Meningitis

A Surprising Finding

One of the most surprising findings from studying Branyas was what researchers saw at the ends of her chromosomes. Her telomeres, the protective caps on DNA that typically shorten with age, showed what scientists described as “huge erosion.” Usually, shorter telomeres are associated with higher mortality risk. But in people who reach extraordinary ages, telomeres may not tell the full story.

In fact, the researchers suggest Branyas’ very short telomeres might have worked in her favour. Short-lived cells may have reduced the risk of uncontrolled cell growth, potentially protecting her from cancer. It is a counterintuitive idea, but one that challenges how scientists think about aging markers.

Longevity Does Not Equal Poor Health

What stands out most is that Branyas’ advanced age did not automatically come with prolonged illness. Her case reinforces the idea that living longer does not have to mean living sicker. As the researchers note, extreme old age and poor health are not inherently linked.

What One Life Can and Cannot Tell Us

Of course, studying one exceptional individual has limits. Researchers in Spain stress the need for larger studies to confirm these findings. Still, broader research on centenarians has already shown that some people carry unique biological traits that help them resist disease.

With centenarians now the world’s fastest-growing age group, Branyas’ life offers a rare glimpse into what might make extreme longevity possible. Her story, scientists say, opens new doors to understanding healthy aging and extending not just lifespan, but health span.