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.

Health authorities in Kerala have sounded an alarm following five suspected cases of West Nile fever (WNF) in Ernakulam.

The cases were reported from Elanji, Eroor in Thripunithura, Pallikkara in Kizhakkambalam, Ponekkara in Edappally, and Palluruthy, The Hindu reported.

While the cases are yet to be ascertained, the southern state of India has a prevalence of mosquito-borne diseases during the summer months.

“We haven’t received any confirmation of WNF cases. These are suspected cases and can be confirmed only after tests are carried out," Dr. R. Shahirsha, District Medical Officer (DMO), Ernakulam, was quoted as saying.

Notably, the authorities have sent the samples for testing, and results will be available in 14 days.

"While no cluster has been observed, precautionary measures to prevent mosquito breeding need to be implemented,” Dr Shahirsha said. Keeping canals clean and preventing mosquito breeding inside homes and in surrounding areas are critical steps, the authorities said.

What is West Nile Fever

The disease is spread through mosquito bites, and most who get infected do not have any symptoms. However, one in every five infected people has a fever, headache, body aches, and other flu-like symptoms.

The West Nile virus also infects the nervous system and is capable of causing serious brain or spinal cord inflammation.

According to the WHO, West Nile Virus is a member of the flavivirus genus and belongs to the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex of the family Flaviviridae.

The mosquitoes become infected when they feed on birds that carry the virus in their blood, and then bite humans and infect them.

It is found in different parts of the world, including North America, Europe, Africa, Central Asia, Australia, and Asia. Cases in 49 states in the US have been reported, and the total number of symptomatic cases in the US is 51,000 since the first cases were detected in the country in 1999.

What Are The Symptoms?

The symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, rash around the chest and back, swollen lymph nodes, sore throats, and pain behind the eyes.

In severe cases, individuals may have an intense headache, high fever, stiff neck, making you unable to move your chin towards your chest, confusion, muscle weakness, loss of control over your muscle movements, seizures, paralysis, and coma.

How Can It Spread?

While the mosquitoes that feed on infected birds are the carriers, there is still a lack of evidence to determine whether it comes directly from the birds. The incubation period for symptoms to show up is two to six days, but it can extend to 14 days, too.

It can be transmitted from a pregnant person to their fetus, through human milk, blood transfusion, and organ transplant. People who are over the age of 60, have cancer, diabetes, or high blood pressure are more prone to the virus.

Why Is It called West Nile Fever?

It gets its name from the West Nile district, where it was first discovered in 1937 in Uganda.

Treatment

There are no treatments or antiviral medications available for it. However, you can treat the mild symptoms at home with over-the-counter medications that you take for a cold or the flu. The best way to prevent is to protect yourself from mosquito bites.

In a landmark deal, India and New Zealand today signed the India- New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (IN- NZ FTA).

The Agreement was signed by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

The FTA will not only strengthen India’s global economic partnerships but also boost strategic opportunities for the medical devices sector, as well as the country's traditional medicine sector.

In a post on social media platform X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the agreement’s "role in promoting traditional knowledge systems, including AYUSH, yoga and organic products, positioning them for greater global relevance".

"The FTA broadens its scope to agriculture productivity, organics, services, mobility, Ayush, and pharma access, making the opportunities all-inclusive and future-oriented," added Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal.

What The FTA Brings To India

For the first time, New Zealand has facilitated trade in Ayurveda, yoga, and other traditional medicine services with India. This landmark provision promotes the global recognition of India’s AYUSH systems, supports medical value travel, and encourages collaboration in wellness services, according to an official statement.

It also reinforces India’s position as a global hub for health, wellness, and traditional medicine services. It gives centre stage to India’s AYUSH disciplines (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Sowa-Rigpa, Siddha, and Homeopathy) alongside Maori Health practices.

In a major breakthrough, the FTA streamlines access for pharmaceuticals and medical devices by enabling acceptance of GMP and GCP inspection reports from comparable regulators, including approvals by the US FDA, EMA, UK MHRA, Health Canada, and other comparable regulators.

"These will reduce duplicative inspections, lower compliance costs, and expedite product approvals, thereby facilitating smoother market access and supporting growth of India’s pharmaceutical and medical devices exports to New Zealand," it added.

What Are The Industry Leaders Saying?

The experts hailed the India–New Zealand FTA, calling it a strategic opportunity for the medical devices sector.

"For the healthcare and MedTech sector, the agreement is particularly consequential. A dedicated annex on pharmaceuticals and medical devices creates expedited regulatory pathways, with New Zealand agreeing to recognize GMP and GCP inspection reports from the US FDA, the EU’s EMA, and the UK’s MHRA—reducing duplicative compliance burdens and accelerating product approvals for Indian manufacturers," said Pavan Choudary, Chairman, Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI), in a statement.

"A separate annex on health services and traditional medicine opens structured avenues for medical value travel, digital health, and evidence-based AYUSH, positioning India not merely as a goods exporter, but as a global wellness and healthcare services hub," he added.

Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, Association of Indian Medical Devices Industry (AiMeD), also welcomed the India-New Zealand FTA and said that the reduced tariffs and streamlined regulatory cooperation will boost exports.

It will also "enable technology partnerships, and support affordable access to quality devices. The pact enhances competitiveness for Indian manufacturers while ensuring resilient supply chains and mutual recognition standards, strengthening India’s position as a global MedTech hub," Nath added.

However, Choudary cited that there is a significant gap. He cited that the FTA’s regulatory recognition framework does not yet include India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).

"As India’s pharmaceutical and MedTech industry grows in scale, quality, and global reach, the CDSCO is rapidly maturing into a credible, reference-class regulator. Its inclusion in such bilateral recognition frameworks is not a diplomatic nicety; it is a commercial and strategic imperative. Future trade agreements, and indeed revisions to this one, must correct this omission," the expert said.

A new analysis by researchers at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) points to a mixed picture when it comes to cancer trends in India. While cases of breast cancer and oral cancer in men have been steadily rising over the years, cervical cancer has seen a sharp decline—one of the few clear positives in the data.

Cancer pattern in India

The study, published in the Journal of Public Health, looked at patterns across G20 countries over roughly two decades. Researchers used a method that helps separate the effects of ageing from broader social and behavioural changes. In simple terms, it allowed them to see whether cancer risk itself is increasing, or if higher numbers are just a result of people living longer.

For India, the rise in certain cancers is difficult to ignore. Breast cancer cases have been increasing by around 1.8 per cent each year, while oral cancer in men has gone up by about 1.2 per cent annually. These trends stand in contrast to several high-income countries, where rates have either slowed or, in some cases, begun to fall.

Why are breast cancer cases on the rise?

The reason why breast cancer cases are surging in India is not surprising - with the shift in lifestyle choices, it is almost a no-brainer. Rising obesity, sedentary lifestyle, smoking and alcohol use are some of the key contributors. Reproductive patterns, too, have changed - women are planning pregnancies later, breastfeeding for short duration and also experiencing early onset of periods. While these factors may appear insignificant individually, they collectively play a huge role in the long run.

Oral cancer in India

Oral cancer tells a different story—one that is closely tied to India’s long-standing tobacco habits. The use of smokeless tobacco and betel quid continues to be widespread, particularly among men. Alcohol adds to the risk. What makes the situation worse is that many cases are picked up late, often when the disease is already advanced. The data also shows a clear age pattern: men and women have similar rates until about 40, after which the numbers for men rise sharply.

If there is one area where India has made real progress, it is cervical cancer. The study found that incidence has been dropping by over 4 per cent each year, one of the steepest declines among the countries analysed. Experts attribute this to better awareness, improved hygiene, and gradual improvements in reproductive health services over time.

This decline offers a useful lesson. It shows that sustained public health efforts can make a difference. The recent rollout of HPV vaccination for adolescent girls could push these numbers down even further in the coming years.

Cancer diagnosis and treatment pattern in India

The ICMR report also highlights a big concern - in developed countries, cancer risk decreases with the new generation because of improved diagnosis and treatment infrastructure. However, in India, the pattern is not evident enough - risk appears high across age groups, but the diagnosis and treatment bit is not well taken care of. Lack of mortality data in India is a key concern, which makes it hard to assess how the rising numbers translate to heightened death risk. The trend is still strong enough to require immediate intervention.

Can India's rising cancer burden be curbed?

Researchers say the response cannot be one-dimensional. Expanding access to screening, especially for breast cancer, is crucial. Tobacco and alcohol control policies need to be enforced more effectively to tackle oral cancer. At the same time, the gains seen in cervical cancer underline the importance of vaccination and organised screening programmes.