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.

American singer and actress Selena Gomez has said that vaping nicotine has changed her voice, expressing concern that the effects may be irreversible.

"I'm not gonna be able to change my voice," the 34-year-old singer said in a candid Instagram post on Sunday. "I vaped nicotine a lot."

Describing how difficult it is to quit nicotine, Gomez added that "it's just not worth it".

"It is so stupid and..it changed my voice. So, if you guys don't like listening to my voice, that's totally understandable. I don't mind. Just don't listen to it. Just don't listen," she said.

Gomez also expressed hope that she would be able to quit vaping for good.

"It's really hard, but I know if you are going through something you can get through it too. It sucks," she added.

How Does Vaping Affect Your Vocal Cords?

Vaping is often perceived as a cleaner alternative to smoking because e-cigarettes do not burn tobacco. However, the aerosol produced by these devices is not harmless water vapor and can contain substances that may affect respiratory and cardiovascular health.

E-cigarette aerosol may contain:

• Nicotine: A highly addictive substance.
• Heavy metals: Including lead, nickel and tin.
• Volatile organic compounds: Some of which can be harmful.
• Flavoring chemicals: Which may have different effects when inhaled.
• Ultrafine particles: That can penetrate deep into the lungs.

These substances may also affect the throat and vocal cords, potentially contributing to irritation, dryness and changes in voice quality.

Also read: 5.4 Million Over-16s Now Vape in Britain: Why E-Cigarettes May Not Be Safer

Can Vaping Cause Hoarseness and Voice Changes?

Research suggests that e-cigarette use may affect the vocal folds, the structures in the voice box that vibrate to produce sound.

A 2025 study published in the Journal of Voice examined the potential effects of e-cigarette use on vocal health.

“E-cigarette use can cause inflammation of the epithelium and mucosa of the vocal folds, and their components can cause dryness, compromising vocal homeostasis, increasing the risk of coughing and breathing difficulties, deteriorating the vocal folds, and worsening voice quality,” said the researchers from Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.

By irritating and drying the vocal folds, e-cigarette aerosol may contribute to hoarseness, coughing and vocal strain. However, more research is needed to establish the long-term effects of vaping on the voice, including whether it can cause permanent voice changes.

Selena Gomez Has Previously Spoken About Throat Swelling

Read More: FDA To Speed Up Approval Process For Vapes & Nicotine Pouches: Does It Mean They Are Safer Than Cigarettes?

Gomez, who has lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease, has previously suggested that she experiences throat swelling that may affect her voice.

During an Instagram Q&A in December, she said: "Sometimes things happen. I get weird. My throat kind of swells inside sometimes. That's all."

Lupus can affect different parts of the body and, in some cases, cause inflammation involving the larynx, or voice box. This may contribute to hoarseness, a raspy or breathy voice, vocal fatigue or changes in pitch.

It is not possible to determine whether Gomez's reported voice changes are related to vaping, lupus or another cause based on her public comments alone.

When Should You Seek Medical Advice for Voice Changes?

Persistent hoarseness, a raspy voice or difficulty speaking should not be ignored, particularly if symptoms do not improve. A clinician may examine the vocal cords to identify the cause.

People experiencing breathing difficulty or significant throat swelling should seek urgent medical attention.

Quitting vaping reduces further exposure to potentially irritating substances. Behavioral support and appropriate smoking-cessation treatments can help people manage nicotine dependence and withdrawal symptoms.

Singapore will increase surveillance of three deadly infectious diseases from October 31, needing doctors and other healthcare professionals to report all suspected and confirmed cases to the authorities.

The diseases include Marburg virus disease, Lassa fever and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF). All the three can lead to severe illness, and in extreme cases, they can even be fatal.

However, Singapore's Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) has said the current risk posed by these diseases to the country remains low.

So Why Is Singapore Monitoring These Three Diseases?

The move comes after amendments to Singapore's Infectious Diseases Act in September. The three diseases will be added to the list of prescribed infectious diseases, making notification of suspected and confirmed cases a legal requirement.

The authorities aim to detect these diseases earlier to foster a swift public health response, which includes isolation and tracing contacts.

The CDA said it has been monitoring the three diseases for some time, “as all three diseases are viral haemorrhagic fevers that can cause severe illness and have the potential for human-to-human transmission”.

A CDA spokeswoman told The Straits Times, “While there has been no change to the risk level from these three diseases, which currently remains low, they have been added to the IDA to strengthen our overall surveillance and preparedness efforts.”

From October 31, doctors and laboratories will be legally required to notify the authorities of suspected as well as confirmed cases of the three diseases. The CDA said it continuously monitors infectious disease developments both locally and internationally.

“As part of our preparedness efforts, CDA periodically reviews and updates the list of infectious diseases under the IDA to ensure that Singapore remains ready to respond to infectious disease risks,” the agency's spokeswoman said.

The three diseases will also be added to Singapore's list of “dangerous infectious diseases”, bringing the total to eight.

The five already listed are Ebola disease, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection (MERS-CoV), plague, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and yellow fever.

Also read: People With Rare Diseases Have Higher Recorded COVID-19 Rates: UK Study Based On 62.5 Million People

More About The Three Diseases

Marburg virus disease, Lassa fever and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever belong to a group of viral illnesses that can cause severe complications, including bleeding and organ complications in some patients.

Their routes of transmission differ, making timely diagnosis, reporting and anti-spread measures crucial.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments for any of the three diseases, but vaccine development is under way for Lassa fever and Marburg virus disease. The diseases also differ in their geographical distribution, typical severity and how they spread.

Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is mainly transmitted through bites from infected ticks or contact with infected livestock. It can also spread through exposure to the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person.

Symptoms can begin suddenly and include fever, muscle pain, dizziness, sore eyes and sensitivity to light. In severe cases, patients may develop liver, kidney or lung failure. According to WHO, the fatality rate can be as high as 40%.

Also read: GLP-1 Drugs May Lower Risk Of Heart Complications, Infections After Surgery

Lassa Fever

Lassa fever is mainly found in parts of West Africa. People can become infected through contact with food or household items contaminated with the urine or faeces of infected rodents. Human-to-human transmission can also occur through direct contact with an infected person's blood or bodily fluids.

Most infections cause no symptoms or only mild illness. Symptoms can include fever, sore throat, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Severe cases may present with facial swelling, bleeding and low blood pressure.

The overall fatality rate is at around 1%, but it can rise significantly among patients hospitalised with severe illness.

Lassa fever can also have serious consequences during pregnancy. According to the information cited by The Straits Times, foetal death rates can exceed 80% in the third trimester, while maternal death rates can exceed 30%.

Hearing loss is another possible complication. Up to 25% of patients may experience hearing loss after recovering from the infection, and many do not regain their hearing.

Marburg Virus Disease

Marburg virus disease is a rare but severe illness. Egyptian fruit bats are considered its natural reservoir, and infection can occur after exposure to infected animals or environments contaminated by them.

The disease can also spread between people through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, or through contaminated materials.

Symptoms often begin with sudden high fever, severe headache and muscle aches. Some patients develop bleeding, confusion and other serious complications. The fatality rate is around 50%, according to the WHO.

Individuals diagnosed with rare diseases had higher COVID-19 rates than people who did not have them. As per a study analysing health records of 62.5 million people in England, there were significant differences in infections recorded across ethnic groups and individual rare diseases.

Published in Scientific Reports recently, the study analysed 406 rare diseases with the help of healthcare records from the National Health Service (NHS) in England.

Of the 62.5 million people included in the analysis, around 1.05 million, or 1.7%, had at least one of the 406 rare diseases.

COVID-19 infections were reported in around 32.8% of people with a rare disease, compared with 29% of those without one. Even though the difference between the two figures is not far from each other, it makes us stop and think.

According to the study researchers, the findings provide a country-wide picture of rare disease rates and incidence of COVID-19 infections across various ethnic groups.

COVID-19 Infection Rates Differed Across Rare Diseases

The study found that COVID-19 infection rates differed significantly depending on the rare disease. Among the 25 most common rare diseases, infection rates ranged from 24.6% to 41.2%.

Four conditions had recorded infection rates below 30%: congenital laryngomalacia, at 24.6%; retinopathy of prematurity, at 26.5%; polymyalgia rheumatica, at 27.1%; and infantile apnoea, at 29.9%. The remaining 21 conditions had recorded infection rates between 30% and 50%.

These differences highlight an important point that people with rare diseases should not be treated as one uniform group, especially when it comes to their COVID experience.

However, the study did not establish that every person with a rare disease had a higher risk of contracting the virus, nor did it show that rare diseases necessarily led to more severe COVID-19.

Also read: EXCLUSIVE: Ex-CDC Vaccine Advisor Says Measles Outbreak Bigger Than Reported, Slams RFK Jr’s ‘No-See Evil’ Approach

Infection Rates Differed By Ethnicity

The researchers also identified differences in COVID-19 infection rates among ethnic groups within the rare disease occurrence.

The highest rates were observed among people classified as White British, at 33.7%, and those in the broader White category used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), at 33.5%.

Lower rates were recorded among several other groups, including Black African people, at 23.8%; Gypsy or Irish Traveller people, at 24.1%; Bangladeshi people, at 27.2%; and Pakistani people, at 27.7%.

The researchers said that this pattern was different from trends in the general population, where ethnic minority groups experienced an uneven burden of COVID-19.

Rare Diseases Varied Across Ethnic Groups

Apart from COVID-19 infection, the study mapped 406 rare diseases across various ethnic groups. The researchers found variations in how frequently each condition was recorded.

Some of these differences became clearer when broad ethnic categories were divided into more specific groups. For example, discoid lupus erythematosus was more prevalent among Black Caribbean people than among Black African people.

The researchers also found that polymyalgia rheumatica was more prevalent among White people than Asian or Asian British and Black or Black British populations.

Also read: World Breast Cancer Day 2026: Life After Breast Cancer, The Fear No One Sees

How Was The Study Conducted?

The researchers carried out a cross-sectional analysis using NHS England’s Secure Data Environment, linking primary care, hospital and mortality records for people alive on July 31, 2023.

They estimated the prevalence of 406 rare diseases and examined COVID-19 infections across the overall population, individual rare diseases and ethnic groups. The analysis used both six ONS ethnic categories and 19 more detailed NHS ethnicity classifications.

The study’s large population base allowed the researchers to examine conditions that can be difficult to investigate because each rare disease affects relatively few people.

The researchers said the national estimates provide a baseline for understanding rare disease rates and COVID-19 cases across different populations in England. The findings may help inform future research and support efforts towards earlier diagnosis and better healthcare.