Singer Jesy Nelson recently shared an emotional update regarding the complications she is experiencing in her pregnancy with twin babies. Former Little Mix singer Jesy, who is having twins with partner Zion Foster, announced that she has been diagnosed with pre-twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (pre-TTTS). The condition, which is present in pregnancies involving twins with a shared placenta, has serious risks involved and needs intense medical supervision. As Nelson embarks on this difficult journey, her story enlightens us about a rare but dangerous condition many expectant parents may not know much about.

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is a rare but dangerous condition that arises in monochorionic twin pregnancies, in which identical twins share a single placenta. The placenta supplies the developing babies with oxygen, nutrients, and blood flow, but in TTTS, there is an imbalance of blood vessels that interconnect the twins, and thus the vital resources are not evenly distributed. One twin, or the donor twin, shares excess blood with the other, referred to as the recipient twin. This leads to one baby becoming malnourished and possibly anemic, and the other in danger of heart problems due to too much blood.

Nelson described her diagnosis in a heartfelt Instagram video, explaining that she is currently in the pre-stage of TTTS and undergoing frequent monitoring. "I am being scanned twice a week, and each time, things have gotten a little worse," she shared, expressing her fears and hopes for the health of her babies.

Potential Risks of TTTS

If left untreated, TTTS can have devastating consequences. Medical research indicates that:

• 90% of the cases of untreated TTTS lead to loss of one or both twins.
• Despite treatment, only a 70% survival rate for both twins is assured.
• Severe forms can result in preterm labor, cardiac failure in the recipient twin, and organ failure in the donor twin.
• Complications in long-term survivors include neurological damage and developmental delay in surviving infants.

TTTS usually advances in stages, beginning with minimal changes in fluid levels and worsening as one twin continues to get an unequal share of blood. In extreme cases, fetal laser surgery, referred to as the Solomon technique, can be employed to divide the blood vessels and balance the twins.

Why Identical Twin Pregnancies Are More Complicated

Identical twins may develop differently, and their own unique form of placental sharing can have a dramatic effect on pregnancy risk. Jesy Nelson's twins are considered monochorionic diamniotic (mono/di), which means they share a placenta but have two amniotic sacs. This is the type of pregnancy in about 70% of identical twin pregnancies and carries an increased risk of complications like TTTS, umbilical cord entanglement, and growth restriction.

Conversely, dichorionic diamniotic (di/di) twins both have a separate placenta and amniotic sac, which greatly diminishes the threat of TTTS. Twin pregnancy type is normally identified by early ultrasound, with physicians being able to track future complications from inception.

Other Twin Pregnancy Health Risks

Twin pregnancies, even without the presence of TTTS, entail a variety of health risks to the mother as well as infants:

1. Premature Birth

Over 60% of twin pregnancies end in premature delivery, with birth usually taking place before 37 weeks. Premature infants can have immature organs and need neonatal intensive care (NICU) assistance to assist with breathing, feeding, and infection fighting.

2. Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia

Pregnant women with multiples are at increased risk of having high blood pressure during pregnancy. This, if left untreated, can result in preeclampsia, a serious complication of pregnancy that can result in damage to organs, preterm labor, and in some cases, maternal or fetal death.

3. Anemia

Pregnant women carrying multiples are twice as likely to experience anemia, a condition where the body does not produce enough healthy red blood cells. This can lead to fatigue, dizziness, and complications during delivery.

4. Birth Defects

According to John Hopkins Medicine, multiple birth babies are twice as likely to have congenital abnormalities compared to single births. These can include heart defects, neural tube defects, and gastrointestinal issues.

5. Amniotic Fluid Imbalances

When twins have to share a placenta, they are more likely to have polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid) or oligohydramnios (not enough amniotic fluid). Both result in distress to the babies during fetal development and can result in premature labor.

6. Postpartum Hemorrhage

Twins are at increased risk of excessive postpartum hemorrhage because their uterus is larger and there are greater blood supply needs.

Jesy Nelson's openness about her challenging experience is raising awareness for TTTS, a condition that few individuals—let alone expectant mothers and fathers—might be aware of. Through her tearful video, Nelson stressed the significance of knowing about twin pregnancies aside from the thrill of having multiples. "We had no idea that this type of thing occurs when you're having twins. We just desperately want to make people aware of this because there are so many people who aren't aware."

Her case reminds us of the intricacies involved in twin pregnancy and the significance of early identification and medical management. For mothers carrying twins, frequent ultrasounds and vigilance can become a life-and-death issue for early detection and better outcomes of both babies.

Through constant medical attention and care, she and her partner Zion Foster remain positive and get ready for their babies to be born. In other parents whose situations are no different, the story of Nelson highlights awareness, medical progress, and emotional encouragement in handling complicated pregnancies.

The expecting parents of twin siblings are advised to discuss TTTS screening and possible interventions with their physicians to give their babies the best chance.

The Cyclospora outbreak that has spread across the US for more than three months has turned deadly, with Michigan—the hardest-hit state—reporting the country's first two deaths linked to the diarrhea-causing parasite.

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), both individuals had significant underlying health conditions.

"Two deaths have been identified as part of the cyclosporiasis outbreak affecting Michigan. According to medical records, both individuals had significant underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by cyclosporiasis and dehydration," the department said.

Health officials stressed that deaths from cyclosporiasis are rare, as the infection is generally not life-threatening. Michigan has reported 11,234 cases, including 193 hospitalizations.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also confirmed the two outbreak-related deaths in Michigan. As of its July 28 update, the agency has recorded 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases across 45 states since May 1, along with more than 11,500 suspected cases—primarily in Michigan and Ohio—that are yet to be laboratory confirmed. The outbreak has resulted in 423 hospitalizations.

FDA Links Outbreak to Recalled Iceberg Lettuce

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has linked part of the outbreak to iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico. The company voluntarily recalled affected products on July 17 and said it will no longer source iceberg lettuce from central Mexico for the rest of the growing season.

The recalled lettuce has been linked to illnesses in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Separately, the CDC, FDA, and state health officials are investigating another Cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce in nine states, which has sickened at least 1,947 people and hospitalized 98.

Officials are also investigating whether parsley and cilantro may be linked to the outbreak.

What Is Cyclospora?

Cyclospora is a parasite that infects the intestines and is usually spread through contaminated food or water.

Symptoms include:

• Frequent watery diarrhea
• Abdominal cramps
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Excessive gas
• Low-grade fever
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

What Should You Do If You Think You Have Cyclosporiasis?

Most infections are mild and resolve without treatment. However, the illness can be prolonged or severe in people with weakened immune systems, who may require antibiotic treatment.

If you develop symptoms:

• See a healthcare provider and request a stool test to confirm a Cyclospora infection.
• Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration caused by diarrhea.
• Because diarrhea can have many causes, getting the right diagnosis is important, as cyclosporiasis is treatable with a specific antibiotic.
• Seek immediate medical attention if you have severe diarrhea, feel dizzy when standing, or have a rapid heartbeat, as these may be signs of serious dehydration.

How Is It Diagnosed and Treated?

Doctors diagnose cyclosporiasis with a stool test that detects the Cyclospora parasite shed in stool.

Although some mild infections may resolve on their own, confirmed cases should be treated with antibiotics. The recommended treatment is the antibiotic trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX).

Your doctor may also recommend:

• Medicines to relieve diarrhea, if appropriate.
• Oral or intravenous fluids to prevent or treat dehydration.

How To Reduce Your Risk

• Check whether recently purchased iceberg lettuce was sourced from Taylor Farms de Mexico, Guanajuato.

• The recall includes:

1. 12-ounce and 24-ounce Iceberg Salad with best-by dates July 18–August 3
2. 8-ounce and 16-ounce Shredded Lettuce with best-by dates July 18–August 3

• Discard or return any recalled products. An additional 33 recalled products were supplied to restaurants and are unlikely to be in home refrigerators.
• No other lettuce varieties, including romaine and butter lettuce, have been linked to the outbreak.
• Avoid eating recalled shredded iceberg lettuce.
• Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water, even if labeled pre-washed.
• Choose whole heads of lettuce over bagged greens when possible. Remove the outer leaves and wash the inner leaves thoroughly.
• Cook produce whenever possible, as heat is the most effective way to kill Cyclospora.
• Follow safe food-handling practices and stay updated on food recalls.

An 86-year-old sheep farmer from Wales recently shared how he unknowingly lived with a rare parasitic disease for years before experiencing what he described as "the worst pain" of his life.

The rare case has highlighted a little-known infection that experts say can remain hidden inside the body for decades.

Meredydd Jones, from Trecastle in Powys, was diagnosed with hydatid disease, a parasitic infection caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus.

He said that slow-growing cysts had been developing in his lungs for years before he was rushed to the hospital after he complained of severe pain in 2016.

"I hadn't been able to control the pain, and it was more intense than anything I had before," Jones recalled. He later underwent two surgeries in 2018 and 2019 to remove cysts from both lungs, while another cyst in his liver continues to be monitored.

The case comes as Public Health Wales raise concerns that the disease, though uncommon, remains a significant public health issue in sheep-farming regions.

What Is Hydatid Disease?

Hydatid disease, also known as cystic echinococcosis, is caused by the larval stage of the Echinococcus tapeworm.

The parasite typically circulates between dogs and livestock such as sheep and cattle. Humans become accidental hosts after ingesting microscopic tapeworm eggs, usually through contact with infected dogs or contaminated food, water, or soil.

Unlike many infections, hydatid disease develops very slowly and gradually. The parasite forms fluid-filled cysts that most commonly affect the liver and lungs, although they can also develop in the brain, bones, or other organs.

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Why Symptoms Take Years To Appear?

According to Dr Chris Williams, consultant epidemiologist at Public Health Wales, the disease can remain hidden for an unusually long time.

"What happens is normally the tapeworm transmits between farm animals like sheep and cows to dogs, and the dogs excrete eggs," he explained. "Unfortunately, if humans ingest the eggs, they can then form cysts within humans."

He added that symptoms may not appear for 10 to 20 years, which is why infections are often discovered only after cysts become large enough to cause complications. Depending on where the cysts develop, people may experience:

• Persistent abdominal pain or swelling
• Chest pain, chronic cough or shortness of breath
• Unexplained lumps
• Fever if cysts become infected
• Severe allergic reactions if a cyst ruptures

Public Health Wales says hydatid disease is uncommon but can have serious health consequences if left untreated.

Researchers at Aberystwyth University are now studying dogs, livestock and farming practices to better understand whether the parasite is emerging again in parts of Wales.

The project includes analysing dog faecal samples and tracking farm dogs to understand how the parasite may spread between farms. Experts say prevention remains the most effective strategy.

Regular deworming of dogs, proper disposal of livestock carcasses, avoiding feeding dogs raw offal, and practising good hand hygiene after handling animals can significantly reduce the risk of infection.

The deadly and highly contagious disease smallpox, eradicated worldwide in 1980 through vaccination, was introduced to the Americas by Europeans, according to a new study that analyzed DNA from 500-year-old Inca mummies.

Smallpox, caused by the variola virus, played a major role in the devastating population decline among Indigenous people in the Americas following the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492.

Historians have long believed that smallpox reshaped societies and killed millions worldwide. However, direct genetic evidence linking European strains to outbreaks in the Americas had been lacking.

Dr. Shigeki Nakagome from Trinity College Dublin's School of Medicine said the findings provide "the first molecular confirmation that smallpox was carried to the Americas during the colonial period."

The researchers added that the findings could also help improve understanding of how pathogens evolve, with potential relevance for diseases such as influenza, COVID-19 and mpox.

What Did the Study Find?

Published in the journal Science, the researchers sequenced ancient smallpox DNA from two individuals buried in northern Chile between 1492 and 1631 CE, during the transition from the Inca to the colonial period.

The analysis showed that the viruses belonged to a now-extinct lineage of the variola virus, closely related to ancient European strains that disappeared before the 20th century. These are the earliest smallpox genomes recovered from the Americas, providing a clearer timeline of the virus's evolution.

Researchers also noted that skin lesions previously thought to result from arsenic exposure are consistent with smallpox infection.

The team identified the same viral strain in multiple individuals of Native American ancestry, suggesting local transmission within Indigenous communities during the colonial era.

The study also provides new insights into how the virus evolved over time.

"We found that the virus underwent a long period of genetic change up to the 16th century, but its evolution slowed markedly during the height of colonial expansion and major smallpox epidemics in the 17th and 18th centuries," said Dr. Lara Cassidy from Trinity College Dublin's School of Genetics and Microbiology.

She said the virus may have reached an evolutionary optimum, allowing it to spread efficiently with little further adaptation, likely aided by the lack of immunity in newly exposed populations.

The researchers also found evidence that this period of evolutionary stability may have ended in the 19th century as vaccination became widespread. As immunity increased, the pace of viral evolution appears to have accelerated again.

Bruno Romero González, a PhD student at Trinity College Dublin's School of Medicine, said the findings show how colonization, population change and vaccination likely shaped the evolution of one of humanity's most devastating infectious diseases.

The study also demonstrates the power of ancient pathogen genomics, showing how ancient DNA can uncover aspects of disease history that are not preserved in historical records.

Timeline: How Smallpox Reached the Americas

• Historians believe smallpox spread through three major transmission routes: the Caribbean, southern and northern routes.

• The first documented outbreak in the Americas occurred in 1518 during the Spanish conquest of the Caribbean.

• The virus reached Mexico by 1520, spread through Panama and the northern Inca Empire by 1525, and likely reached Chile by the mid-16th century.

• Although epidemics were reported in Chile between 1554 and 1556, the first confirmed smallpox outbreak there occurred in 1561 in northern Chile.

• Smallpox returned in repeated waves, causing an estimated 3–4 million deaths, and possibly more, across the Americas.

• Indigenous populations with no prior immunity were among the hardest hit.

What Is Smallpox?

Smallpox spread mainly through respiratory droplets released during coughing, sneezing or close contact. The disease caused fever followed by a characteristic rash that developed into fluid-filled blisters and scabs.

About 3 in 10 infected people died, while many survivors were left with permanent scars, particularly on the face. Some also lost their vision. Following a global vaccination campaign, smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980, with the last naturally occurring case reported in 1977.