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.

One month has passed since the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared its 17th Ebola outbreak, and there is no sign of respite. Confirmed cases and deaths have surged to 808 and 192, respectively, according to the country's Health Ministry.

Uganda has confirmed 19 infections, while Congo's Ituri province, where the outbreak first emerged, accounts for more than 90% of cases in the country.

The outbreak was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the outbreak was officially declared on May 15.

The cases continue to surge daily as health authorities and aid agencies grapple with inadequate testing, weak contact tracing, and community resistance.

However, experts warn the outbreak's true scale may be far greater than official data indicate, making it already the third-deadliest Ebola outbreak on record.

Ebola Epidemic Moving Upward

According to Dieudonne Mwamba Kazadi, head of the DRC National Institute of Public Health (INSP), the Ebola epidemic was still moving upward in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province and the epicenter of the outbreak, Xinhua News Agency reported.

"We are still in the midst of the epidemic. I would say we are in the upward phase of the outbreak, the active phase," Kazadi said.

More confirmed cases are expected in the coming days, making it urgent to expand treatment capacity and establish new Ebola treatment centers in affected areas, he noted.

"The perspective is really to increase capacity and already have treatment centers positioned to receive the future suspected and confirmed cases that we will identify in the coming days and weeks," Kazadi said, stressing the need to "engaging communities further," he said.

True Scale of Outbreak Remains Unclear

Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said in a statement that the government's figures likely understate the true toll of the outbreak, echoing concerns raised by aid groups and some Congolese officials.

"No one knows the true scale or exactly where the disease is spreading in DRC," said Kate White, MSF's emergency medical coordinator.

"One month on, the Ebola disease outbreak is outpacing the response effort," White said.

She noted that most treatment centers in Ituri province are overwhelmed, with many patients arriving at a late stage of the disease.

"What we do know is that most treatment centers in Ituri province are overwhelmed; many of our patients arrive at a late stage of the disease, and the majority were never identified or monitored as contacts before seeking care," White said.

Testing and Contact Tracing Challenges

Testing remains "one of the most significant weaknesses in the response," according to the MSF statement.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was “really worried” about the outbreak after visiting the DRC, Stat News reported.

“When the community is not taking it as its priority, it’s very hard,’’ Tedros said. He said that in the North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri provinces where the outbreak is centered, Ebola is seen as a lesser evil compared with armed conflict, widespread hunger, and more common deadly diseases experienced daily.

Notably, many communities, particularly those affected by active armed conflict, still lack access to test kits. Treatment centers are also facing significant delays in receiving laboratory results, hampering efforts to quickly identify and isolate infections.

What Is Ebola?

Ebola is a highly lethal viral hemorrhagic fever first identified in 1976. Over the past five decades, it has caused over 30 outbreaks, primarily in Central and West Africa.

Symptoms include fever, headache, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, sore throat, and unexplained bleeding. This eventually leads to severe complications like bleeding, organ failure, and death.

Aid groups warn that without stronger surveillance, faster testing, and improved contact tracing, the outbreak could continue to expand in the weeks ahead.

The United Kingdom is planning to create a new normal for children by banning social media for kids under 16. The services of social media, including Instagram and Snapchat, will not be available for adolescents in the island nation. The government there is planning to follow in the steps of Australia and block social media to ensure a safe and secure childhood.

To better protect children online and tackle growing digital risks, the government plans to introduce measures that go beyond a simple social media ban. Under the proposal, children under 16 would be blocked from accessing high-risk features such as livestreaming and communicating with strangers online. These world-leading restrictions would extend beyond social media platforms to cover a broader range of online services, including gaming websites, making the policy one of the most comprehensive child online safety measures introduced anywhere in the world.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, Parents want to keep their kids safe and happy, but the online world has made that harder than ever." He added, "I’ve heard firsthand from families crying out for change, and we will do right by them."

He also said that any country can ban social media for under-16s and put wider protections in place to give kids their childhood back.

Other Countries That Are Planning To Implement Social Media Ban

• Denmark: Plans to ban social media for children under 15, with limited parental exceptions for those aged 13–14.
• France: Approved a bill to ban social media for children under 15, pending final legislative approval.
• India: Karnataka has banned social media for children under 16. Other states like Andhra Pradesh, Goa, and Bihar are considering age restrictions.
• Italy: Children under 14 need parental consent to create social media accounts.
• Poland: Drafted legislation to ban social media for children under 15 and require age verification.
• Slovenia: Preparing a law that would prohibit social media access for children under 15.
• Spain: Plans to ban social media access for minors under 16 and require age verification.
• Sweden: A government commission has recommended a minimum social media age of 15.
• United States: Several states require parental consent for minors, while federal legislation seeks stronger protections for young users.
• European Union: Considering stricter child safety rules, including parental consent for under-16s and a ban for children under 13.

Which Countries Have Already Banned Or Imposed Curbs On Social Media Use By Children?

There are several nations that have already banned or implemented significant mechanisms to curb social media use by children. Australia, Malaysia, and Turkey have already passed laws to ban social media for children. On the other hand, China and Greece have made arrangements to curb the use of social media by children.

The dengue virus is rapidly shifting serotypes, especially in young adults. The phenomenon is not unique to India and has been observed in several dengue-endemic countries across Asia, Latin America, and parts of the Pacific.

Dengue is caused by four closely related virus serotypes: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4. The dominant serotype in circulation can change over time, leading to new outbreaks when population immunity is low against the emerging strain.

A 2026 genomic study, published in the international journal Acta Tropica, found that DENV-2 and DENV-3 were the most common serotypes between 2019 and 2024 in South India, with dominance shifting every 2–3 years. The authors, including those from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, highlighted the importance of monitoring these shifts because they can alter outbreak severity and vaccine effectiveness.

A 2025 study led by researchers from AIIMS Bhopal reported the emergence of a new DENV-2 lineage that displaced the previously dominant DENV-1 strain between 2019 and 2023. The findings, published in the journal Viruses, demonstrated how one serotype can replace another in a population.

“India is witnessing active serotype shifts, and they directly explain rising severity, especially in young adults. Initial infection with one of the four dengue serotypes results in lifelong immunity to that specific serotype. Whereas, a secondary infection with a different serotype can trigger Antibody-Dependent Enhancement (ADE),” Dr. Shikha Taneja Malik, Senior Scientific Affairs Manager, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), South Asia, told HealthandMe.

“Young adults who were exposed to one serotype in childhood are now encountering a new dominant serotype, making them especially vulnerable to severe secondary infections,” she added.

The four serotypes of dengue virus makes it a difficult virus; and protection against one does not always mean balanced protection against all.

"In young adults, this becomes even more important because many may have already been exposed to one dengue serotype earlier in life, while later infections may involve a different or shifting virus serotype. This can make the immune response more complex and, in some cases, may increase the risk of severe disease through antibody-dependent enhancement," Dr. Rohit Sharma, Consultant, Apollo Spectra Hospital, Jaipur, told HealthandMe.

Shifting Serotypes: A Global Trend Beyond India

Researchers have also documented a gradual shift in disease burden from children toward adolescents and young adults in some regions. This occurs because:

• Previous exposure patterns change over time.
• Urbanization increases transmission among older age groups.
• Childhood immunity profiles evolve as dominant serotypes change.
• Secondary infections with a different serotype can increase the risk of severe disease.

India's Indigenous Dengue Vaccine: DengiAll

DengiAll is India's first indigenous tetravalent dengue vaccine. Developed by the Indian pharmaceutical company Panacea Biotec, it is designed to protect against all four serotypes of the dengue virus and requires only a single dose.

The indigenously developed dengue vaccine is expected to play a crucial role in protecting the 10–20 age group, who are most susceptible to severe dengue cases, Dr. N. K. Arora, Member of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation in India (NTAGI), told HealthandMe.

"Most dengue infections are mild, and treatment protocols have improved significantly over the years. However, the disease can become severe, particularly among adolescents and young adults aged 10–20 years. This is why the indigenous dengue vaccine is being eagerly awaited, as it has the potential to provide an important layer of protection for this vulnerable age group," he said.

The vaccine expert noted that the indigenous dengue vaccine is currently undergoing trials.

“The trials will take at least two and a half years, which means by the end of 2028, we will have the results,” Dr. Arora said.

Brazil's Vaccine Setback Raises Questions for India

Also read: Dengue Is Spreading Beyond Monsoons And Into New Regions Across India, Says Expert

Meanwhile, Brazil has suspended its Butantan-DV dengue vaccine after the death of two people who received the shot, which was proven to be over 80 percent effective in preventing the risk of severe disease for up to five years

This suspension, announced on June 8, is a crucial wake-up call for India, said experts, as the Butantan-DV is pretty similar, if not identical, to DengiAll. Both are also based on the same core viral strains developed by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH),

"Brazil’s recent experience with its dengue vaccination campaign should be viewed as an important safety signal for India, especially as India prepares for the possible rollout of DengiAll," Dr. Rohit said.

"Before any large-scale rollout, India must carefully study whether the vaccine produces strong type-specific protection against all four serotypes and whether there is any risk of imbalance in immunity," he added.

A dengue vaccine can be a major public health tool, but it must be supported by transparent data, long-term safety monitoring, and region-wise surveillance of circulating dengue serotypes, the experts said.