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.

Amid an ongoing Salmonella outbreak that has infected hundreds of people, vulnerable groups in the UK are being advised to avoid undercooked or runny eggs.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued the precautionary advice after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) declared a national outbreak. The outbreak has infected 207 people across the UK, with one death and 34 hospitalisations.

Officials suspect imported eggs or food products containing imported eggs may be behind the outbreak.

However, the FSA said well-cooked eggs served in restaurants, cafes and takeaways are safe to eat.

Who Is at Risk?

The FSA advised vulnerable groups, including:

• Children under five
• Adults over 65
• Pregnant women
• People with certain health conditions or weakened immune systems

Ian Young, chief scientific adviser at the FSA, said vulnerable people eating out should ensure that eggs and egg products are thoroughly cooked.

Which Foods Should Be Avoided?

The FSA advised vulnerable people to avoid runny eggs and freshly made foods that may contain uncooked eggs, including:

• Mayonnaise
• Soufflés
• Hollandaise sauce

Are Supermarket Eggs Safe?

Young reiterated that people can continue to buy British eggs from supermarkets. Chickens bred in the UK are vaccinated against common strains of Salmonella.

“There is no link to those eggs to this current outbreak,” he said.

He described the outbreak as “unusually large and rapidly increasing” and urged people to take precautions.

The UKHSA has launched an investigation to identify the source of the outbreak. Initial findings suggest it may be linked to eggs imported from outside the UK, although the source has not yet been definitively established.

Dr Kathleen O'Reilly, associate professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said the investigation involves identifying additional cases and examining possible common sources of infection.

Where Have Cases Been Reported?

Cases have been reported across the UK:

• England: 199 cases
• Scotland: 6 cases
• Wales: 1 case
• Northern Ireland: 1 case

In England, London has reported the highest number of cases, with 47, followed by Yorkshire and the Humber with 38.

What Is Salmonella?

Salmonella is a bacterial infection that commonly causes diarrhoea and gastrointestinal illness.

Common symptoms include:

• Diarrhoea
• Stomach cramps
• Vomiting
• Fever

How Does Salmonella Spread?

The UKHSA stated that Salmonella Enteritidis is the most common Salmonella serovar in England and a leading cause of salmonellosis.

Like other non-typhoidal Salmonella infections, it can spread through contaminated food, including:

• Eggs
• Poultry
• Meat
• Unpasteurised dairy products
• Fresh produce

The bacteria can also spread through contact with contaminated environments or from person to person.

How to Reduce the Risk of Salmonella

Dr O'Reilly advised people to fully cook eggs before eating them and maintain good food hygiene.

Key precautions include:

• Cook eggs thoroughly, including omelettes, rather than leaving them runny.
• Wash your hands with soap after handling food and during food preparation.
• Clean chopping boards and utensils after preparing food.
• Check food hygiene ratings when choosing catering outlets.

People who develop diarrhoea or stomach cramps should rest and drink plenty of fluids. Young children, older adults and other vulnerable people who become ill should seek medical advice.

Moderna and Merck’s personalized mRNA cancer vaccine has shown statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements. The late-stage trial showed recurrence-free survival (RFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) when combined with Keytruda in patients with melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer.

The vaccine, intismeran autogene (mRNA-4157/V940), is custom-made for each patient based on the unique genetic characteristics of their tumor. It is designed to work alongside Keytruda (pembrolizumab), an immunotherapy that helps the immune system attack cancer cells.

What Makes the Vaccine Different?

According to experts, the development moves personalized cancer therapy closer to a practical clinical reality.

“A tumor-specific mRNA vaccine offers a way of making the immune response more targeted by using the individual tumor’s molecular characteristics to identify the abnormal signals that the immune system should recognize,” Prof. Jyoti Bajpai, Director – Medical Precision Immuno-Oncology, Apollo Hospitals, Mumbai, told HealthandMe.

What Did the Phase 3 Trial Find?

In the Phase 3 INTerpath-001 trial, the combination met its primary endpoint of recurrence-free survival (RFS) and a key secondary endpoint of distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS).

Compared with Keytruda alone, the combination of intismeran autogene and Keytruda showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in both RFS and DMFS.

The findings were reported in patients with stage IIB, IIC, III, or IV cutaneous melanoma who had undergone complete surgical removal of their cancer and had not previously received systemic therapy.

The mRNA Vaccine: How It Works

After tumor sequencing, up to ~34 patient-specific neoantigens are encoded into a single mRNA construct delivered in lipid nanoparticles.

Host cells translate the neoantigens, which are then presented on MHC, driving de novo and expanded neoantigen-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses.

When combined with PD-1 blockade, the vaccine supplies the antigenic “signal” while the checkpoint inhibitor supplies the “permission” to attack.

“The result is a more focused, polyclonal, and potentially longer-lived anti-tumor immune response—exactly what is needed to clear residual microscopic disease after resection,” Dr. Shyam Aggarwal, Chairman, Medical Oncology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, told HealthandMe.

Early translational data from KEYNOTE-942 already showed durable neoantigen-specific T-cell responses, supporting the idea that the vaccine can generate immune memory that outlasts the treatment period.

“Immunotherapy releases the body’s natural brakes to attack cancer, whereas the custom vaccine acts like a precision GPS—training the immune system to recognize the unique genetic signature of that patient's specific tumour. Immunotherapy mobilizes the immune response, but the vaccine tells it exactly where to go,” Prof. Jyoti said.

What Could It Mean for Cancer Treatment?

“The practical implication is a shift in the adjuvant paradigm: rather than relying solely on broad immune checkpoint inhibition or chemotherapy, we can now envision adding a tumor-specific ‘instruction set’ that educates the patient’s own T-cell repertoire against the unique mutational fingerprint of their cancer,” the noted oncologist said.

He added that the manufacturing turnaround, currently ~6 weeks from biopsy to first dose, remains a logistical and cost challenge. However, the COVID-era mRNA infrastructure has shown that rapid, decentralized production of custom constructs is feasible.

mRNA’s Potential For India

India’s cancer burden has continued to rise steadily over the past five years, with the estimated number of new cancer cases increasing from 14.26 lakh in 2021 to 15.70 lakh in 2025, while annual cancer-related deaths also climbed from 7.89 lakh to an estimated 8.69 lakh during the same period, according to data placed before Parliament recently.

For India, this technology has intriguing potential, Dr Jyoti said.

While typical skin melanoma is less common here, India sees higher rates of acral and mucosal subtypes, which tend to be aggressive and diagnosed late.

“A tailored neoantigen approach could be very useful for these complex cases. However, manufacturing costs, long turnaround times for genomic sequencing, and cold-chain logistics mean translating this into routine clinical care in India may take time,” she added.

Almost all states in the US are reporting a growing summer wave of COVID-19 cases, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

While the numbers aren’t especially high and there aren’t many hospitalizations or deaths, the test positivity rate for the week ending August 8 rose above 3% for the first time since March, with numbers climbing in every state. Emergency department visits related to COVID-19 are also “very low.”

Wastewater Data Offers Closer Look At COVID Activity

According to the CDC, wastewater data can be a key tool for tracking where the virus may be circulating. Testing sewage can detect the presence of COVID-19 in a community and “can pick up signs of infection even from people who feel perfectly healthy,” the CDC said.

COVID-19 Activity By State

• Hawaii and Mississippi show signs of elevated viral activity.
• Both states have “moderate” levels of COVID-19.
• Wastewater data for Mississippi is limited.
• The West and South are seeing higher COVID-19 activity than other regions.
• Low wastewater levels: Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Washington.
• Very low levels: The remaining states.
• In Alabama, COVID-19 is not reflected in hospitalizations or mortality data yet, but cases are registering an “uptick” rather than a surge.

“It is going up. We don’t know how to describe these numbers that we’re seeing in terms of what the denominator is anymore,” Dr. Scott Harris, state health officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health, told the media.

“Now we just know when we get a positive test, and we don’t even have clinical data sometimes to put that in context.”

‘August Is Solidly Covid Season’

“August is solidly Covid season,” Dr. Caitlin Rivers, an expert in outbreak science and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health and Security, told CNN.

“Right now, the South and the West are sort of the leading edge of this Covid season. In the past, it almost always starts in Florida, Texas and Georgia, which is exactly what we’re seeing this year.”

Who Is At Higher Risk?

COVID-19 can still be serious and even deadly, especially for people who remain vulnerable to severe disease. These include:

• Elderly individuals
• Pregnant women
• People with chronic heart disease
• Patients with COPD or interstitial lung disease (ILD)
• Those with chronic kidney or liver disease
• Immunocompromised individuals

How To Prevent COVID-19?

To reduce the risk of infection, people should:

• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations.
• Wear masks in crowded indoor settings.
• Maintain hand hygiene.
• Ensure good ventilation.
• Avoid close contact with others when unwell.

Anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough or breathlessness should get tested and seek timely medical advice.

If you didn’t get a COVID-19 vaccine last year, you may want to talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about getting one, including the vaccine formulated for last season, Dr. James McDonald, commissioner of health for the New York State Department of Health, told CNN.