Low-dose CT chest scans could help detect pneumonia in at-risk patients while exposing them to only small amounts of radiation, a new study has found. The research, published in Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging, shows that ultra-low-dose scans can effectively detect pneumonia in patients with compromised immune systems, enabling doctors to treat the infection before it becomes life-threatening. According to the researchers, these scans expose patients to just 2% of the radiation dose used in a standard CT scan.

"This study paves the way for safer, AI-driven imaging that reduces radiation exposure while preserving diagnostic accuracy,” lead researcher Dr Maximiliano Klug, a radiologist with the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, said in a news release. He added that CT scans are the gold standard for detecting pneumonia but there are concerns regarding the risk posed by repeated exposure to radiation. There is a solution- ultra-low-dose CT scan. However, the problem is that these scans can be grainy and hard to read, researchers said.

Study Gives Solution To This

To overcome that, Klug's team developed an AI program that could help "de-noise" low-dose scans, making them sharper and easier to read. Between September 2020 and December 2022, 54 patients with compromised immune systems who had fevers underwent a pair of chest CT scans -- a normal dose scan and an ultra-low-dose scan. The AI program cleaned up the low-dose scan, and then both sets of images were given to a pair of radiologists for assessment. Radiologists had 100% accuracy in detecting pneumonia and other lung problems with the AI-cleaned low-dose scans, but 91% to 98% accuracy in examining the scans that hadn’t been improved through AI, results show.

"This pilot study identified infection with a fraction of the radiation dose," Klug said. "This approach could drive larger studies and ultimately reshape clinical guidelines, making denoised ultra-low dose CT the new standard for young immunocompromised patients.

How Can You Detect Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a lung infection that causes the air sacs in the lungs to fill with fluid or pus and can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. The symptoms can range from milk to severe, which includes:

Coughing with or without cough

Fever

Chills

Trouble breathing

Chest pain, especially when breathing deeply or coughing

Sweating or chills

Rapid heart rate

Loss of appetite

Bluish skin, lips, and nails

Confusion.

How to detect Pneumonia in coughing newborns and toddlers?

Pneumonia can severely affect newborns and young children as their lungs are comparatively more sensitive. As per Dr Goyal, young children can cough for various reasons including seasonal infections and tonsillitis, which is very common in this age group. But if they look visibly irritable and have poor sleep patterns, then parents must reach out to an expert. "I am not saying that parents must visit a hospital but any local paediatrician would be able to detect pneumonia in your kid.

Actress Shamita Shetty recently opened up about her endometriosis diagnosis as well as navigating perimenopause. It has sparked concerns about delayed detection of the condition and risks associated with it.

Shamita Shetty’s Endometriosis Diagnosis

Speaking to Soha Ali Khan on her podcast All About Her alongside gynecological surgeon Dr. Neeta Warty, Shetty shared how her symptoms were dismissed repeatedly, leaving her searching for answers until the pain became unbearable and impossible to ignore.

She said that years of unexplained pain delayed her diagnosis, making her question whether what she was experiencing was simply a “normal” part of being a woman.

Shetty said routine medical tests initially failed to confirm the condition. As her health reports checked fine, she assumed her symptoms were ordinary, even as they kept returning.

“I wasn't given the right diagnosis initially,” Shetty said, explaining that she underwent standard gynecological examinations, including Pap smears, but no underlying cause was identified.

The actress said her symptoms intensified significantly in the months leading up to surgery. Although she considers herself to have a high pain tolerance due to previous injuries, she realized something was seriously wrong when the pain began waking her from sleep. After further investigations, she got diagnosed with endometriosis.

Shetty also revealed that she was entering perimenopause around the same time her symptoms of endometriosis worsened, making it difficult to distinguish between hormonal changes and signs of endometriosis.

Also read: World Population Day: How America's Falling Birth Rate Is Redefining Women's Healthcare?

Raising Awareness

Shetty underwent surgery for endometriosis in May 2024 and has since used her platform to encourage women not to ignore persistent pelvic pain.

During the podcast, she also addressed outdated advice that women with endometriosis should “have a baby” to solve the condition, recalling that one doctor suggested pregnancy as a treatment.

Shetty's diagnosis underscores the importance of paying attention to persistent symptoms rather than dismissing them as ordinary menstrual discomfort.

Severe period pain that disrupts daily activities, chronic pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, heavy menstrual bleeding, or difficulty becoming pregnant should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

About Endometriosis And Perimenopause

Also read: Beyond The Bump: Why Preconceptions And Antenatal Care Are Key To A Healthy Pregnancy

Endometriosis is a chronic condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. The condition often requires long-term management. It can cause symptoms like:

• Pevere pelvic pain
• Painful periods
• Infertility
• Inflammation

On the other hand, perimenopause, the transitional period before menopause, can bring symptoms such as irregular menstrual cycles, hot flashes, mood changes, sleep disturbances, and hormonal fluctuations.

If diagnosed late, endometriosis can lead to complications like:

• Chronic pelvic pain that could worsen over time.
• Reduced fertility or infertility.
• Progression of the disease that could lead to larger lesions and ovarian cysts.
• Scar tissue (adhesions) that can cause organs to stick together.
• More complex surgeries.
• Bowel or bladder complications if the disease spreads beyond the uterus.
• Mental health effects, including anxiety, depression, and poor quality of life.

Recent Advancements In Endometriosis Diagnosis

According to the World Health Organization, endometriosis affects around 190 million women and girls worldwide, or 1 in 10 women of reproductive age.

The organization notes that many women experience diagnostic delays because symptoms are frequently normalized or mistaken for other conditions.

To curb this, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's (NICE) recently rolled out two non-invasive tests — the saliva-based Endotest and the gut sensor-based EndoSure — to help speed up the diagnosis of endometriosis in England and Wales.

Endotest analyses a saliva sample to identify tiny biological markers called microRNAs that can indicate whether endometriosis is likely to be present.

EndoSure is a non-invasive test that detects endometriosis by measuring electrical signals in the gut using sensor pads placed on the abdomen.

For this test, patients fast for six to eight hours before the test and drink water until full during the 45-minute procedure to help the device accurately record gut activity. Results are available immediately after the test.

A U.S. humanitarian worker in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has tested positive for Ebola, raising fresh concerns as the country struggles with one of the worst Ebola outbreaks.

US Humanitarian Worker In DRC Tests Positive For Ebola

On Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed, saying it is working closely with the individual's employer, U.S. government health agencies, and Congolese health authorities to prevent further transmission by tracing contacts to identify people who may have been exposed.

According to reports, the infected individual was working for a humanitarian organization in eastern Congo, where the outbreak has continued to spread despite ongoing response efforts.

The CDC has not released details about the patient's identity or condition but emphasized that contact tracing and public health measures are underway.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said it is aware of the case and is assisting the affected American.

The spokesperson said, “A U.S. citizen working for a humanitarian organization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. The CDC is working with the patient's employing organization, other federal agencies and partners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help prevent further transmission and identify high-risk contacts.”

The health regulatory body further said, “The risk of Ebola spreading in the United States remains low.”

Also read: Ebola In DRC Is Still In ‘Expansion Phase’: WHO Doctor Opens About Major Challenges In Containing The Outbreak

Ebola Outbreak In DRC: Latest Updates

The case comes as the Democratic Republic of the Congo faces an escalating Ebola crisis. According to the Africa CDC, the outbreak has now reached 1,830 confirmed cases and 648 deaths, making it the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded on the continent. The outbreak was officially declared on May 15, 2026, and has spread across multiple provinces in eastern Congo.

Health officials say this outbreak is particularly concerning because it is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a rare variant for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment.

WHO Says Actual Number Of Cases Could Be Higher

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also warned that the official case count may significantly underestimate the true scale of the outbreak.

WHO modeling suggests that actual infections could be two to four times higher than reported because many cases are not being detected.

Nearly 80% of newly identified infections in some of the hardest-hit communities cannot be linked to known Ebola patients, indicating widespread community transmission.

The agency also reported that about 70% of deaths early in the outbreak occurred outside treatment centers, making surveillance and contact tracing even more difficult.

WHO Emergencies Director Chikwe Ihekweazu told Reuters, “Eighty percent of the new patients confirmed are coming outside of known contact lists” in Bunia, the epicenter of the outbreak, highlighting widespread undetected transmission.

He also warned, “The true scale of the outbreak is likely two to four times larger than the official figures suggest.”

The latest case highlights the dangers faced by frontline aid workers and underscores the urgency of strengthening outbreak control measures before the virus spreads further.

With no approved vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain and transmission continuing in several provinces, global health officials say rapid detection, isolation, and international cooperation remain essential to bringing the outbreak under control.

Health officials in England have confirmed that an adult with an underlying immunological condition has died from measles, marking the third measles-related death this year after two children died in June.

According to the latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), England has recorded 883 confirmed measles cases between the start of the year and July 6. More than half of the cases have been reported in London, with most infections occurring in children aged 10 years and under.

All regions of England, including London (52 per cent), the West Midlands 17 per cent, and the North West 10 per cent, have now reported measles cases.

The UK was declared measles-free in 2017 but lost that status in 2019 after vaccination rates declined and outbreaks resumed.

In January, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that the UK was no longer considered to have eliminated measles, citing stagnant vaccination coverage and rising case numbers.

NHS Launches Catch-Up Vaccination Drive

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In response to the surge in infections, NHS leaders have launched a nationwide catch-up campaign targeting children aged two to 11 years who have missed one or both doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

The program will contact around one million families whose children are not fully vaccinated.

• GPs will contact parents of children under six.
• Families with children aged six to 11 will be contacted through the NHS App, text message, email or letter.

Current figures show that 84.1% of five-year-olds in England had received both doses of the MMR vaccine during the first three months of the year—well below the 95% coverage recommended to prevent outbreaks.

"We urge all parents to ensure their children are up to date with their MMR or MMRV vaccines, giving them the best and safest protection against measles," said Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA.

"Anyone who has missed their measles vaccines can catch up through their GP practice, whatever their age. Getting vaccinated also helps protect babies who are too young to be vaccinated and people who cannot receive the vaccine because of certain health conditions," Dr Saliba added.

What Is Measles?

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Measles (rubeola) is one of the world's most contagious viral infections. It spreads through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can also spread by touching contaminated surfaces before touching the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Symptoms usually develop 7 to 14 days after exposure and include:

• High fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes
• Small white spots inside the mouth (Koplik spots)
• A red rash that typically starts on the face before spreading across the body

While many people recover fully, measles can cause serious complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis (brain inflammation), hearing loss, and, in rare cases, death.

All About the MMRV Vaccine

The MMRV is a safe, live-attenuated immunizations that protect against severe viral infections. The shot combines Measles, Mumps, and Rubella, and also adds protection against Varicella (chickenpox).

According to the UKHSA, children receive:

• First dose: At 12 months, alongside MenB and pneumococcal (PCV) vaccines.
• Second dose: At 18 months, alongside the fourth 6-in-1 vaccine.

Children who miss these doses can receive a catch-up vaccination at their 3-year and 4-month appointment. The MMRV vaccine contains weakened forms of the measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox viruses, which stimulate immunity without causing disease.

Two MMRV vaccines are available:

• ProQuad (contains porcine gelatine)
• Priorix Tetra (does not contain porcine gelatine).