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.

The Supreme Court has pushed for stronger front-of-pack warnings on packaged foods high in sugar, salt or fat, questioning the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) two-phase labelling proposal.

On Thursday, Justice J.B. Pardiwala questioned the need for a two-phase approach.

“It has to be sugar and salt. Only then will you ask them to put a label?” Pardiwala said, stressing the word “and”.

FSSAI’s lawyer, Additional Solicitor General Brijender Chahar, said the regulator could now roll out the phases “in one go”, Reuters reported.

This could mean foods high in even one of the three nutrients — added sugar, salt or fat — would carry a red hexagonal warning.

The proposed labels would read “HIGH FAT”, “HIGH SUGAR”, “HIGH SALT” or “HIGHLY SWEETENED BEVERAGE”, making it easier for consumers to identify products high in these nutrients.

What Was FSSAI’s Earlier Proposal?

Also read:FSSAI Proposes Red Front-Of-Pack Warning Labels On Junk Food: How Will This Benefit Consumers’ Health?

Under the earlier proposal, red hexagonal warnings would apply to products exceeding limits in at least two of three categories — added sugar, salt or saturated fat. Stricter rules would follow in the second phase.

Health experts criticized the proposal, arguing that the two-nutrient requirement could allow several products to escape warnings. Reuters reported that the approach had been described as an “industry-friendly loophole”.

Experts also raised concerns over the use of added sugar instead of total sugar and the size of the warning label.

India had already defined high-fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) foods in its 2022 draft regulations and invited public feedback.

Dr. Sivaranjini Santosh, a paediatrician and social activist, said in a post on X that the FSSAI proposal had “too many loopholes”.

How Could Red Warning Labels Help?

Packaged foods generally carry nutritional information on the back or side, requiring consumers to turn the packet around to compare products.

A prominent red warning on the front could make high levels of sugar, salt or fat easier to spot, particularly when comparing similar products or choosing food for children.

The aim is not necessarily to tell consumers to never eat a product, but to provide information before purchase and help them decide how often to consume it.

However, a warning label cannot compensate for an overall unhealthy diet.

Read More: Synthetic Paneer Whitened With Chuna Busted In Delhi: How Dangerous Is It For Your Health?

91% Consumers Support Front-Of-Pack Warnings

A recent LocalCircles survey of more than 83,000 consumers across 314 districts found strong support for front-of-pack warnings.

Around 80% wanted FSSAI to mandate warnings, while another 11% wanted them specifically on ultra-processed foods. Overall, 91% supported front-of-pack warnings in some form.

Around 44% preferred a red warning symbol for products high in sugar, salt or saturated fat, while 27% chose traffic-light color coding. Only 2% preferred the conventional black-and-white nutrition panel.

About 450 million Indians could be obese or overweight by 2050, according to a recent study published in The Lancet.

Ultra-processed foods have also been linked to a range of health concerns, including diabetes, high blood pressure, cancers, and fatty liver adding to calls for clearer information on packaged foods.

“We are concerned with the health of people, more particularly growing children. We have taken it up very seriously. We expect one and all to extend their cooperation to a cause which is in national interest,” the Supreme Court said.

More than 80 lakh doses of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination have been administered in India, marking another milestone in strengthening preventive healthcare and advancing protection against HPV infection and HPV-associated cancers, the Health Ministry said today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nationwide vaccination campaign for 14-year-old girls from Rajasthan's Ajmer as part of India's efforts to eliminate cervical cancer in February this year.

According to the Health Ministry, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram achieve 100% coverage; while Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Assam crossed 90%. Uttar Pradesh leads with more than 22 lakh adolescent girls vaccinated.

All vaccination sessions were conducted under medical supervision with 24×7 arrangements for management of rare Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI).

“With every vaccination, India takes another step towards a healthier, cancer-free future for its daughters,” the Ministry said in a post on X.

Supreme Court Hears PIL Against HPV Vaccine Program

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of India has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the proposed administration of the HPV vaccine to adolescent girls.

The petition by Universal Health Organisation (UHO) — a Delhi-based forum of doctors and academics — alleged that the exercise was being carried out “without adequate informed parental consent”,

It also raised concerns about potential adverse effects, the manner in which the program was being implemented, monitoring of adverse events and the absence of a compensation mechanism. The petitioner also claimed that the vaccine could affect fertility.

Pointing out that the WHO itself has recommended the vaccination program, a three-judge bench presided over by CJI Surya Kant expressed strong disapproval of the PIL. The bench also cautioned against making claims about vaccines without adequate scientific research, observing that such assertions could undermine or derail a public health program.

The petition was thereafter withdrawn, Live Law reported.

"WHO prescribes [HPV] vaccine for women. After that, I don't think doctors should come up with a petition. Wherever there's a case of incorrect vaccination, ordinary rules of compensation will apply. No special treatment for adverse impact in case of a particular vaccine," the bench said.

Also read: Fact Check: Common Myths Around HPV Vaccine And How It Will Prevent Cervical Cancer

While the petitioners clarified that the PIL was not intended to oppose vaccination, they said their concerns were primarily about the implementation of the program, particularly the monitoring of adverse events and the absence of a compensation mechanism.

“I am not at all anti-vaccine,” counsel submitted, adding that adverse events following vaccination should be properly monitored and that there should be a mechanism to compensate affected individuals.

The CJI said the matter concerned the health of millions.

"Don't ask us to make harsh observations. If petitioner members are doctors, it's a very very serious issue. It's a question of health of millions of our daughters. And you want to derail this?" the CJI observed.

Petition in Delhi High Court

Read More: Delhi HC Allows HPV Vaccine Drive To Continue Due To No 'Immediate Safety Risk'

In July 2026, a Public Interest Litigation was filed in the Delhi High Court challenging the rollout of Merck's Gardasil-4 vaccine by gynecologist Dr. Sujata Mittal and health entrepreneur Jitendra Chouksey, who challenged the nationwide rollout of Merck's Gardasil vaccine.

The High Court refused to stay the vaccination drive but issued notices to the Centre, ICMR and CDSCO, seeking detailed replies regarding safety protocols and consent procedures within four weeks.

Following the High Court's refusal to halt the drive, the UHO filed a fresh, independent PIL directly before the Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Constitution.

The organization sought an immediate suspension of the school-based vaccination component.

Why HPV Vaccination Matters

The national program uses Gardasil, a quadrivalent HPV vaccine that protects against HPV types 16 and 18, which are responsible for most cervical cancers, as well as types 6 and 11, which cause genital warts.

According to the government, Gardasil has been licensed for use in India since 2008. The nationwide rollout follows recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and approvals by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI).

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide. While many infections clear on their own, persistent infection with high-risk HPV strains can lead to cervical, anal, throat and penile cancers.

HPV vaccination is widely recommended to help prevent cervical cancer, particularly when administered before exposure to the virus.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a new health alert warning of an increase in human rabies exposures involving known rabies vectors and animals in which rabies is less commonly reported.

From July through August 2026, the CDC received 17% more rabies-related inquiries than during the same period in 2025, including reports of mass exposure events.

The warning comes less than two weeks after three baby goats at a North Carolina mobile petting zoo tested positive for rabies, potentially exposing hundreds of people. The state health department said rabies shots had been recommended for more than 260 people.

The CDC pointed to “several high-profile rabies outbreaks and mass rabies exposure events,” highlighting the importance of careful rabies risk assessments and following evidence-based recommendations for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

Why Is Rabies Risk Higher In Summer?

Also read: US Petting Zoo Visitors Warned After 4 Goats Test Positive For Rabies: Can You Get Rabies Without A Bite?

Rabies exposures typically peak in summer, when people spend more time outdoors and may have more encounters with wildlife.

Recent cases have included rabid raccoons, dogs, cats, skunks and bats in several US locations. Bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes are among the animals most frequently implicated in rabies exposures in the US.

Between July and August, CDC also received reports from at least eight state health departments of increased rabies PEP use, PEP administration errors, or both

According to weekly pharmacy data as of September 2, the utilization for the two rabies vaccines and the two rabies immunoglobulins licensed in the US has increased by an estimated 33% and 76%, respectively, compared with the same time period last year.

Why Is Immediate Treatment Important?

READ: Bhutan Eliminates Rabies While India Battles Persistent Deaths: What Can India Learn From Its Neighbour?

According to the CDC, rabies is a zoonotic viral disease that is nearly 100% fatal, but it is preventable when PEP is given appropriately before patient symptoms start.

Anyone who believes they may have been exposed should seek medical care immediately. PEP typically includes washing the wound, rabies vaccination and human rabies immune globulin, an antibody treatment that helps prevent the virus from reaching the central nervous system.

The CDC says PEP is nearly 100% effective when administered quickly after exposure. However, once symptoms appear, rabies is almost invariably fatal. The World Health Organization warns that death is inevitable once a patient begins experiencing symptoms.

PEP can also be expensive, with costs ranging from $11,000 to $14,000, according to the CDC.

Although there is currently no shortage of human rabies vaccine or human rabies immunoglobulin in the country, the CDC advised clinicians to administer PEP appropriately because errors in rabies risk assessment and PEP administration could result in unnecessary treatment (e.g., additional doses of vaccine or HRIG), potential adverse effects, and avoidable costs.

Read More: Bat Encounter While Sleeping: Why You Shouldn’t Ignore The Risk Of Rabies

What Are The Symptoms?

Symptoms can take weeks or months to appear and may initially include fever, headache, weakness and discomfort. A person who has been bitten may also experience prickling or itching at the wound site.

As the disease progresses, severe neurological symptoms can develop, including anxiety, confusion, agitation and hallucinations. Severe disease typically develops around two weeks after the initial symptoms, according to the CDC.

How To Prevent Rabies Exposure

The CDC advises people to avoid contact with wildlife, particularly animals that appear sick, injured or dead.

“If you have pets, keep them up to date on rabies vaccines and away from wildlife when possible,” the CDC said.

If you or your pet comes into contact with wildlife, particularly after a bite or scratch, wash the wound immediately with soap and water and speak with a healthcare provider about the exposure.