MRI scans are strong diagnostics with high-definition images of what lies inside a body. Strong magnetic fields require precaution, as brought out by an instance where a young woman suffered very serious injuries due to an oversight in a metallic core within a silicone sex toy that she happened to have before the MRI scan. This makes a stark reminder about the potentially deadly consequences of missing metal objects when such procedures are being performed. In April 2023, a 23-year-old woman went into an MRI with a silicone plug containing a metal core that was not known.

She thought that the item is made entirely out of silicone according to the advertising. However, the strong magnetic field of the MRI machine interacted with the hidden metal, dragging the object through her body and causing excruciating pain. According to reports from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the scene was harrowing, with the woman screaming in agony and requiring immediate hospitalization. Despite pre-scan screenings, which are routine prior to a scan, the patient did not inform the facility that the object existed because he presumed it was purely non-metallic. This caused serious injuries that led to the patient's law suit against the manufacturer for deceitful misrepresentations of material content.

MRI machines employ magnets between 0.5 to 3 Tesla (T). This is thousands of times stronger than the Earth's magnetic field. The tremendous force causes ferromagnetic materials, like iron and nickel, to be magnetized quickly and become strongly attracted toward the magnet. Objects as small as hairpins or paper clips will accelerate at 40 miles per hour inside the magnetic field.

The force can lead to catastrophic injuries in items lodged within the body, such as metallic implants or foreign objects. Metallic cores within devices, like pacemakers or intrauterine devices, must be disclosed to radiologists to prevent such complications.

How Metal Objects Interact with MRI Fields?

On these claims, Dr. Adam Taylor, a specialist in human anatomy, weighed his words in a international health website and added that the distance away and mass of this object would increase its velocity towards that of sound, "The acceleration would be phenomenal, but with a metallic core, it can't go anywhere near supersonic speeds. As for the size, the magnetic acceleration to the internal soft tissues would ensure that there could be severe intracranial trauma."

The injuries inflicted in this case likely involved damage to major blood vessels, nerves, or organs, highlighting the devastating impact of even minor oversight during an MRI scan.

This is not an isolated case. There are documented cases of metallic objects causing serious damage during MRI scans with a 65-year-old man with schizophrenia swallowed metal objects, including sockets and a hinge pin. The powerful magnetic field during an MRI scan caused the objects to rupture his stomach, resulting in serious injuries.

A toddler who ingested 11 small magnets perforated his bowel while undergoing a scan, making his case unique. In another deadly but extremely rare incident, there have been people who hide a firearm on themselves during MRI procedures. Magnetic attraction can trigger a discharge in a weapon and has led to some fatal injuries.

These cases emphasize the very strong need for adequate screening and patient education prior to an MRI.

Preventing MRI-Related Incidents

Medical professionals have been trained to avoid risks. This is by properly screening a patient for metallic objects. In general, most pre-scan protocols include:

• Patients are interrogated about implants, recent surgery or exposures at work related to metals.
• Radiologists sometimes use handheld metal detectors to search for hidden items.
• People who work with metal, like welders or machinists, will need additional testing to detect microscopic metal fragments within soft tissues or eyes.

The case emphasizes the importance of product labeling by manufacturers, especially those products that are likely to unintentionally cause harm to health. The patient's assumption that her device was 100% silicone points to a larger problem in consumer markets with misinformation.

It also reminds the patients to report any possible dangers to the medical professionals, no matter how the objects look non-metallic. In sensitive cases, patients can request private discussions with healthcare providers to ensure safety without discomfort.

In the end, it is a joint effort from manufacturers, healthcare professionals, and patients that can prevent such tragedies. Manufacturers must ensure truthful marketing, while healthcare providers should educate patients about the dangers of metal objects in MRI settings. For patients, understanding the risks and actively participating in pre-scan disclosures can be lifesaving.

This young woman's experience is a sobering example of the unforeseen dangers posed by MRI machines when precautions are overlooked. It serves as a wake-up call to address gaps in patient awareness, medical protocols, and product transparency. By learning from this incident, the medical community and the public can work together to ensure MRI scans remain a safe and effective diagnostic tool.

Chile has become the first country in South America to eliminate dog-transmitted rabies as a public health problem, marking a major milestone in the fight against a disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.

The achievement follows more than five decades without a human case of rabies transmitted by dogs, supported by sustained dog vaccination, disease surveillance and timely access to post-exposure treatment.

“I congratulate the government and people of Chile on this historic achievement,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

“This validation reflects decades of commitment to protecting communities from rabies and demonstrates the impact of sustained investment in public health. Chile’s success offers valuable lessons for countries working to end human deaths from this preventable disease,” he added.

How Chile Eliminated Dog-Transmitted Rabies

Also read: Bhutan Eliminates Rabies While India Battles Persistent Deaths: What Can India Learn From Its Neighbor?'

WHO recognizes elimination when transmission among dogs has stopped, no human deaths from dog-mediated rabies have occurred for at least two years, and the country can prevent the disease from returning.

Chile’s last reported case of human rabies transmitted by dogs occurred in 1972.

Since then, the country has sustained efforts including timely vaccination for people exposed to the virus through bites, scratches or contact with saliva from infected or suspected rabid dogs.

These efforts were supported by:

• Door-to-door dog vaccination campaigns
• Targeted dog population management
• Community awareness and education
• Free mass vaccination for dogs and cats
• Epidemiological surveillance
• Strengthened laboratory diagnosis
• Monitoring of rabies virus in animals
• Timely access to post-exposure prophylaxis.

More recently, Chile has expanded preventive vaccination and surveillance to border areas at higher risk of rabies reintroduction.

What Chile’s Success Teaches

Chile’s achievement builds on decades of coordinated action across the Americas, where human cases of dog-mediated rabies have fallen by more than 98% since 1983.

It also contributes to the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) Disease Elimination Initiative, which aims to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions in the Americas by 2030.

While the Americas has made significant progress, dog-transmitted rabies still causes tens of thousands of deaths globally each year, primarily in Asia and Africa.

Chile’s success shows how sustained investment in prevention, surveillance and access to care can bring this deadly but preventable disease to the point of elimination.

It also highlights the value of the One Health approach, bringing together human, animal and environmental health sectors to prevent and control diseases that spread between animals and people.

Read More: US CDC Warns Of Rising Human Rabies Exposure Risk: How To Stay Safe

What Is Rabies?

Rabies is a vaccine-preventable zoonotic disease that is almost invariably fatal once symptoms appear. However, deaths can be prevented through timely post-exposure prophylaxis, including wound care and vaccination.

Dogs account for up to 99% of human rabies transmissions globally.

Public education on dog behavior, bite prevention, appropriate action after a bite or scratch, and responsible pet ownership is also essential to rabies prevention.

Rabies is also one of 21 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which affect one billion people globally. As of September 2026, 65 countries had eliminated at least one NTD, including seven in the Americas.

Chile’s validation for rabies marks its second NTD elimination achievement; earlier this year, it was verified by WHO for the elimination of leprosy, becoming the first country in the Americas to achieve this target.

Even as the US and countries across Europe and Asia report a rise in measles cases, Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates said that eradicating measles is currently impossible.

The reason? Vaccine hesitancy, particularly in wealthy countries such as the US, Gates said, according to Reuters.

“At one point, the Gates Foundation wanted to eradicate measles, but the vaccine hesitancy in rich countries has meant that’s not on our list of goals,” Gates said. “I think that’s kind of tragic.”

How Big Is The Measles Outbreak In The US?

Also read: Pennsylvania Reports 3rd Measles-Related Death; 40-Year-Old Dies As Outbreak Spreads Across 37 Counties

According to the CDC, 3,294 confirmed measles cases have been reported in the US so far in 2026.

There have also been 38 new outbreaks reported this year, with 95% of confirmed cases associated with outbreaks — 1,748 cases from outbreaks that started in 2026 and 1,375 from outbreaks that started in 2025.

For comparison, 2,289 confirmed measles cases were reported in the US during the entire year of 2025.

So far this year, three deaths — two babies and one adult — have been reported from Pennsylvania, one of the worst-hit states. The state has also reported four measles cases among people who were fully vaccinated this year.

Measles can be prevented by vaccination. However, the anti-vaccine stance promoted by the Trump-led US government and HHS Secretary RFK Jr. are resulting in spiraling cases. More recently, Trump also announced a split of the MMR vaccine, which experts warn can have consequences.

Measles was considered eliminated in the US since 2000, but the Pan American Health Organization is expected to decide in November whether the US has lost its elimination status.

How Effective Is The MMR Vaccine?

The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for children. The first dose is given at 12-15 months, followed by a second dose between 4-6 years.

Two doses of the measles vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles. However, breakthrough infections can still occur.

Among people who have received one dose of the vaccine, about seven out of 100 may develop measles after exposure, according to the CDC.

The measles vaccine is safe for most people. However, people with certain medical conditions, including a weakened immune system, may need to take additional precautions.

An infected person can spread the virus to around nine out of 10 unvaccinated people who are exposed. Measles can cause serious complications, including pneumonia, brain inflammation and death.

Read More: Donald Trump Signs Order To Split MMR Vaccine: Is It Safe For Children?

Global Measles Rise

Measles is one of the world's most contagious diseases and can cause high fever, cough and a characteristic rash.

The WHO estimates that 95,000 people died from measles globally in 2024, despite vaccination having prevented an estimated 59 million deaths since 2000.

The WHO says vaccination coverage needs to remain above 95% to prevent outbreaks.

Recent years have also seen a surge in measles cases in countries where the disease had become rare, including the US and parts of Europe, as vaccination coverage has fallen.

Bangladesh Battles Major Measles Outbreak

Bangladesh was once close to eliminating measles but is now battling one of the world's largest measles outbreaks.

According to Bangladesh health ministry data, 1,022 deaths have been associated with the outbreak, including 100 laboratory-confirmed measles fatalities.

More than 166,000 suspected cases have been reported, including nearly 20,000 laboratory-confirmed infections. More than 146,000 suspected patients have also been hospitalized.

For the first time, the US Congress is set to hold a dedicated hearing on menopause, putting a long-overlooked women’s health issue under the national spotlight. Convened by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), the hearing will be held by the Senate Committee on Aging.

Titled “Half the Country, Zero Hearings: Meeting the Moment to End the Menopause Care Gap in America,” the hearing will focus on the gaps in menopause research and care in the US.

Gillibrand is the senior Democrat on the committee and can lead one hearing each year on a topic of her choice. She chose menopause.

“It's time to talk about menopause. Half of our country will go through it, yet it is one of the most under-researched, undertreated, and underdiagnosed fields of medicine,” the 59-year-old Democrat leader shared in a post on X.

“This week, I'm holding the first-ever congressional hearing on menopause to demand high-quality research and care for women across America,” she added.

Why Is Menopause Getting Congressional Attention?

Gillibrand has described menopause as an issue that has long been ignored, particularly amid debates over the Trump administration’s scientific research cuts and health care affordability.

Also read:‘I Was Vocal About Cancer But Silent About Menopause Out Of Shame’, Says Actress Lisa Ray

She said the hearing also aims to address the impact of menopause symptoms on women’s lives and sexual health.

“We spend billions of dollars on Viagra to make sure men can have sex — what have you done to make sure women can have sex?” she said, the New York Times reported.

Gillibrand also plans to call for bipartisan legislation to boost federal research on menopause.

Menopause Care Gap In The US

“I’ve used my one hearing on the most under-researched, underreported, underanalyzed issue for women’s health, ever,” Gillibrand said. “From 50 to 58, I had either night sweats or hot flashes. I had to really look for a doctor who could take me through the hows and the whys and the impacts.”

Read More: Is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) A Boon To Women's Health During Menopause?

Gillibrand said the government has long failed to devote federal resources to menopause and contended that the Trump administration has made the situation worse.

She cited the Food and Drug Administration’s recent decision to remove so-called black box warnings from all hormone replacement products containing estrogen.

“I’m wondering why they want women to have less information,” she said.

What Is Menopause?

Menopause marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years and occurs when menstruation permanently stops.

Clinically, it is diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period.

Most women experience menopause between 45 and 55, although perimenopause can begin several years earlier.

During perimenopause, the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen and progesterone, the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. This hormonal decline can cause symptoms that vary widely among women.

While common symptoms including hot flashes and night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood changes and irritability and vaginal dryness, for some women the drop in estrogen levels can also be associated with health concerns including osteoporosis, heart disease and, in some cases, metabolic disorders.

Regular health checkups, balanced nutrition and physical activity during midlife are important. Hormone Replacement Therapy may also help manage menopause symptoms for some women, depending on their individual health profile and medical history.