Eight-month-old twins from Hayward Heath, West Sussex, recently met the surgeon who saved their lives even before they were born. The BBC reports how their mother, Katerina Ahouansou, at six months pregnant, during a routine scan, uncovered a serious issue with their development and blood supply.

Doctors diagnosed the twins with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome or TTTS. It is a condition where one twin received more blood and nourishment than the other due to uneven blood vessel distribution in the placenta. In case there is no medical intervention, it could be fatal for both the twins.

A Specialist Steps In

This is when Ahouansou was referred to Professor Kypros Nicolaides at King’s College Hospital in London. Professor Nicolaides is a pioneer in fetal medicine and he specializes in a laser procedure that redistributes blood supply between twins in cases of TTTS.

When Ahouansou was scanned, Nicolaides observed that one of the twins were significantly smaller than the other. "There was a very high chance that if we did not intervene, both twins could die," he recalled.

An Operation No Less Than A Miracle

The life-saving laser surgery was performed and within a week the doctors saw an improvement with the twin who was smaller in size. When the twins were born, they weighed 1.5kg and 1.7kg. To recognize the efforts by the surgeon, Ahouansou named them Kai Kypros and Asher Nicolas after Professor Kypros Nicolaides.

Ahouansou also expressed deep gratitude for the professor's expertise and called him "proof that miracles can be performed by people who are devotees to their profession."

Professor Kypros Nicolaides has been at King’s College Hospital since 1980 and is widely regarded as a leader in fetal medicine. His groundbreaking research and development of screening and surgical techniques have saved countless lives.

Through his dedication, Professor Nicolaides has given many families hope, demonstrating how medical advancements continue to improve survival rates for complex fetal conditions like TTTS.

More about Twin-to-twin Transfusion Syndrome

As per the John Hopkins Medicine, TTTS is a rare pregnancy condition that affects identical twins or other multiples. It happens in pregnancies where twins share one placenta and a network of blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients essential for development in the womb. These pregnancies are known as monochorionic.

Sometimes, the blood vessels in the placenta are unevenly distributed, causing an imbalance in blood flow between the twins. The donor twin loses more blood than it receives, leading to malnutrition and potential organ failure. Meanwhile, the recipient twin gets an excess of blood, putting strain on the heart and increasing the risk of cardiac complications.

Impact on the Donor Twin

The donor twin loses blood volume (hypovolemia), reducing kidney function and urine production. This leads to low amniotic fluid levels (oligohydramnios) or, in severe cases, a complete absence (anhydramnios). Without proper blood circulation, the donor twin faces cardiovascular issues, increasing the risk of death.

Impact on the Recipient Twin

The recipient twin experiences excess blood volume (hypervolemia), causing increased urination and excessive amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios). The overworked heart struggles to handle the surplus blood, leading to cardiovascular dysfunction, heart failure, and, in extreme cases, death.

Pennsylvania’s health department has issued a health alert on congenital measles for the first time in decades as cases rise among pregnant women and newborns.

As of October 19, Pennsylvania had reported 1,286 measles cases across 42 counties, with 247 hospitalizations and six reported deaths. At least 50 pregnant women have reportedly been affected.

At least one death has been linked to congenital measles. The first death reported in the current outbreak was that of a newborn boy who died immediately after birth while his mother was severely ill with measles.

The health department said the outbreak had raised concerns about congenital measles, which has not been identified in the state for decades. The alert provides clinical guidance on managing measles during pregnancy and in newborns.

Decades of MMR vaccination meant many doctors had never encountered such cases. However, declining vaccination rates have allowed measles to spread in under-vaccinated communities.

Nationwide, 4,410 confirmed measles cases had been reported as of October 15, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of these, 96% were in unvaccinated people.

Also read: What Happens After Measles Infection? The Hidden Risks That Can Last For Years

What Is Congenital Measles?

Congenital measles occurs when a pregnant woman contracts measles and transmits the virus to her fetus through the placenta.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), newborns with clinical or laboratory evidence of measles within the first 10 days of life following exposure in the womb are considered to have congenital measles.

Historical reports suggest that transmission occurs in approximately 25% to 30% of cases when the mother develops measles in the days before delivery, although data are limited.

What Happens to Babies With Congenital Measles?

Congenital measles can range from an asymptomatic infection to severe disease and death, according to ACOG. Symptoms may include fever, rash and jaundice. Complications can include pneumonia, low platelet counts and neurological problems. The rash may appear late, look different or be absent.

Can Congenital Measles Be Fatal? What To Watch For In Newborns?

Read More: Measles Cases Are Rising in US—Who Should Get A Booster Shot?

Before immune globulin became widely used, congenital measles mortality was reported to be as high as 30%.

Affected newborns also face an increased risk of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare, fatal brain disease that can develop months to years after infection.

ACOG advises considering newborns at risk of symptomatic, transmissible measles if they are born after maternal symptoms begin and up to 14 days after the mother's rash onset.

Asymptomatic newborns who initially test negative may be considered for repeat testing on day 10 of life to check for infection acquired in the womb.

How Can Parents Protect Their Babies From Measles?

MMR vaccination before pregnancy is the best way to prevent measles during pregnancy and reduce the risk of congenital measles.

Women without evidence of immunity should receive at least one MMR dose in non-outbreak settings and two doses at least 28 days apart during outbreaks.

Because MMR is a live vaccine, it should not be given during pregnancy. Women should avoid pregnancy for 28 days after vaccination.

Pregnant women who may have been exposed to measles or are unsure of their immunity should promptly contact their healthcare provider.

The pertussis vaccine, which protects against whooping cough (Bordetella pertussis), a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection, offers strong protection in young children, according to a new study led by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), the study found that children who received three or more doses of the diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine had 96.2% protection against laboratory-confirmed pertussis.

Pertussis Vaccine Offers Strong Protection

The DTaP vaccine is administered in a five-dose childhood series. The first dose is given at 2 months of age, followed by doses during infancy and early childhood. The final dose is recommended between ages 4 and 6 years.

The MMWR study compared children in Alaska who had received three or more DTaP doses with those who were unvaccinated or had received fewer doses than recommended.

Unvaccinated children had approximately 26 times the odds of developing laboratory-confirmed whooping cough compared with vaccinated children.

Overall, adjusted vaccine effectiveness against pertussis was 96.2% among children who had received three or more DTaP doses. Partial vaccination also offered protection, with effectiveness reaching 85.3% among children who had received one or two doses.

“Pertussis vaccination is effective in preventing laboratory-confirmed pertussis in young children,” said corresponding author Joseph McLaughlin of the Section of Epidemiology, Alaska Department of Health, Anchorage.

Also read: RSV Warning: Welsh Mum Urges Pregnant Women To Get Vaccine After Baby Nearly Dies

Whooping Cough Can Cause Severe Complications

Pertussis can cause serious complications in young children, including pneumonia, pauses in breathing (apnea), seizures, brain damage, and death. Severe coughing fits can also trigger vomiting and, in some cases, fractured ribs.

Infants younger than 6 months are particularly vulnerable because their immune systems are still developing. Babies may not develop the characteristic “whoop” sound and can instead experience feeding difficulties or pauses in breathing, making the infection harder to recognize.

According to a provisional CDC report, 16 people died from pertussis in the United States in 2025, including 10 infants.

Whooping cough spreads through respiratory droplets and can affect people of any age. However, newborns and people who are not adequately vaccinated face a greater risk of severe illness.

Previous research has also found that unvaccinated children are more likely to develop severe illness or require hospitalization than vaccinated children.

Childhood Vaccination Rates Have Declined In The US

Read More: US Kindergarten Vaccination Rates Decline, Exemptions Rise as Measles Cases Hit 35-Year High

Despite the protection offered by vaccination, DTaP coverage among US kindergartners has declined in recent years.

CDC data show that coverage fell to 92% in the 2025–26 school year, down from 95.2% in 2017–18.

The findings underscore the importance of maintaining high childhood vaccination coverage to reduce pertussis infections and protect children against severe illness and death.

Identifying Whooping Cough Symptoms

Whooping cough often begins with cold-like symptoms, including a runny nose, sneezing, a mild cough, and sometimes a low-grade fever. After one to two weeks, coughing fits may become more severe and persistent.

The cough can be followed by a characteristic whooping sound as the person gasps for air. Vomiting after coughing fits can also occur. However, symptoms vary, particularly in infants, who may experience breathing difficulties without a typical cough.

Diagnosis may involve laboratory testing of a nasal or throat sample. Early recognition is especially important in infants because the infection can progress to serious complications.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV), which commonly causes cold sores, usually causes mild symptoms in adults but can be life-threatening in newborns, whose immune systems are still developing.

Meg Edmonds, from Staffordshire, UK, lost her 10-day-old daughter, Magnolia, to HSV in February.

“We didn't know a cold sore could kill a baby,” Meg told the BBC. She is now urging parents to learn about the risks cold sores pose to newborns.

The virus is suspected to have been passed on to Magnolia by her mother.

“The guilt is obviously unbearable; it's horrific, but I just try and remind myself that I didn't know and I did what I could have done with the knowledge that I did have,” Meg said.

Mother Did Not Know Cold Sores Could Endanger Newborns

Also read: Rare Pregnancy Infections Linked To 3-Fold Higher Autism Risk: What Is TORCH?

The 22-year-old said Magnolia was born “perfectly healthy” after what she described as a straightforward “water birth”.

Only later did Meg realise she had a sore on her lip around the time of the birth.

“Looking back at photos now, I can see that I had a lesion or sore on my lip whilst I was giving birth which I thought nothing of at the time,” she said.

Meg, who had never experienced a cold sore before, sought advice from health professionals but was reassured that the sore was nothing to worry about.

“They just thought that I might need to drink more or that it might just have been hormonal from giving birth only the day prior, so I thought nothing of it,” she said.

Magnolia's condition later deteriorated, and she died from HSV, according to the report.

Cold Sore Outbreak Brings Back Painful Memories

Meg said she had avoided visitors who were unwell, never kissed Magnolia and washed her hands frequently to protect her newborn from infections.

“I washed my hands constantly because I was worried in general about infections. But I never knew that if that passed to her it could kill her,” she said.

A subsequent cold sore outbreak brought back painful memories.

“I'm constantly reminded anyway that my daughter isn't here any more and why that is, but to actually have a physical reminder on my face is horrible,” she said.

How To Protect Newborns From HSV

Read More: Baby Not Sitting by 9 Months? Warning Signs Parents Should Know

According to the UK's National Health Service (NHS), newborns are particularly vulnerable to HSV, especially during the first six weeks of life. The infection can affect the eyes, mouth and skin or spread to other organs, potentially becoming life-threatening.

HSV can spread after birth through contact with a cold sore, including when someone with an active cold sore kisses a baby. It can also spread through herpes blisters on the breast during breastfeeding.

The NHS recommends these precautions to reduce the risk of infection:

• Wash hands: Wash hands thoroughly before handling a newborn.
• Avoid kissing: People with an active cold sore should not kiss a baby.
• Prevent direct contact: Keep cold sores and other herpes lesions away from the baby.
• Take care during breastfeeding: Do not breastfeed from a breast with herpes blisters until they have healed. Seek medical advice about feeding and expressed milk from the affected breast.
• Inform healthcare professionals: Pregnant women with a history of genital herpes or symptoms of a possible infection should inform their doctor or midwife.

Warning Signs Of Neonatal Herpes

Babies may not develop visible blisters, and neonatal herpes can progress rapidly. Seek urgent medical attention if a newborn has:

• Unusual irritability or difficulty settling.
• Poor feeding or feeds less than usual.
• A fever of 38°C or higher.
• A rash or sores on the skin, eyes or inside the mouth.
• Unusual lethargy, floppiness or difficulty waking.
• Breathing difficulties or seizures.