The Sindh Health Department said a total of 122 suspected mpox cases had been reported across the province as of April 14, 2026. Of these, 25 cases were confirmed through laboratory testing, while nine deaths have been recorded.

Two new cases were reported in the past 24 hours, including one in Karachi and another in Khairpur, the department said.

Data from the health department showed that Khairpur district accounted for the highest number of confirmed cases at 18. Sukkur reported three confirmed cases, while Karachi recorded four.

Authorities said immediate measures had been taken in response to the situation and urged both the public and healthcare workers to strictly follow precautionary guidelines.

The department advised individuals to seek medical attention at the nearest hospital if symptoms appear and to exercise special care when handling newborns.

According to available data, a total of 108,400 HIV/AIDS cases have been reported nationwide. Punjab ranks first with the highest number of cases, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh.

In Punjab, more than 45,000 individuals are living with the virus. Lahore tops the list with over 10,000 reported cases, followed by Faisalabad with around 5,000 and Multan with more than 3,000. Sargodha and Gujrat each have over 2,800 cases, while Nankana Sahib has reported more than 2,000 cases.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 39,702 cases, including 1,276 reported this year alone. Peshawar accounts for 1,877 cases, while Bannu has reported 988. Cases have also been detected in districts including Mardan, Charsadda, Swabi and Nowshera.

Sindh ranks third, with 15,639 HIV-positive individuals. During the first three months of the current year, 894 new cases were reported in the province, including 332 men, 204 women, 29 transgender persons and 329 children. Karachi, as the country’s largest urban centre, continues to report a significant number of cases.

In Balochistan, a total of 3,303 cases have been recorded, including 707 women and 90 transgender individuals. Quetta has the highest number with 2,614 cases, followed by Turbat (368), Hub (159), Nasirabad (66) and Loralai (96).

The federal capital Islamabad has reported 4,756 cases, including 3,432 men, 805 women, 422 transgender persons, 67 boys and 30 girls.

Health experts warn that the actual number of infections could exceed 350,000, as many individuals remain unaware of their condition due to the absence of early symptoms.

They attribute the rise in cases primarily to the reuse of contaminated syringes, unsafe blood transfusion practices, lack of basic healthcare facilities, and the use of unsterilised instruments for procedures such as ear and nose piercing.

Experts have called for urgent awareness campaigns, improved screening and stricter health regulations to curb the spread of the disease, which they describe as a “silent and dangerous threat.”

The condition, known as Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is among the fastest-growing liver disorders globally, the Guardian said in a report.

An estimated 1.3 billion people are currently living with MASLD — a 143% increase over the past three decades — meaning roughly one in six people are affected.

The findings come from the Global Burden of Diseases study and were published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology.

Researchers found that cases have surged from about 500 million in 1990 to 1.3 billion in 2023, with numbers expected to rise by a further 42% by 2050.

The global prevalence rate has also climbed significantly, reflecting both population growth and lifestyle changes.

The disease was found to be more common in men, with the highest rates seen among older adults aged 80 to 84.

However, the largest number of cases occurred among younger age groups, particularly men aged 35 to 39 and women aged 55 to 59.

High blood sugar emerged as the leading driver of MASLD-related health complications, followed by high body mass index and smoking, underscoring strong links to conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Regionally, North Africa and the Middle East recorded some of the highest prevalence rates, although increases have been observed worldwide.

In the UK, prevalence rose by 33% between 1990 and 2023, while Australia and the United States saw increases of 30% and 22%, respectively.

Despite the growing number of cases, the overall disease burden — measured in years of life lost due to illness or death — has remained relatively stable.

Researchers say this suggests improvements in treatment and care are helping people live longer and healthier lives, with many cases identified in earlier stages.

However, experts warn that the surge in cases could lead to a higher risk of serious complications, including liver cirrhosis and cancer, in the coming years.

MASLD is often associated with excess weight and is typically managed through lifestyle changes.

The condition frequently develops without noticeable symptoms and is often detected incidentally during medical tests.

When symptoms do occur, they may include fatigue, general discomfort, and pain in the upper right abdomen.

The study was led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, whose authors said the findings highlight a growing impact on younger adults due to worsening health patterns.

They stressed the need to treat MASLD as a major global health priority, calling for stronger policies, awareness efforts and preventive measures to curb its rise and reduce future complications.

The guide is designed to support school administrations, food suppliers, and service providers in ensuring that students have access to nutritious and age-appropriate meals throughout the school day.

Officials said the framework focuses on improving students’ physical and cognitive development by encouraging balanced diets that enhance concentration, memory, and academic performance while reducing risks of obesity and malnutrition.

It also introduces clear standards for the sourcing, preparation, storage, and distribution of food and beverages in schools, along with monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance across all educational institutions.

The policy applies to public, private, independent, and vocational schools, as well as centres for people of determination, and includes food suppliers and canteen operators.

Under the framework, local authorities will oversee compliance, conduct inspections, implement penalties for violations, and report findings to the Ministry of Health and Prevention.

Schools are required to ensure full compliance with food safety and nutrition standards, maintain hygiene protocols, and ensure that staff handling food receive proper training.

Parents will also be given access to school canteen menus, and complaints must be recorded and addressed.

Food suppliers are required to obtain valid permits and comply with nutritional guidelines, including providing detailed information on ingredients, portion sizes, and dietary content.

Any changes to products must be updated and communicated to schools and regulators.

The guide also classifies school canteens into three types: outlets selling packaged food, cafeterias preparing fresh items such as sandwiches, and full-service school kitchens.

A strict list of prohibited items has been introduced in school environments, including sugary drinks, energy drinks, tea, coffee, confectionery, fried snacks, processed meats, cakes, doughnuts, and foods containing nuts or nut-based products.

Authorities said the initiative is aimed at creating a healthier school environment and strengthening long-term public health outcomes across the UAE.

In Punjab, a week-long campaign will be observed in Lahore, while a four-day drive is being conducted in other districts.

Authorities aim to vaccinate more than 23.3 million children across Punjab during the campaign.

Over 200,000 health workers and supervisors have been deployed to administer the polio vaccine, who will be supported by additional specialists to ensure effective implementation.

Officials said that significant progress has been made against polio in recent months, with the presence of poliovirus in Punjab dropping sharply.

Officials said the presence of poliovirus in environmental samples has declined to just 1%, down from 26% in December 2025 and 56% in August 2025.

Authorities further stated that the presence of the polio virus in South Punjab has now reached zero, calling it a major public health achievement.

Officials said the campaign in Punjab will continue until polio is completely eradicated and urged parents to ensure that all children receive vaccination during every drive.

Meanwhile, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a four-day anti-polio campaign has also been launched across all districts, running from April 13 to April 16.

Health authorities said the province-wide drive aims to vaccinate around 6.5 million children.

For the campaign, 35,500 vaccination teams have been constituted, while 50,000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure the security of polio workers.

Officials said that special arrangements have been made to ensure a smooth execution of the campaign across the province and to reach every eligible child.

The patient, with no travel history, is showing all symptoms of the disease and is currently undergoing treatment at Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital.

Dr Wahid Rajput confirmed that the youth belongs to the buffer zone and is receiving care.

This follows the first monkeypox case in Karachi reported in January, marking this as the city’s second confirmed instance this year.

Lahore confirms 15-year-old diagnosed with monkeypox

Lahore’s Health Department has reported a new case of monkeypox in a 15-year-old patient.

The patient was diagnosed in the department’s laboratory and has been shifted to Mayo Hospital for treatment.

With this case, the total number of monkeypox patients reported in Lahore this year has reached 26.

The Health Department has urged citizens to take precautionary measures and seek immediate medical attention if they notice any suspicious symptoms.

The push comes after a viral video last year by YouTuber Nick Shirley exposed fraudulent Medicaid providers in Minnesota, prompting the White House and Congress to take public action, according to a report in POLITICO.

Vice President JD Vance and Centres for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz have taken leading roles in the effort.

Vance launched a new fraud task force this spring and appointed an assistant attorney general dedicated to investigating fraud.

Oz has released viral videos promoting CMS’s anti-fraud initiatives and launched investigations in multiple states.

Congressional committees are also investigating, requesting information from ten states about Medicaid oversight and examining cases such as hospice fraud in California, the report said.

Republicans argue that focusing on fraud allows them to shift attention from broader health care cost concerns and counter Democratic criticism of Medicaid cuts enacted in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The legislation, which included expanded work requirements, aimed to reduce waste and fraud in the programme.

“Good governance is good politics, and addressing fraud is good politics,” said Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie.

However, some strategists and experts question whether the emphasis on fraud will resonate with voters, who are largely focused on rising health costs.

“Unless it’s paired with a clear plan to lower costs, anti-fraud efforts are unlikely to outweigh those concerns in 2026,” said Joel White, a GOP health strategist.

Republicans counter with polling that shows the fraud message could appeal to low-turnout Trump voters.

A January poll from the conservative Foundation for Government Accountability found that 85% of low-propensity Trump voters support measures to combat waste, fraud, and abuse, while 61% said the government must do more to prevent welfare fraud.

In Minnesota, fraud concerns have already influenced politics.

The state’s Democratic Governor Tim Walz opted not to run for a third term, following high-profile fraud investigations and CMS penalties, which included a proposed $2 billion cut to future Medicaid payments.

Republican Senate candidate Michele Tafoya has highlighted these issues in her campaign.

Despite this, analysts caution that fraud alone may not sway voters.

Rising premiums and general health care affordability remain pressing concerns.

A recent KFF poll indicates that 56% of Americans anticipate health care will become less affordable this year, with independent voters showing greater confidence in Democrats to address the issue.

Republicans are weighing additional health care reforms using the Senate reconciliation process, a legislative tool that enables bills to pass without being subject to a filibuster.

Potential measures include cracking down on waste in Medicare Advantage plans and expanding cost-saving initiatives like applying TrumpRx discounts to out-of-pocket insurance costs.

Still, party leaders have not finalised which health policies will be prioritised, reflecting hesitancy after past reform setbacks, including the failed ACA repeal in 2017 and the expiration of enhanced ACA tax credits last year.

“A lot of Republicans have thought of health care as a hot stove,” said health policy expert Avik Roy.

“They were burned before, but there are reforms consistent with conservative values that could reduce costs for consumers.”

Researchers at Flinders University in Australia, led by Corey Bradshaw, analysed more than two centuries of population data and found that humans are living well beyond the planet’s long-term carrying capacity.

Carrying capacity is the estimated number of individuals an environment can sustain based on available resources and their regeneration rate.

The study estimates Earth’s maximum human capacity at around 12 billion, while the optimal sustainable population, given current consumption patterns, is only 2.5 billion.

Today’s population stands at roughly 8.3 billion, far exceeding sustainable limits.

Bradshaw’s team noted that the global population is likely to peak between 11.7 and 12.4 billion by the late 2060s or 2070s if current trends continue.

Even with slowing growth rates, humanity is already surpassing what the planet can sustainably support, contributing to overconsumption, biodiversity loss, and environmental strain.

The researchers warn that fossil fuel use has temporarily masked natural limits, but this has come at the cost of climate change, ecosystem disruption, and declining resources such as water.

They stress that without significant changes to energy, land, and food usage, billions could face instability in the near future.

“The Earth cannot sustain the future human population, or even today’s, without a major overhaul of socio-cultural practices,” Bradshaw said.

“Smaller populations with lower consumption create better outcomes for both people and the planet. The window to act is narrowing, but meaningful change is still achievable if nations work together.”

Commissioner Sukhar has written to the Health Secretary, warning of a serious situation, noting that most affected patients are newborns and young children.

An isolation ward has been established at Khairpur Medical College, but district health officials say one ward is insufficient for the district’s eight tehsils.

More than 70 children are suspected to have contracted the disease in surrounding areas, including Nara, Faizganj, Kot Diji, and Subhu Dero.

During the campaign, more than 45 million children will be administered the polio vaccine to protect them against the crippling disease.

In addition to vaccination, children will also receive supplementary doses of Vitamin A to boost immunity.

Around 413,000 polio workers will participate in the seven-day nationwide drive, carrying out door-to-door immunisation activities.

The country conducted its first nationwide polio campaign of the year in January, vaccinating more than 45 million children.

Polio is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause permanent paralysis, mainly in children under the age of five.

Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where the disease remains endemic.

“The second national polio eradication campaign of 2026 will be held across the country from April 13 to April 19,” the NEOC said in a statement.

“During the campaign, more than 45 million children will be administered polio drops.”

The NEOC said children will be given an additional dose of vitamin A during the campaign, adding that around 413,000 volunteers will take part in the door-to-door vaccination campaign.

In Punjab, authorities aim to vaccinate more than 23 million children and in Sindh, more than 10.6 million.

In the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, more than 7.2 million children will be administered polio drops, while in Balochistan, more than 2.6 million children will be vaccinated, the NEOC said.

In Islamabad, more than 460,000 children will be administered polio drops, and in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, more than 228,000 will be vaccinated.

The NEOC said it expects to see more than 760,000 children vaccinated for polio in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir region during the seven-day campaign.

“To secure the future of the nation, parents should fully cooperate with polio workers,” the NEOC said.

“To protect children under the age of five from polio, they must be given two drops.”

Pakistan reported its first wild poliovirus case of the year earlier this month when a four-year-old girl tested positive for the infection.

Pakistan reported 31 polio cases in 2025. Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accounted for more than half of the country’s polio cases in 2025, with 17 of the 31 infections reported from the region.

According to health authorities, 74 cases were reported in 2024.

The patient was initially brought to the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital, where the infection was later confirmed through a positive test, according to hospital head Dr Abdul Wahid Rajput.

Dr Rajput said the patient had first visited the hospital in early March but left on his own and sought treatment at a private facility.

He added that the patient had arrived in Karachi from abroad in January this year.

This is the first reported case of mpox in the country so far in 2026, officials said.

The child, identified as Ali Zain, had been suffering from fever and a persistent cough for nearly 10 days. Despite treatment at a private clinic, his health continued to worsen.

Upon arrival at the hospital, an X-ray revealed the presence of a foreign object in his stomach, which had made his condition critical.

A medical team led by Assistant Professor Dr Hooria Rehman, under the supervision of Professor Dr Muhammad Shahid, carried out a delicate endoscopic procedure to remove the steel washer.

Hospital officials said the operation was performed successfully and the child’s condition has since stabilised.

In a message on World Tuberculosis Day being observed on March 24, the prime minister said that under a comprehensive strategy, measures were being taken to ensure early diagnosis of the disease, universal access to quality treatment, disease prevention, and patient care.

He said, for this purpose, the expansion of modern diagnostic facilities, improvement of the laboratory network, and strengthening of the surveillance system were being done, and TB services were being integrated into primary health centres so that continuous treatment could be provided across the country.

He said, “Today, on World Tuberculosis Day, Pakistan, together with the international community, reaffirms its commitment to completely eliminate the treatable and preventable disease of tuberculosis.”

“Even in the present era, TB remains one of the leading infectious diseases and remains a serious health, social and economic challenge for many countries, including Pakistan,” he said, adding, “The disease particularly affects the vulnerable and has health, social and economic impacts in the form of poverty, malnutrition and inequality.”

“World TB Day is observed every year to raise public awareness about the impact of the disease and to further intensify efforts to eliminate this epidemic,” he remarked.

He said public participation was essential for the complete elimination of TB.

Community health workers, civil society organisations, researchers, and private sector medical institutions were helpful in eliminating social stigma, encouraging timely diagnosis, and ensuring continuity of treatment.

“However, international cooperation, technical partnerships, and sustained global funding are indispensable for the complete elimination of TB,” he observed.

He appealed to all relevant stakeholders, the federal and provincial governments, development partners, universities, the private sector, the media, and social leaders to further strengthen collective efforts to ensure that no person with TB was left untreated.

In the ​Novosibirsk region, the forced culling ​of cattle triggered protests by ‌some ⁠small farmers.

Officials said they had identified outbreaks of pasteurellosis in Novosibirsk.

Now, ​the ​bacterial ⁠infection has been identified in the ​Batyrevsky area of the ​Chuvash ⁠region, Interfax quoted a source inside the ⁠local ​agricultural ministry as ​saying.

The conflict, sparked by US and Israeli attacks on Iran two weeks ago and broadened by Iranian strikes around the region, ‌has knocked out key air transit hubs and closed shipping routes, snarling the movement of goods for many products from medicines to food and oil.

While there are few signs yet of major shortages, that could change if the conflict drags on, some executives said.

The Gulf relies heavily on imports, and some medicines have short shelf lives and need strict cold-chain storage, making lengthy overland shipping less practical.

Executives at Western drugmakers said they were seeking alternative routes into the ​Gulf and trucking some drugs overland from airports like Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Other options were Istanbul and Oman.

Major airports in the region, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, have ​been closed due to strikes by Iran in response to US and Israeli attacks.

Dubai and Doha are major cargo hubs linking Europe with Asia ⁠and Africa, with airlines Emirates [RIC:RIC:EMIRA.UL] and Etihad and logistics firms such as DHL [RIC:RIC: DHL.UL] handling temperature-sensitive drugs that must be kept within a narrow range to remain safe and effective.

Wouter Dewulf, a professor at ​the Antwerp Management School, cited industry data showing over a fifth of global air cargo – the main route for critical or life-saving drugs and vaccines – are exposed to Middle East disruption.

One executive cautioned that alternative “cold-chain ​corridors”, or temperature-controlled routes used for sensitive medicines, could not be set up overnight and were not always available.

Another pharmaceutical company executive said it had set up internal teams to prioritise patient-critical shipments, including cancer treatments, and warned some temperature-controlled shipments could miss connections unless proper storage and handling were secured.

A medical device company executive said the first step was to map shipments already in transit or ready to depart, then decide which pallets needed to be diverted ​and whether new shipments had to be planned.

The executive, who, like others spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal operations, said some Europe-Asia cargo that typically moves through Dubai or Doha airports ​was being rerouted via China or Singapore.

Sea routes were not practical due to longer journey times, as well as the closure of the critical Strait of Hormuz by Iran.

“If you have an urgent surgery with a patient waiting for ‌treatment, you ⁠have to choose the faster mode of transport,” the executive said.

HOSPITALS COULD RUN LOW WITHIN WEEKS

Prashant Yadav, senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, said stocks of short shelf-life, temperature-sensitive and more expensive medicines were usually around three months, with cancer drugs, particularly monoclonal antibodies, among those at highest risk.

Delays in the delivery of oncology medicines can have dire consequences for patients, who might be forced to restart a course of therapy or see their cancer worsen.

The disruption was already a problem for some companies, Yadav said, with some customers warning they could run low on supplies within four to six weeks ​if things did not improve.

Over 100 pharma and ​logistics industry participants joined a webinar last week ⁠hosted by Pharma.Aero, a life sciences logistics group, will discuss the Gulf crisis and its supply-chain and transport implications.

INDUSTRY IS COPING FOR NOW

Some logistics providers say the industry is coping for now. Dorothee Becher, in charge of air logistics for healthcare at freight company Kuehne+Nagel, said carriers were flying into Jeddah, ​Riyadh and Oman and using land routes to reach final markets.

“I do not see any risk yet that the inventory would go dramatically down,” ​she said, adding that healthcare ⁠cargo was being prioritised.

But keeping shipments moving was a constant battle.

Doaa Fathallah, chief operating officer at biopharma logistics company Marken, said cold-chain cargo was getting through, but only with round-the-clock re-routing as airspace restrictions shifted rapidly.

The re-routing means longer transit times and higher fuel costs, driving up transportation fees, she said, as well as use of dry ice to keep medicines cold.

The risks rise for the industry if the disruptions persist, executives said, as supplies ⁠in the Gulf ​and Asia run low.

Shipping snags could also affect products that pose indirect risks to drug supplies, including shortages of vial ​stoppers, IV bag plastics and items needed for packaging.

“It’s not always a shortage of the medicine itself,” said David Weeks, who follows the supply chain industry for ratings agency Moody’s. “In some cases, it’s the little stopper on the vial where the dosage ​is extracted.”

More than 100 children have been affected by the outbreak in areas including Kanb, Buzdar Wada and Garhi Pul.

The rising cases have prompted the health department to take immediate notice of the situation.

District Health Officer Dr Barkat Ali said a nine-member committee has been formed to investigate the deaths of the children.

He added that emergency instructions have been issued to establish isolation wards in taluka hospitals across the district.

Medical teams comprising senior doctors have also been dispatched to the affected areas to provide immediate treatment and medical support to the children.

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) directed pharmaceutical companies to reduce reliance on a single supplier for raw materials used in medicines.

According to the advisory, companies have been instructed to adopt multiple sources for raw materials and packaging materials.

They have also been asked to maintain adequate buffer stocks of raw materials and finished medicines.

The regulator said additional stock should be kept to deal with possible delays in shipping or other unforeseen circumstances.

Pharmaceutical companies were further directed to regularly assess potential supply risks, prepare alternative plans, monitor the movement of products, and accurately estimate future demand.

DRAP also instructed companies to continue supplying medicines to government institutions on a priority basis.

The authority said effective monitoring will be carried out to prevent hoarding, black marketing and artificial shortages.

Federal and provincial governments have also been directed to ensure full implementation of the instructions.

The case involves a four-year-old child who tested positive for the wild polio virus.

The diagnosis was confirmed by the Regional Reference Laboratory at the National Institute of Health in Islamabad.

According to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), Pakistan has made significant progress in combating polio, recording a 99.8 per cent decline in cases since 1994.

Last year, the country reported a total of 31 polio cases.

The NEOC highlighted that during this year’s anti-polio campaign, over 45 million children received the polio vaccine.

Authorities have already announced plans to launch the next nationwide anti-polio drive in April 2026.

While the programme has achieved substantial success, the polio virus continues to circulate in certain districts of Sindh and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Novo Nordisk’s share price fell 8%.

Novo Nordisk said CagriSema achieved a 23% reduction in body weight over 84 weeks, compared to 25.5% for Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide in the trial.

The raid was carried out by the agency’s Anti-Corruption Circle following a tip-off.

Deputy Director Anti-Corruption Ali Mardan said counterfeit pain-relief medicines were being produced at the facility, posing serious risks to public health.

Officials seized a large quantity of finished and semi-finished fake medicines, along with packing and dye machines.

The packaging closely resembled well-known brands to deceive consumers.

One suspect, identified as Faisal, was arrested, and a case was registered against him. Authorities said raids were continuing to arrest other individuals involved in the illegal operation.

The research found that higher temperatures linked to climate change allow infections for over six months a year in Spain, Greece, Italy, and Portugal, and for two to five months in countries including France, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland.

In south-east England, transmission is possible for about two months annually. Scientists warn the disease will continue spreading north as global heating progresses.

The study, led by Sandeep Tegar at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH), examined the effect of temperature on the virus’s incubation in the Asian tiger mosquito, which has recently spread across Europe.

It revealed that the minimum temperature for infections is 13-14°C, lower than previous estimates of 16-18°C, indicating a higher risk of outbreaks across more regions for longer periods.

Chikungunya virus, first identified in Tanzania in 1952, causes severe and prolonged joint pain and can be fatal in young children and older adults.

Recent European outbreaks include hundreds of cases in France and Italy in 2025. Infected travellers returning from tropical regions often spark these outbreaks, with local tiger mosquitoes then spreading the disease.

Experts highlight that Europe’s warming climate allows tiger mosquitoes to remain active year-round, eliminating the previous “firebreak” that cold winters provided.

Dr Steven White from UKCEH said: “We’re likely to see much bigger outbreaks because you don’t have this natural firebreak anymore.”

Dr Diana Rojas Alvarez from the World Health Organization emphasized the severity of chikungunya, noting that up to 40% of patients can experience arthritis or severe pain for years.

She urged public measures like removing standing water, wearing protective clothing, using repellents, and implementing mosquito surveillance.

While there have been no local chikungunya transmissions in the UK, 73 cases were recorded among travellers in the first half of 2025, almost triple the number from 2024.

Experts warn that continued preventive action is vital to stop tiger mosquitoes from establishing locally, as the species can transmit chikungunya, dengue, and Zika viruses.

Extended daily breaks from food allow the body to shift from constant digestion to repair mode, promoting cellular renewal and reducing inflammation.

Dr Rahat Ghazanfar, Family Medicine Consultant and Clinical Director at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City’s Longevity Clinic, describes fasting as a form of “cellular spring cleaning.”

After several hours without food, the body switches from using sugar to stored fat, activating repair processes linked to slower biological ageing.

“Anti-ageing isn’t about appearance,” Dr Ghazanfar explains.

“It’s measured by markers like blood sugar control, inflammation, muscle and bone health, heart fitness, and hormonal balance — all of which reflect how the body is ageing internally.”

Fasting mirrors time-restricted eating, shown to improve blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and support metabolic health without extreme calorie restriction.

Fasting also influences hormones, lowering insulin levels and boosting growth hormone, while easing chronic inflammation — a key driver of age-related disease.

Dr Ghazanfar stresses fasting is not one-size-fits-all. Age, gender, stress, and health conditions affect outcomes.

She warns against excessive fasting, particularly for older adults and women, which can lead to fatigue, muscle loss, or hormonal disruption.

“Fasting offers a powerful annual reset,” she says.

“The benefits last when healthy eating, mindful habits, and sleep routines continue beyond the month. Fasting is a tool to support healthspan — keeping people strong, resilient, and sharp for longer.”

A ceremony was held in Lahore on Wednesday to mark the achievement, where PKLI Chairman Professor Saeed Akhtar congratulated the robotic surgery team for their dedication and performance.

The surgeries were carried out under the leadership of Dr Nauman Zafar. Dean Professor Faisal Dar also praised the team and paid tribute to their professional excellence.

PKLI management said robotic surgery was a modern and safe surgical technique that ensured faster recovery and better outcomes for patients.

Local and international surgeons attended the event, highlighting PKLI’s growing recognition in the global medical community.

The institute announced that the PKLI International Symposium would be held in Lahore on February 13 and 14. Pre-symposium workshops are currently underway.

Officials said the milestone reflected PKLI’s commitment to providing world-class healthcare facilities and promoting advanced surgical practices in the country.

The association said that over 160 out of nearly 200 medicines that went out of supply during the last 22 months were now available, with production fully or partially restored.

According to PPMA, patients’ access to medicines has reached a record level, indicating that the prolonged shortage crisis has largely ended.

Around 200 medicines had vanished from the market nearly two years ago after production costs exceeded regulated retail prices, forcing manufacturers to halt operations. The shortages triggered strong reactions from patients and medical professionals.

The affected medicines included treatments for tuberculosis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and psychiatric disorders.

The situation began to improve in February 2024, when the government deregulated prices of non-essential medicines, allowing companies to set retail prices. The move helped revive production and stabilise supply chains.

Former PPMA chairman Tauqeer-ul-Haq said 160 medicines had returned to the market at reasonable prices, while the remaining 40 were expected within three to four months, subject to the availability of imported raw materials.

He said the government continued to regulate prices of life-saving drugs and had revised prices of nearly 100 essential medicines over the past 22 months to reflect production costs.

Another former PPMA chairman said complaints about shortages had declined sharply since deregulation.

PPMA leaders attributed past shortages to the sharp depreciation of the rupee, rising import costs and restrictions on sourcing raw materials, particularly from India.

They rejected claims that deregulation had led to unchecked price hikes, saying structural reforms had increased competition and improved affordability. They said the return of genuine medicines had also reduced counterfeit and black-market activity.

Tauqeer-ul-Haq said nearly 700 pharmaceutical companies were currently operating in Pakistan, including about 10 multinational firms. Many had made major investments over the past two years to restore and expand production.

He said reforms had also boosted exports, which rose 34% in fiscal year 2025 to a record $457 million, placing pharmaceuticals among the country’s fastest-growing export sectors.

He added that nine companies had secured international certifications, enabling access to high-end markets in Europe and the United States, while another 10 to 12 firms were close to meeting export standards.

According to the department’s letter, travellers from certain countries must receive the vaccine under the International Health Regulations 2005.

Permission to travel abroad will not be granted if the vaccination is not administered before departure.

District health officers have been instructed to ensure vaccinations are provided and to immediately issue vaccine certificates to international travellers.

Certificates must include the vaccine company, batch number, and expiration date.

The health department emphasised that arranging the vaccination will be the personal responsibility of the traveller.

The case in Bangladesh, where Nipah cases are reported almost every year, follows two Nipah virus cases identified in neighbouring India, which has already prompted stepped-up airport screenings across Asia.

The patient in Bangladesh, aged between 40 and 50 years, developed symptoms consistent with Nipah virus on January 21, including fever and headache followed by hypersalivation, disorientation and convulsion, the WHO added.

She died a week later and was confirmed to be infected with the virus a day later.

The person had no travel history but had a history of consuming raw date palm sap.

All 35 people who had contact with the patient are being monitored and have tested negative for the virus, and no further cases have been detected to date, the WHO said.

Nipah is an infection that spreads mainly through products contaminated by infected bats, such as fruit.

It can be fatal in up to 75% of cases, but it does not spread easily between people.

Countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Pakistan implemented temperature screenings at airports after India said cases of the virus had been found in West Bengal.

The WHO said on Friday that the risk of international disease spread is considered low and that it does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions based on current information.

In 2025, four laboratory-confirmed fatal cases were reported in Bangladesh.

There are currently no licensed medicines or vaccines specific for the infection.

The deceased child has been identified as Shoaib Ahmed.

According to locals, two brothers of the deceased child are also infected with measles and are in critical condition, fighting for their lives.

Affected families said the outbreak has put the lives of children at serious risk and urged authorities to immediately dispatch health teams to the village to control the spread of the disease.

Residents appealed for urgent medical assistance as fear and concern continued to grow in the affected area.

The man, Jerry Rodriguez, filed an amended lawsuit in the Galveston, Texas, federal court on Sunday seeking to block the doctor, Remy Coeytaux, from continuing to allegedly mail abortion drugs to patients in Texas.

The case represents another front in a nationwide legal battle over the abortion drug mifepristone, whose use Republican-led states are working to curtail after the US Supreme Court in 2022 opened the door for states to ban abortion.

Mifepristone is used in 60% of US abortions.

It could also test California’s so-called “shield law” protecting healthcare providers against out-of-state investigations and prosecutions.

More than a dozen other Democratic-led states have adopted similar laws.

Coeytaux has been indicted in Louisiana for allegedly prescribing mifepristone to women there.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said last month that his state would not extradite Coeytaux to Louisiana.

Rodriguez had sued Coeytaux last year for wrongful death of the fetus, claiming his partner had used abortion drugs prescribed by the doctor against his wishes.

The amended complaint adds claims under a Texas law that took effect in December known as HB 7, which bans the prescribing, transporting, mailing and delivery of abortion-inducing drugs and allows state residents to sue for violations.

Wrongful death cases against healthcare providers are complex and often difficult to win, requiring proof of negligence or deviation from accepted standards of medical care and that a provider directly caused a death.

HB 7 only requires proof that a defendant engaged in conduct prohibited by the law.

Rodriguez said he would seek to recover at least $100,000 in penalties from Coeytaux for each established violation of the law.

Rodriguez is represented by Jonathan Mitchell, a former Texas solicitor general who reportedly crafted the state’s 2021 law known as SB 8 that prohibits aiding or abetting abortion, including a novel provision allowing private citizens to sue for violations.

HB 7’s private right of action is based on the 2021 law, but allows for up to 10 times the monetary penalties.

Mitchell did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

Coeytaux is represented by the Centre for Reproductive Rights, which said in a statement that the case is the first under HB 7 by a private litigant.

“Texas officials have already been going after doctors outside their borders, and now they’ve incentivised private citizens to do their bidding,“ said Nancy Northup, the group’s president and CEO.

The office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, filed a lawsuit last week against a nurse practitioner in Delaware for allegedly violating HB 7.

Paxton’s office last year won a $100,000 judgment against a New York doctor accused of prescribing abortion pills in violation of the 2021 abortion ban, and is now trying to enforce it in New York.

Texas is appealing a ruling by a judge that dismissed the case, citing New York’s shield law.

The case is Rodriguez v. Coeytaux, US District Court for the Southern District of Texas, No. 3:25-cv-00225.

The complex surgery involved transplanting composite tissue from the central part of the face and required the participation of around 100 professionals, including psychiatrists and immunologists, the prestigious Vall d’Hebron hospital said in a statement.

The hospital’s transplant coordinator, Elisabeth Navas, said the donor had shown “a level of maturity that leaves one speechless”.

“Someone who has decided to end their life dedicates one of their last wishes to a stranger and gives them a second chance of this magnitude,” Navas said.

GLOBAL LEADER IN ORGAN TRANSPLANTS

The recipient - identified only by her first name, Carme - had suffered facial tissue necrosis from a bacterial infection caused by an insect bite, affecting her ability to speak, eat and see.

“When I’m looking in the mirror at home, I’m thinking that I’m starting to look more like myself,” Carme told a press conference on Monday, adding her recovery was going very well.

For such cases requiring facial transplants, the donor and recipient must share the same sex, blood group and have a similar head size.

With a population of 49.4 million, Spain has been a global leader in organ transplants for more than three decades.

In 2021, it became the fourth European Union country to legalise euthanasia.

Half of the six facial transplants ever done in Spain have been performed by Vall d’Hebron staff.

The Catalan hospital also carried out the world’s first full face transplant back in 2010.

A spokesperson for the hospital declined to say the exact date of the procedure for privacy reasons, but told Reuters it took place during the autumn of 2025.

Some 6,300 organ transplants were performed last year in Spain, according to Health Ministry data, with kidney transplants being the most common.

Officials said more than 5.2 million children were vaccinated on the first day of the campaign.

In Lahore, over 296,000 children received the vaccine, while Rawalpindi saw more than 200,000 vaccinated and Multan over 236,000.

The head of the anti-polio programme said stopping the spread of the virus is the top priority and noted that positive results of the campaigns are appearing in Punjab, with environmental samples turning negative.

Officials emphasised that parental cooperation is essential for a successful campaign.

They expressed confidence that the fight against polio is in a decisive phase and that the target of zero polio will be achieved in 2026.