The United States has long been known as a uniquely challenging place to survive. But recent research paints a more alarming picture: Millennials and older Gen Z adults that is, people aged 25 to 44 are dying at rates far higher than their peers in other wealthy nations. And COVID-19, despite playing a significant part, only formed part of a much larger and more systemic issue that unfolded over decades.

Each year, approximately three million Americans pass away. Comparing U.S. mortality rates to other affluent nations uncovers a staggering fact: a quarter of those deaths might have been avoided if the U.S. mortality rate was comparable to that of its counterparts. For Millennials alone, the difference becomes staggering. Of Americans aged 25 to 44, a whopping 62 percent of deaths are "excess deaths," i.e., practically two out of every three deaths in this age group would not have happened if conditions were on par with other industrialized countries.

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CDC data emphasizes that death rates in young adults, merging the 25–34 and 35–44 groups, vary between 148 and 237 deaths per 100,000 individuals each year. Of all Americans under age 65, nearly half of the deaths are excess deaths. This terrifying trend indicates an endemic, systemic issue in U.S. health, social, and economic systems.

Has COVID-19 Amplified The Pre-Existing Mortality Trends?

It would be naive to blame this crisis on COVID-19 alone, though the pandemic certainly exacerbated it. Nonelderly Americans suffered disproportionately high deaths relative to their peers in other rich countries. While COVID played a part in driving up the numbers, the American health disadvantage has been rising steadily for decades, decades before the pandemic, and continues to rise in the post-pandemic era.

A 2023 estimate found about 700,000 "missing Americans"—individuals who perished in 2023 but would have been alive had they been living in a different developed nation. This figure matches nearly to the exact number based on pre-pandemic projections, highlighting that America is more deadly by its very nature, particularly among young adults.

Also Read: COVID Symptoms Are Different In 2025—How Long After Exposure Should You Get Tested?

What Are The Systemic Factors Behind the Crisis?

Why are Millennials dying at such high rates? Experts cite a range of interrelated factors. Deindustrialization has left college-educated Americans economically exposed. Flimsy social safety nets—protecting unemployment, healthcare, and pensions—provide inadequate protection relative to other rich countries. Structural deficiencies in the U.S. health system, including underinsurance, high co-payments, and coverage gaps, compound these vulnerabilities.

In addition, lifestyle and public health issues, such as permissive gun laws, extended commuting, increasing rates of obesity and chronic disease, also contribute to mortality. For Millennials, these complicate the intersection with a variety of external stressors: job uncertainty, increasing living costs, and restricted access to quality healthcare.

The Opioid Epidemic and Mental Health Crisis

Opioid epidemic is one of the leading causes of Millennials' excess deaths. According to public health agencies, Millennial opioid overdose fatalities increased more than 500 percent between 1999 and 2017, while synthetic opioid death rates have risen by 6,000 percent. Overdose fatalities, in addition to increasing suicide, homicide, and accident rates, have added to the mortality crisis.

Pandemic stressors amplified these issues. Loss of employment, financial instability, and social isolation led to increased instances of substance use disorders and depression among young adults, compounding mortality patterns already on an upward trend.

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Obesity and Chronic Disease

Obesity is another key factor. Millennials between 30 and 39 have the highest rate of obesity of any age group in the U.S., at 46.4 percent. This severely raises the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and various cancers. Although obesity is a problem across all age groups, it is most important during young adulthood, adding to mortality risks already increased by socio-economic and healthcare disparities.

Economic Disillusionment and Future Prospects

Millennials have also confronted distinct economic and social challenges. Joining adulthood amid the Great Recession, many found themselves unable to achieve financial security, homeownership, or advancement in their careers. The pandemic only added to these challenges, resulting in increased financial insecurity among young adults with restricted health-promoting resource access.

With social mobility on the decline and economic opportunity still in doubt, stress, worry, and unhealthy behaviors become amplified in a vicious cycle. Technological changes and AI-led changes in the workforce could further widen income inequality and access to care, making Millennials even more exposed.

Policy Implications and the Need for Intervention

The glaring disparity in mortality underscores the imperative for policy action. Social safety nets including Medicaid, public health initiatives, and access to affordable care need to be improved to avert more fatalities. Investing in mental health care, treatment of addiction, and preventive care among young adults is the key to halting this ominous trend.

As the Millennial and Gen Z populations approach half of the U.S. electorate, addressing their health and economic inequities is not only a moral imperative but also a political necessity. Policymakers must recognize that investing in the health and well-being of early adults is key to ensuring the country’s long-term social and economic stability.

Is An Entire Generation at Risk?

The American death crisis among Millennials and early Gen Z adults is multifaceted, multi-faceted, and seriously troubling. Between 1980 and 2023, there were nearly 14.7 million excess deaths in the United States, and early adults were disproportionately hit. From the opioid crisis to disease, economic insecurity, and systemic gaps in health care, the drivers of this crisis are complex and widespread.

Without immediate action, these trends will persist, putting Millennials and Gen Z Americans at greater risk of death than comparable peers worldwide. An intervention addressing the underlying causes access to healthcare, financial stability, public health programs, and mental health care is necessary to get young Americans not just to survive but to thrive in a nation that has long neglected to safeguard them.

Children under 5 in India remain at high risk of typhoid infections, hospitalization, and death due to growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), according to an alarming study, which highlighted the urgent need to control drug resistance in the country.

Typhoid fever is a systemic illness caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi), and presents a significant health challenge in India.

The modelling study, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, showed that typhoid fever caused an estimated 4.9 million cases and nearly 8,000 deaths in India in 2023.

However, more concerning was that a large proportion of infections were found resistant to fluoroquinolones — one of the main classes of antibiotics used to treat typhoid. They found that:

• Children aged 5–9 years had the highest number of typhoid fever cases and AMR cases
• Children aged 6 months to 4 years experienced the highest number of hospitalizations and deaths.

"Drug-resistant typhoid fever remains a serious public-health threat in India, with implications beyond national borders," said Dr Vijayalaxmi Mogasale, Joint PhD Candidate at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Nagasaki University.

"Tackling this problem does not lie solely in moving to newer antibiotics, but calls for timely preventive action, including responsible antibiotic use and the introduction of the typhoid vaccine into the national immunization program, prioritizing high-burden age groups and regions," she added.

Also read: Study Links Widespread Use of Antibiotics During COVID To Surge In AMR Cases

Typhoid: AMR A Major Concern In India

In Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) 2021, India contributed to 58 percent of global typhoid fever cases and 48 percent of global deaths.

The new study, including researchers from Christian Medical College in Vellore, estimated that more than two-thirds of typhoid cases in India are resistant to fluoroquinolones. This not only limits treatment options but also increases the risk of complications.

The major drivers of typhoid fever deaths were identified among those with no treatment and hospitalized cases with AMR-related complications. The highest burden of typhoid cases were reported from Delhi, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.

Further, the study found that drug-resistant typhoid infections accounted for at least 87 per cent of India's disease-related economic burden in 2023, the PTI reported.

The total economic burden due to typhoid fever was estimated at Rs 123 billion.

Children under the age of 10 incurred the highest economic burden, contributing to over half of the costs, researchers found.

In addition, they estimated that households bore 91 per cent of expenses, and 70,000 families faced "catastrophic" health expenditure.

A 2024 ICMR report also flagged that more Indians are developing antibiotic resistance against typhoid, pneumonia, and urinary infections. Over 95 percent of Salmonella typhi strains are now resistant to fluoroquinolones, making it difficult to treat infections caused by this bacterium.

Also read: Antimicrobial Resistance Explained: Why Is WHO Calling It A Serious Health Threat?

Typhoid: How Vaccines Can Help

Typhoid fever is a water- and food-borne infectious disease. Major symptoms include

• high fever,
• fatigue,
• headache,
• abdominal pain.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends TCV for children from six months of age and for adults up to 45–65 years, depending on the vaccine.

To achieve greater impact, the Lancet researchers suggested implementing:

• A broader catch-up or school-based vaccination campaigns
• controlling the broader strategy of antimicrobial stewardship
• Making improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has raised concerns about a highly mutated variant of COVID-19 -- BA.3.2 -- which has been reported in at least 23 countries, including 25 states in America.

The BA.3.2 variant was first identified in a respiratory sample in South Africa in November 2024.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated BA.3.2 as a Variant Under Monitoring (VUM). It does not boost immunity from previous infection or vaccination.

What makes the BA.3.2 variant special is the “70 to 75 substitutions and deletions in the gene sequence of its spike protein”, according to the CDC’s latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

“BA.3.2 represents a new lineage of SARS-CoV-2, genetically distinct from the JN.1 lineages (including LP.8.1 and XFG) that have circulated in the US since January 2024,” said the CDC researchers.

“BA.3.2 mutations in the spike protein have the potential to reduce protection from a previous infection or vaccination,” they added.

What Is The BA.3.2 Variant?

BA.3.2 is a descendant of the Omicron BA.3 lineage. It is genetically distinct from the previously circulating JN.1 lineages (including LP.8.1 and XFG).

BA.3.2 comprises two major branches, BA.3.2.1 and BA.3.2.2. BA.3.2.2 also has substitutions like: K356T, A575S, R681H, and R1162P, the CDC report said.

The first BA.3.2 lineage sequence was detected in a respiratory sample collected on November 22, 2024, in South Africa from a boy aged 5 years.

It was then identified in 2025, in Mozambique (March), the Netherlands (April), and Germany (April). It began to increase in September 2025, with the highest number of detections reported during the week beginning December 7, 2025.

As of February 11, 2026, BA.3.2 had been detected in at least 23 countries.

Between November 2025 and January 2026, the weekly BA.3.2 detections increased and reached approximately 30 percent of sequences reported in three European countries (Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands).

BA.3.2 In The US

The strain was detected in the US on June 27, 2025, through the CDC’s Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance program in a participant traveling to the US from the Netherlands.

The first US detection of BA.3.2 in a clinical specimen collected from a patient was reported on January 5, 2026. Since then, the CDC has detected the BA.3.2 variant from

• nasal swabs collected from 4 US travelers,
• clinical samples from 5 patients,
• 3 airplane wastewater samples,
• 132 wastewater surveillance samples from 25 states in the US.
• Till February 11, the strain has been prevalent among 2,579 total genetic sequences.

The CDC stressed the need for “continued genomic surveillance to track SARS-CoV-2 evolution and determine its potential effect on public health”.

BA.3.2 A Variant Under Monitoring

According to the WHO, BA.3.2 demonstrates antigenic drift and reduced neutralization in vitro from previously infected or vaccinated individuals.

However, the global health body noted that currently approved COVID-19 vaccines are expected to continue providing protection against severe disease.

Despite immune evasion, phenotypic data suggest BA.3.2 has reduced infectivity.

It shows resistance to some monoclonal antibodies (cilgavimab, bebtelovimab, sotrovimab) but increased sensitivity to tixagevimab-be, the WHO said.

After the huge success of the first phase of its 100-day TB Mukt Bharat campaign in 2025, India has launched the next phase of a focused and intensified campaign to end tuberculosis — the most infectious disease in the world — in the country.

The campaign was launched by Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda at a national-level event held in Greater Noida to commemorate World TB Day 2026.

He reaffirmed India’s unwavering commitment to eliminating tuberculosis, ahead of the global Sustainable Development Goals target of 2030.

The second phase marks “a decisive, mission-mode push to accelerate progress towards TB elimination”, the Ministry of Health said.

The campaign is expected to “cover 1.58 lakh villages and urban wards, each guided by granular, locally tailored micro-plans, ensuring precision in implementation and measurable outcomes,” it added. The villages and wards were identified using AI-based assessment of 30+ indicators.

“World TB Day 2026 as both a moment of reflection and a renewed call to action in India’s journey towards a TB-Mukt Bharat,” said Nadda, while delivering the keynote address.

The 100-day campaign

The 100-day campaign was first launched on December 7, 2024, and it continued till March 24. It aims to accelerate TB detection, rapid decline in TB incidence, finding of missing cases, reducing mortality, and following a Jan Bhagidari or community approach.

In 2025, the campaign targeted a selected 347 high-priority districts across 33 States/UTs. It was later scaled nationwide and deployed advanced tools such as portable X-rays, AI-enabled diagnostics, and molecular testing.

Nadda noted that the 100-day campaign led to the detection of “nearly 10.9 lakh asymptomatic patients who exhibited no classical symptoms at the time of testing”.

The campaign led to the identification of the “invisible” pool of infection that would otherwise have remained undetected and contributed to continued transmission in the community, the Minister said.

Other key milestones achieved in the fight against TB since December 2024 include:

• screening of vulnerable population – more than 20 Crores
• new TB patients diagnosed - 32,65,215
• asymptomatic patients diagnosed - 10,90,742
• TB preventive treatment initiated - 16,45,493
• Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana paid - 8,36,754
• New Ni-kshay mitras registered - 5,40, 028
• Food Basket distributed - 31, 91, 091.

India Acing Forward In Fight Against TB

In 2024, India notified 26.18 lakh TB cases — the highest so far. TB notification has remained a key area of concern. A total of 67, 933 gram panchayats have achieved the TB-free status, the Ministry

“Over the past decade, India’s TB response has evolved into a transformational, people-centric movement, driven by innovation, equity, and strong political commitment,” Nadda said.

Also read: Tuberculosis in 2026: Why It Still Remains India’s Silent Epidemic

The Minister highlighted key achievements from 2015 to 2024. This includes:

• a 21 percent reduction in TB incidence — from 237 to 187 per lakh population
• a 25 percent decline in TB mortality — from 28 to 21 per lakh population
• treatment coverage increased — 92 percent from 53 percent in 2015
• sharp decline in undetected cases — from >10 lakhs annually to <1 lakh
• treatment success rate increased — 90 percent — higher than the global rate of 88 percent.

• Over 3,000 handheld AI-enabled X-ray units deployed
• NAAT laboratories scaled up to over 9,800
• TB services integrated across 1.8 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs
• Nikshay Poshan Yojana transferred over Rs 4,590 crore to 1.39 crore TB patients since 2018
• Ni-kshay Mitra initiative participation increased to over 7.16 lakh citizen.