Covid is again making headlines as Singapore experiences a significance surge in COVID-19 cases. The spike has been concerning as the number of cases rose from the week of April 27 to May 3 to 14,200 cases, as compared to 11,100 cases in the last week.

As per the Ministry of Health, the spike in cases is attributed to the new variant which may be on the loose - LF.7 and NB.1.8. These two are descendants of the JN.1 variant.

The cases have also spiked in Hong Kong. Thus Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said that the rising COVID activity reached a 1-year high and have urged people to take precautions and receive an initial dose of COVID vaccine as soon as possible.

The Ministry of Health, Singapore, informed, ""LF.7 and NB.1.8 are the main Covid-19 variants circulating in Signapore." They are the descendants of the JN.1 variant that is used in COVID-19 vaccines.

"At precent, LF.7 and NB.1.8 are the main COVID-19 variants circulating in Singapore, together accounting for more than two-thirds of locally sequenced cases. JN.1 is also the variant used in the formulation of the current COVID-19 vaccines," said Ministry in the statement.

What Are The Symptoms Of This New Variant?

The symptoms which are associated with this current Covid wave are a bit different from what we have seen before. While cough and sore throat are there, the symptoms also include nausea, vomiting, brain fog, and conjunctivitis.

The symptoms however are mild. The experts have for now asked people to monitor their health and seek medical attention in case it is required.

In Hong Kong, the situation seems serious as the experts have warned that "the virus activity is quite high". As of May 3, 31 deaths were reported among 81 severe Covid cases. 83% of the people infected were those above the age of 65.

In a press release, the Ministry of Health said, "Individuals at increases risk of severe COVID-19, such as those aged 60 years and above, medically vulnerable individuals or residents of aged care facilities, are recommended to keep updated with vaccinations, i.e. to receive an additional dose around one year after their last dose. Healthcare workers and persons living or working with medically vulnerable individuals are also encouraged to receive the vaccine. Other individuals aged six months and above who wish to receive the COVID-19 vaccine can continue to do so."

Sewage samples showed a rise in viral load, accompanied by an increase in respiratory samples testing positive for Covid-19. Meanwhile, Thailand’s Department of Disease Control reported two cluster outbreaks in 2025.

The public has also been advised to practice the standard precautions, including mask-wearing in crowded places, regular handwashing, and staying at home when unwell.

Should India Be Concerned?

As reported in Medical Buyer, Sabine Kapasi, advisor, public health and healthcare services, strategist, United Nations COVID-19 Task Force, said India's Covid situation is relatively stable, with a low number of active cases. "States like Kerala and Tamil Nadu are testing more due to their higher case loads," she noted.

As per the data from COVID-19 dashboard, more than 85% of new cases, which makes 46 out of 58 cases in India, have come from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry.

Can you imagine testing positive for COVID-19 for more than 500 days- during lockdowns, vaccine distributions, new strains, and changing worldwide policies? It reads like the script of a dystopian thriller, but it's real and illustrates just how capricious this virus has proven to be, five years on from its initial outbreak.

As we step through 2025 with vaccines out there in plenty, rapid testing business as usual, and public health measures optimized, it's hard not to consider COVID-19 a chapter we're finally closing. But for a number of people, the virus wasn't an ordeal that lasted for a matter of weeks, but a long, persistent fight. One such example in the United Kingdom beat all known records: a man was infected with the virus for an incredible 505 days before his death, which stands as the longest confirmed COVID-19 infection to date.

British researchers have found what seems to be the longest-reported COVID-19 infection to date, an astonishing 505 days. The case of the unnamed patient with several chronic health conditions and a very compromised immune system highlights the nuance of how SARS-CoV-2 acts in immunocompromised patients.

The patient, who had tested positive for COVID-19 early in the year 2020, was infected for the rest of their life until they passed away in 2021 despite treatment interventions such as antiviral medication. This case has redefined what the global medical community knows about persistent COVID-19 infections and presented new avenues for research and better care for at-risk populations.

What Makes This Case And Persistent COVID-19 Different?

One of the most important differences to grasp is between "persistent" infection from COVID-19 and "Long COVID." While Long COVID is a term used for symptoms that persist after the virus has cleared from the body, persistent infection involves ongoing viral replication over time. The virus in this instance never actually leaves the body, which forms ongoing active infection instead of residual symptoms.

In this British case, all of the patient's over 50 PCR tests in 72 weeks returned positive, indicating a persistent, constant infection. This was reinforced by King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust researchers through genomic sequencing that indicated it was the same strain evolving over time—not repeated reinfections.

This unusual case was one of many included in a larger study that was discussed at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases by infectious disease specialist Dr. Luke Blagdon Snell. The study looked at nine patients with long-term infections, all lasting at least eight weeks. These patients, whose immune systems were severely impaired due to illness such as HIV, cancer, or immunosuppressive drugs used after organ transplant, provided an unusual insight into what happens when the body is unable to respond with a normal immune response.

The typical length of infection in the nine patients was about 73 days. Prior to the identification of this record case, the longest-documented COVID-19 infection was 335 days long.

What are Persistent Infections?

While unusual, these long-term infections create worries beyond the patients themselves. One of the scientists' biggest worries is that the virus, not having been contained by the body for so long, could mutate into new strains. Though none of the patients in this case—including one who had a 505-day infection—gave rise to a new variant of concern, genetic analysis did reveal mutations like those that occur in highly circulated variants.

"This doesn't say anything about a single patient. It says something about how the virus might evolve over time if left in a setting in which it's not eliminated," Dr. Snell stated.

Even after receiving antiviral medications such as remdesivir, the patient could not eliminate the infection, showing the insufficiency of existing treatments in certain high-risk groups. Among the nine patients analyzed, five survived with different recovery trajectories. Two cleared the virus without any medication, two were responsive to antiviral treatment, and one patient remained infected after 412 days at the last reported follow-up.

This unsettling volatility identifies the imperative for greater treatment options and care customization for immunocompromised individuals.

What This Means for People With Low Immunity?

Tens of millions of individuals across the globe have weakened immune systems—because of organ transplants, autoimmune conditions, or cancer treatments. The results from this study indicate an immediate call to maintain awareness in safeguarding these groups, particularly as pandemic measures loosened and mask mandates are all but gone.

This case not only illuminates the biological dynamics of COVID-19 but also serves as a reminder of the human narratives behind pandemic statistics. This patient existed, in a state of health most people shake off in a matter of days or weeks, for almost a year and a half—a grim reminder of the unpredictability of the virus and the strength of its victims.

After weeks of uncertainty and regulatory limbo, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially approved Novavax's new COVID-19 vaccine—taking a significant yet limited step forward in the pandemic-era immunization efforts. Unlike the mRNA vaccines that hogged headlines and big rollouts in the pandemic's first two years, Novavax's shot presents a more conventional protein-based choice. But the green light comes with strings attached: it's only for people aged 65 and above, or above 12 with certain high-risk medical conditions.

This selective approval has sparked debate in public health communities. While some welcome the approval as long-overdue progress, others decry the restriction placed on public access, particularly in light of surging COVID-19 infections in some parts of Asia and the changing symptomology of newer variants.

The FDA initially established a deadline for the approval of Novavax on April 1, but the target date came and went with no announcement, leaving uncertainty about the future of the shot in the United States vaccine market. The ultimate approval was relayed to Novavax on a Friday evening after what company officials characterized as "substantial back-and-forth" negotiations with regulators. Silvia Taylor, Chief Corporate Affairs and Advocacy Officer for Novavax, said the company was told just before the weekend started.

Adding to the doubt, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—a self-professed vaccine skeptic—publicly questioned the efficacy of the shot in an interview with CBS. His comments stoked wider public doubts, although most within the scientific community are still convinced of the vaccine's safety and performance record.

Why is Covid Vaccination Still Important?

In contrast to the mRNA-based platforms of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, Novavax's vaccine is based on a recombinant protein platform—a technology that is akin to those employed in licensed vaccines such as hepatitis B. This technology could be desirable to those who were resistant to mRNA vaccines because they are worried about newer biotechnology.

Experts indicate that the Novavax vaccine might also be attractive in populations or regions where cold storage demands for mRNA vaccines have presented logistical problems. Yet with limited approval, this advantage won't necessarily come into full play under the existing rollout.

Who Can Actually Get The New Covid Vaccine?

The newly approved Novavax vaccine under the brand name Nuvaxovid will only be issued to:

• Adults 65 and older
• People aged 12 to 64 years with underlying health conditions

Such conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), include asthma, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and pregnancy. Behavioral and lifestyle risks like smoking, physical inactivity, and substance abuse also come under this category.

While the wide range of risk factors might limit the decision to many, most in the medical field find the ruling too restrictive. Former FDA Chief Scientist Jesse Goodman criticized the agency's limited approval publicly, saying, "The FDA approval process is intended to determine safety and efficacy, and permit access to approved vaccines. It is not where one makes policy suggestions for use of approved vaccines."

Worrying Global Spike in COVID-19 Cases

The green light comes amid a growing COVID resurgence in Southeast Asia. In Singapore, weekly cases rose by 28% as of early May, with hospitalizations per day increasing by almost 30%. In Hong Kong, the rate of respiratory sample positivity exploded from 1.7% in March to more than 11%—above previous peaks during waves. Thailand and China on the mainland have likewise documented parallel trends, with clusters of infections occurring after national holidays and test positivity doubling in the last few weeks.

The increase in case numbers among elderly people—many with co-existing conditions—harks back to how badly we need vaccine supply to vulnerable groups worldwide.

What We Know About the 2025 COVID Variants

The presentation of COVID-19 in the clinical setting continues to change. Although frequently seen symptoms like fever, sore throat, and cough are still prominent, newer strains are bringing back previously uncommon presentations. Anosmia (lack of smell), which was a characteristic of early iterations of COVID and waned during the Omicron surge, is resurfacing, especially in European presentations of the JN.1 variant.

Moreover, Long COVID continues to be a lingering issue. Most patients—barring severity—experience residual symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and breathing problems. This speaks volumes of the necessity for ongoing vaccination campaigns, even as the virus becomes endemic in large sections of the globe.

While the FDA's authorization of the Novavax vaccine can feel like a specialized addendum in a post-pandemic era, it raises larger questions about public health policy. Should people be able to make their own choices among vaccine options? Are regulatory agencies being overcautious at the cost of personal freedom?

More than three years into the global pandemic, the virus continues to evolve—and so must our approach to prevention. With global case counts on the rise once again, particularly in vulnerable populations, time may reveal whether the FDA’s cautious stance was wise policy—or a missed opportunity.

If you are 65 or older, or have a chronic health problem, talk to your doctor to determine if the new Novavax vaccine is appropriate for you. As with everything related to health, individual risk and expert advice should be considered together.

Former US President Joe Biden's office confirmed on Sunday that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Earlier, a small nodule was found in his prostate gland, however, not much had been revealed about his medical evaluation.

It was last week when Biden went to see the doctors after urinary symptoms and prostate nodule was found. He was then diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday, and the cancer cells have spread to the bone.

“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management," his office said. "The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”

How Is the Aggressiveness Of Prostate Cancer Graded?

The aggressiveness of prostate cancers is graded on the basis of Gleason scores. These scores range between 2 to 10, with 8,9,and 10 behaving more aggressively. Biden's office confirmed that his score was 9, suggesting that his cancer is the most aggressive.

The Gleason score works on the basis of the lower scores indicating slower growth and spread, and higher scores suggesting more aggressive disease.

Like Biden's cancer cells have spread to his bones, it is common for prostate cancer to spread to other parts of the body, especially to bones. Metastasized cancer is more difficult to treat than localized cancer because it's challenging for medication to reach every tumor and eliminate the disease entirely.

However, in cases like President Biden’s, where prostate cancer relies on hormones to grow, treatments that block or reduce hormone levels can be effective in targeting the tumors.

Dr Matthew Smith of Massachusetts General Brigham Cancer Center told the US News, "It is very treatable, but not curable. Most men in this situation would be treated with drugs and would not be advised to have either surgery or radiation therapy."

At the age of 82, Biden's health has been a topic of concern. During his presidency, he had a 'cancerous' skin lesion removed from his chest. In February 2023, the White House in a statement said that the skin tissue was removed and after biopsy it was revealed to be cancerous.

How Common Is Prostate Cancer In Men?

As per the American Cancer Society, about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. The National Institutes of Health notes that 50% of men between 70 to 80 years of age also showed histological evidence of malignancy.

While it is not clear what causes prostate cancer, healthcare professional have often found that age, obesity and a family history of prostate cancer could increase the chances of being diagnosed with it.

What Happens In Prostate Cancer?

As per Urology Care Foundation, prostate cancer develops when abnormal cells form and grow in the prostate gland. Not all abnormal growths, also called tumors, are cancerous. Some are benign growth and are not life threatening. They also do not spread to nearby tissue or other parts of the body.

Whereas cancerous growths can spread to nearby organs and tissues, as in the case of Biden.

What Have Been The Reaction On Biden's Diagnosis?

The current US President and a long time opponent Donald Trump posted on social media that he was saddened by the news and "we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery."

Kamala Harris also posted on social media that she was keeping him and in her family's "hearts and prayers during this time." She wrote: "Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership."