Depression is emerging as one of the most prevalent mental disorders globally. Cases among the adolescents and adults are on the rise. As per the recent report from the National Center for Health Statistics, the prevalence of depression in individuals aged 12 and older has in fact seen a surge of 60% over the last decade.

The study covered the period from August 2021 to August 2023 and found a 13/1% increase of US population reporting to have experienced depression. This is a significant increased as compared to the 8.2% observed between 2013 and 2014. Experts have advised it to be an alarming trend that reflects a broader global mental health crisis that demands urgent attention.

Has There Been Any Disparities In Depression Numbers?

The study, conducted by Debra J. Brody and Jeffrey P. Hughes of the National Center for Health Statistics, reveals some stark disparities in depression prevalence. Notably, women are more likely to experience depression than men, with 16% of women reporting symptoms compared to 10.1% of men. Depression is also more common among younger people, with nearly 20% of individuals aged 12 to 19 reporting depressive symptoms. In contrast, only 8.7% of adults aged 60 and above experienced depression. Moreover, socioeconomic factors play a significant role, with those living below the poverty line experiencing depression at rates higher than 20%.

How Does It Impact Day-To-Day Life?

The effects of depression can be lasting. It affects not just the person's mental health, but also the ability to function in daily life. As per the study, nearly 88% of individuals with depression report difficulties in their work, home, and social activities due to their symptoms. Despite the widespread impact of depression, a significant portion of those affected do not seek professional help. The study found that only 39.3% of individuals with depression received therapy or counseling in the past year, with women more likely to seek treatment than men (43% compared to 33.2%).

Global Statistics: What WHO Tells

Globally, depression remains a leading cause of disability, affecting approximately 280 million people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Women are particularly vulnerable, with depression being 50% more common in women than men. Additionally, depression is a leading cause of suicide, with over 700,000 people dying by suicide every year. The situation is exacerbated in low- and middle-income countries, where more than 75% of people with mental health disorders receive no treatment. Stigma, a lack of trained healthcare providers, and insufficient investment in mental health care contribute to the widespread lack of support.

What Is Depression?

Depression is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, irritability, and a loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities. Other symptoms include poor concentration, feelings of guilt, disrupted sleep, changes in appetite, and a general lack of energy. These symptoms can last for weeks or even months, severely impacting an individual's quality of life. The WHO categorizes depression into different types, including single episode depression, recurrent depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder, with varying degrees of severity and duration.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the biologics license for Ixchiq, a live-attenuated chikungunya vaccine, following reports of serious adverse reactions in older adults. The side effects closely mirrored symptoms of chikungunya virus itself, raising concerns about patient safety and the vaccine’s overall clinical benefit.

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral infection that causes high fever, rash, headaches, nausea, fatigue, and severe joint and muscle pain. The illness is notorious for its long-lasting impact, with some patients experiencing disabling joint pain for months or even years.

Global rise in chikungunya cases

The FDA decision comes at a time when chikungunya cases are surging worldwide. In recent months, outbreaks have been reported across South America, Asia, and Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) has noted significant increases in Brazil, Paraguay, and India, with localized outbreaks also being reported in parts of Southeast Asia.

In the United States, sporadic travel-related cases have been documented, though no major outbreak has yet occurred. Concern is growing that climate change and global travel could expand the reach of chikungunya-carrying mosquitoes to new regions.

U.S. issues travel advisory for China amid outbreaks

Adding to global health concerns, the U.S. recently issued a travel advisory for Americans visiting China after reports of chikungunya cases in several provinces. Health officials have urged travelers to take preventive measures such as using mosquito repellents, wearing long-sleeved clothing, and staying in well-screened accommodations. The advisory highlights the urgency of preventive strategies as global cases rise.

Read: US Weighs China Travel Warning As Chikungunya Cases Near 5,000: Report

Safety issues with Ixchiq vaccine

Ixchiq, developed by French biotech company Valneva, received accelerated FDA approval in November 2023. It was intended to protect adults aged 18 and older at increased risk of exposure to the virus. However, post-approval monitoring has revealed troubling safety signals.

According to the FDA’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS):

• One confirmed case of encephalitis-related death has been linked to the vaccine.
• More than 20 serious adverse events resembling chikungunya illness have been reported.
• 21 hospitalizations and three total deaths have been associated with vaccination.

The FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research concluded that Ixchiq’s clinical benefits remain unproven and that its risks outweigh potential advantages for most individuals. Regulators determined that continued use in the U.S. could jeopardize public health.

Read: Mosquitoes Deployed To Kill Virus-Carrying Mosquito Larvae: How China Is Using Biological Weapons To Wage War Against Chikungunya

Manufacturer defends vaccine but halts U.S. distribution

Valneva, the vaccine’s manufacturer, has defended its product, stating that the reported side effects align with known risks identified during clinical trials. The company emphasized that older adults had already been flagged for potential complications in prescribing information.

“As we determine potential next steps, and as the clear threat of chikungunya continues to escalate globally, Valneva remains fully committed to maintaining access to our vaccine as a global health tool for addressing and preventing outbreaks of this devastating illness,” Valneva CEO Thomas Lingelbach said in a statement.

The company has confirmed that while Ixchiq will no longer be shipped or sold in the U.S., it will continue to be made available in other countries where it is licensed. Valneva also reiterated its commitment to accelerating vaccine access in low- and middle-income nations where chikungunya remains endemic.

US President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are allegedly preparing to phase out COVID-19 vaccines “within months,” according to a close associate of Kennedy. The move, if true, would mark a dramatic reversal for Trump, who once hailed the vaccine’s rapid development during the pandemic as a “monumental achievement.”

An HHS spokesperson told Newsweek that the agency does not comment on potential policy decisions. The White House has dismissed the claims as “baseless speculation.”

Also Read: Chikungunya Vaccine License Suspended In U.S. By FDA

Trump’s Shift From Championing to Questioning Vaccines

Back in December 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Trump described the rollout of vaccines under Operation Warp Speed as a “historic success.” He praised scientists, pharmaceutical companies, and government agencies for developing and distributing the shots in record time.

But the political landscape around vaccines shifted in the years that followed. Segments of Trump’s base began raising doubts about vaccine safety and effectiveness, fueling conspiracy theories and distrust of public health guidance.

RFK Jr.’s Anti-mRNA Vaccine Stance

Kennedy, who has long been criticized for spreading vaccine skepticism, insists he is not “anti-vaccine.” Earlier this month, he announced HHS would pull $500 million in federal funding from 22 mRNA vaccine development projects, arguing that data shows they “fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu.”

Critics, however, say Kennedy’s statements echo long-debunked claims and risk undermining public trust in science. His leadership at HHS has already sparked petitions demanding his removal, with one Change.org campaign backed by more than 45,000 signatories from physicians and medical students.

Read: RFK Jr Pulls 500 Million Funds From mRNA Vaccine Projects, Says The Focus Will Be Shifted To 'Traditional' Vaccines

Associate Claims Vaccine Ban Coming “Within Months”

Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a British cardiologist and vocal vaccine skeptic, told The Daily Beast that Kennedy’s position is supported by “influential” members of Trump’s family. Malhotra, an adviser to the lobby group Make America Healthy Again Action, claimed those close to Kennedy believe it is “incomprehensible” that the vaccine remains available.

He suggested the vaccine could be withdrawn in stages, pending further review of alleged “vaccine injuries,” or removed entirely in a single sweeping decision. Such a move, he admitted, could cause “fear of chaos” and carry major legal consequences.

The White House quickly pushed back. “The Administration is relying on Gold Standard Science and is committed to radical transparency,” spokesperson Kush Desai said. “Unless announced by the Administration, any discussion about HHS policy should be dismissed as speculation.”

Contested Evidence and Scientific Pushback

Malhotra cited a 2022 paper in the journal Vaccine, which claimed recipients of Pfizer and Moderna shots had a 16% higher risk of serious adverse events compared to placebo groups. However, mainstream medical experts have dismissed the study as flawed and misleading, stressing that the overwhelming consensus remains that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in preventing severe illness and death.

Public health specialists warn that even rumors of a vaccine ban could discourage people from getting recommended seasonal shots against flu, RSV, and COVID, increasing the risk of severe outbreaks. “Even just rumors are likely to reduce uptake,” said Dr. Jessica Holzer of the University of New Haven, as reported in Newsweek.

Confusion Among the Public

Experts fear that mixed signals from the Trump administration could deepen public uncertainty. “Scientific consensus is clear: vaccination benefits outweigh the risks for most people,” said Dr. Amy Bucher, chief behavioral officer at Lirio to Newsweek. She warned that wavering government positions risk eroding trust, fueling polarization, and emboldening conspiracy theories.

According to Bucher, emphasizing personal choice is key to easing resistance. “If people feel it’s their decision, they’re more open to information. But if vaccines are taken off the market entirely, it could spark stronger backlash and worsen public health outcomes.”

What’s Next

For now, the administration has not formally announced any policy changes. Still, Kennedy’s influence within HHS and Trump’s evolving rhetoric suggest the vaccine debate will remain a flashpoint in U.S. politics.

A petition to remove Kennedy from office continues to gather momentum, underscoring the fierce divide over vaccine policy. Whether speculation hardens into official action could shape not only America’s public health trajectory but also Trump’s political legacy.

In a breakthrough that will possibly redefine the future of organ transplantation, a team of surgeons in China have successfully performed a transplant using a genetically modified pig lung into the chest of a 39-year-old brain-dead man. The lung functioned for nine days and opened up unprecedented insights into xenotransplantation, the practice of transplanting animal organs into humans. Although the experiment was short-lived, it has ignited hope to amass the millions left waiting each year for life-saving transplants.

For decades, the worldwide shortage of donor organs has stranded millions waiting for a life-giving transplant that might never occur. In the United States alone, over 103,000 individuals were waiting in line for an organ transplant in 2023, but fewer than half received one. Each day, approximately 13 patients die while waiting. And now, an experimental procedure from China is testing the limits of science: for the first time, surgeons have implanted a genetically engineered pig lung into a human.

Also Read: Chikungunya Vaccine License Suspended In U.S. By FDA

The recipient, a 39-year-old male who was declared brain-dead following a hemorrhage, survived for nine days with the transplanted lung before the experiment was terminated at the request of his family. Although the organ did not survive long-term, the procedure represents a dramatic advance in xenotransplantation, the utilization of animal organs in humans.

On May 15, 2024, a surgical team at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University performed the historic surgery. The donor organ was taken from a genetically modified miniature pig with six CRISPR edits intended to render it compatible with human biology. The edits silenced three pig genes that induce immune rejection and introduced three human genes that control inflammation and immune response.

The lung was carefully transplanted into the man's chest; the other lung was left intact to support function. Over the following hours, the medical team watched for signs of "hyperacute rejection," the immediate and catastrophic immune response that usually destroys foreign organs within minutes. To their surprise, this did not occur.

But soon difficulties arose. By the 24-hour mark, the new lung began to develop inflammation and fluid retention. By day three, there was antibody-mediated rejection. Although there were initial indications of stabilization, the transplant lung was unable to combat the overwhelming immune response. On day nine, in accordance with family desires, physicians discontinued the experiment.

Why Lungs Are Harder to Transplant?

While kidneys and hearts have challenges to overcome in transplantation, such as size matches, lungs have their own set of challenges. Their intricate structure, suited for oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange, predisposes them to injury and inflammation. In addition, lungs are the only transplanted organ completely exposed to the external environment — each breath introduces bacteria, viruses, pollen, and toxins that the immune system needs to screen out.

Achieving the balance between suppressing the immune system sufficiently to avoid rejection but not so much that the patient is lethally susceptible to infection has been one of medicine's most formidable challenges. Indeed, repeated success with human-to-human lung transplants was only made possible in the 1980s, two decades after kidney and heart surgery had been successfully accomplished. Introducing cross-species transplantation into the equation yet again increases the science's complexity.

The Global Organ Shortage Crisis

The World Health Organization has projected that only 10% of the world's demand for organ transplants is now being filled. In the United States, the supply-demand gap increases yearly even with attempts to raise donor registration levels. With developments in organ preservation and sharing networks, still thousands of patients never receive the opportunity for an operation.

This is where xenotransplantation may revolutionize things. Pigs have emerged as the animal donor of choice due to their organ size, physiological proximity to humans, and ease of genetic modification. Pig heart valves have been successfully implanted in humans for over 30 years. Genetically altered pig kidneys and hearts have been transplanted into human recipients more recently with varied degrees of short-term success.

Historical Timeline of Xenotransplantation Milestones

Over the last few years, there have been a proliferation of milestone procedures that have registered global attention:

• In 2022, American surgeons implanted a genetically altered pig heart into a living patient, who lived for two months.
• Last January 2024, a Massachusetts man received a genetically altered pig kidney and remains alive with the organ functioning.
• Chinese scientists tried to transplant a pig liver into a brain-dead patient, results being limited.

The pig lung transplant represents a new frontier, pushing the boundaries of xenotransplantation research. Every effort gives valuable information regarding how animal organs respond in humans and what the largest hurdles are.

What Makes This Pig Lung Different?

The pig lung utilized in the Guangzhou experiment was obtained from a Bama miniature pig kept in a pathogen-free facility by Clonorgan Biotechnology based in Chengdu, China. This provided the assurance that the animal was not exposed to infections that would otherwise be passed on to the human recipients.

It is the CRISPR alterations that rendered this experiment possible. By deleting pig genes for sugars identified as "foreign" by the human immune system and adding human immune-regulating proteins, researchers sought to "humanize" the lung. Although the rejection reaction still happened, the failure of hyperacute rejection — long the most immediate hurdle — to occur indicates that gene editing is closing the gap.

What Are The Medical and Ethical Challenges Beyond This Medical Miracle?

Despite this milestone, experts caution that pig lungs won’t be saving lives in hospitals anytime soon. The risks of infection, rejection, and long-term complications remain significant. In addition, the ethical considerations of using animal organs, particularly genetically modified ones, are far from resolved. Critics argue that resources might be better invested in advancing bioengineered or lab-grown organs rather than relying on animals.

But to patients presented with the stark reality of organ deficiencies, the prospect of a limitless alternative source is difficult to resist. Families who agree to such experimental surgeries do so in the belief that their contribution will help pave the way for a future where others will not have to wait in vain.

The results of the Guangzhou team, reported in Nature Medicine, highlight both the potential and dangers of xenotransplantation. Though rejection is still the biggest obstacle, the advancements within a few years are remarkable. What was previously considered science fiction is slowly becoming a reality, though through industrious trial and error.

For the time being, lung xenotransplantation is an experimental frontier and not a clinical option but as genetic engineering progresses and our understanding of immune regulation becomes more profound, it may one day be able to assist in revolutionizing transplantation medicine. If researchers can one day bypass the immune system's hurdles, the 103,000 individuals already on the US transplant waiting list and hundreds of thousands worldwide may at last have new hope.