Donald Trump Health: Trump visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on October 10 for what he described as his “semi-annual physical.” He had already undergone a routine check-up in April. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to Japan, Trump confirmed that he received an MRI during his appointment.

“I did, I got an MRI—it was perfect,” Trump said, adding that reporters would need to ask his doctors for the reason behind it. “I think they gave you very conclusive reports. Nobody has ever given reports like I did. And if I didn’t think it would be good, I wouldn’t run. The doctor said they were some of the best results for someone my age.”

What Is An MRI?

MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. It produces detailed scans of internal soft tissues and is commonly used for examining organs and detecting abnormalities.

When Did Trump Visit Walter Reed?

He returned to Walter Reed on October 10 for “advanced imaging, laboratory tests, and preventive evaluations.” During the same visit, Trump also received his flu and COVID-19 booster vaccinations. Barbabella later stated that the former president remains in “excellent overall health.”

What Health Condition Has Trump Been Diagnosed With?

Earlier this year, the White House disclosed that Trump has chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a common vascular disorder in which leg veins struggle to return blood to the heart properly. This condition can cause swelling and discomfort in the legs.

On October 10, Trump made another trip to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. His spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, described it as a “routine annual check-up,” even though it was his second visit to the facility in just six months. Dr. Sean Barbabella, the White House physician, did not provide details about the imaging or preventive evaluations carried out during the appointment. However, he stated that Trump’s lab results were “exceptional” and that his cardiac health appeared to be roughly 14 years younger than his actual age.

On October 27, Trump mentioned that he had undergone an undisclosed MRI scan during a previous visit to Walter Reed. Though he said the test produced “some of the best reports for the age” and “some of the best reports they’ve ever seen,” the lack of details surrounding the procedure has fueled speculation about his health.

Trump has also previously spoken about taking the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a test used to detect cognitive decline, but has repeatedly described it as a “very difficult IQ test.” It is not known whether another MoCA test was conducted during his October visit or if Trump was referring to the tests he took in April 2025 or January 2018.

China has become the world’s first country to approve a monoclonal antibody drug called Libevitug to treat hepatitis D — a severe, chronic liver disease.

The drug, which was rolled out at a Beijing hospital recently, was granted conditional approval by China's National Medical Products Administration in January 2026 following priority review, Science and Technology Daily reported.

Libevitug is a monoclonal antibody developed by a team from Tsinghua University and the Beijing-based biopharmaceutical company Huahui Health.

It works by blocking hepatitis B and D viruses from entering liver cells.

Clinical trials on Libevitug demonstrated significant efficacy in virological response and normalization of liver function, with particularly notable benefits for patients with cirrhosis.

What Is Hepatitis D? What Are The Key Symptoms?

Hepatitis D, or HDV, is different from the others—it can't infect the liver by itself. It only exists in those already infected with hepatitis B, employing the outer shell of the HBV virus to replicate.

When HBV and HDV infect the liver concurrently (a co-infection) or if HDV is contracted later on superimposition of pre-existing HBV (a superinfection), the immune system is twice assaulted. The liver has to cope with more intense inflammation, resulting in more rapid fibrosis progression and a much increased risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

In individuals with co-infection, liver injury is more severe, and complications arise years sooner than in HBV mono-infection. There are no specific therapies for HDV currently, and its management relies mostly on the control of hepatitis B.

It is also possible to prevent HBV infection and thereby hepatitis D by vaccination. Antiviral therapy and close follow-up can likewise decrease the chances of serious HDV complications in those already infected with HBV.

Simultaneous infection with HBV and HDV can lead to mild-to-severe hepatitis, with signs and symptoms typically appearing 3–7 weeks after initial infection and include:

• fever,
• fatigue,
• loss of appetite,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• dark urine,
• pale-colored stools,
• jaundice (yellow eyes)
• fulminant hepatitis.

Also read: Hepatitis On Rise In India: What Is Causing It?

How Does Libevitug Work?

Of the over 254 million chronic hepatitis B carriers worldwide, approximately 5 percent are co-infected with the hepatitis D virus, and patients with co-infection have long lacked effective targeted therapies.

Clinical trials for the drug began in 2018, with an international multi-center study launched in 2023 among patients with chronic co-infection.

The drug previously received "Breakthrough Therapy Designation" from both the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the China NMPA and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Also read: Hepatitis A To E: How Each Virus Affects Your Liver?

"Libevitug demonstrates outstanding clinical efficacy and significantly improves liver stiffness, with particularly remarkable efficacy in patients with HBV/HDV-related cirrhosis," stated Professor Niu Junqi, principal investigator of the Libevitug trial from the First Hospital of Jilin University.

"This drug aligns with the core objectives of China's Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis (2025–2030), which aims to improve diagnosis and treatment rates for viral hepatitis and reduce the incidence of liver cancer and mortality," Junqi added.

Junqi noted that Libevitug is expected to effectively lower the risk of disease progression to advanced severe diseases such as liver cancer, drive the diagnosis and treatment of HDV in China, as well as advance the goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health problem by 2030.

Amid the growing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), India’s Union Ayush Ministry has launched yoga protocols that will target vulnerable groups with diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma.

The “Yoga Protocol for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Target Groups” is a significant push towards reshaping the country’s healthcare narrative from treatment to prevention, PTI reported.

NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular ailments, chronic respiratory conditions, and mental health disorders are increasing significantly in the country. These also account for about 60 percent of all deaths in the country, signaling a clear need to focus on preventing the lifestyle-driven illnesses.

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Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush, noted that prevention of these conditions is important for the better health of the nation, and yoga is India’s answer to the rising burden of lifestyle diseases.

“Through these evidence-based protocols, we are empowering every citizen to take charge of their own health and well-being in a simple, accessible, and sustainable manner. By integrating yoga into daily life, we aim to shift the focus from illness to wellness, reducing long-term healthcare pressures,” he said.

“This initiative reflects our commitment to building a healthier nation through holistic, preventive, and people-centric approaches rooted in India’s rich traditional knowledge,” the minister added.

What Are The Protocols?

It is part of the Yoga Mahotsav 2026, launched earlier this month by Union Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The protocols are designed as structured, evidence-based modules that integrate Yogic practices into daily life in a simple, accessible, and scalable manner.

The initiative has specific yoga interventions curated for major health conditions such as:

• diabetes — improving metabolic balance and glycemic control;
• hypertension — calming the nervous system and regulating blood pressure;
• bronchial asthma — strengthening respiratory capacity and improving lung function
• emotional well-being — breathing and meditation aimed at reducing stress, anxiety, and depression.

Further, it includes

• playful yoga modules for young children
• mental health-focused routines for adolescents,
• mobility-enhancing practices for the elderly
• specialized guidelines for women and pregnant mothers.

Yoga 365

The Ministry of Ayush has also launched Yoga 365 — a nationwide campaign to make yoga an integral part of citizens' daily lives — that goes beyond the International Day of Yoga (IDY), marked annually on June 21 worldwide.

According to the National Sample Survey (NSS), awareness of traditional systems like yoga stands at 95 percent in rural India and 96 percent in urban India.

The NSS also found that in around 1.1 crore households in rural India and around 1.4 crore households in urban India, at least one household member regularly practices yoga.

The Yoga 365 campaign aims to

• mobilize communities through mission-mode outreach,
• promote behavior change,
• integrate yoga into diverse spaces—from schools and offices to neighborhood groups and digital platforms.

The Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, under the Ministry of Ayush, has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the wellness platform Habuild to offer free daily online yoga sessions.

The COVID-19 BA.3.2 strain, nicknamed Cicada Variant, is spreading rapidly in the US, raising the possibility of becoming the dominant strain in the country, according to experts.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in its latest report, has raised concerns about BA.3.2 — a highly mutated variant of COVID.

BA.3.2 has already been reported in at least 23 countries, including 25 states in America, as per the report. It has also been detected in 132 wastewater samples from Massachusetts.

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The 25 states include California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming.

"Cicada can become the dominant strain in the US,” Dr. Robert H. Hopkins Jr., medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, told USA TODAY.

While it is not certain, it can also "drive a US summer surge.”

The CDC warned that a new variant "with substantial capacity to evade immunity from previous infections or vaccines could be associated with seasonal increases in COVID-19 activity.”

In the US, COVID-19 is still linked to roughly 300 to 500 deaths per week, according to recent data based on provisional estimates from the CDC.

Brandon Dionne, an associate clinical professor of pharmacy and health systems sciences at Northeastern University, stated that the virus may evolve and increase the possibility of more severe disease.

“It’s something we definitely want to monitor,” Dionne said. “It could, over time, become the dominant strain in the US, but it’s not yet there," he said.

Also read: COVID Variant BA.3.2 Spreads To 23 Countries: Is The Variant Under Monitoring A Cause Of Worry?

What Is The Cicada COVID Variant?

Cicada was first identified in a respiratory sample in South Africa in November 2024.

It is a descendant of the Omicron BA.3 lineage, and 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 World Health Organization (WHO) has designated BA.3.2 as a Variant Under Monitoring (VUM). It means the variant may not be that dangerous yet, but it may have concerning mutations.

The CDC’s latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report explains that Cicada has “70 to 75 substitutions and deletions in the gene sequence of its spike protein”.

Also read: Maternal Vaccination During Pregnancy Can Prevent COVID-related Hospitalization In Babies: Study

Will Current COVID Vaccines Work?

The variant is particularly concerning as it provides no immune protection to people with previous infection or even vaccination.

“The number of mutations from JN.1 viruses makes it less likely that the current vaccines will be highly effective against Cicada, but we need more data to better answer this question,” Dr. Hopkins Jr. said.

However, according to the WHO, current COVID vaccines are expected to continue protecting against severe disease. Moreover, the WHO said BA.3.2 doesn’t seem to be making people sicker so far and hasn’t resulted in increased hospitalizations and deaths.

Common symptoms of Cicada variant include:

• Cough
• Fever or chills
• Sore throat
• Congestion
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of smell or taste
• Fatigue
• Headache.