The US is again gripped in the news due to yet another listeria outbreak due to the Trader Joe's Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Fettucine Alfredo. On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an update that showed that the recent listeria outbreak has led to 20 cases, including 19 hospitalizations and four deaths. As of now, the outbreak is spanned over 15 states.

The CDC noted that while the products that are linked to the outbreak may no longer be in the stores, it could be in consumers' fridges or freezers, if they have purchased recently. The update notes that recalled products must be thrown away or returned at the place of purchase.

The CDC update also notes that consumers must not eat the food and must clean their refrigerator, containers and surfaces that may have touched the affected surface of the contaminated food. As these bacteria can survive in the fridge due to cold temperature and also spread on to other foods or surfaces.

The Marketside meatball linguine was also recalled from Walmart. As of now the products bearing the "best by" dates of:

• September 20
• September 24
• September 27

What Is Listeria?

As per the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), listeria is a type of disease-causing bacteria that can be found in many places. These places include soil, water, sewage, rotting vegetation, and animals. It can also survive and in fact grow in under refrigeration. It is caused by Listeria monocytogenes, which can thrive in unsanitary food production conditions and lead to contamination of food. People who consumed the contaminated food could develop a disease called listeriosis.

L. monocytogenes is transmitted when food is harvested, processed, prepared, packed, transported or stored in manufacturing or production environments contaminated with L. monocytogenes. Environment can also become contaminated by raw materials, water, soil, and incoming air. Pets can also spread the bacteria in the home if they eat food contaminated with L. monocytogenes.

Listeria: What Are The Symptoms?

There are two ways in which Listeriosis can present:

Non-invasive gastrointestinal listeriosis: the milder form, limited to the digestive system.

Invasive listeriosis: the more dangerous form, which occurs when the bacteria spread beyond the intestines to other parts of the body.

Symptoms

Non-invasive listeriosis mostly has short-lived symptoms:

• fever
• muscle aches
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea

These symptoms usually last for 1 to 3 days.

Invasive listeriosis is a more severe form and could be life-threatening. The symptoms include:

• headache
• stiff neck
• confusion
• loss of balance
• seizures.

This type is more dangerous towards newborns, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems.

Who Is Most at Risk?

There are certain groups who are at more risk than others for Listeriosis, they are:

• Pregnant women and their unborn or newborn babies
• Adults aged 65 and older
• People with weakened immune systems
• Pregnant Women and Newborns

Leading pharmaceutical companies are preparing to increase the prices of hundreds of prescription medicines in the United States, even as the Trump administration continues to push for lower drug costs.

Hundreds of Medicines Affected

Prices for at least 350 branded drugs are expected to rise, including vaccines for Covid-19 and shingles, as well as the cancer medication Ibrance. Some of these increases will take effect from January 1, according to figures shared with Reuters by healthcare research firm 3 Axis Advisors.

Price Hikes Climb Compared to Last Year

The data indicates that planned price increases for 2026 have climbed compared to the same period last year, when drugmakers had disclosed hikes for more than 250 medicines. This year, the typical price rise is about 4 percent, roughly in line with increases seen in 2025.

US Patients Pay the Highest Costs

Patients in the U.S. continue to pay significantly more for prescription medicines than those in other developed countries, often close to three times as much, Reuters reported. Reducing these costs is something Donald Trump has repeatedly promised to address.

White House Announces New Agreements

Earlier this month, the White House said it had reached fresh agreements with nine major pharmaceutical companies to bring down prescription drug prices for Americans. The companies named were Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, and Sanofi.

Companies Still Raising Prices

The administration said these agreements were designed to support Medicaid, which serves low-income Americans, as well as people who pay for medicines in cash. However, data from 3 Axis Advisors shows that several of the same companies, including Pfizer, Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, and GSK, are also planning to raise prices on certain medicines from January 1.

Expert Criticism

“These deals are being presented as game-changing, but in reality they barely touch the deeper issues that keep prescription drug prices so high in the U.S.,” said Dr. Benjamin Rome, a health policy researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, in comments to Reuters.

Pfizer Leads in Number of Hikes

Pfizer is set to introduce the highest number of list price increases, covering around 80 medicines. These include the cancer drug Ibrance, migraine treatment Nurtec, and Covid-19 therapy Paxlovid, along with hospital-used drugs such as morphine and hydromorphone. Most of Pfizer’s planned increases are under 10 percent. An exception is its Covid-19 vaccine Comirnaty, which will see a price jump of about 15 percent. The company said the average list price rise for its innovative medicines and vaccines in 2026 would remain below overall inflation, describing the increases as modest.

GSK Price Hikes

GSK, based in Europe, said it plans to raise prices on roughly 20 drugs and vaccines, with increases ranging from 2 percent to 8.9 percent. The company said it remains committed to fair pricing and added that the hikes are necessary to continue funding scientific research and innovation.

The Independent has reached out to the White House and the pharmaceutical companies named by Reuters for comment on the reported price increases.

A widely used medication prescribed to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease may trigger uncomfortable side effects in some people, including nosebleeds. In England, around 5.3 million people are currently taking statins, a group of drugs designed to help bring cholesterol levels down.

What Is Atorvastatin?

Atorvastatin, sold under brand names such as Lipitor, is a commonly prescribed statin medication. Doctors use it to lower cholesterol levels and help reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular problems, as per Mayo Clinic.

Atorvastatin: What Atorvastatin Is Prescribed For?

Atorvastatin is commonly prescribed to people with raised cholesterol, as well as those who have a family history of heart disease or long-term conditions such as diabetes or arthritis. NHS guidance explains that the medicine is usually taken as a tablet, with chewable options available for people who struggle to swallow pills.

High cholesterol can cause fatty deposits to build up in blood vessels, increasing the risk of serious complications such as heart attacks and strokes. It is also a major factor in cardiovascular disease, which is responsible for more than a quarter of all deaths in England.

Atorvastatin Possible Side Effects

While atorvastatin is effective at lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, it is not suitable for everyone. Like many medicines, it can cause side effects in some people, particularly when taken over long periods. Others may take it for years without noticing any problems at all.

People Advised To Avoid Atorvastatin

The NHS advises that atorvastatin is generally not recommended during pregnancy, as it may pose risks to a developing baby. If someone becomes pregnant while taking the drug, they are advised to stop using it and speak to a doctor as soon as possible.

Alternative treatments may be offered during pregnancy. Women may also be advised to stop taking atorvastatin while breastfeeding. It is not yet clear how much of the drug passes into breast milk or whether it could cause side effects in infants.

When To Speak To A Doctor

NHS guidance stresses the importance of seeking medical advice if you are taking atorvastatin and are trying to conceive, are already pregnant, or are breastfeeding. You should also speak to a doctor before taking atorvastatin if you:

• Have lung disease
• Have previously had a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain
• Have experienced muscle-related side effects from statins in the past
• Have ever had an allergic reaction to atorvastatin or another medicine
• Have a history of myasthenia gravis or ocular myasthenia
• Have an underactive thyroid
• Have ever been diagnosed with a muscle disorder, including fibromyalgia
• Regularly drink large amounts of alcohol
• Have liver or kidney problems

Disclaimer:

This information is for general awareness only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a qualified doctor or healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.

More than 2,000 measles cases have been recorded in the United States this year, according to federal health data, marking the highest annual total the country has seen in several decades.

Active outbreaks, most notably in upstate South Carolina and in communities along the Arizona-Utah border — are continuing to report new infections each week. Health officials warn that this sustained spread could jeopardise the measles elimination status the US has maintained for the past 25 years.

Measles Cases Surge Past 2,000 In The US

As of December 30, a total of 2,065 confirmed measles cases had been reported nationwide in 2026, based on figures released Wednesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The last time annual measles infections crossed the 2,000 mark was in 1992, shortly after public health authorities revised vaccination guidance to recommend two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine for children instead of one.

Measles: How Effective Is The Measles Vaccine?

Measles is among the most infectious diseases known, but it can be prevented through vaccination. The CDC says a single dose of the MMR vaccine is about 93 percent effective at preventing measles, while two doses increase protection to 97 percent. Despite this, immunisation coverage has been slipping steadily over recent years.

Measles In US: Falling vaccination rates raise concern

CDC data shows that during the last school year, only 92.5 percent of children entering kindergarten had received the MMR vaccine. This falls below the 95 percent coverage level that public health experts say is needed to prevent outbreaks and protect communities through herd immunity.

Measles In US: Why Elimination Status Is Now At Risk

The US has been considered measles-free since 2000, a designation that means no continuous chains of transmission have lasted longer than a year. However, several large outbreaks reported this year may be linked, raising concerns that ongoing transmission could persist beyond late January and threaten that status.

One major outbreak that began in West Texas in late January was officially declared over in mid-August. That outbreak led to hundreds of related cases across Texas and New Mexico and resulted in three deaths — two children and one adult — all of whom were unvaccinated.

In early October, South Carolina’s health department confirmed a measles outbreak in the state’s upstate region. Over the past four months, that outbreak has grown to nearly 180 cases and continues to spread. At least 20 new infections have been reported since Friday, and close to 300 people are currently in quarantine due to exposure to confirmed cases.

“We know that many of the cases we are seeing involve people who were already under quarantine because of known exposure,” said Dr Linda Bell, South Carolina’s state epidemiologist, speaking on Tuesday. She added that the virus is spreading within households as well as in schools and churches.

Another significant outbreak remains active along the Utah-Arizona border, where more than 350 measles cases have been reported between the two states so far this year.

Canada Loses Measles-Free Status

In November, the Pan American Health Organization, which operates under the World Health Organization, announced that Canada had lost its measles elimination status due to a large and ongoing outbreak.

“At the same time, the remaining 34 countries in the region continue to hold their measles-free certification,” said PAHO Director Dr Jarbas Barbosa.

Health officials say potential genetic connections between the Texas outbreak earlier this year and the ongoing outbreak in South Carolina could pose a serious challenge to the US designation.

“The trend we are seeing suggests that more cases are likely to occur well into January,” Bell said. “What that means for our national status as a country that has eliminated measles is still uncertain.”