US pharma major Eli Lilly launched the much-awaited diabetes and obesity management drug Mounjaro in India on Thursday at one-fifth of the US price. The company rolled out the drug in a single-dose vial following the marketing authorisation from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). It has been priced at Rs 3,500 for a 2.5 mg vial and Rs 4,375 for a 5 mg vial. "It is a first-of-its-kind treatment for obesity, overweight, and type 2 diabetes that activates both GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) hormone receptors," the company said.

What Is Mounjaro And How Is It Different From Ozempic?

Like Ozempic and Wegovy, Mounjaro is also a weight-loss drug. However, like the other two, it is not a semaglutide. It is a Tirzepatide. Another difference is that instead of working as a single receptor agonist, it works on two hormones. Muanjaro activates both GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) hormone receptor agonists, leading to an increase in the production of insulin when needed. It also reduces the amount of glucose, or sugar, produced by the liver, and slows down how quickly food is digested. This all helps to lower blood sugar levels and HbA1c. Notably, the fact that it works on two receptors doubles its efficiency than semaglutide like Ozempic and Wegovy.

How Much Would Mounjaro Cost Per Month?

The drug, usually taken once a week, would cost in the range of Rs 14,000 to Rs 17,500 for a month’s therapy depending on the dosage recommended by the doctor. The average monthly price of Mounjaro in the US is around 1000-1200 dollars a month (or Rs 86000-1 lakh."This India-specific pricing reflects Lilly’s commitment to expanding access to innovative treatments in the country," the company said, adding that it is not yet going ahead with any local collaboration for marketing and distributing the drug. "We are committed to expanding access to innovative treatments in India. At this stage, we do not have any partnership announcements regarding Mounjaro (tirzepatide)," the company said. As of now, adults over the age of 18 years with type 2 diabetes can take Mounjaro. However, since it is now rebranded and launched as an anti-obesity drug then it is not clear who would be able to take it. An official statement on usage is awaited.

How Big Is the Anti-Obesity Market In India?

With obesity rates rising in India, the market for weight loss drugs has grown exponentially in the country. Novo Nordisk's oral semaglutide tablet, Rybelsus, launched in India in January 2022, has already captured nearly 65 per cent of the anti-obesity drugs market, which includes other weight-loss medications such as dulaglutide, orlistat, and liraglutide. Notably, Ozempic the most popular drug in this criteria is not officially launched in the country.

India is seeing a new surge in COVID-19 cases, with active cases reaching over 3,395 as of May 31 — nearly three times the number in a little over two weeks. Kerala, Maharashtra, and Delhi have turned into the biggest hotspots, even though health authorities continue to insist that severity is low. The increase, while not alarming in terms of hospitalizations, has seen India's health authorities keeping a closer watch with the identification of new Omicron subvariants and local clusters of cases.

With a sharp spike in active cases India is back on the global health radar. Though the numbers are still low compared to earlier waves, the rising trend in a number of states, along with the identification of new Omicron subvariants, is worth examining.

India has witnessed an increase in active COVID-19 cases threefold in the last two weeks, from 1,010 on May 19 to 3,395 on May 31, with official government data. The rise is specifically prominent in Kerala, Maharashtra, and Delhi — regions that have typically been early warning signs of wider transmission trends within the country.

Kerala, which currently holds the highest number of active cases at 1,336, has seen a surge from just 430 cases reported on May 26. Maharashtra follows closely with 467 active cases, more than doubling from its 209 count just days ago. Delhi’s trajectory is also concerning, with a leap from 105 to 375 cases in the same period.

Although these figures are still small compared to the peak of the pandemic, the week-on-week surge suggests a possible first wave of transmission that is being watched closely by experts.

The Current Clinical Scenario

As much as there has been an increase in case numbers, the severity of infection is still low, highlight the Indian health officials and experts. Majority of the patients are recovering under home isolation and only a few need hospitalization.

Official sources and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) indicated that there is "no cause for concern" in terms of public health emergency. ICMR Director General Dr. Rajiv Bahl provided assurances to the public, saying, "As of now, the severity is generally low. There's nothing to worry about. We should be vigilant and always be prepared."

This indicates that even as the rate of transmission could be increasing, the healthcare system is not getting strained, and the virus remains following a clinically milder pattern than in earlier waves.

Where Cases Are Rising?

India's new COVID-19 scenario is extremely regionalized, with southern and western states witnessing initial hints of flare-ups prior to infections starting to rise in northern India.

Here's a closer examination of major states:

Kerala: From 430 cases on May 26 to 1,336 on May 31. Six fatalities have been reported.

Maharashtra: Cases went from 209 to 467; seven deaths have been reported.

Delhi: Triplication of cases, from 105 to 375, with three deaths.

Karnataka: From 47 to 234 active cases in under a week.

Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab have all experienced moderate increases.

These figures do not only reflect an increase in transmission but a geographical spread that crosses urban and semi-urban hubs, increasing the stakes for surveillance and containment.

Four COVID deaths in India in the past 24 hours — one in each of Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh. Although deaths are still in single digits, the number of deaths in this new spike includes:

• Kerala (6 deaths since May 26)
• Maharashtra (7 deaths)
• Karnataka and Delhi (3 deaths each)
• Other states like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab (1 death each)

With the present low rates of hospitalization and minimal clinical severity, these deaths are being assessed in the context of co-morbidities and age-related susceptibility.

Is Multi-Variant Spread Behind the Covid Surge In India?

Epidemiologists are particularly interested in understanding whether new variants may be fueling this latest uptick. According to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), two new Omicron subvariants have been detected in India:

NB.1.8.1: Detected in Tamil Nadu in April

LF.7: Four cases detected in Gujarat in May

Globally, these variants have contributed to a rise in infections in Southeast Asian countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, and parts of China.

Still, the World Health Organization (WHO) now categorizes both NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 as "variants under monitoring" rather than "variants of concern" or "variants of interest." The WHO's current position is that:

"Based on the evidence available, the added public health risk from NB.1.8.1 is assessed as low at a global level."

The most common circulating strain in India is JN.1, with 53% of the sequenced cases, followed by BA.2 with 26%, while the rest of the 20% consists of other Omicron sublineages.

Surveillance and Public Health Strategy

India's response to the ongoing surge is being organized through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). The government is focusing on genomic sequencing, local containment strategies, and respiratory hygiene awareness.

Public health messaging remains on high alert but against panic. No restrictions on travel, lockdowns, or new public orders have been implemented thus far.

Dr. Bahl once again reinforced, "People do not need to take any immediate action. They should follow normal precautions. So, there is nothing special to do right now."

That means maintaining current best practices like handwashing, mask-wearing in close indoor environments, and self-isolation when symptomatic.

Should the World Be Concerned Now?

For the global community, India's recent development is a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the pandemic. Although the world has largely left behind COVID-19 as an emergency, localized outbreaks in densely populated areas like India can ripple outward — particularly if emerging variants start to demonstrate greater transmissibility or immune escape.

The positive news still is that vaccines continue to provide strong protection against severe illness, and India's national immunization program has maintained high coverage in adult groups. However, ongoing genomic surveillance and real-time data transparency will remain crucial to avert larger outbreaks.

India's COVID-19 surge, while of limited magnitude and clinical severity, is a multifaceted convergence of regional patterns of transmission, emerging variant sequences, and preparedness in public health. With cases being largely mild and mortality rates low, the nation's health care system is still in hand but not resting on its laurels.

In the meantime, there is no cause for global alarm. Nevertheless, India's experience should prompt health systems everywhere to remain on high alert, keep genomic surveillance going, and inform the public in a transparent manner. The virus is evolving, but so is our combined ability to deal with it.

The ripple effects of President Donald Trump’s second-term policies continue to unsettle public health agencies nationwide. While the country is still grappling with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, health officials say recent federal funding cuts are threatening the very infrastructure designed to protect Americans from future crises.

What began as reductions at the federal level has extended to state and local health departments. Roughly $12 billion in federal health funding has been earmarked for elimination, although some of these cuts are on temporary hold due to legal challenges. Local officials warn that even the threat of funding withdrawals is enough to destabilize long-term public health efforts.

Chicago’s Cook County Health Feels the Impact

One of the largest public health systems in the U.S., Cook County Health in Chicago, is already feeling the strain. Dr. Erik Mikaitis, CEO of the system, told the US News that two major grants totaling $31 million were abruptly pulled in March. Although the grants were scheduled to end in a few months, the early termination forced the system to speed up its transition plans.

“We were already in a planning stage,” said Mikaitis, “but we just had to accelerate that a little bit.” He noted that while they expect to retain all employees funded through the grants, outreach efforts have taken a hit. The programs, largely aimed at infectious disease prevention and health literacy, are now scaled back.

Shrinking Resources, Growing Needs

Mikaitis stressed that federal support underpins a broad range of public health functions—from vaccinations and infectious disease control to food and water safety. The withdrawal of funding creates downstream effects across the health system.

“Without public health being robust and able to intervene, we run the risk of having a sicker population,” he said. Smaller clinical sites, already stretched thin, may face closures under the added burden. “And when you reflect that against federal discussions on Medicaid cuts, that creates almost a double impact.”

Bracing for Deeper Cuts

Faced with uncertainty, Cook County Health is preparing for worst-case scenarios. “We’ve taken the tack of really looking at efficiencies—how do we gain revenues before we even look at trying to cut anything,” said Mikaitis. Still, there is concern that deeper cuts, particularly in Medicaid reimbursements, could force reductions in services.

Grants currently fund about a third of the Cook County Department of Public Health’s budget. As those funds disappear, essential functions such as infectious disease surveillance may be at risk.

Long-Term Prevention at Risk

Mikaitis pointed to another looming threat: the potential collapse of preventive care and chronic disease management. Cook County is exploring internal synergies—such as integrating the health plan with public health operations—to cushion the blow.

But he warned that if Medicaid cuts proceed and more people lose coverage, fewer will seek preventive care. “Are we going to be focusing on controlling high blood pressure,” he asked, “or treating strokes and heart attacks?”

For many health officials like Mikaitis, the choice between prevention and crisis response is no choice at all—it’s a compromise no community can afford to make.

Every year on May 31, the world observes the World No Tobacco Day. As per the World Health Organization, this yearly celebration informs the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, what WHO is doing in order to fight the tobacco epidemic, and what people around the world can do to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations.

World No Tobacco Day 2025: Theme

This year's theme is 'Bright products. Dark Intentions. Unmasking the Appeal'. This theme especially focuses on the hidden dangers of tobacco products that often go unnoticed due to its packaging and flavors.

Also Read: How “Safe” Vaping Is Hooking A New Generation On Nicotine?

The WHO website mentions: "Shameless manipulation of our children, for industry profit. Every day, tobacco and nicotine industries use carefully engineered products and deceptive tactics to hook a new generation of users and keep existing ones. Keep the industry out."

In fact, a 2017 study published in Author Manuscript, titled: Self-Reported Reasons for Vaping Among 8th, 10th, and 12th Graders in the US: Nationally-Representative Results, notes that most common reason for young people smoking a vape is because of its taste, and their reasons include that it "looks cool".

World No Tobacco Day History

The WHO website notes that the Member States of the WHO created the World No Tobacco Day in 1987. The aim was to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes.

It was in 1987, when the World Health Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38, and called for 7 April 1988 to be a "world no smoking day". In 1988, Resolution WHA42.19 was also passed that called for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May.

Why Is World No Tobacco Day Important?

The WHO notes that on an estimate, 37 million children aged 13 to 15 years worldwide use tobacco. In many countries the rates of e-cigarette exceeds in young people than that of in adults. In fact, marketing content promotes e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches and heated tobacco products as appealing and they have been viewed more than 3.4 billion times on social media.

As per the National Cancer Institute, tobacco use is also the leading cause of cancer and of death from cancer. An Indian Paras Health's survey reveals that between 900 to 1000 patients who undergo cancer screening, and more than 75% of them are diagnosed with tobacco-related cancer that is present in advanced stage.

The hospital notes that tobacco use continues to exert a devastating toll on health, extending beyond cancer to include cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, diabetes, infections, delayed wound healing, and complications ranging from dental and reproductive issues to mental health disorders, hearing and vision loss, and even premature death. These conditions often complicate treatment and hinder recovery.

The World No Tobacco Day, thus serves as a commitment to creating a tobacco-free community and also urges to prioritize regular screenings, as well as commits to quitting tobacco and choose a healthier lifestyle.