Second time in two years, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared mpox as a global health emergency. The virus has already killed over 600 people and new cases have been reported in Europe and Asia. As of September 3, as per WHO, there are a total of 102,997 laboratory-confirmed cases, 186 probable cases and 223 deaths globally. The global data is up to July 31.

Virus In The US Prison

With the cases being on the rise, the virus has been reported with confirmed cases at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility in the US. However, it is the less serious strain clade II that is detected, though the source and the reason for spread is unknown. The Fort Dodge Correction Facility is Iowa has a population of 1,251. However, the prison staff have told the local press that the situation is under control.

"We are actively managing the situation with robust health measures," said the Iowa Department of Corrections Chief of Staff Paul Conelius. "Affected individuals are receiving care, and enhanced sanitation and isolation protocols are in place to prevent further spread," he said.

As of now, mpox clade I is not found in the United States, however, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stated that when it is found, the virus will "cause lower morbidity and mortality in the United States" than it has in Africa.

What Is Mpox?

Mpox, a zoonotic disease primarily found in the tropical rainforests of central and west Africa, is generally a self-limiting illness, with symptoms lasting 2 to 4 weeks. The World Health Organisation declared it a global health emergency.

Signs And Prevention

There are certain common signs and symptoms of mpox, which show within 14 days of being infected. The signs include fever, sweating, chills throughout the body, rashes, swollen lymph nodes, migraine, muscle aches, fatigue, weakness and back pain.

The infection can spread by skin-to-skin contact, to prevent it, avoid close contact, and wear clothes that cover your skin.

Hydrate yourself, avoid social gatherings. Seek doctor’s help in case you suffer from extreme chills, body pain and fever.

Where Measures Is India Taking?

The centre has informed authorities in airports, ports and borders with Bangladesh and Pakistan to remain alert for the international passengers showing symptoms of mpox, as per a PTI report.

The ministry has also designated three Centre-run hospitals in Delhi - Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Medical College as the key centres for isolation for anyone showing mpox symptoms. These centres will manage and treat the mpox patients.

State governments have identified and designated similar hospitals within their regions.

The Principal Secretary to the PM, Dr PK Mishra also held a high-level review meeting to discuss India's preparedness for mpox and discussed preventive measures to ensure health safety.

Directions are also given for early diagnosis in 32 labs that are equipped with testing. The centre is also focusing on disseminating information on safety protocols and awareness among the healthcare providers to identify the symptoms and treatment of mpox.

The world has finally reached a milestone in the fight against malaria: the first-ever treatment specifically designed for newborns and very young infants has been approved. Until now, these vulnerable patients—often weighing less than 4.5 kilograms—were treated with medications intended for older children, risking overdoses and under-dosing due to immature metabolism. With the approval of Coartem Baby—also marketed as Riamet Baby—health authorities and families in malaria-endemic regions now have a safer, customized option.

Global malaria statistics are sobering. In 2023, there were approximately 263 million cases and 597,000 deaths worldwide—94% of cases and 95% of deaths occurred in Africa, and children under five accounted for nearly three-quarters of fatalities.

Treating infants using formulations developed for larger children carried significant risks. Their livers process drugs differently, making standardized dosing unreliable—and in some cases dangerous.

Developed by Novartis with support from Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), Coartem Baby combines artemether and lumefantrine in doses appropriate for infants weighing between 2 and 5 kg (4.4–11 lbs). Approved by Swissmedic under its Global Health Products fast-track, it is expected to swiftly receive authorization in eight African countries—including Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Its design addresses key challenges: the medicine dissolves easily—even when mixed into breast milk—has a sweet cherry flavor to aid dosing, and is suitable for field distribution

novartis.com.

Why It Matters Now?

This development marks a major advance in improving access to malaria care for the youngest and most vulnerable. Until now, infants under 11 pounds were unable to receive approved treatments or vaccines—which only start at five months of age.

Professor Umberto D’Alessandro from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine emphasized that immature liver function in newborns necessitates tailored dosing—older-child formulations are simply unsuitable.

This is a rare moment of alignment, easy-to-administer drug formulation, rapid regulatory approval, and readiness for deployment.

Malaria Drug for Babies: Dosing & Safety Trials

Approval was based on a combined Phase II/III trial—CALINA—which tested dosage accuracy and safety in infants between 2–5 kg. These trials confirmed that the drug is effective and safe when administered in adjusted doses for neonatal metabolism.

The core months of malaria treatment—during wet seasons—now will include safer options for infants, helping treat early-life P. falciparum infections before they evolve into severe disease.

While malaria vaccines—such as RTS,S (Mosquirix) and R21—have been rolled out for children aged five months and older, infants still face a vulnerability gap.

Preventive interventions like insecticide-treated nets and indoor spraying have saved lives—yet funding remains insufficient. The recent decline in malaria aid further threatens progress. In this context, Coartem Baby offers a practical treatment solution during peak malaria risk periods, when vaccine coverage may still be pending.

Novartis plans to introduce the drug largely on a not-for-profit basis, especially in African regions where it is most needed. Existing global health financing channels—like the Global Fund and PMI—will likely support distribution. However, sustaining coverage depends on ongoing investment.

With global aid tightening and climate change expanding malaria zones, this infant treatment could become vital—but only if maintained through consistent support.

Following Swiss approval, rapid reviews are underway in eight African countries, expected to conclude within 90 days. Monitoring effectiveness, adverse events, and real-world outcomes will be key. Longitudinal studies that track infant recovery, recurrence, and safety post-discharge will provide critical data.

Malaria poses a severe threat to infants, leading to high mortality rates if left untreated. With this new formulation, babies who previously lacked options can now receive age-appropriate, safe treatment—preferably administered in combination with preventive strategies like bed nets and future vaccines.

Because for malaria—and especially for its youngest victims—the difference between no care and the right care can mean life or death.

When researchers from the National Institutes of Health-funded ECHO program analyzed urine samples from 201 toddlers across four U.S. states, they expected to find some chemical exposure. What they didn’t expect was just how many—a staggering 96 different chemicals were detected in the bodies of children aged just 2 to 4.

More than 90% of the toddlers studied carried measurable levels of dozens of environmental toxins, including some that government health agencies don’t even routinely track. In some cases, children had higher concentrations of chemicals than their mothers did during pregnancy. These findings aren’t just alarming—they’re a wake-up call about the hidden toxic load that today’s children are inheriting, right from their earliest years.

The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, is part of the NIH's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program. It involved toddlers from California, Georgia, New York, and Washington, and was designed to examine how early-life environmental exposures may impact long-term child health.

Out of 111 chemicals tested, 96 were found in at least five children. Half of the children had at least 48 different chemicals in their bodies. Most concerningly, 34 chemicals—including nine not currently tracked in national health databases like NHANES—were present in over 90% of the toddlers.

Lead researcher Dr. Deborah H. Bennett of UC Davis didn’t mince words: “This is alarming because we know early childhood is a critical window for brain and body development. Many of these chemicals are known or suspected to interfere with hormones, brain development, and immune function.”

Where Are These Chemicals Coming From?

These aren’t exotic or industrial-only chemicals—they’re in your living room, your kitchen, your backyard, and even your diaper bag. The toddlers were found to be exposed to chemicals from:

Phthalates: Found in plastics, toys, and personal care items

Parabens: Used as preservatives in shampoos, lotions, and even some medications

Bisphenols (BPA, BPS): Found in food cans, plastic containers, and receipts

Benzophenones: Present in sunscreens and cosmetic products

Pesticides: From both home and agricultural use

Flame retardants (OPEs): Used in furniture and building materials

PAHs: A byproduct of fuel combustion, found in car exhaust, grilled food, and smoke

Antibacterials (like triclosan): Found in soaps and sanitizers

Children are uniquely vulnerable, their hands are constantly in their mouths, they crawl on floors, breathe closer to dust and soil, and absorb more per pound of body weight than adults. Daily routines like playing, eating, or even being wiped with baby products can lead to chemical accumulation.

The research didn’t just quantify exposure—it highlighted disturbing patterns. Chemical levels were often higher in 2-year-olds compared to 3- and 4-year-olds, suggesting early developmental stages are more vulnerable.

Firstborn children had fewer toxins than their younger siblings, possibly due to environmental buildup over time in shared homes.

Racial and ethnic disparities were evident. Children from minority communities had higher levels of parabens, phthalates, and PAHs—likely due to product differences and environmental inequities.

While some harmful chemical levels (like triclosan and older phthalates) declined from 2010 to 2021, new chemicals are taking their place, such as DINCH (a BPA alternative), newer pesticides, and herbicides like 2,4-D.

Emerging "safer" replacements for older banned substances are now raising red flags of their own.

Why Are Children Carrying More Chemicals Than Their Mothers?

One of the most sobering findings? Children had higher levels of several chemicals than their mothers did during pregnancy—including phthalates, BPA substitutes, and pesticide markers like trans-DCCA. This suggests a growing toxic load in the environment—and in products specifically targeted toward children.

According to Jiwon Oh, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis and first author of the study, “These exposures aren’t just numbers on a chart—they translate into real biological consequences. We’ve linked these same substances to hormone disruption, developmental delays, and even long-term metabolic and cognitive risks.”

The scope of chemical exposure in toddlers paints a grim picture. While most parents do their best to ensure a safe environment, they are up against a system that doesn’t sufficiently regulate what goes into everyday items. The study’s authors are calling for expanded biomonitoring, stronger product regulations, and mandatory labeling to give consumers clearer choices.

The regulatory gap is especially problematic for new and “alternative” chemicals. Just because a product is BPA-free or phthalate-free doesn’t mean it’s safe. Substitutes like BPS or DINCH are often introduced without comprehensive long-term safety data.

What Can Parents Do To Prevent This?

While you can’t eliminate every chemical exposure, there are steps families can take to reduce risk:

Read labels: Look for “phthalate-free,” “paraben-free,” and “fragrance-free” where possible.

Avoid plastics labeled #3, #6, or #7: These may contain BPA or similar compounds.

Ventilate your home and use HEPA filters when feasible.

Wash produce thoroughly and consider organic options to reduce pesticide exposure.

Encourage handwashing, especially before meals or after playing outside.

Clean with a damp cloth instead of dry dusting to avoid spreading chemical residues from surfaces.

It’s not about paranoia—it’s about informed action in a largely unregulated space.

This research arrives at a time when public trust in product safety and environmental oversight is already shaky. And it’s forcing a new conversation: Should we be doing more to protect our youngest and most vulnerable?

A new study has found that the overall health of children in the United States has declined over the past 17 years. The reasons? Rising obesity rates to increased mental health issues like depression and anxiety, American kids today are grappling with a broader range of health concerns than ever before.

How Was The Study Conducted?

The research, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) on Monday, was led by Dr. Christopher Forrest of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The study is one of the most comprehensive examinations of children's health in the U.S. to date. Using data from eight different sources—including national surveys, electronic health records from 10 pediatric systems, and international mortality statistics—the researchers analyzed 170 indicators of child health.

The findings offer a sobering overview, painting a clear picture of a consistent decline in physical and mental well-being among American children from 2007 to 2023.

What Did The Study Find?

Here are some of the most concerning findings from the study:

Obesity on the Rise: The percentage of children aged 2 to 19 who are obese jumped from 17% in 2007-08 to about 21% by 2021-23.

More Chronic Illnesses: Kids in 2023 were 15% to 20% more likely than kids in 2011 to be diagnosed with chronic conditions like anxiety, depression, or sleep apnea.

General Health Decline: The number of children affected by at least one of 97 chronic conditions increased from 40% to 46% over the study period.

Mental Health Red Flags: Reports of depressive symptoms, early puberty, loneliness, and trouble sleeping all saw significant increases.

Higher Death Risk: American kids were about 1.8 times more likely to die than their peers in other high-income nations. Infants born prematurely or those who experienced sudden unexpected deaths were more common in the U.S., and older kids faced a greater risk of dying due to firearms and car crashes.

The Study Results Are A Health Warning

“This isn’t just about one health issue—it’s about all of them moving in the wrong direction,” said Dr. Forrest. “The real surprise wasn’t in any single data point, but in how universally the data shows kids' health getting worse.”

The researchers believe these troubling trends are a reflection of larger problems within American society—ranging from poor nutrition and lack of exercise to increased screen time and systemic barriers to healthcare.

“Children are the canaries in the coal mine,” Forrest explained. “When their health changes, it signals deeper societal issues.”

National Policy in Question

Earlier this year, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. released the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) report, warning that children in the U.S. are “undernourished and overmedicated.” While this report has brought much-needed attention to the topic, experts say that current government policies might be doing more harm than good.

Dr. Frederick Rivara, a pediatrician and researcher at Seattle Children’s Hospital, co-authored an editorial published alongside the study. “The health of kids in America is not as good as it should be and definitely not on par with other countries,” he said. “And the current policies of this administration are likely to make it worse.”

According to the editorial, the MAHA campaign’s focus on chronic illness is undercut by policies that eliminate injury prevention programs, cut maternal health services, reduce funding for infant death prevention, and promote vaccine hesitancy.

A Call for Community-Led Change

Forrest believes that addressing the problem will require more than national policies—it needs a ground-up approach. “We need to examine the environment children are growing up in, starting at the neighborhood level,” he said. “Let’s think of children’s health the way we think of ecological sustainability. If the ecosystem is unhealthy, so are the kids.”

Though the study does have limitations and may not fully represent every demographic across the U.S., experts like Dr. James Perrin of the American Academy of Pediatrics agree: “The basic finding is true,” he said. “Children’s health in America is getting worse—and we need to act.”