New WHO Guidelines Reveal The Blueprint To Manage Dengue, Chikungunya, Yellow Fever And Zika

Updated Jul 15, 2025 | 06:00 AM IST

SummaryWHO has released its first unified clinical guidelines for managing dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever, aiming to improve early diagnosis, standardize care, and strengthen global outbreak preparedness.
New WHO Guidelines Reveal The Blueprint To Manage Dengue, Chikungunya, Yellow Fever And Zika

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first set of clinical management guidelines on arboviral diseases—a broad initiative to enhance care and readiness for conditions like dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever. With climate change, urbanization, and enhanced mobility around the globe adding to the growing number of cases and geographic expansion of these diseases, the guidelines are timely.

These arboviral diseases are mostly spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is infamous for carrying more than one virus at once. With more than 5.6 billion individuals globally at risk, the WHO's holistic framework is in place to enhance front-line response and standardize treatment for both minor and major cases.

Why Arboviral Diseases Are a Growing Global Health Concern?

Arboviral infections no longer belong to the tropical and subtropical world. With increasing global temperatures, water mismanagement, and urban densification, the breeding sites of Aedes mosquitoes have been extended to newly affected areas, introducing the risk of viral epidemics in these areas.

The four predominant diseases covered—dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever—often have overlapping symptoms, particularly in the initial stages. Fever, rash, joint pain, and headache may look very similar across these infections so that clinical distinction becomes difficult without appropriate tests.

These infections are not only increasing in frequency and severity, but they're also becoming more simultaneous. Co-circulation of two or more viruses in the same populations increases the risk of misdiagnosis and delayed intervention, emphasizing the necessity of integrated and harmonized care guidelines.

What the New WHO Guidelines Say

The guidelines are the result of much research and evidence-based advice aimed at supporting health professionals, policymakers, and public health authorities. They provide a systematic, patient-focused method of managing arboviral diseases, from the recognition of symptoms to sophisticated supportive care.

One of the greatest advantages of the new WHO guidelines is that they are highly adaptable. They are so adapted to operate in high-resource and low-resource environments equally, and they offer context-specific tools that frontline health workers can apply right away.

Treatment Protocols for Non-Severe Cases

For the treatment of those presenting with mild and moderate symptoms, the guidelines suggest oral rehydration with protocolized fluid regimens to avoid dehydration, a frequent hazard in arboviral infections. Paracetamol or metamizole is recommended for the relief of fever and pain, whereas NSAIDs and corticosteroids are contraindicated because of their potential for complications.

The recommendations emphasize the need to track vital parameters such as capillary refill time and lactate concentration, utilizing these parameters to modulate fluid therapy dynamically. Significantly, crystalloid fluids are recommended over colloid fluids in intravenous rehydration.

Treat Severe Cases with Accuracy

In cases of shock or organ failure, the guidelines suggest a passive leg raise test to check fluid responsiveness prior to IV fluid administration. Corticosteroids and immunoglobulins are not recommended even in critical illness because there is not enough evidence to recommend their use and they may pose risks.

Platelet transfusion can be avoided except in cases of active bleeding, even in the presence of low counts—a common occurrence among dengue patients. Intravenous N-acetylcysteine is recommended for liver failure caused by yellow fever. Experimental treatments such as monoclonal antibody TY014 and sofosbuvir are recognized but should be employed only within clinical trial environments.

These recommendations offer not only practical steps for clinical care but also a strategic guide for health administrators and government. Their publication is especially timely, considering the increasing danger of arboviral outbreaks that could spiral into regional epidemics or worldwide pandemics.

As per the WHO, harmonized care standards within countries will make health systems more capable of managing concurrent outbreaks of more than one arboviral disease. This will enhance patient outcomes, reduce the strain on healthcare infrastructure, and rationalize resource distribution during emergencies.

Implications for Global Health Policy

Although the guidelines are oriented around clinical management, their larger significance is that they have the power to inform public health policy and funding directions. Nations may now base their national preparedness plans on a standard global model that guarantees surveillance, diagnosis, and response systems are aligned and efficient.

Implementation of these protocols into health plans at the national level can also support training programs for health staff, reinforce laboratory capabilities, and enhance the quality and range of available essential medicines and supplies. In the long run, this could heavily alleviate the burden of arboviral disease on public health systems and economies.

The WHO accepts that the guidelines are a living document. As fresh clinical evidence accumulates and new treatments are discovered, the guidelines will be regularly revised to incorporate the most recent scientific knowledge.

For areas already struggling with arboviral disease, application of these guidelines may significantly enhance patient outcomes and minimize mortality. For areas poised on the verge of arboviral emergence, the protocols provide a pre-emptive guide to preparedness.

The WHO's global clinical guidelines for arboviral diseases represent a major step forward in international coordination of health. By providing evidence-based, standardized protocols, they equip clinicians and policymakers with the means to address more effectively the increasing menace of mosquito-borne illness. As climate change and globalization further remake the epidemiological topography of infectious disease, this globalized approach is needed and long overdue.

From Southeast Asia's frontline physicians to Latin America's health ministers, the globe now shares a single playbook to combat one of the 21st century's most enduring public health problems. And it could be the difference between containment and crisis.

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FDA Considers Autism Warning On Tylenol; Maker Raises Concerns

Updated Oct 21, 2025 | 07:57 PM IST

SummaryKenvue, the maker of Tylenol, is pushing back against an FDA proposal to update its safety label with a potential link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism or ADHD in children. The company cites decades of research supporting the drug’s safety, while the FDA and public petitions highlight ongoing debate and scrutiny over the issue.

Credits: Canva

Kenvue, the American company behind Tylenol, says the US Food and Drug Administration should not make proposed changes to the product’s safety label reflecting research about a possible link between its use during pregnancy and autism or ADHD diagnoses in children.

The company emphasizes that acetaminophen, the generic name for Tylenol, also called paracetamol is “one of the most studied medicines in history” and argues that adopting the proposed label warning would be arbitrary, capricious, and unlawful.

Tylenol generates roughly $1 billion annually for Kenvue and remains the company’s top-selling brand, according to Morningstar. The current label advises pregnant or breastfeeding individuals to “ask a health professional before use.”

Kenvue: Push for Label Change Sparks Attention

The call for a label change gained attention after former President Donald Trump held a news conference last month, telling pregnant women in pain to try to “tough it out” instead of taking Tylenol, even though acetaminophen is widely considered the safest over-the-counter pain reliever during pregnancy.

Trump claimed, without evidence, that taking Tylenol during pregnancy is linked to a “very increased risk of autism.” “Fight like hell not to take it,” he urged.

Most pregnant people use acetaminophen at some point, studies show. Other common pain or fever treatments, such as ibuprofen or regular-dose aspirin, can increase the risk of serious complications during pregnancy. Untreated pain or fever can also be dangerous, possibly leading to miscarriage, birth defects, or high blood pressure.

Kenvue And Tylenol: FDA and Public Health Actions

Beginning the process to change acetaminophen labels was one of several steps the Trump administration planned. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said his agency would also launch a public service campaign about the issue.

The FDA sent a letter to physicians noting that the decision to take Tylenol “still belongs with parents,” while also warning that its use during pregnancy may carry an “increased risk of neurological conditions such as autism and ADHD in children.”

However, the letter stressed that “a causal relationship has not been established” and that studies examining a potential link are “contradictory,” as per CNN.

Citizen Petition Filed

The Informed Consent Action Network, an anti-vaccine nonprofit closely tied to Kennedy, filed a citizen petition with the FDA on the same day as Trump’s news conference. Citizen petitions allow individuals, industry groups, or consumer organizations to request FDA action on specific issues.

The petition claimed that, because of “urgent public health implications,” the FDA should add a warning to acetaminophen labels stating that “studies show that frequent use of this product during pregnancy may increase your child’s risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.”

Kenvue Responds

On Friday, Kenvue formally asked the FDA to deny the petition, saying that the proposed label changes are unsupported by scientific evidence and would represent a departure from the FDA’s longstanding position on acetaminophen during pregnancy. The company said it had met with Kennedy in early September after he suggested a link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism, and Kenvue informed him there was no such connection.

FDA Guidance and Global Response

The FDA website on acetaminophen has not been updated to reflect the Trump administration’s views. The last update, in August, states, “to date, FDA has not found clear evidence that appropriate use of acetaminophen during pregnancy causes adverse pregnancy, birth, neurobehavioral, or developmental outcomes.” Acetaminophen has been studied for decades, and according to the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, no reputable study has concluded that its use in any trimester causes neurodevelopmental disorders in children.

Following Trump’s news conference, medicine regulatory agencies in the European Union, United Kingdom, and Canada quickly released statements confirming that acetaminophen remains safe for pregnant individuals.

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Blind Patients With Vision Loss May Have A Chance To Read Again, Study Found 80% Could With New Technology

Updated Oct 21, 2025 | 01:15 PM IST

SummaryProgressive vision loss is more common than we think. Many people suffer through it because there are little to no corrective measures. However, a new study may have helped take a huge step towards helping people who are slowly losing their vision to read again, here is what you need to know.
Blind Patients With Vision Loss May Have A Chance To Read Again, Study Found 80% Could With New Technology

(Credit-Canva)

Vision impairment is an issue that many people don’t understand. Most people view vision loss as absolute, either you can see or you cannot. However, there are other conditions where a person has slightly less vision and also severe visual impairment. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 2.2 billion people in the world have near or distance impairment and according to their statistics, 1 billion of these cases could have been addressed. Taking a step towards this same cause, a new technology has been created, which could help people who have slowly lost their sight to read again.

A new study has been published in The New England Journal of Medicine, announcing a huge step forward for people with Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This is a common disease that causes people to lose their central vision over time. The groundbreaking result of the study was that dozens of patients who took part in the study were able to get some of their sight back. This was achieved by using a brand-new system that combines an eye implant with special smart glasses.

Also Read: Can You Get Your Covid And Flu Shots At The Same Time? Experts Explain

This technology was powerful enough to help these patients return to doing simple, everyday things they could no longer do, like reading books or solving crossword puzzles. The people who participated in this trial were all 60 years or older, had AMD in both eyes, and had very poor vision in the eye being studied.

How Can You Help Someone With Progressive Vision Loss?

To understand why this is a big deal, you need to know that AMD causes the cells in the center of the retina (the light-sensitive part at the back of the eye) to die. Once they die, vision loss is considered permanent. This new study doesn't cure AMD, but it focuses on replacing the job of those dead cells to bring some vision back. The system has two main parts:

The Implant

This is a tiny device, only about 2x2 millimeters in size, which is smaller than a small pea. It’s made of little photovoltaic solar panels. It is carefully surgically placed underneath the patient's retina.

The Smart Glasses

The patient wears these special glasses, which have a camera. The glasses capture a close-up, zoomed-in image of the world and send this image to the implant using near-infrared light.

Once the implant receives the light signal, it creates small electrical pulses. These pulses travel to the optic nerve, completely taking over the job of the dead retinal cells and allowing the brain to finally see the world again.

How Does This Technology Work?

The clinical trial started with 38 patients who got the implant. After one full year, 32 patients were still involved in the study. The results at the one-year mark were extremely encouraging:

26 out of the 32 participants, which is an 80 percent success rate, could see better than they did when they started the trial.

It’s important to note that the vision they regained isn't perfect; patients can only see a blurry image and everything is in black and white. However, outside experts have praised the achievement, with some calling the work "amazing," because it provides hope where there was previously none.

The technology was developed by a company called Science Corporation, which works on brain-computer interfaces. The CEO and founder of Science Corporation is Max Hodak, who also helped start the well-known neurotechnology company Neuralink with Elon Musk back in 2016.

Science Corporation took over this vision project in 2024. They acquired the retinal implant technology from a French company named Pixium Vision. Pixium Vision had spent ten years trying to develop the technology but eventually ran out of money. This kind of "rescue" is actually not unique in the medical world; a similar situation happened with another company, Second Sight Medical, whose abandoned vision technology was also saved by a different startup to keep its clinical trials going.

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Could Covid-19 Vaccine Make Cancer Patients Live Longer?

Updated Oct 20, 2025 | 10:00 PM IST

SummaryA new study, “COVID-19 Vaccine Linked to Longer Survival in Cancer Patients,” found that people with advanced lung or skin cancer who received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine within 100 days of starting immunotherapy lived significantly longer than those who didn’t. Researchers say the vaccine may enhance immune response, improving cancer survival outcomes.
Could Covid-19 Vaccine Make Cancer Patients Live Longer?

Credits: Canva

A landmark study titled “COVID-19 Vaccine Linked to Longer Survival in Cancer Patients” has revealed that people with advanced lung or skin cancer who received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine within 100 days of starting immunotherapy lived significantly longer than those who did not. Conducted by researchers from the University of Florida (UF) and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the findings were presented at the 2025 European Society for Medical Oncology Congress in Berlin and mark a major step in exploring how mRNA technology could strengthen cancer treatment.

A Milestone in mRNA Research

This study represents the culmination of more than a decade of UF research on mRNA-based cancer therapies. Lead investigator Dr Elias Sayour, a pediatric oncologist at UF Health, called the findings “extraordinary,” noting that the vaccine’s immune-boosting effect could help design a universal, off-the-shelf cancer vaccine capable of enhancing immunotherapy responses.

mRNA, or messenger RNA, is a molecule that carries genetic instructions to make proteins. It forms the basis of COVID vaccines developed during the pandemic, and scientists now believe this same mechanism could be harnessed to amplify the body’s cancer-fighting abilities.

How the Study Was Conducted

Researchers analyzed medical records of over 1,000 patients with stage III and IV non-small-cell lung cancer or metastatic melanoma treated at MD Anderson between 2019 and 2023. Of these, 180 lung-cancer patients and 43 melanoma patients received a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine within 100 days of starting immunotherapy. Their outcomes were compared with 704 and 167 unvaccinated patients, respectively.

The results were striking. Vaccinated lung-cancer patients showed a median survival of 37.3 months, nearly double the 20.6 months observed in unvaccinated counterparts. Among melanoma patients, survival rose from 26.7 months to about 30–40 months, with several patients still alive at data cut-off — suggesting an even greater long-term benefit.

Importantly, the effect was specific to mRNA COVID vaccines; flu and pneumonia shots did not produce similar outcomes.

The Science Behind the Boost

Earlier this year, Dr Sayour’s lab discovered that to trigger a strong immune attack, targeting a single tumor protein wasn’t necessary. Instead, stimulating the immune system as if fighting a viral infection worked better. When this nonspecific mRNA vaccine was combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors — drugs that “release the brakes” on immune cells — mice showed powerful antitumor responses.

Building on this, the team theorized that the COVID mRNA vaccine might act like an immune flare, mobilizing immune cells from tumor zones to lymph nodes where cancer defense is stronger. This mechanism, Sayour explained, could make previously unresponsive cancers respond to treatment.

Implications and Next Steps

Although this is an observational study and cannot yet prove causality, experts are optimistic. UF’s Dr Duane Mitchell emphasized that while more trials are needed, such a large survival benefit “is the type of treatment effect we rarely see.”

A large-scale clinical trial through the UF-led OneFlorida+ Research Network is now planned to verify these findings across hospitals in several U.S. states.

If confirmed, the discovery could reshape how cancer is treated — turning vaccines from preventive tools into active partners in therapy. For patients battling advanced cancers, this could mean something profoundly valuable: more time and renewed hope.

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