As a parent, the journey of understanding your child's unique needs can be both rewarding and challenging. When my friend’s child was diagnosed with autism at the age of four, I witnessed the emotional rollercoaster that accompanied the diagnosis—the relief of finally having answers mingled with the worry about what the future might hold.

It made me wonder: What if there had been a way to detect the signs earlier? Could the outcomes have been different? Today, with advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), these questions might have a promising answer.

The idea that AI could play a pivotal role in identifying autism spectrum disorder (ASD) early is gaining traction. Traditionally, autism is diagnosed based on behavioral observations and developmental history, often leading to a diagnosis at a later stage. Early diagnosis is crucial because it allows for timely intervention, which can significantly improve outcomes.

However, due to the complexity of ASD and the subtlety of early symptoms, many children go undiagnosed until they are older. This is where AI steps in, offering new hope.

Recent research highlights the potential of AI in detecting autism through various innovative approaches. For instance, a study explores the use of AI algorithms to analyze patterns in brain imaging, speech, and even eye movements.

These algorithms can sift through massive amounts of data to identify subtle markers that might be overlooked by human experts. The promise of AI lies in its ability to detect these early signs of autism, sometimes even before parents or clinicians notice them.

Another fascinating approach is the use of AI to analyze social media content. A study published on ResearchGate discusses how AI-powered tools can scan and analyze the language used by parents when discussing their children on social media platforms. This method focuses on identifying patterns that may indicate early signs of autism, such as differences in language development or social interaction. While this approach is still in its infancy, it shows great potential for reaching populations that might not have easy access to traditional diagnostic resources.

Moreover, AI's ability to integrate and analyze diverse data sources—ranging from genetic information to behavioral assessments—opens up new avenues for personalized diagnosis and treatment plans. For example, AI could help in creating tailored intervention strategies that cater to the unique needs of each child, thereby maximizing the effectiveness of treatments.

While the prospects of AI in early autism detection are exciting, it's important to approach this technology with caution. AI should not be seen as a replacement for human judgment but rather as a tool to assist clinicians in making more informed decisions. The use of AI in healthcare also raises ethical concerns, particularly around data privacy and the potential for bias in AI algorithms. Ensuring that AI tools are developed and implemented responsibly will be key to their success.

In conclusion, AI holds immense promise in the early detection of autism, potentially revolutionizing how we diagnose and treat this complex condition. However, as we embrace this technology, it’s crucial to balance innovation with care, ensuring that AI is used to complement human expertise and provide the best possible outcomes for children and their families.

United States is experiencing its deadliest flu season for children in 15 years, according to a federal report released Friday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 216 pediatric deaths so far this flu season—surpassing last year's 207 fatalities and marking the highest number since the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic.

The season is not yet over, making this already grim milestone even more concerning. In fact, the final death toll for the 2023-2024 flu season won’t be confirmed until later this year. "This number that we have now is almost certainly an undercount,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Paediatrics. “When the season is declared over, and they compile all the data, it’s almost certain to go up.”

O’Leary, who is also a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at the University of Colorado, pointed to declining flu vaccination rates among children as a key factor in this season’s severity. Over the past five years, the flu vaccination rate for children in the U.S. has dropped from about 64 per cent to just 49 per cent.

While flu vaccines do not always prevent infection, they are highly effective at reducing hospitalisations and deaths. "Flu vaccinations may not prevent people from coming down with symptoms, but research shows they are highly effective at preventing hospitalisations and deaths," O’Leary said.

This flu season has proven severe not only for children but for the general population as well. CDC estimates indicate at least 47 million illnesses, 610,000 hospitalisations, and 26,000 deaths so far. Among 5,200 adults hospitalised with the flu, 95 per cent had at least one pre-existing condition. In contrast, among 2,000 hospitalised children with more detailed health data, only about 53 per cent had underlying health issues such as asthma or obesity.

The CDC report did not include information on how many of the children who died had received the flu vaccine. Additionally, the agency did not provide a spokesperson to discuss the current season’s trends.

There is, however, a positive sign: flu activity has been declining since February. Last week, all 50 states reported low or minimal flu activity. The season also saw an unusual mix of circulating strains, with both H1N1 and H3N2 Type A viruses contributing significantly to infections. Earlier CDC data suggested that the flu vaccines offered this season were relatively effective in preventing hospitalisations and deaths.

The CDC continues to advise that everyone aged 6 months and older receive an annual flu vaccine.

The broader decline in childhood vaccinations is being fueled by online misinformation and the politicisation of vaccines, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who recently assumed the role of U.S. health secretary, has echoed antivaccine rhetoric, further influencing public opinion.

According to O’Leary, other factors may also be impacting flu vaccination rates. Pediatric clinics are often short-staffed and no longer holding as many after-hours vaccination events. Additionally, while more Americans are getting vaccinated at pharmacies, some drugstores do not offer flu shots for children.

"My hope is that this season will be a bit of a wake-up call for folks—that we actually do need to vaccinate our kids against influenza," O’Leary said.

After two years of decline in maternal mortality, especially in the number of women dying during or shortly after childbirth in the US, the numbers are again on the rise. As per the newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the 2024 figures have renewed concerns about maternal health in the country. US has already been at one of the highest maternal mortality rates among the high-income countries.

The CDC's provisional report stated that 688 women died last year due to pregnancy-related complications. This is a slight increase from the 669 deaths reported in 2023. The maternal mortality rate also rose and reached to 19 deaths per 100,000 live births. This is up from 18.6, the rate recorded a year earlier.

While the numbers do remain below the peak figures which was noted in the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and 2022, the reversal of a two-year downward trend has raised alarms.

What Are Maternal Deaths?

As per CDC, maternal deaths occur during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days after delivery. The major point here is that the deaths must occur due to pregnancy-related conditions. These include excessive bleeding, infections, and blood vessel blockages, which continue to be among the leading causes.

The COVID-19 Effect

The numbers of maternal deaths in the US surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. This proved to be dangerous for pregnancy women, since many healthcare systems and hospitals have become overwhelmed. It also led to gaps in care. During the worst phases of pandemic, some physicians also reported burnout. This could have also been the reason why pregnancy related concerns which required immediate attention could have been downplayed.

As the pandemic receded in 2022 and 2023, the number of maternal deaths declined, in part because of improved COVID-19 prevention and treatment protocols. However, experts warn that the progress made during those years is now being undermined by new and persistent challenges.

The Reason Behind These Numbers:

As per the public health experts, there are several factors that have lead to an increase in the number of maternal mortality:

Limited Access to Care: The closure of rural hospitals across the U.S. continues to make it harder for women in remote areas to access prenatal and emergency care.

Legal and Regulatory Changes: The 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade has had a ripple effect on maternal healthcare. Some doctors, concerned about legal consequences, are reportedly hesitant to provide certain treatments during pregnancy-related emergencies. In states with strict abortion laws, this has translated into delays in care — potentially putting mothers at greater risk.

Worsening Inequities: The U.S. has long-standing racial disparities in maternal health outcomes. Research has consistently shown that Black women die from pregnancy-related complications at much higher rates than white women, due to a combination of systemic racism, limited access to quality care, and implicit bias in medical settings.

The major concern is also that among the many wealthy countries, US has continued to stand out in a way that is not good for it. It has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the developed world.

Thailand's health officials reported on Wednesday the first human anthrax death since 1994, a tragic first in the northeastern province of Mukdahan. A 53-year-old man who had slaughtered and eaten raw beef developed cutaneous lesions and systemic symptoms before dying from infection despite being treated. Another case was confirmed in a friend with the same exposure, and three more suspected cases are being investigated. This unusual death has triggered an emergency public health response from several government agencies.

Anthrax is caused by the spore‑forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which mainly infects grazing livestock and wildlife. Humans become infected by direct contact with infected animals, contaminated animal products, or by eating undercooked meat. There are three clinical forms:

Cutaneous anthrax, the most prevalent, develops from itchy papules, which become black eschars, and is usually lethal if untreated.

Gastrointestinal anthrax, caused by the ingestion of tainted meat, causes acute pain in the abdominal area, nausea, and hemorrhagic diarrhea.

Inhalational anthrax—isolated, yet fatal—is produced when the spores are breathed in and manifest as respiratory insufficiency and systemic shock.

Unlike most infectious diseases, anthrax is not transmitted person-to-person. Early antibiotic treatment is effective, but delay in diagnosis can permit the bacteria to spread and cause life-threatening illness.

All About the Mukdahan Outbreak

The epidemic hub was in Don Tan district, Mukdahan Province, literally on the other side of the Mekong River from Laos, where 129 cases of anthrax (one fatal) were reported during the last year. Thai authorities have tracked down 638 people possibly exposed via butchering or eating raw beef: 36 butchers and 602 consumers are now being closely monitored and administered prophylactic antibiotics

Dr. Weerawat Manosuthi, Thailand's Disease Control Department spokesman, reported, "All those who are suspected to have come into contact with contaminated meat are under observation," emphasizing the need for expedient containment measures to avoid further infections.

Following the death and second confirmed case, Thailand's Agriculture Ministry has declared a 5‑kilometer cordon of quarantine around the animal exposure site. In this cordon, 1,222 cattle will be vaccinated by the Livestock Department, although none have as yet shown signs of disease or unexplained death

In the meantime, all suspected human contacts are on a course of ciprofloxacin or doxycycline, under close observation for the first symptoms of the disease. Clinics have been set up to identify anthrax signs, including painless ulcers on the skin and swollen lymph nodes, and to provide quick diagnostic tests, such as PCR assays.

Anthrax is also endemic in Southeast Asia, and border states have recently struggled with outbreaks as well. Laos's outbreak in 2024 and Vietnam's 13 cases reported in May 2023 underscore the impermeable nature of zoonotic disease transmission across the region. Thai health officials are meeting with their colleagues in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam to exchange information and coordinate surveillance efforts along borders.

Dr. Narong Chankaeo, head of the Mukdahan provincial health department, cautioned that environmental conditions—like flooding which exposes spores to the surface—could cause future outbreaks. "Increased surveillance in border towns and among cattle handlers is a must," he said.

Why Anthrax Reemerges?

In Mukdahan, the eating of raw beef dishes is a cultural norm that adds to risk. Flooding during certain seasons can disrupt spores hidden beneath the soil, infecting pastures and water sources. Added to unregulated butchering practices—frequently without protective equipment—these create a perfect storm for the reemergence of anthrax.

Experts also point out that years without a fatal case could have bred complacency both among the public and veterinarians. Dr. Saneemongkol Sawettanan, an epidemiologist at Bangkok's Ministry of Public Health, added, "We need to retrain rural health workers and farmers of livestock about anthrax prevention—lapses in awareness can be fatal."

From Rapid Response to Long‑Term Prevention

Although Thailand's rapid quarantine and vaccination campaign are essential initial actions, long‑term prevention involves a One Health strategy—aligning human, animal, and environmental health initiatives. These are:

• Routine cattle vaccination in areas of high risk
• Public awareness on proper meat handling
• Surveillance of anthrax spores in water and soil
• Exchange of data across borders and joint simulation of outbreaks

Through an improvement in veterinary services and public health infrastructure, Thailand can decrease the chances of future deaths.

Thailand’s first anthrax death in three decades is a stark reminder that even well‑known pathogens can re‑ignite under conducive conditions. As global travel and trade resume post-pandemic, zoonotic threats remain ever‑present. The Mukdahan outbreak underscores the importance of:

• Maintaining robust vaccination programs for livestock
• Ensuring rapid diagnostic capacity at local clinics
• Fostering regional collaboration on disease surveillance
• Balancing cultural practices with food safety education

What is Anthrax?

Anthrax is an uncommon but sometimes life-threatening illness caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis that is naturally distributed in soil. Although it only infects animals and wild animals, humans are at risk when they have direct or indirect exposure to infected animals or contaminated animal products.

Unlike most contagious diseases, anthrax is not directly spread from human to human. Yet, skin sores from anthrax do carry a slight risk if a person touches them or contaminated objects (fomites) directly. The majority of human infections happen when bacterial spores gain entry into the body through cuts in the skin, eating undercooked contaminated meat, or through inhaling airborne spores.

Symptoms to Know

There are four major forms of anthrax infection, each having different symptoms. Incubation usually lasts between one to six days, but inhalation anthrax can take weeks to appear.

Cutaneous Anthrax (Skin-Related)

This is the most frequent and least deadly form of anthrax. It happens when the bacteria get into the body through a cut or scratch on the skin. If medical treatment is sought soon enough, cutaneous anthrax seldom develops life-threatening complications.

Common signs and symptoms are:

• A small, itching bump that looks like an insect bite and soon develops into a painless ulcer with a black center
• Swelling around the infected sore
• Swollen lymph nodes near the infection site
• At times, flu-like signs and symptoms like fever or headache

When Should You Seek Medical Attention?

Since initial anthrax symptoms may be similar to those of run-of-the-mill viral infections—such as the flu—it's simple to miss the early warning signs. But if you suspect exposure, particularly in a work environment where contact with infected animals or animal by-products may occur, immediate medical assessment is paramount.

Consult a doctor immediately if you experience strange skin lesions, fever, or respiratory disease following exposure in areas where anthrax infection is known to exist. Early treatment with antibiotics can make a big difference.