Texas sues tylenol: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on October 28 that he has filed a lawsuit against the makers of Tylenol, accusing them of failing to warn consumers about possible risks of using the drug during pregnancy. According to USA Today, the lawsuit targets Johnson & Johnson and its spin-off company Kenvue, alleging they concealed information about Tylenol’s potential links to autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), violating state consumer protection laws.

“These corporations lied for decades, knowingly endangering millions to fill their own pockets,” Paxton said in a statement. “When they saw accountability coming, Johnson & Johnson tried to dodge responsibility by offloading their liability to another company. By holding Big Pharma accountable for poisoning our people, we will help Make America Healthy Again.”

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This marks the first lawsuit by a state government since President Donald Trump recently claimed that using Tylenol during pregnancy may raise the risk of autism — a claim that has limited scientific support.

Tylenol: Why Is Texas Suing Tylenol Makers?

Texas’s lawsuit, the first of its kind from any state, follows remarks made last month by President Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who jointly issued new guidance discouraging pregnant women from using acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. They cited it as a possible factor behind autism, sparking widespread concern and confusion among expecting mothers and healthcare experts alike.

The research surrounding Tylenol’s use in pregnancy remains unsettled. While a few studies have suggested a possible link between prenatal exposure and autism, many others have found no such connection. Major medical organizations have since pushed back against Trump and Kennedy’s statements, warning that the claims could spread unnecessary fear and misinformation.

This lawsuit is the first to formally adopt Trump’s theory that acetaminophen use in pregnancy might cause developmental disorders in children. The issue has long circulated among Kennedy’s followers, but Trump’s public comments brought it into mainstream discussion.

Texas Sues Tylenol: Tylenol Maker Fights Autism Warning Label

Kenvue has strongly defended Tylenol’s safety and dismissed Trump’s allegations, calling them misleading. Johnson & Johnson has also maintained that it has always acted responsibly in its product labeling, warning users only about the proven risk of liver damage from overuse.

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In an official response, Kenvue stated that it was “deeply concerned by the spread of misinformation about the safety of acetaminophen and how it may affect women and children.” The company emphasized that acetaminophen remains “the safest pain relief option for pregnant women when needed throughout pregnancy.” Without it, they argued, women could face dangerous choices, either enduring untreated pain and fever, which may harm both mother and baby, or turning to more hazardous alternatives.

Over the past few years, hundreds of lawsuits have been filed nationwide by parents who believe their children developed autism or ADHD after prenatal Tylenol exposure. The largest group of such cases, consolidated in federal court in New York, was dismissed earlier this year due to insufficient scientific evidence. Plaintiffs have appealed the ruling, with an appellate hearing scheduled for November 17.

Texas Sues Tylenol: Is Acetaminophen Linked to Neurodevelopmental Disorders?

According to The New York Times, scientists have explored possible links between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and developmental disorders for years, but the research remains inconclusive.

Medical associations have rejected the Trump administration’s recent warning, reiterating that Tylenol is still considered the safest pain reliever for pregnant women. They warn that avoiding it altogether could be dangerous, as untreated high fevers and severe pain can pose serious health risks to both the mother and the unborn child.

US is facing a flu outbreak and as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, an estimated 2.9 million people have gotten sick so far this season. Among them, 1,200 have also died. This is the 'worst' flu season, point out many experts. For US, the country is seeing a post-Thanksgiving spike in influenza, and saw an 8% increase in people testing positive for the flu.

Which Regions Are The Worst Affected By Flu In The US?

As of December 6, as per the latest national data, Colorado, New Jersey, New York, and Louisiana are currently experiencing "high" transmission of the virus.

An increase was also seen in Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, and Puerto Rico. These states are in the 'moderate' tier for flu cases.

New York City moved into the most severe category for 'very high' flu activity.

What Is Making This Flu Season The 'Worst'?

Much of this flu season is being driven by a new variant, a mutated subclade K, also known as the super flu. This is a subclade of H3N2 influenza, which is historically known for causing more hospitalization and deaths. The best line of defense is to get yourself vaccinated against the virus. “CDC recommends that every 6 months and older who has not yet been vaccinated this season get an annual influenza (flu) vaccine."

As of now, the CDC has distributed 127 million doses, however, things are expected to get worse before they get better.

Not Just US, UK Too Is Struggling With The K Strain Flu

Known as the superflu, this is H3N2 'subclade K'. It is a type of seasonal influenza A virus and people have not encountered much of it in the recent years. This is why there is less immunity against it. However, the National Health Service (NHS), UK, has already sent out a 'flu jab SOS' to vulnerable people.

NHS has confirmed that the super flu is circulating in England this year, and due to less immunity, it is making it easier to spread across people. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urged people to get a flu jab. As per the early data, this year's vaccine has offered good protection despite the new strain.

Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, said that the major concern is that H3N2 is associated with a more severe illness and superflu could be "a very nasty strain of flu". He said that UK could be experiencing a "tidal wave" of illness.

Should You Get The Flu Jab Even If You Are Healthy?

Even if you are healthy, you should get the shot, say doctors. Vaccines are still working against the drifted influenza A (H3N2) subclade, also known as the super flu. The vaccines in high street chemists are sold for £20.

Anyone can be vaccinated, except for those who have a serious allergy to any of its ingredients or to the vaccine it self. The best way to know is to speak to the pharmacist and your GP.

For the vaccine to work, it usually takes up to 14 days. However, what is more important to not is that during the 14-day-long period, you are still vulnerable to catching the virus.

With flu infections starting to climb across Canada, doctors and public health specialists are preparing for a challenging influenza season. The concern centres on the global spread of a changing H3N2 strain that may not line up well with this year’s flu vaccine. Fresh federal figures released on Friday show that about two per cent of flu tests nationwide returned positive results last week. While that remains below the five per cent threshold Canada uses to officially declare a seasonal flu outbreak, it marks a clear rise compared to recent weeks.

Outside Canada, the current flu season has already been severe, with record case numbers reported in the Southern Hemisphere and an earlier-than-usual surge seen in parts of Asia and the United Kingdom. As winter approaches, experts say these trends could offer clues about what Canada might face. “This is the second year in a row that the Southern Hemisphere has seen higher-than-average influenza activity,” said Dr. Jesse Papenburg, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Montreal Children’s Hospital and the McGill University Health Centre, as per CTV News.

“When you look at case numbers, last year was likely the worst flu season Canada experienced in about ten years. Based on what we’re seeing so far, there’s a real possibility we could see a similar level of severity again,” he added.

Influenza A: What Is Leading To The Surge?

Some specialists believe a changing version of H3N2 is driving the early rise in cases. This form of influenza A is already known for causing more serious illness, particularly in older adults. What is raising extra concern this year is that recent mutations appear to be creating more distance between the circulating virus and the protection offered by the current flu shot. Dr. Danuta Skowronski, who leads influenza and emerging respiratory pathogen epidemiology at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, is one of several Canadian experts closely tracking these changes, according to CTV News.

Influenza A: Experts Warn Of Vaccine Mismatch

Although the H3N2 subtype had remained relatively stable for years, Skowronski says it has recently begun showing sharper structural shifts as it spread into northern regions. These changes suggest the strain now circulating could be poorly matched to this season’s vaccine. The current flu shot is designed to protect against two influenza A strains, including H1N1 and H3N2, along with one influenza B strain. “There’s actually a fairly large gap between the H3N2 virus we’re seeing circulate and the one included in the vaccine,” Skowronski explained. “That’s not due to any error. It reflects how unpredictable and fast-changing influenza viruses can be.”

In a statement shared with CBC News, the Public Health Agency of Canada said it keeps close watch on respiratory virus trends around the world to identify patterns that could affect Canadians.

The agency also noted that flu data from the Southern Hemisphere does not always directly forecast what will happen in Canada, since seasonal patterns and population dynamics can differ.

“At this point, it’s still too early to say how severe Canada’s flu season will be,” the agency said, adding that factors such as which influenza subtype becomes dominant, the presence of other respiratory viruses, vaccine performance, and vaccination rates will all play a role.

Even if this year’s vaccine turns out to be less closely matched to the evolving H3N2 strain, all three experts emphasized that getting the flu shot remains important, especially for older adults across Canada.

U.S. health authorities have widened the approval of a closely debated medication designed to increase female libido, allowing the once-daily pill to be used by women over the age of 65. The decision, announced on Monday by the Food and Drug Administration, extends the drug’s use to older women who have already gone through menopause. The pill, Addyi, was originally cleared a decade ago for premenopausal women experiencing emotional distress linked to a low sex drive. Anisha Mathur, Founding Partner at Shepherd Law Associates, explained the development and what it means.

What Is Addyi?

Addyi, also known by its generic name flibanserin, is an FDA-approved prescription drug used to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder, or HSDD, in women. HSDD refers to a long-term or recurring lack of sexual desire that leads to emotional distress or strain in relationships and cannot be explained by another medical condition, relationship difficulties, or medication side effects, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Marketed by Sprout Pharmaceuticals, Addyi was once expected to become a major breakthrough in women’s health. However, the drug faced setbacks due to side effects such as dizziness and nausea. It also carries a strong safety warning about alcohol use. The FDA’s boxed warning, its strictest caution, notes that consuming alcohol while taking Addyi can lead to dangerously low blood pressure and fainting.

What Is Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder?

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, or HSDD, involves an ongoing reduction or absence of sexual thoughts, fantasies, and interest in sexual activity that causes significant personal distress or relationship tension. It is a common form of sexual dysfunction seen in both women and men. People with HSDD may experience low libido, little response to sexual stimulation, or a tendency to avoid sex altogether. Possible contributing factors include stress, relationship challenges, mental health conditions, certain medications, hormonal shifts, or past trauma.

The condition, which describes a distressing lack of sexual desire, has been recognised since the 1990s and is believed to affect a large number of women in the United States, based on survey data. After the commercial success of Viagra for men in the 1990s, pharmaceutical companies invested heavily in finding treatments for female sexual dysfunction. Diagnosis, however, remains complex because libido is influenced by many factors. After menopause, declining hormone levels bring biological changes and medical symptoms that further complicate assessment.

Addyi: FDA Approves Libido-Boosting Drug For Postmenopausal Women

U.S. health regulators have now expanded the approval of the controversial libido drug, allowing women over 65 to take the once-daily pill. The FDA’s announcement broadens its use to include older postmenopausal women.

According to CNN, diagnosing HSDD is challenging because sexual desire is affected by multiple physical, emotional, and psychological factors, particularly after menopause. Physicians are expected to rule out issues such as relationship stress, underlying medical conditions, depression, and other mental health disorders before prescribing the medication. The diagnosis itself remains debated, with some psychologists arguing that low sexual desire should not automatically be treated as a medical condition.

Before its approval in 2015, the FDA rejected Addyi twice, citing limited effectiveness and concerns over side effects. Its eventual approval followed a strong lobbying effort by the manufacturer and advocacy groups like Even the Score, which positioned the lack of treatment options for female libido as an issue of gender equality in healthcare.