Parts of the US, particularly Fort Collins, Colorado, are currently playing host to rabbits with black tentacles that are definitely not pleasing to look at. They have got black, spike-like growths sprouting from their faces, resembling something between sea anemone tentacles and mediaeval torture devices. And officials say you should absolutely avoid touching them.

The unsettling appearance is caused by the cottontail papilloma virus (CRPV), also known as the Shope papilloma virus. This rare condition causes wart-like tumours to erupt on or around the head of a rabbit, eventually hardening into horn-like growths made of keratin, the same stuff your fingernails are made of.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officials say they do not believe the virus can spread to humans or pets, but the advice is still clear: do not attempt to handle, rescue, or play with these unfortunate creatures.

How It Spreads

CRPV is mostly spread via blood-sucking insects like mosquitoes and ticks. Once they bite an infected rabbit, they can pass the virus to the next one they feed on. The good news is that scientists say it is almost never transmitted by direct rabbit-to-rabbit contact and there is no evidence of insect bites passing the virus to humans.

First signs include small red bumps that eventually morph into grotesque growths. In extreme cases, these tumours can get so large they block the rabbit’s vision, hearing, or even ability to eat, leading to slow starvation.

To Save or Not to Save?

On social media, the debate is heating up over whether it is more humane to euthanise severely infected wild rabbits to prevent suffering.

Animal control officials have not endorsed any such measures. Their position is simple: the virus does not pose a public health threat, and interfering with wildlife generally causes more harm than good. The standing advice is to leave the animals undisturbed and let nature take its course, however grim it might seem.

What About Pet Rabbits?

For those with pet rabbits, the threat is real but manageable. Since the virus spreads via insects, the best prevention is pest control, keeping rabbits indoors during peak mosquito activity and using protective enclosures. If a pet does become infected, veterinarians can surgically remove the growths before they become malignant. Occasionally, tumours shrink on their own, but in wild rabbits, they often grow bigger year after year.

There is no cure for CRPV in wild rabbits, and the prognosis is rarely good once the growths interfere with basic functions like eating. Wildlife officials stress that the best way to help is to keep your distance, avoid feeding or attempting to “save” them, and report sightings if local authorities request it.

These infected rabbits are a reminder of how viruses can warp the natural world in unsettling ways.

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.

Every year on October 20, World Osteoporosis Day is marked, to put the spotlight on osteoporosis. The day marks a year-long campaign, which is dedicated to raising global awareness of bone health, and the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases.

Osteoporosis is a serious condition where bones lose its density and strength, and it thus makes them fragile and more likely to break. It is often called the 'silent disease', and most people don't even realize that they have it until a fracture happens.

The most common fracture in this condition is in hip, spine, wrist, or shoulder. These fractures can result in long hospital stays, and lead to loss of independence, and reduced quality of life.

World Osteoporosis Day 2025 Theme

This year's theme is 'It's Unacceptable'.

This puts the spotlight on the persistent and preventable crisis in osteoporosis care.

This condition affects over 500 million people worldwide, and most remain severely underdiagnosed and undertreated. Up to 80% of patients with osteoporotic fractures do not receive any follow-up diagnosis or treatment.

This theme furthermore makes an effort for everyone to make noise for the silent disease.

The disease is more common among women, as 1 in 3 women, as compared to 1 in 5 men aged 50+ are prone to osteoporotic fracture in their remaining lifetime. These fractures could lead to chronic pain and disability, loss of independence, increased risk of further fractures, and even premature deaths.

Thus the theme 'It's Unacceptable', highlights that it is simply unacceptable that patients continue to receive inadequate care, and people are still not aware of the condition.

Origin Of World Osteoporosis Day

The World Osteoporosis Day was first launched in 1996 by the United Kingdom's National Osteoporosis Society, with support from the European Commission. The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), then took over the global coordination in 1997, turning it into a worldwide awareness campaign that takes place annually on October 20. The World Health Organization (WHO) also co-sponsored the event in 1998 and 1999, helping to raise its international profile.

Significance of World Osteoporosis Day 2025

Why is it important to observe a day on this, internationally? The reason is, this condition is very common, is among the most frequent health events, yet not much talked about. The IOF notes that in women osteoporotic fractures are more common than breast cancer. Women who are over the age of 45 account for more days in hospital than many other diseases, if they are osteoporotic. This comparison is done with other chronic diseases, including diabetes, myocardial infarction, and even breast cancer, notes IOF.

For men, in many countries, osteoporotic fractures account for more hospital bed days than those due to prostrate cancer.

IOF notes that osteoporosis is not prioritized in healthcare policy, and that it continues to be underdiagnosed and undertreated, globally. Only 1 in 3 vertebral fractures come to clinical attention, and most spinal fractures are often diagnosed as simple 'back pain'. This is why there remains a high treatment gap. In Europe, 72% of women who are at a high risk of osteoporotic fractures do not receive treatment.

This is why awareness about this condition becomes more so important, especially when framing public policies, education campaigns, and preventative care, especially making people understand the importance of calcium and vitamin D.

Glenmark, a leading Indian drugmaker, has recalled its products in the US over manufacturing issue, confirmed the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).

What Did The USFDA Say?

The USFDA released an Enforcement Report, which noted that the US-based unit of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals in recalling 26,928 packs of oral contraceptive medicines in the US. The company's unit based in Mahwah, New Jersey, has now recalled the affected lot of the following birth control pills:

• Viorele
• Desogestrel
• Ehinyl Estradiol

The report also noted that Ethinyl Estradiol tablets were recalled due to "failed impurities and degradation specifications". The affected drugs were produced in the company's Mumbai headquarters' Goa manufacturing facility. This is because India has the highest number of USFDA-compliant pharmaceutical plants outside of the US.

The drug firm also issued a notice for Class II nationwide recall on September 3, 2025.

What Does Class II Recall Mean?

The USFDA notes that recalls are actions taken by the firm to remove and product from the market and could be conducted by company's own initiative, or by the FDA request or order.

Class II recall means a situation in which the use of or the exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequence is remote.

What Are The Different Categories Of Recalls?

As per the USFDA, there are 5 different categories of recalls, namely:

• Class I Recall
• Class II Recall
• Class II Recall
• Market Withdrawal
• Medical Device Safety Alert

• Class I recall: a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

• Class II recall: a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.

• Class III recall: a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.

• Market withdrawal: occurs when a product has a minor violation that would not be subject to FDA legal action. The firm removes the product from the market or corrects the violation. For example, a product removed from the market due to tampering, without evidence of manufacturing or distribution problems, would be a market withdrawal.

• Medical device safety alert: issued in situations where a medical device may present an unreasonable risk of substantial harm. In some case, these situations also are considered recalls.

Are There Any Other Drugs Being Recalled?

Dr Reddy's Laboratories, another major Indian drugmaker, has also recalled its muscle relaxant in the US. The company's Princeton, New Jersey-based subsidiary has recalled 571 vials of Succinylcholine Chloride Injection. The recall was initiated due to "out-of-specification results during the 6-month stability testing," according to USFDA.