Multiple sclerosis (MS) remains one of the most complex neurological conditions with no known cure. Affecting over 33,000 Australians and 2.8 million people globally, MS continues to baffle scientists and clinicians alike. While environmental factors, genetics, and viral infections have all been linked to MS, no single cause has been confirmed.

Now, a world-first study from the University of South Australia may finally crack part of the code. For the first time, researchers are using a genetic selection method called recall by genotype to understand why some people exposed to the same virus go on to develop MS while others don’t.

At the heart of the study is a long-suspected culprit: the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), best known for causing glandular fever. More than 90% of the global population gets infected with EBV at some point. Yet only a small fraction develop MS. That’s where the mystery lies- how can one virus lead to a life-altering autoimmune disease in a select few?

Dr. David Stacey, who leads the study, believes the answer may lie in our genes. “It’s like studying the immune system’s blueprint before the disease starts,” he said. The goal is to identify how individuals’ genetic make-up alters their immune response to EBV—and whether that difference tips the scale toward developing MS.

What Is the ‘Recall by Genotype’ Approach?

This isn’t just another observational study. The team is using an innovative approach known as recall by genotype, a first in MS research. In simple terms, they’ll analyze the DNA of more than 1,000 participants who have never been diagnosed with MS. These individuals will then be grouped into high-risk and low-risk categories based on their genetic predisposition to MS.

From there, researchers will compare how the immune systems in these two groups respond to EBV exposure.

“By grouping people based on their genetic profile, we expect to find those with a high genetic risk for MS will also show biological differences—even if they don’t have the disease,” explained Dr. Stacey.

This could help pinpoint biomarkers—early warning signs in the body that MS may be developing long before symptoms appear.

Why This Study Could Be a Game-Changer?

MS is a central nervous system autoimmune disorder. It causes the immune system to attack the protective sheath covering nerve fibers, resulting in symptoms like fatigue, muscle weakness, poor coordination, vision problems, and cognitive changes. But the progression of the disease is highly unpredictable.

This study, funded by MS Australia’s Incubator Grant program, aims to do more than just explain risk. It could transform the way we approach MS—shifting from reactive care to proactive detection and even prevention.

“If we can identify biological markers before symptoms begin, that opens up new possibilities for early interventions or therapies that could delay or stop disease progression altogether,” said Dr. Stacey.

Does High Genetic Risk Mean Someone Will Develop MS?

With genetic research comes another layer of complexity: how much risk information should be shared with participants? Dr. Stacey acknowledges that just because someone has a high genetic risk doesn’t mean they’ll definitely develop MS. That brings up ethical and legal challenges. “If we identify people who are at risk of developing MS, we need to consider how—and whether—to share that information, particularly as it may not yet be clinically actionable,” he said.

Part of the study will address these questions and help lay the groundwork for responsible, patient-centered practices in future genetic research.

While this study is based in Australia, its implications are far-reaching. MS is a leading cause of neurological disability among young adults worldwide. The hope is that by identifying the biological chain of events leading to MS, scientists can develop tools that apply globally—regardless of geography, ethnicity, or background.

According to Rohan Greenland, CEO of MS Australia, “Our mission is to accelerate research and improve outcomes for every person living with MS.” This project exemplifies that vision by targeting the earliest stages of the disease—before symptoms even appear.

If the pilot is successful, it will inform a much larger, more ambitious study. Researchers plan to refine how genetic risk scores are calculated, validate their findings across diverse populations, and develop standardized operating procedures for similar studies worldwide.

This could also inspire studies into other autoimmune conditions like lupus or type 1 diabetes, where viral triggers and genetic susceptibility are believed to intersect.

The world's first “recall by genotype” study in MS research is underway in Australia. By linking genetic risk to immune response against the Epstein-Barr virus, scientists aim to answer a longstanding medical mystery: why only some people develop MS. The findings could pave the way for earlier detection, targeted therapies, and ethical frameworks for sharing genetic information—all with global implications.

Nearly 90,000 bottles of children's ibuprofen have been recalled nationwide after complaints were made that the medication could contain a foreign substance. The federal health officials complained about the foreign substance due to which Strides Pharma Inc., headquartered in India recalled about 89,592 bottles of Children's Ibuprofen Oral Suspension, noted the US Food and Drug Administration.

The recall happened after reports of a gel-like mass and black particles were found in the products.

FDA Issues Class II Recall Against Children's Ibuprofen

The FDA has issued a Class II recall, which means the use of the affection medication could cause temporary or medically reversible health problems. It also translates to serious harm being considered remote.

FDA has three categories for recall, Class I, Class II, and Class II. Class I recalls usually mean high risk. This could mean that defective products could cause serious health problems or death. Class II is for moderate risk, which has been issued for children's ibuprofen. Class III is for products with low risk. This is for products that are unlikely to cause any adverse health consequence, but they violate FDA labeling or manufacturing regulations.

Read: E. Coli Outbreak Linked To Cheddar Cheese, 7 People In 3 States Affected

India-based Pharmaceutical Company Recalls Nearly 90,000 Bottles Of Ibuprofen

The India headquartered company Strides Pharma was manufacturing the product for Taro Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. and the products were distributed across the United States.

The recalled medication is for the 100-milligram per 5-milliliter oral suspension sold in 4-fluid-ounce bottles. The affected lot numbers are 7261973A and 7261974A, with an expiration date of Jan. 31, 2027. The recall number is D-0390-2026.

Health officials have advised consumers who have the recalled ibuprofen to stop using it. The FDA however has not yet received reports of serious adverse health effects related to the recalls.

Previous Cases Where Indian Drugmakers Distributing To US Recalled Their Products

Certain products were recalled from the US market due to manufacturing relayed issues. These products were by Indian drugmakers Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and Cipla. In an Enforcement Report by the FDA, it noted that the US-based arm of Mumbai-headquartered Sun Pharma has recalled more than 26,000 bottles of generic medicine used to treat dandruff and skin conditions that cause inflammation and itching. Sun Pharma, based in Princeton, New Jersey, recalled 24,624 bottles of Fluocinolone Acetonide Topical Solution after the product failed to meet impurity and degradation standards. The company also initiated Class III recall in US on December 30, 2025.

Cipla recalled over 15,000 syringes from the US market. Headquartered in Warren, New Jersey, the company recalled 15,221 pre-filled syringes of Lanreotide Injection due to the presence of particulate matter. Cipla also initiated a recall of Class II on January 2 of this year.

UK health officials have identified seven more cases of meningitis, as part of the latest outbreak in Kent, taking the total number of cases to 27. They expect the numbers to rise in the coming days.

The UK Health Security Agency noted that it has expanded the Meningitis B vaccine regimen to everyone who has been offered preventative antibiotic treatment as part of this outbreak.

“15 laboratory cases are confirmed and 12 notifications remain under investigation, bringing the total to 27,” the UKHSA said in a statement.

“Currently, cases have been confirmed in students at 4 schools in Kent, as well as one student at a higher education institution in London (who is confirmed to be directly linked to the outbreak),” it added.

Two students -- a 21-year-old student at the University of Kent and a teenage student at a school in the town of Faversham have died in the outbreak.

A 9-month-old baby from Folkestone is reportedly battling for life in the intensive care unit.

Meanwhile, another university in the city confirmed a case of meningitis. The student at Canterbury Christ Church is believed to be a man who was at the nightclub and part of the initial cluster of 20 known cases, who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury between March 5 and 7.

"We are not in the position yet to say definitively that it's been contained," Dr Anjan Ghosh, Director of Public Health at Kent County Council, told BBC Radio, adding that secondary transmissions needed to be ruled out.

Calling the outbreak “unprecedented”, Health Minister Wes Streeting said: “The number of suspected cases was expected to increase ‌in ⁠the coming days because the disease had a seven- to 10-day incubation period”, Reuters reported.

In a typical year, Britain sees about 350 cases, roughly one per day, according to government estimates.

In addition to the approximately 5,000 students who were initially contacted, vaccination will now be extended to everyone who has been offered preventative antibiotic treatment as part of this outbreak, the UKHSA said.

Why The Cases Are Rising

While it remains unclear why the outbreak has been so large, “the large number of cases all originating from what seems to be a single event” is particularly striking, Prof Robin May, the chief scientific officer at the UKHSA, told the BBC Breakfast.

May said that "there might be something about the kind of behaviors that individual people are doing." Another probable reason "is that the bacteria may have evolved to be better at transmitting".

Both the UKHSA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control maintain that the risk of invasive meningococcal disease to the general population in Europe is "very low".

Also read: From Vaping to Worm Attack: 5 Unimaginable Ways to Contract Meningitis

Can The Outbreak Be Prevented?

The UKHSA noted that the key intervention to protect people and halt the spread remains for people to come forward for antibiotic treatment -- effective in preventing contraction and spreading in 90 percent of cases.

In addition, a targeted MenB vaccination program is also being introduced for longer-term protection.

“By extending the vaccination program to everyone who has been offered preventative antibiotics, we are taking an important additional step to protect those most likely to have been exposed. The message is simple: if you have had the antibiotic, you are also eligible for the vaccination,” said Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Executive of the UKHSA.

However, Trish Mannes, UKHSA Regional Deputy Director for the South East, noted that even after two doses, the MenB vaccine “does not protect against all strains of meningococcal disease, nor against all infections that can cause meningitis. It also does not prevent the bacteria from being carried and spread in the community”.

The UKHSA thus warned people to be aware of the signs and symptoms of invasive meningococcal disease, and to seek immediate medical attention if they or anyone they know develops these signs and symptoms.

Common symptoms include:

• rash
• sudden onset of high fever
• severe and worsening headache
• vomiting and diarrhoea
• joint and muscle pain
• seizures.

The widespread use of Azithromycin to treat hospitalized patients during the COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk of antimicrobial resistance -- a major global health problem, according to a new study, published in the journal Nature Microbiology.

Scientists at the University of California-San Francisco (UCSF) noted that using azithromycin inappropriately for even a single day can trigger antibiotic resistance in the respiratory tract.

While azithromycin is effective against bacterial infections that cause strep throat, pneumonia, and sexually transmitted diseases, it does not work against viruses.

"We've known for years that antibiotics don't treat viral infections, but these results were striking," said Chaz Langelier, from UCSF.

"That we could see resistance genes turning on in the respiratory tract within a day tells us the consequences of unnecessary antibiotic use aren't theoretical or long-term. They're immediate, measurable, and biologically real," Langelier added.

The study analyzed nasal swabs of 1,164 adults hospitalized for COVID-19 to examine the changes that occurred in the microbiome of hospitalized patients who were treated for COVID.

Compared to people who received no antibiotics, patients administered azithromycin reported changes that persisted for more than a week. These include:

• Changes in the mix of microbes in the upper airway
• Decrease in harmless bacteria,
• Surge in potentially harmful bacteria such as Staphylococcus and Klebsiella.

Rising Global Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when germs develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them.

It is one of the 10 top global health threats, undermining the effectiveness of essential treatments and placing millions at risk of untreatable infections.

As per WHO data, AMR is an urgent global public health threat, killing at least 1.27 million people worldwide and associated with nearly 5 million deaths in 2019.

In the US alone, more than 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occur each year. More than 35,000 people die as a result, according to the CDC's 2019 Antibiotic Resistance (AR) Threats Report.

The WHO, in a 2025 report, noted that one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections causing common infections in people worldwide in 2023 were resistant to antibiotic treatments.

Between 2018 and 2023, antibiotic resistance rose in over 40 percent of the monitored antibiotics with an average annual increase of 5-15 percent.

US Early Death Toll During COVID Much Higher

About 16 per cent of COVID-19 deaths went uncounted early in the pandemic in the US, according to a separate study, published by the journal Science Advances.

While about 840,000 COVID deaths were reported on death certificates in 2020 and 2021, the researchers using artificial intelligence (AI) decoded that as many as 155,000 unrecognised additional deaths likely occurred in that time outside of hospitals.