Measles, a virus that was once officially eradicated in the United States in 2000, is making a shocking comeback — this time with more sinister layers than ever before. More than 1,000 measles cases have been confirmed across the United States in 2025, a saddening milestone of the nation's struggle with a disease it was officially announced as eliminated as far back as the year 2000. State and regional health agencies along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report at least 1,002 cases so far this year—an astonishing number putting 2025 on pace to equal 2019, which was the century's worst measles year to date.

In a hard to watch medical video released by neurologists in India of a once-healthy 4-year-old boy lies on a hospital bed, eyes darting wildly, limbs convulsing, and lips foaming as his tiny body fights a losing battle against a preventable disease. The footage—published in JAMA Neurology offers more than a glimpse into one family’s nightmare. It is a sobering wake-up call for the world: measles is not just a childhood illness with a fever and rash. Left unchecked, it can be a silent predator that devastates the brain and kills with merciless precision.

The child in the video suffers from Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare but invariably fatal neurological complication that follows a measles infection. His case serves as a dire warning about the consequences of skipping the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine—a message particularly urgent amid falling vaccination rates and surging outbreaks globally.

WATCH VIDEO HERE

What is SSPE?

SSPE is a progressive, degenerative brain disorder caused by a persistent infection with a mutated measles virus. What makes SSPE especially cruel is its latency. The virus often lurks undetected in the brain for years after a seemingly mild infection before it begins destroying neurons, causing inflammation, and forming lethal lesions.

In this child’s case, his decline started with subtle symptoms—jerky limb movements, unsteadiness, and cognitive changes over six months. His parents, unaware of a previous measles infection and unable to recall any characteristic rash or fever, never had him vaccinated. It was only after his condition worsened—marked by erratic, swirling eye movements known as opsoclonus—that neurologists diagnosed SSPE.

Despite aggressive treatment with antivirals and anticonvulsants, his fate is tragically sealed. SSPE is almost always fatal, and no curative therapy exists.

What is Measles and Why Is It A Dangerous Condition?

Measles is often underestimated, dismissed by many as a benign childhood disease. But data tells a far more troubling story. A typical measles infection causes high fever, cough, runny nose, and a characteristic red rash. However, about 20% of infected children in the U.S. will be hospitalized, with complications ranging from pneumonia to diarrhea and severe ear infections that can cause permanent hearing loss.

One in 1,000 will develop encephalitis (brain inflammation), and up to three in 1,000 will die due to respiratory or neurological complications. Long after the acute phase ends, measles continues to sabotage the immune system through "immune amnesia"—a condition where the body forgets how to defend against other pathogens, leaving children vulnerable to secondary infections for up to three years.

And then there's SSPE. Though rare—with 11 cases per 100,000 measles infections on average—the risk significantly increases in children infected before age five. For them, the rate is 18 per 100,000, with symptoms surfacing seven to ten years post-infection.

The boy’s case stood out for an unusual symptom: opsoclonus—rapid, multidirectional eye movements typically associated with paraneoplastic brain syndromes or severe brain inflammation. This is believed to be the first case of SSPE captured on video with this specific presentation. Medical experts believe these movements may result from the destruction of specialized neurons like Purkinje and omnipause cells, which are critical for coordinated eye and body movement.

The presence of opsoclonus in SSPE not only expands clinical understanding of the condition but also underlines its neurological complexity—and the helplessness of medical interventions once the disease takes hold.

Is this Measles Outbreak Exacerbated by Misinformation and Complacency?

Globally, measles cases are climbing again. After decades of progress, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine immunizations, and anti-vaccine rhetoric has flourished in its wake. In the United States, measles outbreaks are at their highest in over 25 years, and several communities have immunization rates far below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity.

The situation is compounded by influential figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who continue to promote vaccine skepticism, undermining public health messaging and placing children at direct risk.

Public health experts warn that if these trends continue, measles could once again become endemic in the United States—a devastating reversal of years of progress.

Why Measles Vaccination is the Only Defence?

The MMR vaccine is one of the most rigorously tested and safest vaccines available. Two doses provide 97% protection against measles. Side effects are typically mild—such as fever or a sore arm—and serious adverse effects are extremely rare.

Before the vaccine’s introduction in 1963, measles caused hundreds of deaths annually in the U.S. Now, thanks to widespread immunization, those numbers have dropped dramatically. However, as vaccination rates fall, we risk reliving the past—one preventable death at a time.

What To Do if You're Exposed to Measles?

If you suspect you've been exposed to measles, especially if you or your child are unvaccinated:

• Isolate immediately and wear a mask to reduce the risk of transmission.
• Contact your healthcare provider to assess the need for post-exposure prophylaxis—either a dose of the MMR vaccine or immune globulin.
• Do not visit healthcare facilities without calling ahead to avoid exposing others.
• If you're fully vaccinated, remain vigilant for symptoms for at least 21 days post-exposure, and notify your doctor at the first sign of illness.

Vaccination isn't just a personal choice; it's a societal responsibility. The consequences of inaction are too devastating to ignore—not just for one family, but for entire communities. The heartbreaking video of the 4-year-old boy is more than a clinical case study—it’s a call to action.

A new survey by the RAND research group gives us a fresh look at who's using GLP-1 drugs for weight loss and what they're experiencing. As the popularity of weight loss drugs rises, this survey shows what the US adults actually think about its usage, from how many people wish to use it as well as what kind of side effects are they seeing.

The study surveyed 8,793 adults in April and May 2025. It's one of the largest surveys to date on this topic, and it helps us see how popular these drugs have become in the last couple of years.

The most popular drug in this group is semaglutide. It's sold under brand names like Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss. The number of prescriptions for these drugs has more than tripled since 2020.

How Many US Adults Have Used Weight Loss Drugs?

GLP-1 agonists are a type of medicine used for managing blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes and for treating obesity. They work by copying a natural hormone that helps your body release insulin, lowers blood sugar, slows down digestion, and helps you feel full.

This is the reason this GLP-1 antagonists rose into popularity. The fact that the GLP-1 antagonists could assist in weight loss is what made it popular with celebrities, and triggered craze among people. However, that is what we saw on social media. The actual number of people who are using the GLP-1 antagonists may be surprising.

The results show that about 12% of Americans have tried a GLP-1 drug like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Zepbound. That number is similar to what was found in a 2023 study, suggesting that the rate of use has stayed steady. Interestingly, the survey also found that an additional 14% of people are interested in trying these drugs in the future.

Who is Taking The Weight Loss Drugs?

The survey results show that GLP-1 drugs are most popular among people aged 50 to 64. In this group, almost 19% of people have tried one. When you break it down further by gender, the numbers are even more striking. The highest usage rate was found in women aged 50 to 64, with one in five having used a GLP-1 drug.

While women generally use these drugs more than men, this isn't true for all age groups. For example, among those aged 30 to 49, women are more than twice as likely as men to have used a GLP-1 drug. However, in people 65 and older, men actually have a slightly higher usage rate than women.

Common Ozempic Side Effects

The survey also asked people who have used GLP-1 drugs about the side effects they experienced. The most common ones were related to digestion. Over half of the users (52%) reported nausea, and about a third of users (34%) reported diarrhea.

Another common side effect was vomiting, which was reported by about 20% of users. A smaller number of people, about 9%, reported having a hollowed-out look on their face, sometimes called "Ozempic face." The good news is that most people who had side effects said they were mild and not serious.

Who Is More Likely To Use Ozempic For Weight Loss?

While the data shows that women generally use GLP-1 agonists more than men, there are notable variations by age. Among those aged 65 and older, men have a slightly higher usage rate. However, women between the ages of 30 and 49 are more than twice as likely to have used a GLP-1 agonist as their male peers.

Use is highest among adults aged 50 to 64. In this group, one in five women (20%) reported having ever used a GLP-1 agonist, the highest rate among all demographic groups.

Tennis great Björn Borg says he is taking life “day by day, year by year” after being diagnosed with an “extremely aggressive” form of prostate cancer, a revelation he saved for the final chapter of his new autobiography, reported AP. The 69-year-old, who underwent surgery in 2024 and is now in remission, told BBC Breakfast and later spoke to news outlets about the emotional toll of the diagnosis and the way he approaches follow-up testing.

Diagnosis, treatment and life in remission

In Heartbeats: A Memoir, co-written with his wife Patricia, Borg writes candidly about being told his cancer was “at its most advanced stage.” He said his doctor warned of “sleeping cancer cells” and told him it would be a fight in the years ahead, a battle Borg vowed to meet with familiar resolve. “I will fight every day like it’s a Wimbledon final,” he said. After an operation in 2024, Borg reports the cancer is in remission, but he stressed that regular six-monthly tests are now part of his life.

A champion’s mindset

Borg has long been associated with an ice-calm competitive temperament and a refusal to surrender on court. Now, he applies that same mentality to his health. Asked about the psychological impact, Borg conceded the diagnosis was “difficult psychologically,” but he countered that determination with pragmatism: tests, check-ups and an acceptance that his future will involve vigilant monitoring. The comparison to a Grand Slam final is more than rhetoric, it’s a metaphor he’s leaned on to frame the daily grind of recovery and watchful living.

Also Read: Björn Borg Shares His Experience Of Living With Prostate Cancer

Remembering the peak: Wimbledon, McEnroe and early retirement

Borg remains one of tennis’s defining figures: 11 Grand Slam singles titles, including five consecutive Wimbledon crowns and six French Open triumphs, a run that cemented his status as a dominant force in the 1970s and early 1980s. His 1980 Wimbledon final against John McEnroe, the near four-hour epic in which McEnroe saved seven championship points, is frequently cited among the sport’s greatest matches; Borg called it “the most satisfying match I ever played.” People reported the rivalry with McEnroe, branded “Fire and Ice,” later warmed into friendship: the two now see one another socially and speak about modern tennis rather than merely their past encounters.

The aftermath of early fame

Borg’s decision to retire unexpectedly in his mid-20s surprised the tennis world. In his memoir he explains that burnout, loss of motivation and a lack of a life plan contributed to a turbulent post-tennis period that included substance use and near-fatal incidents in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He writes openly about those years as part of a broader effort to explain who he is away from the court and how he rebuilt his life. Today, he says he’s “very happy with myself” after years of recovery and self-repair.

Looking forward: small steps, familiar grit

Borg’s account is both a personal reckoning and an implicit reminder about the importance of medical vigilance. He told interviewers that after the operation he has regular blood tests and scans, and that living with the possibility of recurrence is something he faces with the same focus he once reserved for match day. While he acknowledges the psychological weight of the diagnosis, his message is quiet but unambiguous: tackle each test, each day, with determination, and keep moving forward.

A new wellness trend is sweeping TikTok and Instagram, magnesium lotion, hailed by influencers as a natural fix for sleep troubles and a wide range of health issues.

The mineral magnesium plays an important role in the body, regulating muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, and energy production. Some studies have suggested that oral magnesium supplements may improve sleep, though evidence remains limited.

Now, influencers are going a step further by promoting magnesium in lotion or cream form, claiming it can do everything from balancing cortisol and insulin levels to relieving muscle soreness, arthritis, and fibromyalgia.

“Did you know rubbing magnesium cream on your child’s feet can help with sleep?” one TikTok user asks, promising it can also ease growing pains. Another swears by it for stopping leg cramps, while others call it “magic in a bottle.”

The claims may sound convincing, but are they backed by science?

The claim

Fans of magnesium lotion argue that applying it directly to the skin, especially the feet, can improve sleep. Others recommend using it across the body to tackle a range of issues, including mood swings and pain.

And people are buying into the hype. Market analysts estimate that the topical magnesium industry generated more than $400 million in 2024 alone.

The evidence

Despite the buzz, scientists say there is little proof that magnesium can be effectively absorbed through the skin.

“The problem with this is that the skin is a barrier, not a sponge,” explains dermatologist and Harvard researcher Nicholas Theodosakis. He notes that while some medicines are delivered transdermally via patches, magnesium has not been proven to work this way.

Most of the perceived benefits may come from the act of massaging lotion into the skin or from the moisturizing base itself. Creams often improve skin health regardless of added ingredients.

“You apply a lotion or ointment and your skin looks and feels better,” says Theodosakis. “That’s simply because creams promote hydration, not because magnesium is being absorbed.”

The nuance

Still, experts stop short of dismissing the trend entirely. Dr. John Winkelman, a Harvard sleep specialist, says he has had patients report success with products like “magnesium butter” for better sleep, as reported by NPR.

While he remains skeptical about the science, Winkelman acknowledges that placebo can be powerful, particularly when it comes to sleep. “If something is safe and helps my patients sleep, I’m not against it,” he says.

However, he emphasizes that he would not recommend magnesium lotion as a first-line treatment. Unlike drugs, supplements and related products are not evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety and efficacy. That means there is no guarantee these lotions actually deliver what they promise.

For conditions like restless legs syndrome, which influencers often claim magnesium lotion can ease, proven medical therapies already exist. “It’s not fair to recommend things that haven’t been shown to be effective,” says Winkelman.

So, does magnesium lotion help you sleep better? Current evidence says no. But the good news is that experts agree it’s unlikely to do harm, aside from the cost.

Dermatologist Theodosakis adds that the popularity of such products reflects how closely skincare and wellness are tied to psychology and culture. “Skin is such a visible and personal part of us,” he notes. “It’s natural that trends latch onto it.”

For now, magnesium lotion remains more of a viral fad than a scientifically proven sleep aid. If it feels relaxing and helps you unwind at night, the benefit may simply come from the ritual itself — not the mineral inside the bottle.