The NHS in England will not fund Lecanemab, the first drug shown to slow early-stage Alzheimer's, due to cost concerns, according to NICE. While the drug, licensed by MHRA, demonstrated a 25% reduction in cognitive decline over 18 months, NICE argues that its high cost and required intensive monitoring outweigh the benefits. Approximately 70,000 adults in England were potential candidates. Although available privately, Lecanemab's approval in Great Britain contrasts with the European Medicines Agency's rejection. NICE's final decision will follow a public consultation later this year.

Asia's first confirmed case of the new deadlier mpox Clade 1b strain has been detected in Thailand. The patient, a sixty-six-year-old European man, traveled from Africa to the United Kingdom before landing in Bangkok on August fourteenth. Thailand’s Department of Disease Control confirmed the case after multiple lab tests. Authorities are monitoring forty-three individuals who were in close contact with the patient, showing no symptoms so far. Thailand has detected over eight hundred mpox Clade 2 cases since 2022. India's AIIMS has issued protocols, and the government has directed increased vigilance at airports, ports, and borders.

Dr. Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization's Europe regional director, has stated that Mpox should not be considered the new Covid. He emphasized that health authorities are equipped to manage its spread effectively. Despite concerns about a new variant, Clade Ib, identified in Sweden and linked to an outbreak in Africa, Kluge assured that decisive actions, including the distribution of vaccines to high-risk areas, could prevent widespread panic and further neglect. His remarks come amid a global alert over Mpox, underscoring the need for coordinated efforts to address the virus without causing unnecessary alarm.

Mpox deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo have risen to over 570, as the country awaits vaccines from the United States and Japan. Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba highlighted that the virus, which now affects children more severely, has spread across all 26 provinces. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global public health emergency and urged increased vaccination efforts. Japan has pledged 3.5 million doses, while the U.S. promised 50,000. The new strain, clade 1b, has a mortality rate of 3.6%.

Dr. Ashwin Nandakumar, a Kerala-based doctor, has made a significant discovery in cancer treatment. Along with Dr. Ashwin Jainarayanan and Prof. Michael Dustin, he has identified "attack particles" that can fight cancer, autoimmunity, and infections. Their biotech startup, Granza Bio, has received $7.14 million in funding from Felicis, Refactor, Y Combinator, and others. The investment will support clinical trials and bring their innovative therapeutics to market. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment. Granza Bio's research focuses on harnessing the power of the immune system to combat cancer, offering new hope for patients.

Pakistan has reported a new case of mpox in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 4. The patient, a 47-year-old man who recently returned from Jeddah, was admitted to Islamabad's Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences with mpox symptoms. This case follows three earlier cases reported in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Authorities are implementing strict airport screenings and monitoring travelers from affected regions. Pakistan's Prime Minister has ordered heightened vigilance and comprehensive measures to control the outbreak, which the WHO has declared a global public health emergency.

The Union Health Ministry has issued an alert to all airports and border authorities, urging them to monitor incoming passengers for Mpox symptoms. This comes after the World Health Organization declared the new variant of Mpox a global public health emergency. Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia, Safdarjung, and Lady Hardinge hospitals have been designated as nodal centers for managing Mpox cases. "The virus strain this time is more virulent, but the risk of a large outbreak is low," said a health official. India has no reported cases yet, but enhanced surveillance and testing are in place.

India is ramping up its response to the mpox threat, with the government instructing hospitals to set up isolation wards and identify patients with rashes. Three nodal hospitals in Delhi—Safdarjung, Lady Hardinge Medical College, and Ram Manohar Lohia—are designated for this task. Airports are also on high alert following the World Health Organisation's re-declaration of mpox as a global public health emergency. Although India has not reported new cases of the virus, neighboring Pakistan has detected cases from travelers. The government has advised that no new vaccines are required yet.

Mpox cases have emerged outside Africa as Sweden and Pakistan report infections days after the WHO declared the virus a “public health emergency.” Sweden confirmed its first case of the clade 1 strain, which originated in Africa and is noted for severe symptoms. Pakistan reported a case linked to travel from Saudi Arabia. The Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing the largest outbreak, with cases up 160% and deaths rising 19% this year. The European CDC has raised the risk alert to "moderate." Prevention includes maintaining personal hygiene and vaccination where available.

Pakistan has reported its first mpox cases. Health officials are investigating whether these three cases involve the deadly mutant strain currently spreading in Africa. This strain, a descendant of the clade 1 variant, has a high fatality rate, killing about 10% of those infected. The virus was detected in Sweden just a day before, marking its first appearance outside of Africa. Health authorities are working to determine the origin of the virus and its potential threat to global health.