England has launched the world’s first gonorrhoea vaccination programme at sexual health clinics, targeting high-risk groups such as gay and bisexual men with recent STI history. The vaccine, 4CMenB, already used for meningococcal B could prevent up to 100,000 cases and save the NHS £7.9 million over the next decade. Gonorrhoea cases hit a record 85,000 in 2023, the highest since 1918, with rising antibiotic-resistant strains. The initiative also offers vaccines for mpox, HPV, and hepatitis A and B. Public Health Minister Ashley Dalton hailed the rollout as a major breakthrough in STI prevention and antibiotic resistance. Eligible individuals are urged to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their partners. (PC: CDC & BBC)

Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda announced on August 2, 2025, that India achieved a landmark 18,900 organ transplants in 2024, the highest ever and a significant rise from just under 5,000 in 2013. The country now ranks third globally, behind the U.S. and China, and leads in hand transplants thanks to its surgical expertise . Despite this, the organ donation rate remains below one per million, with over 63,000 awaiting kidney transplants and 22,000 needing liver transplants . The Aadhaar‑based NOTTO pledge portal has drawn 3.3 lakh pledges, but awareness gaps persist along with infrastructure and surgeon shortages hindering access. (PC: PTI)

A Berlin-based company, Tomorrow Bio, is offering cryopreservation services—the process of freezing human bodies after legal death—with hopes of future revival. For around ₹2 crore, clients can opt for full-body preservation, while brain-only options cost about ₹67 lakh. After death, a 24/7 emergency team rushes to begin cooling and transport to a storage facility in Switzerland, where bodies are kept at −196°C in vacuum-insulated tanks. Though the technology to revive preserved bodies does not yet exist, over 650 clients have signed up. Experts remain skeptical, calling the concept highly speculative. (PC: NDTV)  

In a groundbreaking moment for reproductive science, Thaddeus Daniel Pierce was born in Ohio from an embryo frozen for over 30 years. Originally created in 1994 through IVF by Linda Archerd, the embryo was cryopreserved until adopted by Lindsey and Tim Pierce via the Snowflakes program. The birth sets a world record for the oldest frozen embryo to result in a live birth. Experts say the case proves long-term cryopreservation can preserve embryo viability. The emotional journey highlights the power of embryo adoption, offering hope to families facing infertility. Thaddeus’s birth bridges generations his genetic sister was born three decades earlier, making this a surreal yet real triumph of science and faith. (PC: Times of India & IStock)

The NHS has become the first in Europe to offer a five‑minute injectable form of nivolumab, an immunotherapy previously delivered via IV over 30–60 minutes . Approved by the MHRA, this subcutaneous jab treats 15 cancers, including lung, bowel, skin, bladder, kidney, head & neck, and oesophageal types . Around 1,200 patients per month in England are expected to benefit, saving over 1,000 staff hours monthly and boosting day-unit capacity . Clinicians report it greatly enhances patient convenience at no extra NHS cost, thanks to a deal with Bristol Myers Squibb. (PC: Survey Live)    

Eight babies have been born in the UK using a groundbreaking three-person DNA technique to prevent hereditary mitochondrial disease. The method combines the mother’s and father’s DNA with healthy mitochondria from a female donor. All eight children are confirmed healthy and free from the hereditary condition, which can cause severe disability or death. Developed by the Newcastle Fertility Centre, the technique has been legal in the UK since 2015. Children inherit 0.1% of their DNA from the donor. Families expressed gratitude, calling it life-changing. Experts say this success brings hope to families facing hereditary mitochondrial diseases. (PC: BBC)

Eight babies have been born in the UK free from hereditary mitochondrial disease thanks to groundbreaking IVF using DNA from three people. The method combines a mother’s egg, father’s sperm, and healthy mitochondria from a donor to prevent passing on the debilitating condition. Children inherit 99.9% of their DNA from their parents and 0.1% from the donor. The Newcastle Fertility Centre confirmed all babies are healthy and meeting milestones. Experts say this offers new hope to families affected by hereditary mitochondrial disorders. Around 20-30 such births are expected yearly in the UK despite ethical debates surrounding genetic modification. (PC: BBC)

India is on the brink of a major public health breakthrough as the Serum Institute of India nears completion of Phase 3 trials for the country’s first homegrown dengue vaccine. Named TetraVax-DV, the vaccine is designed to offer protection against all four serotypes of the dengue virus. The trial, which began in 2023, has enrolled nearly 50% of the targeted participants across 20 sites in both urban and rural areas. Early safety data has shown promising results with no serious adverse effects reported. If successful, the vaccine is expected to be available by 2026, offering a critical tool to combat the seasonal dengue outbreaks that afflict millions in India every year. (PC: The Times of India)  

The Health Ministry has said there is no link between Covid-19 vaccines and sudden cardiac deaths in young adults. Studies by ICMR and NCDC found that such deaths are mostly due to genetics, lifestyle, stress, and post-Covid issues. “These studies have conclusively established that there is no direct link between COVID-19 vaccination and the reports of sudden deaths in the country,” the ministry stated. This comes after Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah raised concerns over 22 heart attack deaths in Hassan district. An expert panel is now studying the cases. The ministry warned against “false and misleading” claims that create vaccine fear. (PC: AP)

In the 123rd episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on June 29, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated key national milestones, emphasizing India’s growing global influence in health and social welfare. He praised the overwhelming participation in International Yoga Day, especially the record-breaking gathering of over three lakh people in Visakhapatnam. Modi also proudly announced that India has been declared trachoma-free by the World Health Organization, attributing the success to initiatives like Swachh Bharat and Jal Jeevan Mission. Highlighting social security advancements, he cited an ILO report revealing that nearly 95 crore Indians now benefit from social protection schemes—an impressive rise from just 24 crore in 2015. (PC: PTI)