#26: Brains in Focus: Zombie Cells and Monsoon Tapeworm Surges!

• 🩹 BITS Hyderabad created a smart bandage that detects infections, changes color and then zaps bacteria. No antibiotics needed! (TOI)

• 📱 From belly to app! This smart capsule, developed by Chinese researchers, uses engineered microbes to detect gut inflammation, release healing antibodies and send real‑time updates to your phone. (ETHealth)

• 👫🏻 Columbia University’s Sperm Tracking and Recovery (STAR) delivers hope! The AI tool scans thousands of images to spot sperm invisible to the human eye. Recently helping a couple conceive after 18 years; marking the first AI-assisted male infertility treatment! (CNN)

• 🩸 World’s rarest blood antigen discovered in Bengaluru! When a woman’s blood matched no known type, scientists discovered CRIB - a new antigen in the blood group system. This first‑ever human case could transform transfusion safety and rare‑donor care. (ETHealth)

• 🧟‍♀️ Long COVID, a post‑infection condition, may be driven by ‘zombie cells’. It lingers in the body, disrupts the brain, saps energy and confuses the immune system. (ETHealth)

• 💉 Thimerosal, the mercury‑based preservative in multi‑dose vaccines, is back in debate. WHO says it’s safe, but critics link it to autism. Removing it could disrupt vaccine cold chains in low‑resource regions. (BS)

• 🧪 India’s drug regulator is testing for a cancer‑linked toxin in Ranitidine, a popular antacid. The everyday pill is now in a high‑stakes safety race, with every batch under the microscope. (TOI)

• 💣 Pharma drama unfolds: Indian giants recall meds in the U.S.! Sun Pharma, Lupin and Dr. Reddy’s are pulling several drug batches due to manufacturing snags and mix-ups. (ET)

🇮🇳 India

• 🤰🏻 Hyderabad IVF scam shocks the city! A clinic bought a baby for ₹90,000 and sold it for ₹35 Lakh as an IVF child. Fake surrogacy, forged papers and years of baby trafficking led to 8 arrests. A nationwide crackdown on fertility clinics is underway. (ET)

• 🪱 Mumbai on alert: Brain‑eating tapeworms surge in monsoon! Dirty water and undercooked food let larvae invade the brain, triggering seizures and lasting damage. Stay cautious and keep hygiene tight this season. (TOI)

• ⚠️ 650 private hospitals in Haryana plan to quit Ayushman Bharat (Centre’s free healthcare lifeline for low-income families) this August. They cite ₹500 Cr unpaid dues, month‑long claim delays and severe financial strain. (ETHealth)

• 🚨 AIIMS Delhi is facing a severe healthcare bottleneck, with patients waiting up to two years for critical cardio and neuro surgeries. Even routine procedures are now delayed by several months, highlighting the mounting strain on India’s premier hospital. (ETHealth)

• 🫁 Do you need an air purifier? In India, 50% of lung cancer patients are non‑smokers while 30% of them are young women. Air pollution and passive smoking are fueling an epidemic striking earlier than ever. (ETHealth)

🌏️ Global

• 🧑🏻‍💻 A new US health-tracking system backed by Trump is asking Americans to share their medical data with Big Tech—yep, Google, Apple, and friends. All in the name of fighting chronic illness. (ETHealth)

• 👨‍👩‍👧 China will pay couples $1,500 per newborn each year for 3 years to boost births, following a 2025 mandate for epidurals at all top hospitals. How the tables have turned. (CNN)

🇮🇳 India

• 🚀 US‑based healthcare investment firm, W Health Ventures, will invest $70M-$100M in Indian health startups. The aim is to fuel innovation and transform the nation’s healthcare landscape. (VCCircle)

• 💸 Global investment firms (KKR, TPG and others) are eyeing a majority stake in Sensa Core, one of India’s leading med-tech manufacturers. The deal could value the company at around $300M. If it lands, it marks a bold bet on India’s booming medical-device industry! (ETHealth)

• 🏥 India’s private hospitals on expansion mode. Top hospital chains will invest ₹30,000 Cr to add 14,500 beds by FY27. With a strong push in Tier‑II cities, it is all set to meet India’s growing healthcare demand. (ETHealth)

• ✈️ India saw a 150% jump in NRI patients this year with young adults and women leading the surge. South India, Mumbai and Pune are now the key hubs, powered by modern hospitals and expert care. (ET)

🌏️ Global

• 📉 American pharma giant, Moderna to slash 10% of its workforce, over 800 jobs, as falling COVID‑19 vaccine sales push the company to cut $1.5B in costs by 2027. (ET)