In a serious public health incident reported in early January 2026, contaminated drinking water has been linked to multiple deaths and widespread illness in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Official records indicate that at least 9 deaths have been reported, with over 200 residents hospitalised following an outbreak of acute gastrointestinal illness in the Bhagirathpura area of the city.

The outbreak was first detected in the last week of December 2025, when residents began presenting to hospitals with severe diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and fever after consuming municipal tap water. District health authorities initiated an investigation after clustering of cases was noted from a single locality. Patients were admitted across several government and private hospitals, with some requiring intensive care. Preliminary laboratory analysis of water samples collected from the affected area confirmed bacterial contamination of the drinking water supply. Subsequent investigations identified faecal contamination, reportedly resulting from sewage ingress into potable water pipelines. Officials have attributed the contamination to a structural lapse, wherein a public toilet pit constructed near a police outpost was located directly above an underground drinking-water pipeline, allowing seepage into the supply line.

Further testing by the Pollution Control Board detected faecal coliform organisms in groundwater samples from Bhagirathpura, supporting the hypothesis of sewage-mixing. Residents reported foul-smelling and discoloured water prior to the outbreak, with several alleging that complaints regarding water quality had been raised earlier, but not adequately addressed.

The incident has led to administrative action at multiple levels. The Madhya Pradesh government has removed the Indore Municipal Commissioner and suspended senior municipal officials responsible for water supply management. A departmental inquiry has been ordered to examine lapses in infrastructure planning, maintenance, and monitoring of water-quality standards. The Urban Development department has directed municipal bodies to review pipeline networks and sanitation facilities to prevent similar incidents.

Public health measures have included deployment of medical teams for door-to-door surveillance, real-time monitoring of new cases, and provision of free treatment at government facilities. Municipal authorities have undertaken emergency chlorination of water sources and are supplying potable water through tankers. Residents have been advised to boil drinking water and avoid using tap water until safety is confirmed.

While official figures indicate 9 deaths, residents and civil-society groups have questioned this number, citing deaths occurring outside hospital settings. Authorities have stated that cause-of-death certification and epidemiological linkage are ongoing.

The Indore outbreak highlights persistent vulnerabilities in urban water supply systems, particularly in areas where ageing pipelines intersect with inadequate sanitation infrastructure.

The episode underscores the need for continuous water-quality surveillance, strict enforcement of construction norms, and stronger accountability mechanisms to safeguard public health in rapidly expanding urban centres.

NISCHAL P.M. , Mysuru, Karnataka

ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3491-5500

In a development raising serious ethical and regulatory concerns in assisted reproduction, sperm from a single donor who has now been found to be carrying a heritable cancer-predisposing gene mutation was reportedly used to conceive nearly 200 children across multiple countries. The findings were reported in December 2025 following an international investigation that traced the use of the donor’s sperm over several years.

According to the investigation, the donor carried a pathogenic mutation in the TP53 gene, a tumour-suppressor gene associated with Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a rare inherited condition that confers a markedly increased lifetime risk of cancer. Individuals with this syndrome are known to develop malignancies at a young age, often during childhood or early adulthood. At the time of donation, the donor was reportedly asymptomatic and unaware of carrying the mutation.

The donor began donating sperm in 2005 through a European sperm bank and continued to do so until 2022. During this period, the sperm were distributed to fertility clinics in multiple countries. Investigators identified at least 197 children conceived using the donor’s sperm, although the total number may be higher, as complete data from all countries are not yet available.

The issue came to light after clinicians noted early-onset cancers in some donor-conceived children and pursued genetic testing. Subsequent analysis confirmed the presence of the TP53 mutation in several affected children. Of the children whose genetic status has been assessed so far, a proportion were found to carry the mutation, and some have already been diagnosed with cancer. Others are now undergoing long-term clinical surveillance. The sperm bank involved has stated that the donor met all screening requirements at the time of donation. Routine donor screening typically includes testing for infectious diseases and selected genetic conditions, but does not universally include screening for rare cancer-predisposition genes such as TP53. The sperm bank reported that distribution of the donor’s sperm was halted after the mutation was identified; also, affected families were notified. The case has highlighted major gaps in donor screening protocols, limits on donor usage, and cross-border regulatory oversight. While some countries impose limits on the number of families or children per donor, these limits vary widely and are not uniformly enforced, particularly when donor sperm is used internationally.

Families affected by the discovery have reported distress over delayed disclosure and the long-term implications for their children’s health. Genetic counselling and cancer surveillance programmes have been initiated for affected children, many of whom will require lifelong monitoring.

The incident underscores the need for clearer international standards governing sperm donation, including enforceable limits on donor use, improved traceability of donated material, and transparent policies on genetic testing and disclosure. It also raises broader questions about accountability in reproductive medicine when genetic risks emerge long after conception.

NISCHAL P.M., Mysuru, Karnataka

ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3491-5500

In December 2025, six children undergoing treatment for thalassaemia at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel District Hospital in Satna, Madhya Pradesh, tested positive for HIV. The infections were detected during routine follow-up and are suspected to be linked to blood transfusions administered at the hospital.

According to district health officials, the affected children, all below 15 years of age, had been receiving regular blood transfusions as part of standard management for thalassaemia. The children had previously tested HIV-negative, thus suggesting recent seroconversion. The matter came to light after parents were informed of positive test results during scheduled monitoring.

Following the detection of the cases, the district administration initiated an inquiry into blood transfusion and screening practices at the hospital’s blood bank. Officials stated that all blood units are mandated to undergo screening for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C prior to transfusion, as per national guidelines. The apparent transmission has therefore raised questions regarding adherence to testing protocols, quality control, and record-keeping procedures.

Preliminary investigations have indicated difficulties in tracing donors linked to the transfused blood units, reportedly due to incomplete or incorrect donor contact details in blood bank records. Authorities are reviewing donor registers, laboratory logs, and transfusion records to identify possible lapses. Samples from implicated blood units have been sent for further analysis.

The incident has prompted administrative action. The Madhya Pradesh government has ordered a detailed probe into the functioning of the hospital blood bank, and senior officials have been directed to submit reports on compliance with transfusion safety norms. Additional instructions have been issued to review blood bank practices across the district to prevent further cases.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter, observing that the reported events, if confirmed, may amount to a violation of the children’s right to health and safety. The Commission has sought a detailed report from the state government, including information on steps taken to ensure accountability and to strengthen safeguards against similar incidents.

All affected children have been initiated on antiretroviral therapy and are being monitored by specialist teams. Counselling services have been extended to families, and health authorities have stated that follow-up testing of other transfusion recipients is underway.

The Satna incident highlights persistent vulnerabilities in blood transfusion services, particularly for patients requiring repeated transfusions. It underscores the need for stringent enforcement of screening protocols, accurate donor traceability, and continuous oversight of blood bank operations to protect high-risk patient groups.

NISCHAL P.M. , Mysuru, Karnataka

ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3491-5500

Dr Abhijat Sheth, Chairperson of the National Medical Commission (NMC), announced on 30 November 2025, a major reform in Indian medical education by approving the integration of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) principles into the academic frameworks of MBBS, MD, MS, and PhD programs. This strategic decision, sanctioned by the NMC Board of Governors, aims to enhance the research capabilities and clinical aptitude of medical students at the graduate level. To advance indigenous innovation in pharmaceuticals and medical devices, the NMC is also set to introduce doctoral programs and enhance its clinical research capabilities.

By embedding the ICMR principles, the NMC seeks to address a wide spectrum of health challenges, including metabolic disorders, diabetes mellitus, mental health, and various communicable and non-communicable diseases. Although the current competency-based medical education (CBME) system includes elements of scientific reasoning, this new directive aims to reinforce and expand those foundations. The ultimate goal is to equip future medical professionals with the necessary skills for critical thinking and innovation. To implement this vision, a specialised committee comprising eminent doctors and a representative from NITI Aayog will be established. Their mandate will be to draft a comprehensive framework that systematically introduces clinical research components across medical courses. This plan involves not only theoretical updates but also the development of a practical research environment, using laboratories governed by the ICMR, to offer students real-world experience. Once the committee finalises the updated curriculum, it will become mandatory for all medical colleges to adopt these changes. This move represents a shift toward a more research-oriented medical education system and is intended to drive field-driven innovations and strengthen modern medicine in India.

ALLADI MOHAN, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh

ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3214-9884

The National Medical Council’s Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) has officially expanded India’s postgraduate medical capacity for the academic year 2025–26. According to a public notice issued on 17 December 2025, the board has sanctioned 7619 new seats. This raises the nationwide total of postgraduate medical seats to 57 503, a major increase from the 49 884 seats available during the 2024–25 session. The newly added seats are distributed across various disciplines. High-demand fields saw substantial gains, with anaesthesiology securing 639 spots, followed closely by orthopaedics (587), general surgery (540), and paediatrics (557). General medicine also received a boost of 535 seats. However, certain specialised areas, including biophysics, aviation medicine, and specific diploma courses, were not granted any additional capacity in this cycle. This expansion reflects a continued drive to enhance medical specialisation opportunities across the country.

Meanwhile, medical colleges in Bengaluru are currently facing a severe shortage of teaching staff in pre-clinical and para-clinical disciplines, leading to a dramatic surge in salaries for these positions. Salaries for medical college faculty in preand para-clinical subjects have nearly doubled compared to clinical departments. While Assistant Professors in clinical departments typically earn around 200 000 per month, the scarcity of faculty in pre-clinical and para-clinical departments has pushed their pay packages to between 300 000 and 400 000 per month.

Administrators attribute this crunch to the rapid expansion in medical seats and a general reluctance among postgraduates to pursue non-clinical specialisations, which lack opportunities for face-to-face patient care. To attract and retain talent amidst aggressive poaching, institutions are offering incentives beyond high wages, including faster promotions, housing allowances, and strictly academic schedules (without emergency duties). Although regulatory bodies have eased hiring norms for senior staff, the gap between rising demand and limited supply remains critical.

ALLADI MOHAN, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh

ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3214-9884

The United States Department of Justice, via its Office of Public Affairs, shared a press release on 16 December 2025, regarding the resolution of an inquiry into allegations of misappropriation of funds and misrepresentation of data by Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), over 10 years, and a subsequent settlement. The $15 000 000 settlement payment is accompanied by an accruing interest rate of 4.375% per annum from 27 August 2025, and needs to be settled by DFCI within 30 days once the agreement comes into effect.

The allegations were related to 14 publications in haematological and haemato-oncological research between 2014 and 2024 in leading journals Leukaemia, Journal of Leukaemia, Blood, Blood Advances, and Clinical Cancer Research. In the settlement, DFCI, a leading cancer treatment and research centre with locations in Boston, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, accepted that 6 research grants from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, had been used to publish 14 articles with images that had been modified in various ways—duplicated, rotated, edited/stretched—to magnify/misrepresent changes, without appropriate supervisor oversight. The articles were mainly related to one researcher. Four further grants were also obtained from the National Institutes of Health by a second researcher, without mentioning/acknowledging their research association with the original researcher under question. These subsequent articles also failed to mention the replication of textual material and the duplication of results from the previously published articles. The research was done on mice.

The claims were filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which allows private parties to report tips to the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as lodge complaints and action suits on behalf of the United States, about potential mismanagement, wastage, and fraud in healthcare. If the subsequent enquiry leads to a resolution of the claims, the private party is entitled to a share of the civil settlement. Sholto David, who reported the allegations in this case, will receive 17.5%, amounting to $2 625 000, as his share once the settlement is paid. Multiple government offices were involved in the investigations and in the subsequent settlement, including the Department of Justice’s Commercial Litigation, Civil Division, and Fraud Section branches, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

MAHARRA HUSSAIN, United Arab Emirates

ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7632-0631

In December 2025, the British daily newspaper, The Telegraph, reported findings of an analysis of the male female birth sex ratio during 2017–21 period, by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/sex-ratios-at-birth-in-the-united-kingdom-2017-to-2021/sex-ratios-at-birth-in-the-united-kingdom-2017-to-2021; accessed on 18 Jan 2026). This analysis examined the sex ratio at birth for the children born in the UK overall, and also by birth order, and ethnicity (for England and Wales). During this period, there were 3.6 million live births in the UK with an overall male:female ratio of 105.4, which is within the acceptable cut-off limit of 107, and did not significantly vary across the birth orders. A birth male-to-female sex ratio of over 107 is considered evidence of sex-selective abortions, or perhaps sex-selection, in in vitro fertilization.

However, the analysis for ethnicity and birth order done for the births in England and Wales (a total of 3.2 million births in 2017–21) revealed a significantly skewed male:female birth sex ratio of 113, which is well above the cut-off of 107, for children of Indian ethnicity of birth order 3 or more. The report further mentions that such a high figure suggests that there may have been approximately 400 sex-selective abortions in the region during this period. Sex-selective or gender-based abortion is illegal in the UK. The report also refers to the previously published data on sex ratio at birth for the years 2016–20, in which it was also found to be high at 111 for Indian ethnicity with birth order 3 or more, but was not statistically significant.

It is alarming that this male female birth sex ratio is, in fact, higher than that in India. As per a press release by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, on 6 October 2025, the national sex ratio at birth (SRB) for the period 2021–23 stands at 917 females per 1000 males. The deeply ingrained conventional preference for a male child over a female child among Indians, stemming from age-old socio-cultural influences, economic factors, concern for continuation of lineage, etc., appears to persist, despite migration to better developed nations such as the UK.

A similar finding has also been reported in a recent study from Australia, wherein a skewed birth sex ratio in favour of males was observed among the migrants from China, India and Vietnam. (Gebremedhin AT, Tessema GA, Srinivasjois R, Daire JA, Chai KA, Duko B, et al. Indirect evidence of sex-selective abortion practices is the imbalanced sex ratio at birth in Australian migrant populations. PLOS Glob Public Health 202;5:e0004672. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004672).

JYOTI NATH MODI , Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0626-1637