Birthdays are exciting for everyone. There's celebration, a cake, and balloons. But what if it goes wrong? This is what happened with Giang Pham, from Vietnam, who was celebrating her 33rd birthday on February 14, when a hydrogen balloon in her hand touched the flame from the candle on the cake and exploded on her face.

This incident was also captured on camera. The footage clearly shows how the balloon blew up as soon as it touched the flame. Her friends were shocked and can be heard gasping in the background as they saw this.

In the days following the incident, she also shared photos on her Instagram showing her bandaged face, and revealed the first-degree burns on her hand and second-degree burns on her face. However, the good news was that her vision was unaffected, though for her face to recover, it would take months.

She is now also warning others about the risks of using highly inflammable hydrogen balloons. The other alternative could be a helium balloon, which you could fly higher and they remain on the ceiling.

Health Update

She revealed that her doctor estimated up to six months for her skin to recover. She would still have to go to the hospital for dressing and treatment. Another such case happened with a woman named Tine from Australia, when on her son's 7th birthday, the balloon exploded and "shook her house". Her son was burned in the forearm.

Such incidents happen because decorators want to save the cost by replacing helium with hydrogen, which is highly inflammable.

In Healing

Giang shared that she experienced second-degree burn on her face and first-degree burn on her hands. As per John Hopkins Medicine, first degree burns affect only the epidermis, or the outer layer of skin. The burn site becomes red, painful, dry, however, there are no blisters. A mild sunburn could be an example of such a burn. This is also called superficial burns.

Whereas, second degree burns involve the epidermis and part of the dermis layer of the skin. The burn site appears red, blistered and could also be swollen and painful. This is also known as partial thickness burn.

Then comes the third degree burns, also known as full thickness burn. This destroys the epidermis and dermis and could also damage the underlying bones, muscles, and tendons. However, when the bones and muscles are burned, it could be referred to as a fourth degree burn. The burn sit appears white or charred and there is no feeling in the area since the nerve endings are destroyed.

How burns are treated?

The right way to treat a burn depends on its depth and how much of the body it covers. While minor, superficial burns can be managed at home, deeper or larger burns may need medical attention. Keep these essential guidelines in mind:

Do:

• Remove the source of the burn immediately – For example, take off clothing soaked in hot liquid to prevent further damage.
• Run cool water over the burn – This helps soothe the skin, except in cases of certain chemical burns.
• Keep the burn clean and protected – Cover it with a clean, non-stick bandage when possible.
• Seek medical help – If the burn is deeper than a superficial layer, larger than your hand, or full-thickness, see a doctor.

Don’t:

• Use home remedies like bleach or butter – These can make the burn worse.
• Apply ointments or creams on deep burns – They can trap heat and worsen the injury.
• Put ice on the burn – It can cause more damage to the skin.
• Pop blisters – This increases the risk of infection.

Knowing these simple steps can make a big difference in burn care and healing.

With H1N1 outbreak expanding in Delhi, India is witnessing an overwhelming increase in seasonal influenza cases. To compound to the public health issue, the flu vaccine that best matches the viruses currently circulating in the country is facing a supply shortage.

Therefore, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has advised that another seasonal influenza vaccine can be used temporarily until the one preferred becomes available again.

The ICMR recommendation comes after influenza surveillance found that viruses circulating in India have a closer match with the strains included in this year’s Northern Hemisphere (NH) vaccine.

However, the Southern Hemisphere (SH) vaccine, which is available in India, can still provide protection against several viruses circulating in the country.

Why Is There A Shortage Of Flu Vaccine In The First Place?

According to ICMR, the NH vaccine would be the ideal choice because its composition closely matches the influenza viruses currently detected in India.

ICMR said, “Since the surveillance data indicates close resemblance of the circulating influenza strains in India with the Northern Hemisphere recommendations of WHO, it would be ideal to administer the NH vaccine.”

“However, in view of non-availability of NH vaccine, the available SH vaccine may be used, and SH vaccine be replaced with NH vaccine as soon as it becomes available,” it added.

According to several reports, the shortage is starting to affect hospital supplies, including government supply of the preferred vaccine.

The surge in demand, production timelines, limited imports and redistribution of vaccines globally could be the factors driving the shortage currently.

Also read: ICMR Study Shows Pune Dengue Mosquitoes Resistant To Insecticides: What It Means for Public Health

Does The Available Southern Hemisphere Vaccine Protect Against H1N1?

The current H1N1 virus circulating in India can be tackled by both the NH and SH vaccines. The difference is primarily in the strains of the other influenza viruses they target, particularly H3N2 and influenza B.

ICMR surveillance has detected H1N1, H3N2 and influenza B viruses circulating in India. The NH vaccine contains versions of H3N2 and influenza B that more closely match the strains currently being detected.

India's National Centre for Disease Control has also previously advised that when the latest recommended seasonal formulation is unavailable, the latest available trivalent or quadrivalent influenza vaccine may be used.

Also read: 98 Years After Penicillin, Are We Running Out Of Effective Antibiotics?

Should You Wait For The Preferred Vaccine?

People who are at higher risk of severe influenza, doctors say that said it may not be necessary to remain unvaccinated while waiting for the NH vaccine.

These include older adults, young children, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses or weak immune system. Influenza can cause complications like pneumonia and can worsen existing medical conditions in vulnerable people.

HealthandMe spoke to Dr. Divya K S, Infectious Disease Specialist at Apollo Hospitals, Seshadripuram, Bangalore, about the efficacy of SH vaccine on H1N1. The doctor also explained if one should wait for NH vaccine.

The doctor explains, “People should take the Southern Hemisphere vaccine which is available for now rather than wait. Because waiting now means leaving people with no protection at all while active flu season is on. Bothe the vaccines do have some components in common. So taking the SH vaccine does give protection

The expert also clarified if SH vaccine offers complete adequate coverage on current H1N1 strain.

She added, “On H1N1 specifically, the SH vaccine offers full expected protection, because the H1N1 strain — A/Missouri/11/2025-like virus — is identical in both the NH and SH formulations this season. it is H3N2. B/Victoria strains that are different from the NH vaccine.”

India's influenza surveillance network continually tracks circulating strains and helps determine which vaccine is likely to offer the best match. This year's ICMR assessment is why the NH formulation is preferred, but the SH vaccine still remains a practical alternative while supplies are limited. Experts recommend taking it instead of staying unprotected.

One of the most effective ways to prevent rabies deaths could be by vaccinating dogs rather than just people before they are bitten. A new study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia modelled different strategies in Kerala for eradicating human rabies deaths between 2026 and 2035.

The study found that mass vaccination of dogs could bring the annual rabies deaths among people in Kerala close to zero within about three years even if 70% of the dog population were vaccinated.

On the other hand, vaccinating children before exposure to rabies was projected to prevent relatively few additional deaths at substantially higher cost.

India carries one of the worst largest rabies burdens. That's why the study could point towards a feasible and practical solution to eradicate the deadly infection.

Could Vaccinating Dogs Help?

Most human rabies deaths in India are linked to bites from infected dogs. This means that the disease can be tackled at its source by reducing transmission among dogs.

India records an estimated 9.1 million animal bites every year, with more than three-quarters caused by dogs. A 2024 estimate from the Indian Council of Medical Research's National Institute of Epidemiology estimates India's annual human rabies deaths to be about 5,726, which is an alarming public health issue.

The study puts emphasis on the fact that vaccinating a person after a bite protects that individual, whereas, vaccinating dogs reduces the probability that an infected dog will transmit rabies to many people in the first place.

Also read: Bhutan Eliminates Rabies While India Battles Persistent Deaths: What Can India Learn From Its Neighbour?

About The Study

Researchers from the University of Glasgow, Kerala's health and animal-husbandry departments, Kerala University of Health Sciences and the London School of Economics and Political Science used mathematical modelling to compare different strategies to combat rabies in Kerala.

One strategy was routine pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for children. Another focused on mass dog vaccination, while the model also considered improvements to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), the treatment given after a potentially rabid bite.

The researchers found that adding routine childhood PrEP provided minimal additional protection, preventing fewer than 10 deaths on average over a decade, while costing considerably more than strategies focused on controlling rabies transmission among dogs.

The model estimated that achieving 70% vaccination coverage among dogs could reduce annual human rabies deaths in Kerala to near zero within approximately three years.

Also read: Abhayrab Rabies Vaccine Batch Found Misbranded, ‘Not Of Standard Quality’: DCGI Alerts States

India's Alarming Rabies Situation

One of the study's striking findings was about the size of Kerala's stray-dog population. The researchers' modelling suggested that the state's actual stray-dog population could be around five times higher than official census estimates.

If vaccination programmes are based on an underestimated dog population, authorities could believe they have reached adequate coverage while a large proportion of dogs remain unvaccinated. That creates what epidemiologists call an immunity gap, allowing rabies transmission to continue.

Additionally, dog vaccination does not make human post-exposure treatment unnecessary. If a person is bitten or scratched by an animal that could have rabies, the wound should be washed thoroughly with soap and running water and medical care should be sought immediately.

Depending on the exposure, PEP can include rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). This is particularly important because rabies becomes extremely difficult to treat once symptoms begin.

The study also found that improving timely access to PEP could prevent more deaths than expanding routine pre-exposure vaccination of children.

The death of Lady Joan Branson, wife of billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, has highlighted the risk of a blood clot after fractures that travels to the lungs.

Lady Branson, 80, died at Lister Hospital in London in November 2025 after being admitted following a fall at her home on Necker Island. An inquest heard that she had developed a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and subsequently suffered a massive pulmonary embolism (PE).

The coroner, Professor Fiona Wilcox, concluded that her death could probably have been prevented if anti-clotting treatment had been given earlier. She said: “If this lady had been given [anti-clotting medication] early on ... her death, on the balance of probability, would have been prevented.”

What exactly happens after a fracture that can make a blood clot so dangerous?

Fracture Increases The Risk Of Blood Clots

A fracture can trigger several conditions that encourage the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE), the collective term for DVT and PE.

First, injury itself activates the body's clotting system. The body naturally increases clot formation after tissue damage to prevent bleeding.

Second, a person with a fracture may become significantly less mobile. When the leg muscles are not moving normally, the muscle pump that helps push blood through the veins becomes less effective. Blood can therefore pool in the deep veins, particularly in the legs. Hospitalisation, surgery, older age, previous blood clots and certain medical conditions can add further risk.

A clot that remains in a leg vein can cause swelling and pain. But when part of it breaks and gets away, it can travel through the bloodstream to the lungs, leading to a pulmonary embolism.

Also read: 9/11 Toxic Air Exposed Thousands: What New Records Reveal 25 Years Later

How Does A DVT Become A Pulmonary Embolism?

A clot forming in a deep vein, usually in the leg, can detach and travel through the veins into the right side of the heart. From there, it can enter the pulmonary arteries, which carry blood to the lungs.

If the clot is large enough, it can obstruct blood flow through the lungs and suddenly increase pressure on the right side of the heart.

A large or massive PE can therefore cause severe breathlessness, low blood pressure, cardiac arrest and sudden death.

This is why PE can sometimes appear dramatically, even when the original DVT produced few obvious symptoms.

Also read: Small-Cell Lung Cancer Is One Of The Hardest Cancers To Treat: What This New Drug Combination Could Change

Could Blood-Thinning Medication Have Prevented Lady Branson’s Death?

According to the inquest, Lady Branson had a history of blood clots dating back to 2010, and doctors heard evidence that she had previously used anti-clotting injections.

However, she was not given enoxaparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin commonly used to prevent or treat harmful blood clots, during her hospital stay.

One doctor, Dr Inaki Bovill, told the inquest that a venous thromboembolism risk assessment should have been carried out and that the medication should have been prescribed. He said: “It is to my great regret that I did not.”

Another doctor, Dr George Adams, a consultant haematologist at Imperial College London, told the inquest that earlier anticoagulation would have made cardiac arrest less likely in her particular case.

Lady Branson's daughter, Dr Holly Branson, disputed the suggestion that her mother had refused the injections because of previous pain or bruising. She told the inquest that this was “not consistent with my knowledge of her usual practice or attitude.”

What Are The Warning Signs Of A Blood Clot?

A DVT can cause:

• Swelling, usually in one leg
• Pain or tenderness in the calf or thigh
• Warmth or redness over the affected area

A PE may cause:

• Sudden unexplained breathlessness
• Chest pain, particularly pain that worsens when breathing
• Rapid heartbeat or breathing
• Coughing up blood
• Dizziness, fainting or collapse