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.

Climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk's indefinite hunger strike has entered a critical stage. After 20 days of without food, Wangchuk's condition worsened significantly. The spectacle drew nationwide attention as concerns over his deteriorating health continue to grow.

The protest, which began on June 28 at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, is aimed at demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in national entrance examinations like NEET and broader education reforms.

Wangchuk has experienced substantial weight loss ever since his hunger strike started. Doctors also warned that prolonged fasting could lead to serious complications, including organ involvement.

Sonam Wangchuk's Hospitalisation & 'Chalo Sansad' March

On July 18, Delhi Police shifted Sonam Wangchuk from the protest site to Safdarjung Hospital following medical advice and court-directed health monitoring. The move sparked controversy, with supporters alleging that he was moved to the hospital against his wishes.

According to the hospital, he’s receiving the necessary medical care, and his vital parameters remain stable.

“Sonam Wangchuk is being given the required medical intervention at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital. His vital parameters are stable at present; however, his blood parameters remain marginally altered, and considering the physiological stress and systemic effects of prolonged fasting, he requires continuous medical care under the close observation of a multidisciplinary team of experts", the hospital's spokesperson said.

Despite being hospitalised, Wangchuk has remained firm on continuing his fast. In a handwritten note that was shared on his official X handle, he urged supporters to participate in the planned "Chalo Sansad" march on July 20.

When Does Hunger Strike Become Medically Concerning?

Also read: Watch: What Really Happens To Your Body After 72 Hours Without Food?

With Wangchuk's health continuing to deteriorate, his protest has renewed public interest in the medical dangers of prolonged hunger strikes.

The deterioration of one's health after a period of prolonged fasting is a medical emergency but it is highly variable.

Dr M Wali, Principal Director, Internal Medicine, Pacific One Health, says, "The timing of health deterioration becoming a medical emergency varies on various factors. It depends on age, existing health parameters before fasting, hydration, medications, environmental conditions and most important whether the person is taking only water or electrolytes. There is no fixed timeline for vitals to deteriorate."

24-72 Hours

In the first three days, the doctor says that the body suffers from spells of hunger, dizziness, and mild drop in blood pressure.

3 to 9 Days

During this period, fluctuations in blood sugar can start. The expert says that during this time, the body relies heavily on stored fats. Weight loss, low blood pressure, slow pulse, dehydration, and electrolytes imbalance start happening too.

10-14 days

Experts say that this is the critical period when serious complications can arise, especially like kidney injury, heart rhythm abnormalities, confusion, and collapse.

According to Dr Anshu Rohtagi, Sr Consultant at Department of Neurology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, "After sustained and prolonged complete fasting of couple of weeks, the risk of permanent organ damage and death increases manifold although survival depends on hydration and status of nutrition. Someone refusing both food and water can deteriorate much faster - sometimes in a few days also."

Also read: How Colonialism Continues To Bear An Impact On The South Asian Health Crisis

Another expert says that during this time, certain critical symptoms are evaluated that could cause serious complications.

According to Dr Niraj Tyagi, renowned critical care specialist, "The visiting medical team looks for signs that generally prompt urgent medical evacuations. Some of them are loss of consciousness or inability to stay awake, confusion or delirium, chest pain, abnormal heart rhythm, very low blood pressure causing fainting or shock, persistent low blood pressure, severe dehydration, little or no urine output, dangerous imbalance of electrolytes and kidney or other organs injury."

According to human rights experts, "Whether someone can be shifted to medical facility or treated against their wishes depends on local laws, court orders, and, most importantly, whether the person is in sound mental health to take informed decisions."

Treatment Plan

Dr. Wali explains how the treatment course looks like for someone who has been without food for weeks.

He says, "Once shifted to medical facility, treatment depends on the patient's condition and may include careful rehydration, correction of electrolytes imbalance, continuous cardiac and kidney monitoring, nutritional rehabilitation. Doctors usually monitor potassium, magnesium, and glucose closely during re-feeding."

He adds, "It is important to note that even after recovery, the person may remain medically vulnerable even if they feel well."

A new experimental vaccine targeting one of pancreatic cancer's most common genetic mutations has shown encouraging results in an early-stage clinical trial.

Strong immune responses in most participants were observed, sparking fresh hope against one of the world's deadliest cancers.

About The Study

The Phase I study, published in Cancer Discovery, examined an investigational mutant KRAS-targeted vaccine (mKRAS-VAX) in patients who had undergone surgery for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common form of pancreatic cancer.

The trial enrolled 12 patients with resected KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancer who received the vaccine alongside two immune checkpoint inhibitors, nivolumab and ipilimumab, after completing standard treatment.

Researchers observed vaccine-induced T-cell responses in 91.7% of patients, with immune cells remaining detectable for up to two years in some participants.

Importantly, patients who mounted stronger immune responses also appeared to remain disease-free for longer, although the study was not designed to prove that the vaccine directly improves survival.

Also read: Broadcaster Lauren Laverne Shares 'Smoldering Myeloma' Diagnosis After Cancer Recovery

Milestone Results Show Strong Immune Response

According to the researchers, pancreatic cancer has always been difficult to treat because it suppresses immune responses.

"The significant increase in vaccine-generated T-cell responses demonstrates that the immune system can be trained to recognize KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancer," the researchers said, noting that higher T-cell responses were associated with longer disease-free survival.

The researchers said that these findings support continued evaluation of KRAS-targeted vaccination strategies in larger clinical trials.

Also read: Postpartum Breast Cancer May Be Biologically More Aggressive; Here’s Why

Parallel Research Shows Potential Too

The promising study follows another recently published Phase I trial in Cancer Discovery that tested a KRAS-targeted vaccine in individuals at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

That study found the vaccine safely stimulated KRAS-specific T-cell responses in about 90% of participants, suggesting such vaccines may eventually help prevent pancreatic cancer in selected high-risk groups.

Dr. Neeha Zaidi, associate professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins University and one of the corresponding authors of the prevention study, said, "Individuals at high risk due to hereditary predisposition or to the presence of a concerning pancreatic lesion detected on imaging usually undergo surveillance to monitor for changes over time."

Also read: Cancer Is Not A Death Sentence Anymore: How Early Detection & Modern Treatment Are Changing Outcomes In Tier-2 Cities

She noted that surgery remains the standard treatment when cancer or high-risk lesions are detected, but recurrence remains common, highlighting the need for preventive strategies.

Elizabeth Jaffee, another author, said, "The goal of this study was to test the safety of the vaccine and induction of durable immune responses."

She added that the clinical trial was built on existing evidence showing KRAS-targeted vaccination could prevent progression of early precancerous lesions in animal .

Importance Of KRAS

KRAS is one of the most frequently mutated cancer-driving genes in pancreatic cancer, with mutations present in roughly 90% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. These mutations continuously prompt cancer cells to grow and divide.

However, scientists have spent decades trying to develop therapies capable of effectively targeting the protein.

Rather than attacking the cancer directly, the new vaccine teaches the immune system to recognize mutated KRAS proteins as abnormal and launch T-cell attacks against cancer cells.

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most aggressive cancers worldwide because symptoms often appear only after the disease has spread beyond the pancreas.

While experts caution that the current findings come from an early-stage study, they say the results provide promising evidence that cancer vaccines can successfully activate the immune system against pancreatic tumors.

The Ludhiana health department has increased surveillance and prevention efforts after a bunch of new cases of malaria and dengue were reported in the district.

Health officials have stepped up inspections, awareness campaigns, and anti-larval operations, urging residents to eliminate stagnant water and seek medical attention at the first sign of fever.

Increase In Dengue And Malaria Breeding Sites

Also read: Monsoon Playbook for Parents: Common Home Mistakes That Increase Infection Risk in Children

According to recent reports, extensive door-to-door inspections are being carried out across residential areas, schools, and public spaces to identify mosquito breeding sites.

During these inspections, dengue mosquito larvae were found in several homes, prompting authorities to issue notices to property owners and instruct them to immediately remove stagnant water.

The department said these inspections are part of an ongoing strategy to reduce mosquito breeding before cases increase further during peak monsoon season.

Proactive Strategy To Prevent Increase In Infections

Also read: From Heavy Floods To Extremely Humid, How Mumbai's Extreme Weather Can Impact Your Health?

The move comes after Ludhiana experienced a difficult mosquito-borne disease season last year. Official data showed the district recorded 128 malaria cases, including one death, and 538 dengue cases with one fatality, making early intervention a priority this year.

Health authorities say that increasing temperatures combined with intermittent rainfall have created favourable conditions for mosquitoes to multiply rapidly, making community participation essential in preventing another surge.

Officials are stressing that dengue and malaria are transmitted by different mosquitoes and require slightly different prevention strategies.

Dengue is spread by the Aedes mosquito, which breeds in clean, stagnant water found in coolers, flower pots, buckets, discarded tyres, and rooftop water tanks. These mosquitoes are most active during the daytime.

Malaria, on the other hand, is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, which usually bite from dusk until dawn.

Eliminating breeding sites remains the most effective way to reduce the spread of both diseases.

How To Protect Yourself In Monsoon?

Doctors advise residents to watch for symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, body aches, joint pain, chills, nausea, vomiting, excessive fatigue, or skin rashes. Anyone experiencing persistent fever should avoid self-medication and seek medical care promptly.

Early diagnosis helps prevent complications, particularly in severe dengue cases where warning signs such as abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding gums, or difficulty breathing require immediate hospitalization.

Health experts recommend practising a combination of personal protection and environmental control:

• Empty and scrub water coolers, flower pots, buckets, bird baths, and other water containers at least once every week.
• Keep overhead tanks, drums, and storage containers tightly covered.
• Remove discarded tyres, plastic containers, coconut shells, and other objects that can collect rainwater.
• Wear full-sleeved clothing, especially during peak mosquito activity.
• Use mosquito repellents, coils, vaporizers, or insecticide-treated bed nets where appropriate.
• Install window and door screens to reduce mosquito entry.
• Cooperate with municipal fogging and anti-larval spraying teams when they visit your locality.

Public health officials say that preventing mosquito breeding at the household level remains the strongest defence against dengue and malaria. While health officials and their teams continue surveillance for containment, they emphasize that success depends on active community participation in keeping homes and neighbourhoods free of stagnant water.