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.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has crossed another grim milestone, with more than 6,000 confirmed cases and nearly 3,000 deaths. As of August 31, 2026, DRC had reported 6,041 confirmed cases and 2,911 deaths, according to government figures.

That puts the outbreak's case-fatality ratio at approximately 48.2%, meaning nearly one in every two confirmed patients has died. More than 1,360 people have recovered.

With Ituri remaining the epicentre, the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus, has spread across six provinces and nearly 60 health zones.

Mortality Rate Is Close To 50%

In its latest Disease Outbreak News update, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a 48.1% crude case-fatality ratio as of August 26 and said the figure “underscores the severity of the disease”.

The number also highlights other issues like timely diagnosis, access to and quality of clinical care and containing transmission. Delayed diagnosis can be particularly dangerous as people may continue interacting with family members and healthcare workers while infectious.

WHO reported that 81 new confirmed cases were recorded in a single 24-hour period as of August 26. Ituri alone had recorded 4,802 confirmed cases by that point.

A nearly 50% case-fatality ratio does not mean that every person infected with Bundibugyo virus has a 50% chance of dying.

It is calculated from recorded cases and deaths and that can change as patients recover, die or are newly diagnosed. It is also be affected by how early cases are detected, access to treatment and whether infections are being missed.

Also read: Ebola Bundibugyo Virus: American Health Worker Had 10x Higher Viral Load In Throat Than Blood

Second-Largest Ebola Outbreak On Record

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, "The DRC outbreak is spreading substantially faster than previous Ebola outbreaks” and is now the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record. The outbreak surpassed 1,000 confirmed cases within about 40 days of response activation, compared with approximately 235 days during the 2018 DRC outbreak.

The CDC says the response is being affected by limited healthcare infrastructure, ongoing conflict, violence against healthcare workers, shortages of protective equipment, population movement, mistrust and misinformation.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has repeatedly stressed that communities need to be at the heart of the response.

In a joint WHO-Africa CDC commentary published on August 25, Tedros, WHO Africa Regional Director Mohamed Yakub Janabi and Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya wrote, “Ebola spreads through communities, and communities hold the knowledge required to stop it.”

Also read: Ebola Outbreak In DR Congo Records Its Highest Weekly Death Tolls Yet, With More Than 300 Deaths

Vaccine-Related Developments

Unlike Zaire strain, this outbreak is being caused by Bundibugyo virus, for which there is currently no vaccine or treatment. But researchers are in the process of testing vaccine and treatment on candidates.

Health authorities have also taken the unusual step of testing Ervebo, the vaccine licensed for Zaire Ebola, against the Bundibugyo strain.

WHO and Africa CDC announced in August that DRC would receive 70,000 Ervebo doses. Of these, 20,000 doses are intended for a Phase 3 clinical trial, while 50,000 are intended for frontline and healthcare workers under current recommendations.

WHO said, “It is not known whether Ervebo may be protective against the Bundibugyo virus in humans.”

Eli Lilly has made its latest move to look beyond the blockbuster GLP-1 market by agreeing to acquire biotech company Merida Biosciences for up to $2.875 billion in cash.

The deal will give Lilly access to Merida's experimental treatments for autoimmune and allergic diseases, including a potential drug for Graves' disease and thyroid eye disease. The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions.

The acquisition is another sign that Lilly is trying to diversify its pipeline beyond the obesity and diabetes medicines that have driven its recent growth. Lilly's spending on similar deals in 2026 that signals the company is looking to to expand beyond its successful hold on GLP-1 markets.

From Weight Loss Medications To Autoimmune Disease Drugs

Merida's lead programme, MER511, is currently in Phase 1 development for Graves' disease and thyroid eye disease (TED). The experimental treatment uses Merida's antibody-engineering platform to selectively remove pathogenic autoantibodies, the antibodies responsible for driving certain autoimmune diseases.

The idea is different from conventional immune-suppressing medicines, which dampen immune activity broadly. Initial Phase 1 data showed that MER511 substantially reduced thyroid-stimulating antibodies associated with Graves' disease and TED, while showing a favourable initial safety profile.

Francisco Ramírez-Valle, Lilly's senior vice president of immunology research and early clinical development, said, “We're building our pipeline around therapies that meaningfully change the course of disease, not just its downstream effects.”

He added that Merida's lead programme is designed to selectively and directly target the antibodies driving Graves' disease and thyroid eye disease.

Also read: Eli Lilly’s Foundayo Launched In UK: Is the GLP-1 Pill Better Than Wegovy, Mounjaro?

Different Drug Approach To Autoimmune Disease

In thyroid eye disease, inflammation can cause eye bulging, pain, double vision and, in severe cases, vision impairment.

Lilly's interest is specifically in Merida's approach is its attempt to target the disease-causing antibodies themselves, rather than suppressing the immune system more broadly.

Merida CEO Adam Townsend said, “Merida was founded to fundamentally change how autoimmune and allergic diseases are treated, by targeting the antibodies driving them directly, rather than suppressing the immune system broadly.”

That could potentially offer a more precise way of treating diseases in which specific autoantibodies are driving the damage.

Also read: Wegovy Is The Go-To Weightloss Drug Choice For Most US Teens

Lilly's Expanding Pipeline

The acquisition isn't only about Graves' disease. Merida's pipeline includes MER769, an experimental programme being developed for food allergy, asthma, chronic spontaneous urticaria and other allergic diseases.

The company also has earlier-stage programmes targeting kidney diseases and other conditions mediated by immunity.

This gives Lilly a potential base across a much broader range of immune-mediated diseases. The company that became synonymous with Mounjaro and Zepbound is trying to build a pharmaceutical portfolio that does not cash in entirely on the GLP-1 boom.

MER511 is still only in Phase 1, meaning its safety and preliminary biological activity are being evaluated in early clinical testing. The promising initial data do not yet establish whether the drug will ultimately work in larger patient populations or receive regulatory approval.

The $2.88-billion deal is therefore not Lilly buying an already-proven autoimmune medicine. It is buying a platform and the potential for an entirely new class of treatments.

As Townsend put it, “Joining Lilly gives our science the resources and commitment to realize its potential for patients with immune-mediated conditions.”

The NHS in England today announced that 100 pharmacies will offer free cholesterol check-ups beginning this autumn.

The initiative is part of an NHS drive to reduce heart disease and stroke deaths by a quarter over the next decade. It will include free finger-prick blood tests for cholesterol on the high street for the first time.

Who Is Eligible?

People aged 40 to 84 who are not pregnant and have not had a blood test in the past year will be eligible to walk in and get tested.

Eligible people will also be offered a blood pressure check as part of a clinical consultation with a pharmacist prescriber.

The NHS pilot will run until spring 2027.

How Will The Test Be Conducted?

Blood will be taken from a person’s fingertip using a lancet — a small, sharp medical tool used to prick the skin — and analyzed immediately. A pharmacist prescriber can then provide lifestyle advice and determine whether any treatment, such as statins, may be needed.

Patients will receive a copy of their results by email. They will also be offered a blood pressure check as part of a clinical consultation with a pharmacist prescriber.

How Will It Help?

The national rollout follows a successful smaller pilot in north London, which tested 2,493 patients at 61 community pharmacies between January 2025 and March 2026.

Nearly one in five patients were found to be suitable for pharmacological intervention, and 88 people started taking statins.

David Webb, the chief pharmaceutical officer for England, said pharmacies could be a vital first line of defense against serious illness.

He said: “By making it easier for people to get a quick and convenient cholesterol health check on their local high street, we can spot ticking timebombs earlier, helping people take action, and prevent heart attacks and strokes before they happen.

“This is the latest in a series of initiatives involving pharmacies in delivering care previously only offered in GP surgeries as part of the 10-year health plan to bring care closer to where people live.”

Will This Be Scaled Up?

In the first phase of the national rollout, about 100 NHS pharmacies across England will begin offering the checks from this autumn.

Dr Rani Khatib, NHS England’s national specialty adviser for cardiovascular disease prevention, said everyone should strive to be aware of the most common risk factors for heart disease, including high cholesterol and blood pressure, and “know their numbers”.

“This initiative will help people manage their risk factors earlier and reduce their risk of having heart attacks or strokes,” he said.

Alison McGovern, a health minister, said it was “exactly the type of innovation” she wanted to see across the NHS.

“We’re making it easier for people to spot potential problems earlier and take action to protect their health,” she said.

“Early detection can help prevent serious conditions such as heart attacks and strokes, helping people stay healthier for longer while reducing pressure on NHS services.”

How Does High Cholesterol Raise Heart Risks?

Too much LDL (“bad”) cholesterol in the blood can build up inside artery walls. Over time, these fatty deposits — called plaque or atheroma — can make arteries narrower and restrict blood flow, according to the NHS.

High cholesterol usually causes no symptoms, which is why testing is important. Cholesterol can be reduced through healthier eating and regular exercise and, for people at sufficient risk, medicines such as statins.