As per the latest data released by Transforming Access to Student Outcomes in Higher Education (TASO) and the Policy Institute at King's College London, the number of UK students reporting mental health difficulties tripled. The estimate reveals that around 300,000 students could now be experiencing mental health struggles. Of the total, 18% of students reported some kind of mental health issue in 2024.

As per the reports, this estimate is triple what was reported in 2017, where it was at 6%. Experts also say that Covid-19 pandemic is "often considered to have contributed to this, it does not explain the ongoing rise in mental health difficulties." Another reason could also be the "changing definition and increasing openness about mental health" which has led to a rise in numbers. The report notes, "This trend pre-dates the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. Although these factors play a part in students' deteriorating mental health, they cannot therefore be the only explanation."

How Did The Report Conclude?

The report drew data collected over the latest Student Academic Experience Survey of 93,212 students. From the survey, it was found that there exist significant disparities between demographic groups, with women being twice as likely to report mental health difficulties, about 22% as compared to men, at 11%.

What Did The Results Reveal?

The results revealed that students who identified as LGBTQ experienced the highest rates of mental health challenges. This has actually lessened the hope that conditions for LGBTQ students are improving, which may not have been a positive case.

Of them, 42% are bisexual and lesbian students, whereas last year it was 35% and 32% respectively. The report also noted that mental health difficulties among lesbian women and gay men rose three times the rate of straight people, and among bisexual and asexual people, it was twice as high. For trans students, the number jumped from 25% in 2023 to 40% in 2024.

Is The LGBTQ+ Prone To Mental Health Crisis?

As per the Child Mind Institute, being LGBTQ+ does not cause mental health problems, but because these kids often face factors like rejection, discrimination and violence, they are at a higher risk of challenges including depression, anxiety, and even attempting suicide.

A UTAH Health study quotes Anna Docherty, PhD, LP, assistant professor of psychiatry at Huntsman Mental Health Institute that, "likely with any identity, feeling different - or worse, unaccepted as you are is a significant risk factor of mental health struggle." The data reveals that LGBTQ+ teens are six times more likely to experience symptoms of depression than non-LGBTQ+ identifying teens. They are also more than twice as likely to feel suicidal and more than four times as likely to attempt suicide. In the US alone, 48% of transgender adults report that they have considered suicide in the last year, compared to 4% of the overall population.

What Do These Findings Mean?

TASO's academic lead and professor of public policy at King's College London, Michael Sanders said, "LGBTQ students and women bear the brunt of the rise in declining mental health and urgent action is needed to understand and address these trends."

Kerala has reported 70 cases and four deaths due to shigellosis (bacillary dysentery), a highly contagious bacterial disease caused by Shigella bacteria, during June alone.

The southern state has recorded a total of 146 cases and five deaths from the intestinal infection since the beginning of the year, according to state Health Minister K. Muraleedharan. While one death was reported in March, the remaining four occurred in June.

Out of the 146 cases, 74 were reported in Kozhikode district, followed by 25 cases in Malappuram, including two deaths. Thiruvananthapuram also reported 25 cases, according to figures released by the minister.

No Shigella cases have been reported this year from Pathanamthitta, Palakkad, or Kasaragod districts.

A one-year-old child undergoing treatment for Shigella infection in the intensive care unit of Kozhikode Medical College Hospital remains in critical condition.

Why Children Are Most Vulnerable

Also read: Kerala Battles Triple Burden: Shigella, Nipah And West Nile Cases

Young children are particularly vulnerable to the disease, which is primarily spread through contaminated food, contaminated water, and poor hygiene practices.

Of the five deaths reported in Kerala this year, four occurred in children under the age of 10. Shigella infections tend to be most severe in children below five years because their immune systems are less efficient at clearing the infection.

Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, former President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell, Kerala, explained that the bacteria's resilience contributes to its spread.

“Shigella is able to withstand the hostile acidic environment of the human stomach. Outside the human body, it can stay alive in water for weeks together,” he told HealthandMe.

He added that even a very small number of bacteria—as few as 10 organisms—can cause infection.

Drug-Resistant Shigella Rising In The US

In April, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlighted growing concerns about drug-resistant Shigella strains in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The report noted that changes in epidemiology and antibiotic resistance are transforming Shigella from a largely self-limiting infection into an emerging public health threat with limited treatment options.

According to the CDC, oral carbapenems, pivmecillinam, and fosfomycin may be effective against some resistant strains. However, none have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treating shigellosis.

“Treatment of XDR shigellosis remains challenging because no optimal therapy has been established,” the report stated.

While Kerala's cases have largely been reported among young children, outbreaks in the United States have been more commonly reported among adult men, highlighting sexual activity as a potential route of transmission.

The CDC estimates that approximately 450,000 Americans develop shigellosis each year. Although most patients recover with rest and hydration, severe cases may require hospitalization.

Read More: One Month Into DR Congo Ebola Outbreak, Cases Cross 800 As Crisis Deepens

Shigella: Symptoms And Mode Of Transmission?

Shigella can spread through:

• Touching contaminated surfaces or objects
• Physical contact with an infected person
• Drinking contaminated water
• Consuming ice made from contaminated water

Symptoms usually develop within one to three days after exposure and may initially include:

• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Body aches
• Headache
• Bloody diarrhea
• Severe abdominal cramps

How to Prevent Shigella Infection

Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) can help prevent dehydration, while zinc supplementation may aid recovery.

Other preventive measures include:

• Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially before handling food and after using the toilet
• Maintaining strict hygiene among food handlers
• Controlling flies and preventing food contamination.

India’s Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a notification ending the over-the-counter (OTC) sale of all syrups, including cough syrups.

Under the new rules, a doctor's prescription will now be required to purchase cough syrups across the country.

“Consequently, the sale and dispensing of cough syrups in smaller villages will now be required to take place only through duly licensed pharmacies in accordance with the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Rules framed thereunder,” the notification said.

Why Are the Rules Being Amended?

The amendment comes months after contaminated cough syrups were linked to the deaths of 22 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, raising fresh concerns over the safety and regulation of commonly used liquid medicines.

Following the incident last year, health authorities in India had banned three cough syrups Coldrif, Respifresh TR and ReLife after traces of diethylene glycol (DEG) were detected in the products. The Coldrif contamination was linked to the deaths of 22 children in the country.

“The amendment has been undertaken to strengthen regulatory oversight of syrup formulations and to align the exemption framework with contemporary public health and safety requirements,” the notification said.

“The measure is expected to promote responsible distribution and sale of cough syrups while ensuring greater compliance with regulatory standards across the country,” it added.

Also read: Introducing Eggs Before Age One May Lower Allergy Risk by 17%, Says Study

Experts Welcome Move To Restrict Cough Syrup Sales

Dr Kuldeep Kumar Grover, Associate Director, Pulmonology and Critical Care, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram called it a

"a good initiative to include all syrup varieties, cough syrups included, under prescription medicines".

Cough syrups have substances that might lead to drowsiness, addiction, or drug interaction in patients who do not seek medical advice before taking the medicines.

"It is important to note that a cough could be a symptom of other serious conditions like infections, asthma, and allergies. Prescription-based access encourages proper evaluation, accurate treatment, and safer medication use," Grover said.

Dr. (Prof.) Mohsin Wali, former Physician to the President of India, said cough syrups and similar formulations often contain suppressants such as codeine and dextromethorphan (DXM), along with other solvents.

Dr. Wali, Senior Consultant and Head of Preventive Cardiology at Pacific One Health, recalled previous incidents in which contaminated Indian-made cough syrups were linked to deaths in Gambia and other African countries.

"Industrial-grade solvents were detected in some of these products, leading to kidney failure, severe metabolic acidosis, and, in some cases, death," he said.

According to Dr. Wali, the new notification will help curb the overuse, misuse, and addictive use of cough syrups while improving patient safety.

What Did The Notification Say?

The Ministry notified an amendment to the Drugs Rules, 1945, through Gazette Notification G.S.R. 927(E) dated December 29, 2025, published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), dated December 30, 2025.

The amendment omits the word “Syrup” from Schedule K, Serial No. 13, Entry 7 under the heading “Class of Drugs.”

Schedule K of the Drugs Rules, 1945, provides exemptions from certain provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the rules framed under it for specified classes of drugs.

Before this amendment, Entry No. 13 of Schedule K permitted the sale of cough syrups in villages with a population of less than 1,000 without requiring compliance with certain retail sale licensing provisions.

With the omission of the word “Syrup” from the entry, this exemption will no longer apply to cough syrups.

Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers dealing with cough syrups have been advised to ensure strict compliance with the applicable licensing and regulatory requirements under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Drugs Rules, 1945.

Ban On Pediatric Cough Syrups

Last year, India formally prohibited the use of certain commonly available OTC cough and cold medicines in children below the age of four.

The policy move, notified through a gazette notification, banned a fixed-dose combination (FDC) of Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride—two ingredients commonly found in pediatric cough syrups.

The decision followed growing global concerns over the safety of these medicines in very young children, with India joining several countries that have introduced stricter regulations.

Countries including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom had previously issued guidelines or warnings regarding the use of OTC cough and cold medicines in young children.

One month has passed since the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared its 17th Ebola outbreak, and there is no sign of respite. Confirmed cases and deaths have surged to 808 and 192, respectively, according to the country's Health Ministry.

Uganda has confirmed 19 infections, while Congo's Ituri province, where the outbreak first emerged, accounts for more than 90% of cases in the country.

The outbreak was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the outbreak was officially declared on May 15.

The cases continue to surge daily as health authorities and aid agencies grapple with inadequate testing, weak contact tracing, and community resistance.

However, experts warn the outbreak's true scale may be far greater than official data indicate, making it already the third-deadliest Ebola outbreak on record.

Ebola Epidemic Moving Upward

Also read: Ebola Survivors May Face COVID-Like Memory Loss and Brain Issues For Over 7 Years: NIH Study

According to Dieudonne Mwamba Kazadi, head of the DRC National Institute of Public Health (INSP), the Ebola epidemic was still moving upward in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province and the epicenter of the outbreak, Xinhua News Agency reported.

"We are still in the midst of the epidemic. I would say we are in the upward phase of the outbreak, the active phase," Kazadi said.

More confirmed cases are expected in the coming days, making it urgent to expand treatment capacity and establish new Ebola treatment centers in affected areas, he noted.

"The perspective is really to increase capacity and already have treatment centers positioned to receive the future suspected and confirmed cases that we will identify in the coming days and weeks," Kazadi said, stressing the need to "engaging communities further," he said.

True Scale of Outbreak Remains Unclear

Read More: Expert Explains Science Behind Ebola Patient Recoveries

Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said in a statement that the government's figures likely understate the true toll of the outbreak, echoing concerns raised by aid groups and some Congolese officials.

"No one knows the true scale or exactly where the disease is spreading in DRC," said Kate White, MSF's emergency medical coordinator.

"One month on, the Ebola disease outbreak is outpacing the response effort," White said.

She noted that most treatment centers in Ituri province are overwhelmed, with many patients arriving at a late stage of the disease.

"What we do know is that most treatment centers in Ituri province are overwhelmed; many of our patients arrive at a late stage of the disease, and the majority were never identified or monitored as contacts before seeking care," White said.

Testing and Contact Tracing Challenges

Testing remains "one of the most significant weaknesses in the response," according to the MSF statement.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was “really worried” about the outbreak after visiting the DRC, Stat News reported.

“When the community is not taking it as its priority, it’s very hard,’’ Tedros said. He said that in the North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri provinces where the outbreak is centered, Ebola is seen as a lesser evil compared with armed conflict, widespread hunger, and more common deadly diseases experienced daily.

Notably, many communities, particularly those affected by active armed conflict, still lack access to test kits. Treatment centers are also facing significant delays in receiving laboratory results, hampering efforts to quickly identify and isolate infections.

What Is Ebola?

Ebola is a highly lethal viral hemorrhagic fever first identified in 1976. Over the past five decades, it has caused over 30 outbreaks, primarily in Central and West Africa.

Symptoms include fever, headache, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, sore throat, and unexplained bleeding. This eventually leads to severe complications like bleeding, organ failure, and death.

Aid groups warn that without stronger surveillance, faster testing, and improved contact tracing, the outbreak could continue to expand in the weeks ahead.