When the sun is out after a long winter, every one loves it. But not the people of Canary Islands. Tourists there are being warned about the "unusually high risk" of UV rays this week. The Ministry of Health for this holiday destination has urged both, residents and visitors to take extra precautions and preventative measures to limit the impact of sun exposure over their body and skin.

The Ministry observed Aemet, Spain's national weather agency for the forecast which showed higher than normal UV or ultraviolet radiation levels in the region. It is in this backdrop that everyone in the region are requested to be extra careful when they are out in the sun. UV levels are set to reach 7, which is a 'high risk' in La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera and Gran Canaria. Other regions like Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are expected to reach a level 6, which is also classed as 'high risk'.

UV Index Explained

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), a UV index is a measure of the level of UV radiation, which ranges from zero upward. The higher the UVI, the greater potential for damage to skin and eye and the less time it takes for harm to occur, notes WHO.

The range 1 to 2 represents a low risk, 2 to 5 is moderate, 6 to 7 is at high risk, 8 to 10 is at very high and anything over 11 is extremely risky for anyone to stay out.

UV radiation levels fluctuate throughout the day, with the highest values occurring during the four-hour period around solar noon. The reported UV Index (UVI) typically reflects this daily peak. Depending on geographic location and the use of daylight saving time, solar noon falls between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. In some countries, sun protection advisories are issued when UV levels are expected to reach 3 or higher, as exposure at these levels increases the risk of skin damage, making protective measures essential.

What happens to you when you are out in sun for too long?

While sun bathing is good, being out in the sun when the UVI indicates a high or very high risk, may cause you health concerns. It can lead to sunburn, premature skin aging, incresed risk of skin cancer, eye damage and in severe cases, heat related disease.

Sunburn

It is one of the most common skin injury which happens when there is excess exposure to UV radiation from the sun. This happens when the UV radiation directly damages the DNA skin cells. These damaged cells die and shed, this is why people experience peeling after getting a sunburn.

Dehydration

This is also a common occurrence when your body loses too many fluids or electrolytes. It can also interfere with your normal body functions. You may feel dehydrated, especially when you are out in the sun, but not well hydrated. The most common symptoms are dizziness, fatigue and headache on hot days.

Hyponatremia

This is an electrolyte disorder in which your body experiences low sodium in blood. The symptoms could lead to nausea, confusion and even weakness. There are extreme cases when one may have seizures, slip into coma or die.

Heat Exhaustion

This is one of the most common consequence of being out under the hot sun. Dehydration with prolonged heat exposure can lead to heat exhaustion.

Heatstroke

When you are out under the sun and your body's core temperature cross 104°, heatstroke may occur. This is also known as sunstroke. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it causes more than 600 deaths each year in the United States.

NHS Flu Cases: England has reported a surge in flu cases, which have been more critical than ever. As per the NHS data of the same period in 2024, the cases now are 50% more in numbers, with flu patients ending up in hospital beds and critical care. A record average of 1,717 patients were in England each day last week, and 69 in critical care. The figures reflect a steep rise from the same week in 2024, when 1,098 patients were admitted and 39 needed critical care.

The trend is even more stark when compared with earlier years. The average for the same week in 2023 was 243 patients. In 2022, the figure stood at 772.

On 30 November alone, hospitals saw 2,040 flu patients in beds across England. This marks a 74 percent rise from the same date in 2024, when 1,175 patients were recorded. That number was already the highest on any single day since 2021.

Health officials say the flu season began earlier this year and has yet to reach its peak. The rising numbers suggest hospitals will face increasing strain through December, especially as the timing lines up with industrial action by the British Medical Association, which could see thousands of resident doctors walking out.

NHS Experts Are Warning For Difficult Weeks Ahead

Professor Julian Redhead, national medical director for urgent and emergency care, said the figures confirm long standing worries inside the health service.

He said the current case load is extremely high for early winter and that the peak has not yet arrived. He added that although the NHS prepared for winter earlier than usual, the combination of rising flu cases and industrial action may push staff to the brink.

Despite the rise in the number of cases, the flu vaccination numbers remain similar to that of the previous year. The NHS administered 16.9 million flu vaccines across England by the final week of November. This is slightly higher than the 16.6 million recorded by this time in each of the past two years. Roughly half of all doses, about 8.4 million, were given to adults aged over 65.

Overwhelming Conditions In Hospital, Pressure On System

According to Sky News, hospital staff described conditions as increasingly overwhelming. Waiting rooms were full, patients lined corridors on trolleys, and emergency department staff were struggling to keep pace.

One consultant described the situation as a repeating cycle with no relief in sight. Patients like Paul Mather, who was admitted to the hospital’s respiratory ward, spoke of severe pain and fear as their conditions worsened.

Along with rising hospital admissions, NHS data shows that call volumes to the 111 helpline increased by more than 11,000 last week compared with the same period last year. Ambulances handed over 99,000 patients to hospitals, about 4,500 more than in the same week of 2024.

Handover delays have improved slightly. Thirty percent of patients waited more than 30 minutes to be transferred to A and E teams, compared with 36 percent last year. Ten percent waited more than an hour, down from 16 percent in 2024.

Bed occupancy levels remain similar to previous years, though hospitals continue to fall short of the recommended 8 percent availability target. Norovirus cases appear to be lower than last year, with an average of 261 beds occupied by patients with vomiting or diarrhea compared with 751 at this point in 2023.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting praised improvements in ambulance response and handover times but warned that strike action by the BMA could jeopardize progress. He said the government will continue efforts to strengthen the NHS through investment, planning and modernization.

Hepatitis B: Changes in hepatitis B vaccine schedule in children could lead to resurgence of the disease, warn health officials. This comes after the Vaccine advisers for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met on Thursday to discuss the hepatitis B vaccine guidelines for newborns. The meeting was held to discuss the potential changes to the childhood immunization schedule, the vote is delayed until Friday.

However, there are several changes suggested that say only infants born to mothers who test positive for hepatitis B, or whose status is unknown would receive the birth dose. The potential changes also hint that babies whose mothers test negative could delay their first dose until the baby is two months old, instead of receiving it within the first 24 hours.

Why Are Health Experts Warning Against These Changes?

According to the local health experts, these guidelines could lead to a resurgence of the disease. These guidelines have been in place since the 1990s. Dr Hector Ocaranza, El Paso Health Authority, as reporting by KFoxTv, said, "This vaccine can be considered a vaccine that is going to be preventing cancer because hepatitis B virus is considered a carcinogen, meaning that this virus is going to cause liver cancer, and that's what we're trying to prevent in children."

Ocaranza further noted, "Changing the recommendation is going to create a lot of those infections coming back, and we're going to start seeing children that are going to be infected with a hepatitis B virus."

Doctors and scientists have noted that if the vaccine is delayed from birth to two months, it could lead to at least 1,400 new infections, 300 cases of liver cancer, and 480 preventable deaths every year. The shift would also add more than 222 million dollars in extra healthcare costs annually.

While there are mixed reactions in the community, the medical community mostly agree on the fact that vaccine should be mandatory for all children. Many stress on the importance of vaccines at birth. While the recommendation is not final yet as ACIP is to set to revisit the proposal tomorrow. Even if it passes, it requires approval from the CDC director before it becomes a national guidance.

Are There Any Negative Side Affects On Health After Receiving The Hepatitis B Vaccine At Birth?

As for now, no new evidence on harms of the vaccines has been revealed. The vaccine is administered to 1.4 bullion for more than three decades. Experts have pointed out that the vaccine has a "stellar safety record". This was also presented during the meeting. In fact, two members also demanded the evidence of any harm from the vaccine while pointing to its benefits. However, the members were interrupted by the vice-chair. Most members in the committee are hand-picked by the anti-vaxxer US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, and those members too are long time anti-vaccine advocates.

This is not the first time discussion on delaying safe and life saving vaccines are taking place. Previous meetings where advisors recommended restricting access to COVID vaccines, and measles, mums and rubella, and chickenpox vaccines have already been taken.

The experts point out that infant immunization is directly linked to a 99% decline in acute hepatitis B cases in children, adolescents and young adults between 1990 and 2019. Experts also point out that holding discussions on well established vaccines without changing recommendation, too gives an impression that science is not clear, pointed Debra Houry, who was the chief medical officer of the CDC until this year, as reported by Guardian.

“For parents, they’re going to be very confused. They might question the whole vaccine schedule, or why things are done the way they are," Houry said.

Malfunctioning glucose sensors made by Abbott Diabetes Care have been tied to more than seven hundred serious medical events and seven possible deaths, according to updates from both Abbott and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company issued a public notice on November 24 and sent letters to those who may be affected, explaining that it had begun a “medical device correction” for select FreeStyle Libre 3 and FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensors.

On December 2, the FDA released an early safety communication, which is the type of alert shared when a product is corrected or removed because of a significant risk before the agency can determine whether an official recall is necessary.

FDA: Seven Deaths Possibly Linked To Malfunctioning Glucose Monitors

Some FreeStyle Libre 3 sensors may show falsely low blood sugar levels, which can lead people with diabetes to make treatment choices that are not appropriate for their actual condition. When someone’s glucose appears low, they might delay their insulin dose or skip it altogether, or they may eat more carbohydrates in an effort to raise their levels, as noted by USA Today.

When treatment decisions are based on incorrect readings, blood sugar can quickly become unstable. Poor glucose control can result in dangerous medical complications, including injury or even death. Problems linked to mismanaged diabetes can include diabetic ketoacidosis, heart issues, stroke, kidney damage, nerve and eye problems, and a higher chance of infection.

USA Today reports that the issue affects nearly three million Libre 3 and Libre 3 Plus sensors sold in the United States, and Abbott estimates that roughly half of them have already been used or have expired. Worldwide, the company has received 736 reports of severe adverse events (57 in the U.S.) and seven reports of deaths (none in the U.S.) that may be associated with this problem.

Which Abbott Diabetes Care Products Are Impacted?

Only specific FreeStyle Libre 3 and FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems are affected. The FreeStyle Libre 3 handheld reader and mobile app are working normally.

No other Libre devices (FreeStyle Libre 14-day, FreeStyle Libre 2, FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus, or the FreeStyle Libre Pro sensors) or Abbott biowearable products are involved.

FreeStyle Libre 3 Sensor

• Model Numbers: 72081-01, 72080-01
• Unique Device Identifiers (UDI-DI): 00357599818005, 00357599819002

FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus Sensor

• Model Numbers: 78768-01, 78769-01
• Unique Device Identifiers (UDI-DI): 00357599844011, 00357599843014

The serial number for a FreeStyle Libre 3 or FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor is available in the app or reader, and it is also printed on the label at the bottom of the sensor applicator or on the carton. Consumers who are wearing a sensor that has been confirmed as part of the affected group should stop using it at once and safely discard it.