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.

In a serious caution to the public, Dr Uma Kumar, Head of Rheumatology at AIIMS New Delhi, has warned against using AI chatbots such as ChatGPT for medical self-diagnosis. As reported by Hindustan Times, she issued the warning while speaking to the media after a recent case at the institute exposed the risks of acting on automated health advice.

The concern followed an incident in which a patient developed severe internal bleeding after treating back pain based on suggestions generated by an AI chatbot. The patient consumed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs without consulting a doctor or undergoing basic medical tests.

When AI Advice Turns Dangerous

According to doctors at AIIMS, the patient relied on an AI tool to manage persistent back pain instead of seeking clinical care. The chatbot recommended commonly used painkillers, which the patient purchased and took independently.

As Hindustan Times noted, the AI system had no access to the patient’s medical history or their risk of stomach and intestinal complications. What appeared to be a routine solution resulted in a life-threatening episode of internal bleeding.

Doctors say this reflects a growing pattern, where quick online answers are replacing medical evaluation, even for drugs that are widely available over the counter.

Why Medical Diagnosis Is Not Data Matching

Dr Kumar explained that medical diagnosis follows a structured process known as diagnosis by exclusion. Doctors rule out possible causes through examinations, laboratory tests, imaging, and patient history before deciding on treatment.

An AI model, however, works by identifying patterns in data. It cannot examine a patient, detect physical warning signs, or judge whether a symptom points to a deeper problem. In this case, proper investigations would likely have revealed a high risk of bleeding, a step that was entirely bypassed.

The Risk of Confident but Incorrect Guidance

Medical experts are increasingly concerned about what are often called AI hallucinations, where chatbots present information with confidence despite gaps or inaccuracies.

While platforms such as ChatGPT include disclaimers, their tone can appear authoritative, particularly to someone in pain. As highlighted by Hindustan Times, the recommendation to use NSAIDs was not unusual in general practice, but for this patient, it proved dangerous.

Without a doctor to check for contraindications or underlying conditions, even a common suggestion can lead to serious harm.

Doctors Call for Caution and Clearer Oversight

The incident has renewed debate over how AI platforms should handle health-related queries. AIIMS doctors are urging the public to treat online tools as sources of general information rather than personal treatment guides.

Experts believe AI can assist healthcare in limited roles, such as research support or administrative tasks, but should never replace professional diagnosis or supervision.

There are also calls for stronger public awareness and clearer regulation to prevent similar incidents. Doctors continue to stress that medical judgment, built on examination and evidence, cannot be replaced by algorithms.

The Delhi High Court has turned down a Japanese company’s attempt to secure a patent for a cancer detection technique that relies on nematodes, or roundworms, ruling that it falls under diagnostic processes that cannot be patented under Indian law, regardless of how novel or non-invasive it may be.

Hirotsu Bio Science approached the High Court after India’s Controller of Designs and Patents rejected its patent application in August 2023, stating that the invention did not meet the criteria laid out in the Patents Act, 1970. In a detailed 25-page judgment delivered on Saturday, Justice Tejas Karia reaffirmed Section 3(i) of the Act, which clearly bars the patenting of diagnostic methods.

What Is the Nematode-Based Cancer Detection Method?

The nematode-based cancer detection method is a research-stage technique that uses microscopic roundworms, known as nematodes, to detect the presence of cancer. These organisms possess a highly developed sense of smell, allowing them to pick up on specific chemical cues released by cancer cells in bodily samples such as urine, breath, or tissue, as per Science Direct.

Laboratory experiments have shown that certain nematodes tend to move towards samples taken from individuals with cancer while avoiding those from healthy people. The underlying idea is that cancer changes the body’s chemical profile, creating odour patterns that these worms can detect, sometimes even at an early stage.

Scientists have looked at this approach as a potentially affordable and non-invasive screening option. However, it remains a concept under study and has not yet been accepted as a reliable medical test or used in routine clinical care.

Delhi HC Upholds Patent Rejection of Nematode-Based Cancer Detection Method

At the centre of the case was a patent application titled “Cancer detection method using the sense of smell of nematode.” Nematodes, often referred to as roundworms, are among the most widespread life forms on the planet and can be found in environments ranging from soil to living organisms.

The Japanese company aimed to patent a technology based on the biological response of Caenorhabditis elegans, a species of nematode recognised for its advanced olfactory abilities.

The firm explained that its invention relies on the chemotaxis of these worms, meaning their tendency to move towards or away from certain scents, which would serve as a biological signal for the presence of cancer.

According to the company, the nematodes showed avoidance behaviour when exposed to urine from healthy individuals, while being drawn towards urine samples from cancer patients. It claimed the method demonstrated complete accuracy during testing and could detect several cancers, including gastric, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers, even at very early stages.

Is This Process Patentable in India?

The main legal question was whether the method qualified as a non-patentable “diagnostic process” under Section 3(i) of the Patents Act, 1970. This provision excludes from patent protection any process related to medicinal, surgical, curative, preventive, diagnostic, or therapeutic treatment of humans.

Hirotsu Bio Science Inc challenged the rejection by the Controller of Designs and Patents in the High Court, arguing that their invention should be seen as a “detection” method rather than a “diagnostic” one. The company maintained that the process was carried out entirely in a laboratory setting, using samples such as urine or tissue, and did not involve any direct medical procedure or clinical decision-making on the human body.

Health officials have issued a recall for the Live It Up Super Greens supplement powder after 45 people across 21 states were found suffering from salmonella across the US.

The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an official recall on January 14 for the Live it Up Original and Wild Berry Super Greens dietary supplement powder flavors.

The affected products with expiration dates from August 2026 and January 2028 have been affected by this recall and include:

• Live it Up Super Greens, NET WT 8.5 oz (240g) with UPC 860013190804.
• Live it Up Super Greens, 30 – 0.28oz (8g) sticks, NET WT. 8.47 oz (240g) with UPC 850077468063
• Live it Up Super Greens, Wild Berry, NET WT 8.5OZ (240g), with UPC 860013190811
• Live it Up Super Greens, Wild Berry, 30 – 0.32oz (9g) Sticks, NET WT. 9.52oz (270g), with UPC 850077468070

Authorities has advised consumers to not eat, sell or serve the affected Live it Up-brand products and to contact the company for returns.

Additionally, officials are asking people to wash items and surfaces that may have touched the recalled super greens supplement powders using hot soapy water or a dishwasher.

Of the 45 illnesses, 12 resulted in hospitalizations, according to the FDA. No deaths linked to the recall have been reported.

What Is Salmonella?

Apart from this, other symptoms include:

• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Chills
• Headache
• Blood in the stool

Most people develop symptoms within 8 to 72 hours after exposure while most healthy people recover within a few days to a week without specific treatment. However, in some cases, diarrhea can cause severe dehydration and requires prompt medical attention.

While anyone can contract salmonella, children younger than five, elderly and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop severe infections.

Is Salmonella Life-Threatening?

Life-threatening complications may develop if the infection spreads beyond the intestines to other organs. The risk of getting salmonella infection is higher with travel to countries without clean drinking water and proper sewage disposal.

While most people do not require medical attention for salmonella infection, those at high risk may need a health care provider if the infection lasts more than a few days, is associated with high fever or bloody stools and appears to be causing dehydration, with signs such as such as urinating less than usual, dark-colored urine as well as having a dry mouth and tongue.