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.

A Yemeni molecular biologist Hashem Al-Ghaili, shared a post on his Instagram page that states that the new K-variant flu, also known as the super flu is spreading fast "with dangerous fevers and lung damage". On his post, he wrote: "Health experts say there‘s a new flu strain causing sudden high fevers and deep respiratory distress."

He further noted: "Public health officials are sounding the alarm over a potent new influenza strain that behaves differently than previous seasonal variants. Rather than just causing typical fatigue, this aggressive strain is designed to trick the human immune system into a state of hyper-reactivity. This overreaction often manifests as sudden, intense fever spikes and significant inflammation deep within the lung tissue. Unlike standard flu symptoms that may develop gradually, these severe respiratory complications are appearing with alarming speed, making early detection and prevention more critical than ever before."

To this, he also provided a solution, stating that medical professionals are now emphasizing on the importance of fortifying "body's natural defenses through foundational wellness habits". These habits include prioritizing deep sleep, consistent hydration, and adequate vitamin D intake that can help regulate immune responses and mitigate the risk of severe inflammation.

Read: UK ‘Super Flu’ May Be Behind Sudden Bile Vomiting; Doctors Flag New Symptom

What Is The K-Variant Flu And How Does It Impact Your Lungs?

H3N2's mutation or the influenza A's subclade K is now the new aggressive virus that has swept the United States and the United Kingdom with flu cases. This is the culprit in rising flu cases, globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) on its website said that K variant marks "a notable evolution in influenza A (H3N2) viruses". Some are also questioning the effectiveness of this season's influenza vaccine against the strain.

The flu virus is highly contagious and spreads easily in crowded places, especially during the colder months.

In some cases, the infection can progress to the lungs, which could lead to complications like bronchitis or pneumonia. Yale Medicine too notes that this virus could attack the respiratory system, including throat, nose, and lungs.

What Are The Common Symptoms This Season For The Flu?

K variant causes more intense flu symptoms, they include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny nose

Are The Old Vaccines Effective Against This New Variant?

"The vaccine remains the most effective means to prevent disease. We still want to encourage people to get the vaccine," said Professor Antonia Ho, Professor and Honorary Consultant in Infectious Diseases at the University of Glasgow. Experts have stressed enough on the immunity that one can receive from the vaccine that that these flu jab remain the best defense against the flu, even though the current strain circulated may have drifted away from the strain included in this year's jab.

Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also show that vaccines is performing as expect, despite the emergence of subclade K.

SMA-1. a rare disease, known as the spinal muscular atrophy type 1 or the Werdnig-Hoffmann disease is when the muscle weakness appears at birth or within the first six months. This rare condition prevents infants from sitting unassisted and causing severe breathing, swallowing, and sucking difficulties, leading to a poor prognosis without aggressive support. This condition has impacted the twin babies of the former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson. Her twin babies may never be able to walk. However, she said that her babies will "fight all the odds" after they were being diagnosed with such a rare genetic condition.

Nelson, 34, and her fiancé, Zion Foster welcomed their twins, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster in May, when they were both born prematurely. In an emotional Instagram video, posted on Sunday, Nelson revealed the diagnosis her twin babies had.

“We were told that they’re probably never going to be able to walk; they probably will never regain their neck strength, so they will be disabled, and so the best thing we can do right now is to get them treatment, and then just hope for the best,” she said.

“Thankfully, the girls have had their treatment, which you know, I’m so grateful for because if they don’t have it, they will die," she further said.

Nelson's babies were diagnosed four months of, what she said, "gruelling" hospital appointments, and so she wanted to raise awareness of the condition and the signs one should look out for because "time is of the essence" with the condition.

“I just think that I can raise as much awareness about this as possible, and the signs, then, you know, something good has to come out of this,” said Nelson.

Read: SMA Type 1: What This Health Condition Could Mean For Jesy Nelson’s Babies’ Mobility

Jesy Nelson Twins: What Are The Signs of SMA-1?

Nelson said that there could be some common signs to look out for, which includes floppiness, inability to hold yourself up without support, a "frog-like" positioning of the legs without much movement, and rapid breathing in the tummy.

"If anyone is watching this video and they think they see these signs in their child, then please, please take your child to the doctor, to the hospital, because time is of the essence, and your child will need treatment. And the quicker you get this, the better their life will be," she added.

What Are The Other Types Of SMA?

There are five recognized subtypes of SMA, classified by the age symptoms appear, severity, and expected life span:

SMA Type 0 (congenital SMA): This extremely rare form appears before birth, with reduced fetal movement. Newborns often show severe muscle weakness and usually experience respiratory failure, with death occurring at birth or within the first month.

SMA Type 1 (severe SMA): This accounts for roughly 60% of SMA cases and is also called Werdnig-Hoffman disease. Symptoms start within the first six months, including weak head control and low muscle tone (hypotonia). Infants may struggle to swallow and breathe, and without respiratory support, life expectancy is typically under two years.

SMA Type 2 (intermediate SMA): Also called Dubowitz disease, symptoms appear between six and 18 months. Muscle weakness worsens over time, usually affecting the legs more than the arms. Children may sit but cannot walk. Around 70% survive into their mid-20s, with respiratory complications being the main cause of death.

SMA Type 3 (mild): Known as Kugelbert-Welander disease, this type appears after 18 months. Weakness primarily affects the legs, making walking difficult, but breathing issues are rare, and life expectancy is generally unaffected.

SMA Type 4 (adult): The mildest form, it appears after age 21. Muscle weakness progresses slowly, and most people remain mobile, with normal life expectancy.

A deadly fungus that resists multiple drugs is already spreading quickly through hospitals in the U.S. and is becoming an increasing concern worldwide, though there may be some hope for new treatments, according to a recent scientific review.

Candida auris (C. auris), often called a "superbug fungus," is spreading across the globe and becoming harder for the human immune system to fight, researchers at the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) noted in a review published in early December.

The findings echo previous CDC warnings that classified C. auris as an "urgent antimicrobial threat" — the first fungal pathogen to earn this label, as U.S. cases have risen sharply, particularly in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

Superbug Fungus: Dangerous Spike in Superbug Infections Across the U.S.

According to the CDC, roughly 7,000 cases were reported across dozens of U.S. states in 2025, and the fungus has now been identified in at least 60 countries.

The review, published in Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, explains why the pathogen is so difficult to contain and highlights that outdated diagnostic tools and limited treatment options lag behind its rapid spread. Researchers involved included Dr. Neeraj Chauhan of Hackensack Meridian CDI, Dr. Anuradha Chowdhary of the University of Delhi’s Medical Mycology Unit, and Dr. Michail Lionakis, chief of the NIH’s clinical mycology program.

The team emphasized the urgent need for “novel antifungal agents with broad activity against human fungal pathogens, improved diagnostic tests, and immune- or vaccine-based adjunct treatments for high-risk patients.” They also stressed that awareness campaigns and better surveillance, especially in resource-limited countries, are key to improving outcomes for those affected by opportunistic fungal infections.

Superbug Fungus Symptoms

The symptoms of a Candida auris infection can vary depending on which part of the body is affected. According to the Cleveland Clinic, some possible signs include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Extreme fatigue or weakness
• Low blood pressure
• Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
• Abnormally low body temperature (hypothermia)
• Pain, pressure, or a sense of fullness in the ear (in cases of C. auris ear infection)

Because many individuals who contract C. auris are already critically ill, the infection’s symptoms might not always be obvious. In fact, people can carry the fungus without showing any signs but still have the potential to transmit it to others.

Superbug Fungus: How C. auris Spreads

First discovered in 2009 from a patient’s ear in Japan, C. auris has now reached dozens of countries, including the U.S., where some hospital intensive care units have had to shut down due to outbreaks. The fungus is most dangerous to people who are already critically ill, particularly those on ventilators or with weakened immune systems, with some estimates suggesting up to half of infected patients may die.

Unlike many other fungi, C. auris can survive on human skin and cling to hospital surfaces and medical equipment, making it easy to spread in healthcare settings. “It is resistant to multiple antifungal drugs and tends to spread in hospitals, including on equipment used for immunocompromised patients, such as ventilators and catheters,” said Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst at Fox News and clinical professor at NYU Langone.

The fungus is often misdiagnosed, delaying treatment and infection control measures. “Symptoms like fever, chills, and aches can be mistaken for other infections,” Siegel added.

Treatment Challenges and Research Progress

Currently, only four main classes of antifungal drugs exist, and C. auris has shown resistance to many of them. While three new antifungal medications have been approved or are in late-stage trials, drug development has struggled to keep pace with the pathogen’s evolution.

Despite this, researchers remain cautiously optimistic. A study from the University of Exeter in England, published in Communications Biology, identified a potential vulnerability in the fungus. The team found that C. auris activates specific genes to scavenge iron, which it needs to survive. Drugs that block this process may eventually stop infections or allow existing medications to be repurposed.

“We may have uncovered an Achilles’ heel in this deadly pathogen during active infection,” said Dr. Hugh Gifford, co-author and clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter.

While research continues to understand and combat C. auris, health officials stress that strict infection control, rapid detection, and investment in new treatments are crucial. Importantly, C. auris is not considered a threat to healthy individuals, but it poses a serious risk to patients in hospitals and long-term care settings.