Pakistan continues to be dealing with a polio outbreak as four fresh cases have emerged, pushing the national tally to 37 this year, according to health officials on October 19, 2024. Health officials said that the regional reference laboratory for polio eradication at the National Institute of Health in Islamabad confirmed wild poliovirus type-1 (WPV1) in two children-one from each Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

In recent cases, a girl has been affected from Pishin, and two boys from Chaman and Noshki of Balochistan, and a girl from Lakki Marwat in KP. These are the first detections of the virus within Noshki and Lakki Marwat this year; isolated cases of poliovirus were previously reported within Chaman and Pishin. The province of Balochistan was the worst hit with 20 cases, Sindh had 10, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had five, and Punjab and Islamabad had one case each.

A gigantic fight against polio has been on going in Pakistan- especially in Balochistan and southern KP-over the last two years. Immunisation campaigns have often been suspended or delayed because of local protests, insecurity, and community boycotts. Consequently, quite a number of children did not get the necessary vaccinations, making existing patches of vulnerability for the virus to flow within those pockets.

Noshki, located near Afghanistan's border, and Lakki Marwat have also recently reported some positive environmental samples that confirm the virus is present here, said a local reference laboratory official. Samples of latest cases are currently under genetic sequencing for checking spread of virus and origin.

As the threat of polio continues to grow, Pakistan has vowed to mount a nationwide campaign against it beginning from October 28. With the zeal to tackle the menace in the most effective manner, over 45 million children under the age of five will be vaccinated across the country.

Today, Afghanistan and Pakistan remain one of the few countries where polio has not yet been eradicated. The WHO said the virus remains a potential serious public health threat in areas with low vaccination coverage and weak surveillance.

India On Alert Against Polio

The country declared itself polio-free since 2014 and has kept the disease on bay almost a decade with very robust vaccination programs; however, two cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus cases reported in recent days from Meghalaya create some amount of doubts over a possible resurgence. Experts observe that in India, despite these detections taking place, strong coverage of vaccination at 90-95% and mandatory surveillance measures keep the risk of this widespread outbreak at bay.

The experts point out, however, that such stable situation in India requires continued surveillance. "Countries like Pakistan and parts of Africa remain at a high risk because vaccination rates in those areas are much lower," Dr. Siddharth, public health expert, said. Vaccination is an indispensable act in order to avoid the spread of this incapacitating disease that manifests most importantly as a nervous system affliction leading to the paralysis of a long period.

With concerted efforts from health authorities, there is hope someday that the scourge of polio will be completely eradicated from the face of the earth and future generations will never suffer from its effects.

Coughs. Sneezing. Wheezing. All of this can be heard everywhere, with many people taking sick leaves, and coming back to office still with health complains. This is what is happening in Delhi as the national capital remains in the 'very poor' category for its Monday morning Air Quality Index (AQI). The average AQI of the city stood at 318 on 7am, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The thick layer of smog has engulfed the city and there has been no improvement to get rid of the toxic air. Visibility too has been reduced in several areas, including Anand Vihar, India Gate, Dwarka, and ITO.

Amid the continuously worsening air condition in Delhi, the government has now formed an 'expert group' to combat air pollution as health crisis rise.

The panel will study how pollution builds up from human activity as well as natural causes and will recommend technology upgrades, policy reforms, and sector specific interventions that can be put into action.

Who Will Lead the Expert Panel

The group will be chaired by retired IAS officer and former Union Environment Secretary Leena Nandan. Other members include former CPCB member secretary Dr JS Kamyotra, IIT Delhi professor emeritus Mukesh Khare, IIT Kanpur professor emeritus Mukesh Sharma, and Dr Suneel Pandey, director of Circular Economy and Waste Management at TERI. Representatives from CAQM, the IMD, APAG, PHDCCI and senior officials from the Delhi government are also part of the group. The Secretary of Environment and Forest is a member, and the DPCC chairman will serve as member secretary.

What the Group Will Do

This expert panel will act as a high level advisory body, offering clear, actionable guidance that can shape both emergency responses and long term reforms. It will track the progress of current pollution control programs, study global best practices, and flag where corrections are needed. The group will meet every month, either in person or virtually, and will receive administrative support from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. The initial tenure is six months, with the option to extend if required.

Government Planning and Oversight

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has approved the expert group, along with a separate High Level Implementation Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary. While the expert group will guide policy and strategy, the implementation committee is responsible for enforcing directives, coordinating across departments, and ensuring timely action. Delhi BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa has welcomed the move and said that combined efforts from the government and citizens can make a meaningful difference.

Delhi’s Pollution Levels Are Rising Fast

A new analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) highlights the scale of the crisis. Delhi’s air pollution almost doubled in November, with average PM2.5 levels touching 215 micrograms per cubic meter. The city recorded 23 days of very poor air, six severe days, and only one poor day. Although stubble burning played a smaller role this year, contributing an average of 7 percent, the pollution remained dangerously high.

Across India, pollution trends were equally worrying. Nine of the ten most polluted cities saw higher pollution levels than last year. Ghaziabad was the worst affected, with PM2.5 levels at 224 micrograms per cubic meter.

According to CREA analyst Manoj Kumar, declining stubble burning shows some progress, but major year round sources such as transport, industry, power plants, and other combustion activities continue to drive the crisis. Without strong emission cuts in these sectors, pollution levels will keep breaching national standards.

Doctors Warn of a Deepening Health Emergency

In an interview with ANI, doctors from AIIMS described Delhi’s air quality as a medical emergency. Prof Dr Anant Mohan and Dr Saurabh Mittal from the Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine said the current situation is now putting vulnerable groups at serious risk, including pregnant women, unborn babies, newborns, and adults with heart or neurological conditions.

Dr Mohan warned that the impacts may be felt for generations. Since the particles are extremely small, they can pass from a pregnant woman to the fetus and interfere with growth. Babies exposed to such conditions in the womb are more likely to be underweight and may have weaker lungs as they grow. Some complications might show up only later in life.

Dr Mittal added that the effects of toxic air go far beyond respiratory illness. Prolonged exposure is increasing cases of breathlessness, lung inflammation, asthma attacks, and chronic conditions like COPD. Fine particulate matter is also entering the bloodstream, raising the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

The growing health concerns underline the need for immediate and coordinated action, making the work of the newly formed expert group even more urgent.

How To Read Delhi's AQI?

0-50: 'good'

51-100: 'satisfactory'

101-200: 'moderate'

201-300: 'poor'

301-400: 'very poor'

401-500: 'severe'

It is that time of the year when cough and colds are at its peak and everyone you know if affected by it. However, the health experts have warned that this winter could be worst, worse than the previous one. Why? Because this winter may have the most severe flu outbreaks in decades. The worst part? It is already wreaking havoc on the NHS.

The flu strain being talked about here is the H3N2 strain, what has also been named as the "unpleasant" by health experts. The experts have warned that NHS could face a "tidal wave" of illness ahead of Christmas. A per the reports, hospital admission rates for flu has already gone up to 56 per cent, as compared to the same week last year. As per the health experts, wearing a mask outside is must, especially if they feel unwell, and have encourages those who are eligible to get their vaccination.

What Is the H3N2 Strain?

H3N2 is one of the two main influenza strains currently in circulation. Also referred to as subclade K, it is the most prevalent flu strain in England right now, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

What Are The Doctors Saying?

The Independent spoke to Dr Giuseppe Aragona, GP and a medical adviser for Prescription Doctor, about this new strain and the ways to prevent sickness.

Dr Aragona explained that the letters and numbers used to classify flu strains come from the virus’s surface proteins called haemagglutinin, represented by H, and neuraminidase, represented by N.

He said that this specific combination can sometimes lead to more serious illness, particularly in older adults and people with underlying health conditions.

He added that H3N2 changes frequently, which means the version circulating this year may differ from earlier years or from the strain included in the seasonal vaccine. This can leave people more vulnerable to infection.

What are the symptoms?

According to the UKHSA, flu symptoms tend to appear suddenly. Extreme tiredness is common and this often helps distinguish flu from a cold, which develops more gradually.

The symptoms linked to H3N2 have been similar to typical seasonal flu. These may include fever, cough, a runny nose, body aches, vomiting or diarrhea.

People at higher risk of complications include children under five, especially those under two, adults over 65, pregnant women and individuals with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, weakened immunity or neurological illnesses.

If someone develops flu symptoms after close contact with pigs, doctors advise informing a healthcare provider immediately and mentioning that exposure.

How high are flu rates right now?

NHS England reported that an average of 1,717 patients a day were admitted to hospital with flu last week. This is a 56 per cent rise from the same period last year.

• The rates are seven times higher than in 2023, when hospitals saw an average of 243 flu patients a day.
• This spike follows Australia’s biggest flu season on record, which often predicts how the UK will fare.

Why is H3N2 hitting harder this winter?

Dr Aragona said several factors are contributing to a more challenging flu season. The season has begun earlier than usual, giving the virus more opportunity to spread.

He added that the strain has evolved from last year’s version, so immunity from previous infections and even the vaccine may offer less protection.

He also pointed out that fewer people have been exposed to flu in recent years, especially children. This means a larger portion of the population is susceptible. Cold weather, indoor gatherings and normal social habits are also helping the virus spread more easily.

Experts have already noted that this strain picked up seven new mutations over the summer, making it quite different from previous versions in the current vaccine.

With winter underway, the UK is preparing for a rise in flu related deaths. NHS leaders have issued a strong appeal for people to get vaccinated. Last winter saw around 8,000 deaths linked to flu. This was higher than the previous year’s 3,500 deaths but lower than the 16,000 recorded in the 2022 to 2023 season.

How can you protect yourself?

Dr Aragona said getting the flu vaccine is the most important step, especially for people who are older, pregnant, very young or managing long term health conditions.

He said the vaccine does not prevent every infection but it greatly reduces the chances of severe illness and hospitalisation.

Good hand hygiene, covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, avoiding close contact with sick individuals and keeping indoor spaces well ventilated can also help.

New data from the UKHSA shows the 2025 to 2026 vaccine is currently 70 to 75 per cent effective at preventing hospital visits in children aged two to seventeen, and 30 to 40 per cent effective in adults.

Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal of the UKHSA said the early results offer reassuring evidence that this year’s vaccine provides meaningful protection. He encouraged everyone eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Dr Thomas Waite, deputy chief medical officer, said flu can be unpleasant for many people and dangerous for some. He emphasised that vaccination is the best defence. He said the season has started early and that those eligible should get their vaccine now.

Last year’s flu vaccine significantly reduced the number of severe cases, cutting hospitalisation by nearly 40 per cent in people over 65 and by 75 per cent in children aged two to seventeen.

How worried should we be about H3N2?

Dr Aragona said that while flu can be uncomfortable, most healthy adults and children recover without complications. He advised against panic but highlighted that older people, those with chronic illnesses and other vulnerable groups could face more serious illness this season.

He said the key is staying alert, getting vaccinated, taking sensible precautions and seeking medical help early if symptoms worsen. With these steps, he said the risks can be managed, even in a year with higher flu activity.

Officials in California have now urged people to not forage for wild mushrooms after a rise in poisoning cases that caused at least one death. The California Poison Control System was able to identify at least 21 cases of poisoning in northern California. This has resulted from death cap mushrooms, confirmed the state's public health department.

How Bad Is The Mushroom Poisoning?

The poisoning has resulted in severe liver damage in people and have not spared even children. It has killed at least one of the patients who may have needed a liver transplant, confirmed the health department.

The problem is that death cap mushrooms could be easily mistaken for safe, edible mushrooms because of its similar taste, smell, and appearance.

What Do Health Officials Say?

Health officials have confirmed that the recent cases occurred between mid November and early December, a period marked by heavy rainfall in the region. The wet weather creates perfect conditions for the toxic death cap mushroom to thrive, especially around oaks and other hardwoods, including pine trees, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

While most cases have been concentrated in Monterey and the San Francisco Bay Area, the CDPH cautioned that the danger extends across California.

“Death cap mushrooms contain toxins that can cause life threatening liver failure,” said Dr Erica Pan, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer. “Because these mushrooms can be easily confused with edible varieties, we strongly urge the public to avoid foraging for wild mushrooms during this high risk season.”

The agency stressed that death caps are unsafe under any circumstances. Cooking, freezing, boiling or drying them does not remove their toxicity.

Consuming the mushroom can trigger symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhoea, abdominal pain and dehydration within six to 24 hours. Although the discomfort may briefly subside, serious or even fatal liver damage can develop up to eight days later.

“Only individuals with significant expertise in identifying wild mushrooms should eat those they have harvested themselves,” Dr Edward Moreno, Health Officer for Monterey County, said.

Ways To Identify Death cap Mushroom

Inspect the cap: look for a green or yellow tint on top of the mushroom's white cap. The caps of mature mushrooms also have 1 to 2 large cracks running across them. Death caps often have 1 or more patches of thin, white, vein-like tissue.

A flat cap with diameter 3 to 6 inches: mature death caps are widely and nearly flat on top. However, young death caps have an almost spherical, bowl-shaped cap.

Gills underneath cap: the death mushroom cap has thin white gills on the underside of the cap.

Smell: hold the mushroom about 3 inches away from nose and take a sniff. A death cap mushroom shall smell slightly like ammonia or other chemical household cleaners.

Touch: Tap the death cap mushroom lightly so you do not break it off. The caps of death cap mushroom are often sticky and could leave a small amount of adhesive residue.

Look for white spores left behind: place the mushroom cap on a piece of dark colored paper with gills facing downward. Let the mushroom sit in this position and next morning lift up the mushroom cap and look for white spore print on the sheet. A death cap mushroom will leave a white spore print.