Mysterious Fog in the US , Canada and UK: A dense, eerie fog with a "burning chemical-like smell" has spooked a good part of North America and parts of the United Kingdom and Canada. With social media amplifying all concerns, this phenomenon has sparked attention across all social media platforms. However, at the heart of this mysterious fog are a conjunction of natural events, social psychology, and environmental conditions that culminated in all the conspiracy theories and public health fears. Here's a closer look at the mysterious fog, its potential causes, and the societal response it has triggered.

Fog that Feeds Fear

The first reports of this "mysterious fog" came in from Florida where a resident said that they experienced respiratory symptoms, feverish warmth, and stomach cramps after contact with the fog. Similar stories started flooding social media, and within a day or two, a sinister force seemed to sweep across the United States, Canada, and parts of the UK. From Texas to Minnesota, people reported weird odors and health issues that they thought were linked to this bizarre atmospheric event.

Some witnesses were said to see "white particles" swirling through the air; theories ranged from a chemical attack or experimental weapon to drone-related chemical dispersals and references to historical military experiments, such as the infamous 1950s "Operation Sea-Spray."

Fuel to the fire were added when videos and posts, hundreds of thousands in number, began circulating on social media sites like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) speculating on the origin of the fog. Hashtags like #ToxicFog went trending for days. Hysteria created a self-reinforcing loop in which every post spurred further scrutiny and fear.

Scientific Explanation of the Dense Mysterious Fog

1. What is Fog?

Fog is essentially a low-lying cloud formed when the air temperature cools to its dew point, causing water vapor to condense into tiny droplets or ice crystals. Several types of fog—advection fog, radiation fog, and valley fog—can form depending on conditions such as warm, moist air moving over cooler land or when temperatures plummet rapidly under clear skies.

2. Why the Chemical Smell?

Such chemical-like smell as reported during the occurrence of fog events is sometimes attributed to air pollution. It acts like a sponge, where it absorbs these pollutants, which include sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, among others, that emit from industries. This mixture, therefore, leads to a stench that could be mistaken as unnatural or even toxic.

Also Read: Health Concerns Rise As US, Canada, and UK Come Under The Blanket Of Thick, Dense, Toxic Fog

3. What are the Health Concerns?

High moisture levels from fog can significantly exacerbate symptoms related to respiration, but especially in already predisposed asthmatics and allergy patients. The connection of these symptoms with actual fever, stomach cramps, and puffy eyes is too remote. Experts assume that the irritating effects of entrapped pollutants trapped in fog tend to affect more the eyes and throat rather than the rest of the body affected by some report.

Psychological Effects of Mass Panic Caused by Social Media

Social media amplified a natural weather event into a health epidemic. It made the personal experience of individuals become a cause for fear and speculation, a domino effect.

According to psychologists, this is a concept of selective perception, wherein once people's attention is drawn to environmental anomalies, they begin to notice them. This mirrors earlier panics, such as the Seattle windshield pitting panic of 1954. Then, atomic bomb testing caused fear in many and started to have people looking at their windshields for small marks that they had not seen before. Likewise, postings on the strangeness of the fog probably increased public awareness and suspicion, with people looking to attach unrelated symptoms to the phenomenon.

The fog hysteria shares a commonality with other instances of mass panic, such as the "drone sightings" of recent years or the Cold War-era fears of biological warfare.

Also Read: Mysterious Fog Is Making Americans Sick

These events underscore how fear can cloud judgment, especially when amplified by social media and sensationalist headlines. While historical cases, such as "Operation Sea-Spray," offer concrete evidence of the existence of unethical experiments, the jump from a natural weather condition to theories of chemical attacks exemplifies a more modern trend of connecting unrelated dots, all wonderfully seeded in distrust and anxiety.

Despite the swirling rumors, meteorologists and scientists are in agreement that the mysterious fog is not as alarming as it seems. It is well known that fog traps and amplifies pollutants, especially in urban and industrial regions. Moreover, winter months are the most conducive for fog formation, so its recent prevalence is unsurprising.

On the other hand, environmentalists advise that the fog should wake everyone up to increased levels of pollution. The reported odors and health irritations could be just symptoms of far deeper systemic issues like industrial emissions and lack of control over air quality.

The authorities must be transparent in their communication to combat misinformation and allay public fears. Governments and environmental agencies must provide timely updates on weather phenomena, air quality, and health risks. Initiatives like real-time pollutant tracking and public education campaigns can help demystify natural occurrences while addressing valid environmental concerns.

The mysterious Canada fog is a compelling case study in how environmental events intersect with psychology and societal dynamics. While rooted in natural phenomena, the fog became a vessel for collective fears, amplified by modern technology and historical anxieties.

In this information era where communication occurs at an almost lightning pace, the fog becomes a metaphor that reminds everyone about scientific literacy, environmental responsibility, and an effective balance when considering public concern. Whether perceived as a marvel of nature or as a tale that serves to teach, it left a very powerful mark in people's minds.

Amid the scare of hantavirus infection, US health officials informed that they are investigating a potential case in an Illinois resident.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) noted that the incident is not linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak.

MV Hondius had 18 American nationals, and all have been medically evacuated back to the US. While 16 people are in Nebraska at the nation's only national quarantine unit, two people are being monitored in Atlanta.

In a statement, the IDPH said that the person “lives in Winnebago County, has not travelled internationally, and has not come in contact with individuals associated with the MV Hondius outbreak”.

Officials suspect that the possible hantavirus infection in the Illinois person to be a case of the North American strain of the virus while cleaning a home where rodent droppings were present.

“Unlike the Andes strain of Hantavirus responsible for the cruise outbreak, the North American strains are not known to spread from person to person. The risk of contracting Hantavirus of any kind remains very low for Illinois residents,” the officials said.

However, they added that the CDC is conducting additional testing to confirm that the resident is positive for Hantavirus. CDC staff told IDPH its confirmatory test result could take up to 10 days to complete.

Hantavirus Cases In The US

Excluding this latest potential case, Illinois has had 7 positive cases of Hantavirus since 1993, most recently in March 2025.

Since surveillance began in 1993, the US has recorded 890 cases of Hantavirus over 30 years (1993-2023)

The Hantavirus strain most commonly seen in the US is caused by exposure to rodent droppings and is NOT contagious from person to person.

The rodent species (long-tailed pygmy rice rat) known to carry the Andes strain of the virus in South America does not live in the U.S.

First Case Of Hantavirus Diagnosed In Israel

Also read: Donald Trump Says Hantavirus Is 'Under Control'; Questions Grow Over CDC Research Cuts

Earlier, a case of hantavirus was also reported from Israel, that was not linked to the MV Hondius ship.

The case in Israel, reported by the local newspaper Maariv, is believed to have been infected during a stay in Eastern Europe several months ago. It is reportedly not linked to the ongoing outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

The patient underwent an antibody test after the symptoms appeared, which showed exposure to hantavirus, the report said. A PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test was then conducted to detect the virus’s genetic material, confirming the infection, the report said.

The patient was said to be in stable condition, not in need of intensive care or strict isolation, and was being kept under medical observation.

Details about the patient and the medical center where the diagnosis was made could not yet be published, but have been reported to the country's Health Ministry.

Will Hantavirus Become A Public Health Threat?

Also read: Fact Check: Can Ivermectin Help Treat Hantavirus?

Hantavirus is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or exposure to their urine, droppings, and saliva, though rare cases of person-to-person transmission have also been reported.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 11 cases — including three deaths — have been confirmed so far. However, additional suspected and confirmed cases are continuing to emerge across countries.

“At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Chief, in the latest media briefing.

However, he said that the situation could still change.

“Given the long incubation period of the virus, we might see more cases in the coming weeks,” he said.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a condition affecting more than 170 million women worldwide, has now been officially renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), according to a global study published today in The Lancet.

The new name reflects a major shift in understanding the condition — from being viewed primarily as a gynecological disorder to being recognized as a complex, multisystem condition affecting several aspects of health.

The new term PMOS acknowledges that the condition involves:

• Endocrine health
• Metabolic health
• Reproductive health
• Dermatological health
• Psychological health

“For too long, the narrow definition of PCOS has overlooked its metabolic and hormonal complexity, leaving many patients undiagnosed or misunderstood,” Cree added.

Why Was PCOS Renamed To PMOS?

Calls to rename PCOS date back to the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2012, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommended a name change after experts concluded that the term PCOS was misleading and confusing for both patients and healthcare providers.

“The name focuses on a criterion — polycystic ovarian morphology — which is neither necessary nor sufficient to diagnose the syndrome,” NIH experts wrote in the report.

Although PCOS has long been understood as a metabolic condition, experts said the name inaccurately narrowed its scope and overemphasized ovarian cysts and fertility issues.

This often led to:

• Delayed diagnoses
• Fragmented care
• Stigma
• Missed opportunities for early intervention

How Was The Name Change Decided?

The renaming process involved consultations with thousands of patients and healthcare professionals across the world.

The effort was supported by 56 academic, clinical, and patient organizations.

Experts said the transition from PCOS to PMOS will occur over the next three years through a phased global implementation strategy.

What Does PMOS Mean?

The new name aims to explain the condition more accurately and comprehensively.

Polyendocrine means it affects multiple hormones in the body.

Metabolic refers to issues linked to weight, insulin, blood sugar, and heart health.

Ovarian highlights its impact on ovulation and reproductive health.

Syndrome refers to a group of symptoms occurring together.

In simple terms, PMOS is a hormonal and metabolic condition that can affect periods, fertility, skin, mood, weight, and long-term health.

Experts said the new terminology intends to:

• Reflect the condition’s hormonal complexity
• Acknowledge its strong metabolic and cardiometabolic effects
• Continue emphasizing ovarian involvement without over-focusing on fertility

According to the study, PMOS could also:

• Promote earlier and more accurate diagnosis
• Support more holistic, patient-centered care
• Reduce stigma associated with fertility-focused terminology
• Expand research into metabolic and systemic impacts

Hantavirus cases have climbed to 11, including three deaths, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said today.

During a media briefing on hantavirus, Tedros stated that all eleven cases are among passengers or crew members onboard the MV Hondius.

Also Read: Hantavirus Can Linger Indoors, Spread Through Contaminated Dust, Says Infectious Disease Expert

“Nine of the eleven have been confirmed as Andes virus, and the other two are probable,” he added.

All suspected and confirmed cases have been isolated and managed under strict medical supervision, minimizing any risk of further transmission.

Tedros said individual countries were now responsible for their citizens after the evacuation, adding: “I hope they will take care of the patients and the passengers, helping them and also protecting their citizens as well. That’s what we expect.”

Will Hantavirus Become A Public Health Threat?

Noting that “at the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak,” Tedros said the situation could still change.

“Given the long incubation period of the virus, it’s possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks,” he said.

Acclaimed vaccine scientist Prof. Peter Hotez from the Texas Medical Center (TMC) also said more cases could emerge, but ruled out the risk of a major epidemic.

“We might see additional cases, but I don't think this will be a major epidemic beyond the obvious human tragedy of those who lost their lives, and possibly a few others who could still get very sick,” he said in a post on social media platform X.

“New World hantavirus infections are rough stuff. Once symptoms begin, the resulting cytokine storm and ARDS means there's not much of a window before getting patients into an ICU, and often on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), which requires a high level of skill,” Prof. Peter said.

He also linked increasing zoonotic spillovers and rising arthropod-borne illnesses to “climate change pushing animal reservoirs to explore new habitats, together with deforestation and urbanization.”

“It's animals and vectors closer to humans and people coming closer to animals and vectors,” he added.

“I don't think this particular hantavirus outbreak will accelerate much beyond where it is now, but that's not the point.”

Dutch Hospital Quarantines 12 Healthcare Workers

Meanwhile, Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc) in the Netherlands has placed 12 employees in quarantine for six weeks as a precaution after incorrect procedures were followed while caring for a hantavirus-infected patient from the Dutch cruise ship.

The hospital said on Monday that the issue involved procedures for drawing and processing blood samples, as well as the disposal of the patient's urine, according to Xinhua news agency.

Also read: Fact Check: Can Ivermectin Help Treat Hantavirus?

“This blood was processed according to standard procedure. Due to the nature of the virus, this blood should have been processed according to a stricter procedure,” Radboudumc said in a statement, without specifying what the stricter measures should have entailed.

Read More: Donald Trump Says Hantavirus Is 'Under Control'; Questions Grow Over CDC Research Cuts

WHO Guidelines On Hantavirus

The WHO recommends that people exposed to hantavirus should be:

• Monitored actively at a specified quarantine facility
• Monitored at home for 42 days from the last exposure