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.

Malaria infected an estimated 282 million people and caused about 6,10,000 deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) latest World Malaria Report. The report placed strong emphasis on drug resistance, warning that it remains one of the biggest threats to global elimination goals. WHO-recommended vaccines helped prevent roughly 170 million cases and one million deaths last year, which is about nine million more than the year before. Around 95 per cent of malaria deaths occurred in the African Region, with children under five forming the largest share.

Within the WHO South-East Asia Region, India represented 73.3 per cent of all malaria cases and 88.7 per cent of all malaria-related deaths. The report also underscored that the world is nowhere close to meeting the targets set under the Global Technical Strategy for malaria 2016–2030. Drug resistance has now been confirmed or suspected in at least eight African nations, and early signals point to falling effectiveness of partner drugs used with artemisinin. Other emerging challenges include rising cases of malaria parasites with pfhrp2 gene deletions, which weaken the reliability of rapid diagnostic tests, and widespread pyrethroid resistance across 48 countries, diminishing the protective value of insecticide-treated nets.

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Malaria Deaths Increase Amid Growing Drug Resistance

The WHO warned of a global rise in malaria cases and deaths over the past year, driven by shrinking budgets and increasing drug resistance. An estimated 282 million cases and 610,000 malaria deaths were recorded in 2024, marking an increase of about nine million cases and 12,000 deaths compared to the previous year. Eleven countries in Africa accounted for nearly two-thirds of the global burden. The WHO said that efforts to reduce deaths remain “far off track.” Gareth Jenkins, managing director of the nonprofit Malaria No More UK, noted that the rise is alarming as current numbers do not yet reflect the impact of ongoing funding cuts.

What Are Anopheles Stephensi Mosquitoes?

Anopheles stephensi is a malaria-transmitting mosquito originally found in South Asia. Unlike many other malaria vectors, it thrives in cities and breeds in man-made water sources such as storage tanks, containers, and discarded tyres. It can carry both Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax parasites.

In recent years, this mosquito has spread into several African countries, where it adapts easily and shows resistance to multiple insecticides. This expansion has increased the threat of urban malaria outbreaks, as highlighted by the World Health Organization.

At present, Anopheles stephensi has been detected in nine African countries and is proving difficult to control due to widespread insecticide resistance.

Malaria Vaccines

The report noted that WHO approved the world’s first malaria vaccines in 2021, and 24 countries have now added them to their regular immunisation schedules. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said that new preventive tools provide reason for optimism, but many obstacles remain. He pointed out the rise in cases and deaths, the pressure from drug resistance, and the impact of reduced funding. These factors could undermine the progress achieved over the last twenty years.

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The report also identified other risks, including extreme weather events that alter temperature and rainfall patterns, fuelling outbreaks; and conflict and unrest preventing communities from accessing treatment. Global funding for malaria control has largely remained stagnant over the past decade, limiting how far life-saving tools can reach.

Still, Dr Tedros stressed that the obstacles are manageable. With committed leadership in high-burden countries and well-directed investment, a malaria-free world remains an achievable goal.

How Is Malaria Becoming Drug Resistant?

Drug-resistant malaria develops when malaria parasites adapt and no longer respond well to antimalarial medicines, making treatment less effective. Factors such as improper use of medicines, incomplete treatment courses, and the parasite’s ability to mutate contribute to this resistance. Once it emerges, it can spread quickly. Addressing the problem requires strong surveillance systems, responsible drug use, and continued reliance on artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs).

Despite the setbacks, there have been encouraging developments. So far, 47 countries and one territory have received malaria-free certification from WHO. Cabo Verde and Egypt were declared malaria-free in 2024, followed by Georgia, Suriname, and Timor-Leste in 2025.

The government revealed that in the span of three years between 2022 to 2024, Delhi's six state run hospitals recorded 200,000 cases of acute respiratory illness. The government also said in parliament that more than 30,000 people were hospitalized in Delhi over three years with respiratory illness.

For Delhi, toxic air is a recurring problem. In fact, on Friday, December 5, Delhi, the national capital's average air quality index (AQI) dipped to 'very poor' category at 324, at 7am, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

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For weeks Delhi's PM2.5 levels have stayed 20 times the limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). In the span of three years, here is how many case Delhi's six major hospitals have recorded:

• 2022: 67,054
• 2023: 69,293
• 2024: 68,411

"Analysis suggests that increase in pollution levels was associated with increase in number of patients attending emergency rooms. However, this study design cannot provide confirmation that the association is causal," the government told parliament.

Delhi's AQI Is A Major Health Hazard

"The smaller the particle the more dangerous it is because it really goes into the depth of our lungs and causes damage there," says Dr. Vivek Nangia, Vice Chairman and Head of Pulmonology at Max Healthcare Saket, as told to news agency PTI.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Dr. Naresh Trehan, MD, Medanta, called the current situation “a major, major health-wise hazard,” stressing that the impact is unfolding across all age groups.

According to Dr. Trehan, pollution is now causing illness “many fold,” with outpatient departments packed with people suffering from cough, cold, chest congestion, asthma attacks, and severe breathing difficulties. But his biggest concern goes beyond the lungs.

He explained that the particulate matter present in polluted air moves far deeper into the body than most people realise. “These particulates go everywhere,” he told ANI. “They get absorbed into the blood, they go to your brain, they go to your kidneys, they go to your liver.”

Dr. Trehan added that the chronic effects of such constant exposure are making the public “sicker than they would be if they were living in a cleaner area.” Children, he warned, face an even greater threat as trapped toxic gases and particulate matter during winter behave “like a gas chamber,” potentially harming neurological development.

Giving the scientific context behind this damage, Dr Nangia told PTI that the toxicity varies by particle size.

Particles larger than 5–10 microns usually stay in the upper respiratory tract, causing symptoms like throat irritation, watery eyes, and a runny nose. However, “a particle size less than 2.5 microns goes into the lungs,” he explained. Even more dangerous are particles smaller than 0.5 microns, which “go directly into the bloodstream from the lungs and trigger an inflammatory cascade.”

This cascade, Dr. Nangia said, spreads through the body and can inflame various organs—contributing to asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, and even conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

Not Just Limited To Respiratory Issues

Delhi's toxic air does not just impact respiratory health, but it also has adverse impact on one's blood health, reproductive health, and even cause obesity.

As per a 2024 study published in the journal BMC Public Health, titled Association of Ambient Air Pollution With Hemoglobin Levels and Anemia In The General Population of Korean Adults noted the detrimental effects of air pollution exposure on hemoglobin concentrations and anemia in specific populations, which included children, pregnant women, and the elderly.

The study noted that the pollutants in the air contributes to disturbances in iron homeostasis, thus the exposure to air pollution leads to cellular iron deficiency through the activation of oxidation production. It also increases secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators. This pro-inflammatory cytokines that are now increased cause a deficiency erythropoietin secretion, resulting in anemia.

In addition, exposure to air pollution increases the secretion of reactive oxygen species, resulting in oxidative stress. In 2008, an experimental study in a murine model reported that oxidative stress was closely related to iron deficiency anemia.

Doctors have pointed out that Delhi's high air pollution significantly impacts fertility in both men and women by damaging sperm quality and egg reserves through oxidative stress. In men, this can lead to reduced sperm count, motility, and DNA integrity. In women, it can decrease the ovarian reserve, cause hormonal disruption, and increase the risk of miscarriage

As per a 2021 study titled Effect of Air Pollution on Obesity in Children: A systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, there is a connection between air pollution and weight gain through biological behavioral mechanism. The major pollutants causing obesity are nitrous oxides, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and particulate matter.

These could lead to systematic inflammation and metabolic disturbances, which can lead to weight gain and obesity. The study mentions that fine particulate matter [PM2.5], when it enters our body, it influences the metabolism rates.

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.