Cancer is a large group of diseases that can start in almost any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, and go beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is the second most common cause of death globally, accounting for millions of deaths every year. Lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach and liver cancer are the most common types of cancer in men, while breast, colorectal, lung, cervical and thyroid cancer are the most common among women. However, these are not necessarily the deadliest forms of cancer.

What makes cancer the deadliest depends upon how many people have it and what percentage of those people actually survive. Cancer researchers determine this on the basis of five-year relative survival. This is the percentage of people who are expected to survive the effects of a given cancer, excluding their risk of other possible causes of death, for five years past a diagnosis. It is also important to note that what makes cancer really deadly is that practically no cure for it. A cure for cancer would imply that there are no cancerous cells remaining in the body.

Here are the 5 deadliest cancers in the U.S., according to SEER five-year relative survival data for cases diagnosed between 2014 and 2020.

1. Pancreatic cancer occurs when cells in your pancreas, a gland in your abdomen that aids digestion, mutate and multiply out of control, forming a tumour. Major risk factors include smoking, obesity, diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, certain genetic mutations and environmental chemical exposure.

2. Esophageal cancer develops in the oesophagus, which is the tube that connects your throat to your stomach.

3. Liver cancer and intrahepatic bile duct cancer originate in the liver or bile ducts, often linked to hepatitis infections, heavy alcohol use, obesity, and aflatoxin exposure.

4. Lung and bronchus cancer primarily caused by smoking, secondhand smoke, and environmental pollutants, affects the lungs and airways, making it the leading cause of cancer death in the US.

5. Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is an aggressive blood and bone marrow cancer that progresses rapidly, often linked to genetic mutations, radiation exposure, and certain chemicals.

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‘Scromiting’ is back in the news as emergency department visits in the US involving cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) were 3.7 times as high, according to a CDC report.

CHS is associated with frequent cannabis use and is characterized by episodes of severe nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. The term “scromiting” refers to a combination of screaming and vomiting that can occur during severe episodes.

The CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), which analyzed data from January 2023 through May 2026, found that the rate of emergency department visits involving CHS remained largely steady from January 2023 through September 2025.

CHS is likely under-recognized in both adolescents and adults. Clinicians may not routinely assess or document cannabis use, while CHS can also be misdiagnosed as other gastrointestinal conditions, including cyclic vomiting syndrome.

To improve clinical identification, a specific International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) discharge diagnosis code for CHS was introduced on October 1, 2025. The CDC report examined CHS-related emergency department visits before and after the code was introduced.

The change was immediate. From September 2025 to October 2025, CHS-involved emergency department visits jumped from 3.35 per 10,000 to 11.26 per 10,000. The rate rose further to 13.10 per 10,000 by May 2026.

From October 2025 through May 2026, CHS-involved emergency department visits were 3.7 times as high as the monthly average recorded before the new diagnostic code was introduced.

The CDC noted that the new code made the condition easier to identify and track, meaning the sharp increase may partly reflect greater recognition and documentation of CHS.

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What Is Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome?

CHS is a syndrome associated with prolonged, frequent cannabis use. It is characterized by sudden episodes of severe nausea, repeated vomiting and abdominal pain.

Reports of suspected CHS increased sharply between 2016 and 2022, with the largest increase occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC noted that the rise also coincided with widespread state-level cannabis legalization in the US, although cannabis remains illegal under federal law.

People with CHS often seek medical care because symptoms can be severe and debilitating. Outcomes can range from resolution of symptoms after stopping cannabis use to, in rare cases, death.

When Was CHS First Identified?

CHS was first identified in Australia in 2004, yet nearly two decades later, the condition remains poorly understood. It typically affects people who use marijuana daily or near daily for more than a year. Symptoms can include severe nausea, repeated vomiting and abdominal pain, along with a compulsive desire to take extremely hot showers or baths.

Many patients report that heat temporarily eases their symptoms, although the relief is often short-lived.

Symptoms Can Last For Days

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CHS episodes can last for days, while recovery may take weeks or even months, depending on overall health, eating habits and whether the person stops using marijuana. Continuing to use cannabis can quickly trigger symptoms again.

A study from George Washington University found that nearly half of surveyed patients had been hospitalized at least once because of CHS. Many reported using marijuana more than five times a day before symptoms began. Starting cannabis at an early age was also linked to a higher likelihood of developing the condition.

Why Is CHS Still Poorly Understood?

Researchers emphasize that CHS is real, although many questions remain unanswered, including why hot showers provide temporary relief and how much cannabis use puts someone at risk.

Health experts say greater clinical awareness is needed. Better screening for cannabis use and recognition of symptom patterns could help reduce misdiagnosis and guide patients towards the only proven treatment: stopping marijuana use.

A recent cluster of shigellosis cases in Kerala has raised concerns over antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This adds another challenge to the treatment and management of an infection that can already cause severe intestinal distress. The concern comes as Kerala reported fresh cases of Shigella infection, including a three-year-old child who was hospitalised after consuming a roadside drink.

Shigellosis is caused by Shigella bacteria and can spread through contaminated food, water, hands and surfaces. Unlike some other foodborne infections, only a very small number of bacteria may be enough to cause illness, making the infection highly transmissible. This has raised fresh concerns about food and water safety in the state.

Drug Resistance Can Make Shigellosis Harder To Treat

Most people with shigellosis recover with fluids and supportive care, but people with severe symptoms may need antibiotics. The problem at hand is that Shigella is becoming increasingly resistant to commonly used antibiotics.

Kerala's KARS-NET (Kerala Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network), one of the strongest AMR surveillance systems in the country, has been tracking the AMR profile of Shigellosis since 2023. Its data says that the resistance profile of primary antibiotics used to treat the infection is growing.

According to KARS-NET, Ciprofloxacin, which is recommended by the national guidelines for Shigella dysentery treatment, has a resistance profile of 96%. Therefore, it can no longer be relied upon for Shigellosis treatment.

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R. Aravind, head of infectious diseases, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, who is also the convener of KARS-Net said, “Till now, community-acquired AMR had not been a problem in the State. If you, as a citizen, have never been worried about AMR, you should be now, because it is showing up right at your doorstep. Our arsenal of effective and affordable antibiotics for common infections in the community is shrinking."

Ceftriaxone is the next available drug that has developed pathogenic resistance. It is a third-generation Cephalosporin class antibiotic, which has gone up to 36%.

He added, “Clinicians have been using Ceftriaxone for treating Shigellosis in patients who get admitted to hospital. But the clinical implication of growing resistance of Shigella to this drug is immense."

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Complications Due To Shigellosis

Shigellosis could get severe in vulnerable populations like children below five years and the elderly. It can lead to severe dehydration, sepsis and neurological complications.

In some cases, the infection can spread beyond the intestine and enter the bloodstream, causing bacteraemia and sepsis, which can become life-threatening. These complications warrant urgent use of antibiotics.

R. Aravind also said, "For Shigellosis patients with severe dysentery going into septic shock and multiorgan failure, it is absolutely important that the correct antibiotic is administered within an hour and that it is 100% sensitive. This means that for such serious patients, we can no longer depend on Ceftriaxone and have to go for high-end drugs like Meropenem which belongs to the Carbapenem class, widely considered the last-resort antibiotics."

Shigellosis: Prevention Tips

Because Shigella can spread through very small amounts of faecal contamination, basic hygiene remains crucial. Health experts recommend:

• Drinking safe or boiled water
• Washing hands thoroughly with soap
• Avoiding food from unhygienic sources
• Eating freshly prepared food
• Avoiding contaminated or improperly stored drinks
• Preventing infected people from preparing food for others

Australia, which has been battling rising cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza since June, has reported its first H5 bird flu detection in a mammal in South Australia.

A seal found dead at Beachport, about 310 km (190 miles) south of Adelaide, was confirmed as the country’s first mammalian detection of H5 bird flu. The seal had no visible signs of injury. The authorities warned the virus could trigger more deaths among the species as it continues to spread.

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Another suspected H5 detection has been reported in a long-nosed fur seal at Pages Conservation Park, a key breeding ground off Kangaroo Island. The case is yet to be confirmed. The site has also recorded a mass mortality event among birds.

“Once the H5 bird flu is spreading in the natural environment, it is not possible to avoid significant losses,” federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said.

H5 In Mammals: Are Humans Staring At A 'Catastrophic Pandemic'?

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H5N1 is a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza that can spread rapidly among poultry and wild bird populations, causing severe disease and high mortality rates in birds.

While human infections remain rare, they can occur through direct and unprotected contact with infected birds, animals, or contaminated environments.

Bird flu viruses generally do not spread easily among humans. Even when a rare bird-to-human jump occurs, the virus has so far not been able to spread efficiently from human to human because it is not well adapted to human cells.

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, former President of IMA Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell, Kerala, shared that since H5 virus is primarily adapted to birds, the obvious concern is whether it can adapt to mammals.

While similar incidents globally in recent years are adding to the concern, he noted that infections in mammals show that the virus is taking steps towards infecting a wider range of living beings.

Although risks to humans continue to be low, Dr Rajeev said that it is vital to “keep a close watch on this evolution".

"If this virus hypothetically gains the ability to spread efficiently among human beings, we are looking at a catastrophic pandemic. What makes a human pandemic so devastating is that our immune systems have no prior exposure to this virus.”

He noted that among the isolated human cases reported worldwide, the death rate is typically 50% or higher.

"A typical scenario for a bird-to-man jump of the virus would be a child who comes into contact with a sick hen in the backyard, or a farmer who handles dead birds without precautions,” Dr Rajeev warned.

How Can H5 Bird Flu Be Prevented?

To prevent a future pandemic from this virus, the key thing will be to reduce opportunities for the virus to jump from birds to mammals—which is why mass culling of infected poultry remains a standard practice.

Health authorities recommend the following precautions:

• Avoid direct contact with sick or dead wild birds and other animals whenever possible.
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) if handling sick or dead birds or animals is unavoidable.
• Avoid touching surfaces contaminated with bird droppings, saliva, mucus, litter, or bedding from infected or suspected animals.
• Do not consume raw milk or raw milk products, particularly from animals suspected or confirmed to be infected with avian influenza.
• Report sick or dead birds to local authorities if encountered.

Australia’s Response To H5 Bird Flu

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About 45% of Australia’s roughly 850 bird species are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else on Earth, according to government data.

To protect these, Australia has announced vaccination for its vulnerable native birds.

“The priority species will be identified based on vulnerability to the H5 bird flu and the potential conservation impact,” Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said.