Every year, World Toilet Day is observed to raise awareness about the global sanitation crisis and encourage action to solve it. The goal set by the United Nation is to achieve safe toilets for all by 2023, as a part of their Sustainable Development Goals.

The UN also states that 3.5 billion people live without proper sanitation and many children also lose their lives due to poor sanitation and unsafe water. This is why World Toilet Day is observed to raise awareness on this issue.

Theme

This year, the theme for World Toilet Day 2024 is "Toilets - A Place for Peace'. This focuses on the growing threat to sanitation that is caused by conflict, climate change, disaster and neglect. When there is a threat to using toilets, it can lead to many health risks.

Not using toilets for too long may lead to Urinary Tract Infection or UTI. For many who do not have access to clean toilets do not drink enough liquid or hold pee for too long. Doctors suggest that holding in pee for too long can cause bacteria to multiply and lead to UTI. By not drinking enough water, your bladder fails to tell the body to pee often, and can cause the bacteria to spread through the urinary tract, which can lead to infection.

Symptoms of UTI:

• Burning or stinging feeling while urinating
• Pain in pelvis or lower abdomen
• Constant urge to empty the bladder
• Strong or foul smelling urine
• Consistently dark urine
• Blood in urine

Holding in pee for too long can also cause your bladder to stretch, making it difficult or even impossible for the bladder to contract and release pee normally. It can also damage your pelvic floor muscles or could lead to kidney stones.

World Toilet Day History And Significance

To prevent such conditions, it is important that everyone has access to clean and safe toilets. In terms of history, the day was established in 2001, by the World Toilet Organization (WTO), which was founded by Jack Sim. However, it was officially recognised by the UN in 2013. The Government of Singapore worked with WTO to create the first UN resolution called Sanitation for All.

India too promotes safe and hygiene toilet through its Swachh Bharat Yojna.

Quartz counters have become a staple in modern homes, helped by an eightfold jump in US imports and a reputation for durability, heat resistance and a polished, stone-like finish. Yet the growing demand has put a spotlight on the health risks faced by the people who cut and shape these slabs.

This week, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued an alert about silicosis, a progressive and incurable lung condition. Officials confirmed the first known case in the state among a worker in the stone countertop fabrication trade.

What Is Silicosis?

Silicosis is a long-term lung condition that develops when a person repeatedly inhales tiny particles of crystalline silica found in materials such as sand, stone and quartz. These particles irritate the lungs and cause lasting scarring that makes it harder to breathe as the disease progresses. It is most often seen in jobs such as mining, construction and sandblasting.

There is no cure, though it can be avoided with proper safety controls. Common signs include a lingering cough, breathlessness, tiredness and a higher risk of infections such as tuberculosis.

Super Flu-Style Spike in Silicosis Cases Among Fabricators

Silicosis was once linked largely to mining and heavy construction. Today, it is increasingly seen among workers handling engineered stone, which carries far higher silica levels than natural options such as granite or marble. The American Lung Association estimates that about 2.3 million workers nationwide are exposed to silica dust in their jobs.

The illness develops when microscopic crystalline silica particles are inhaled during dry cutting, polishing or grinding. Early signs often include a persistent cough, mucus, breathlessness, fatigue, chest discomfort and swelling in the legs.

There is no cure. While symptoms can be managed, the condition can advance over time and raise the risk of lung cancer, tuberculosis and fatal complications. Massachusetts officials said the affected worker, a Hispanic man in his forties, had spent 14 years fabricating and installing stone countertops. The first US case connected to engineered stone was reported in Texas in 2015.

Growing Evidence From Across the Country

A 2023 investigation in California identified 52 workers with silicosis tied to quartz fabrication. Twenty had severe disease, and ten died before the research was completed. Despite the seriousness, quartz has not been banned. Instead, public health leaders are calling for stronger safety measures.

“This case is a tragic reminder that silicosis is not a far-off concern. It is present and harming workers here in Massachusetts,” said Emily H. Sparer-Fine, who leads the state’s Occupational Health Surveillance Program. She added that everyone in the supply chain has a role to play, including choosing materials with lower silica content.

Proposed protective steps include improved ventilation and routine medical checks for workers.

Why Regulators Are Sounding the Alarm

“Our study raises an urgent warning,” said Dr. Sheiphali Gandhi, a pulmonologist with UC San Francisco and a co-author of the California report. “Unless action is taken now, we may see hundreds or even thousands of additional cases. Even with immediate change, new cases will continue to appear because silicosis develops slowly.”

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration set two national standards for respirable crystalline silica in 2016, capping workplace exposure at 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air over an eight-hour shift. Yet inspections in California in 2019 and 2020 showed that roughly 72 percent of the state’s 808 fabrication shops were likely not meeting these requirements, placing many workers at risk.

California has since adopted emergency silica rules, which became permanent in late 2024.

Flu infections are rising sharply in the community, according to new figures from the UK Health Security Agency. Children are now at the centre of this increase, which is the highest recorded for this point in winter. Health officials track flu spread through several monitoring systems, including lab checks on samples sent in by hospitals and GP practices when patients arrive with flu-like symptoms.

Superflu Cases Climb Across England

The latest UKHSA data shows that the flu positivity rate in England has risen to 21% from 17% the week before. Swabs taken specifically by GPs were 34% positive for flu, up from 24.2% last week. Children and young people aged five to fourteen continue to show the highest positivity levels.

This follows NHS reports confirming that the number of people in hospital with flu is at a record high for the season, with a 55% jump in admissions in only a week. Dr Conall Watson, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: “There is still plenty of flu vaccine available to protect those who need it, but time is running short before Christmas. If you are eligible, this is the last chance to arrange protection before the holidays, so book an appointment with the NHS now. If your child has not yet been vaccinated by the school immunisation team, they can still get their dose at a community clinic over the coming weeks.”

He added that parents unsure about local arrangements should reach out to their NHS school immunisation team, with schools able to direct them if contact details are not clear. Vaccination remains one of the strongest ways to prevent severe illness and hospital stays for those at risk.

Superflu Spread and GP Illness Trends

Flu and colds are both increasing, with GP practices reporting a higher consultation rate for flu-like symptoms at 18.3 per 100,000 registered patients. This is up from 13.2 per 100,000 the previous week.

Why The Superflu Season Is More Intense This Year?

The main strain circulating this winter is a drifted H3N2 variant, which the UKHSA says has left the community with “less natural immunity.” H3N2 strains tend to cause more serious illness in older adults than H1N1 strains and are linked to higher hospitalisations and deaths. This pattern adds further strain to the NHS during the winter months.

Current data shows that 71.7% of people aged 65 and over in England have received this year’s flu vaccine as of December 7. Uptake remains lower in those under 65 in clinical risk groups (37.4%), pregnant women (35.6%), and children aged two or three (41.9%).

Super Flu Precautions Ahead of the Festive Season

Dr Watson noted that there are simple steps everyone can take to limit transmission during the holiday period. Anyone with symptoms of flu or COVID-19, such as a high temperature, cough, or tiredness and aches, should try to limit close contact with others, especially those who are more vulnerable.

Regular handwashing and keeping indoor areas well ventilated can help reduce spread. For those who need to leave home while unwell, wearing a face covering is advised.

Trump Using Walker: A photograph circulating widely online shows President Donald Trump moving through the White House with the help of a walker. The image has been reposted across social platforms, driven by growing public interest in the president’s health.

Many users sharing it claim the picture was taken shortly after Trump “signed the executive order banning states from regulating AI.” The viral post comes at a time when the president’s health has been under sharp public attention, especially after reports that he recently underwent an MRI. This has raised the question: Did President Trump actually rely on a walker, or is the image artificially created?

Also Read: President Trump Says Media Reports On His Health Are All 'Fake, Seditious, Treasonous'

Trump Using Walker: Is President Trump Using A Walker To Walk Nowadays?

The picture in question shows Trump standing in a White House hallway, looking upward and appearing to support himself with a walker. The details, however, do not match reality. Another version of the same image has been shared online with the walker appearing in gold. No major news organisation or official White House photographer has released or confirmed the picture. All available signs point to the photo being edited or made with AI tools.

Several users also spread the image alongside claims that it was taken after he approved an executive order on artificial intelligence. Different versions of the post show the walker in various colours, including gold. These posts have drawn significant engagement, especially as online speculation about Trump’s health has become more frequent over recent months, often fuelled by exaggerated or misleading narratives.

Grok, the fact-checking tool, also reviewed the claims and stated, “The image appears to be digitally altered or AI-generated. No credible news reports confirm Trump using a walker in December 2025, though the executive order on AI regulation is real.”

Trump Walker: Amid Health Concerns, Donald Trump Says He "Aced 3rd Cognitive Exam"

President Donald Trump has said he recently achieved a perfect score on a third cognitive test as he works to push back against doubts about his age and sharpness. In a post on social media on Tuesday night, he wrote that, along with a set of “long, thorough, and very boring Medical Examinations,” he had taken a cognitive assessment “on three separate occasions, the last one being recently.”

“I ACED all three of them in front of large numbers of doctors and experts, most of whom I do not know,” Trump wrote. “I have been told that few people have been able to ‘ace’ this Examination and, in fact, most do very poorly, which is why many other Presidents have decided not to take it at all.”

Trump, who is 79, said he was sharing this information after what he called inaccurate reporting in The New York Times, which noted his official schedule has appeared lighter than in his first term, and pointed to moments where he closed his eyes for extended periods during meetings.

Donald Trump Walker: Donald Trump Health Concerns

As previously reported by Health and Me, President Trump has been dealing with a few medical concerns. The White House recently announced that he underwent an MRI as part of his yearly medical evaluation, which Trump described as “standard,” though he acknowledged he was not entirely sure what the doctors were assessing, according to USA Today.

Earlier this year, officials also disclosed that Trump had been diagnosed with a common vein issue that is usually manageable with treatment, after he was observed with swelling around his ankles. Despite these developments, the 79-year-old president continues to insist that his overall health remains strong.