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.

The Chandipura virus (CHPV), a rare but potentially fatal brain infection, has claimed the lives of three young children in Gujarat and Rajasthan, raising concerns during the ongoing monsoon season when insect-borne diseases become more common.

A six-year-old boy from Rajasthan with a confirmed Chandipura virus infection died at the Civil Hospital in Himmatnagar, Gujarat's Sabarkantha district, officials said on July 9.

According to Resident Medical Officer Dr. Vipul Jani, seven children aged between 2 and 11 years with suspected CHPV infection were admitted to the hospital between June 26 and July 9.

The child with confirmed infection was identified as Rajkumar Damor (6), a resident of Udaipur, Rajasthan.

Two girls—a two-year-old from Rajasthan and a three-year-old from Sabarkantha, Gujarat—are currently undergoing treatment, while laboratory reports are awaited. Another three-year-old boy tested negative and has been discharged.

What Is Chandipura Virus?

Chandipura virus (CHPV) is an insect-borne virus belonging to the Rhabdoviridae family and the Vesiculovirus genus. It was first identified in 1965 in Chandipura village in Maharashtra.

The virus is transmitted primarily through phlebotomine sandflies, although mosquitoes and ticks may also play a role in transmission.

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Most cases have been reported from central and western India, particularly during the monsoon and post-monsoon months when sandfly populations increase.

While some infections remain mild, the virus can rapidly invade the brain, causing acute encephalitis (brain inflammation), seizures, coma and even death, especially in children.

"In some children, Chandipura virus can cause severe brain inflammation and become life-threatening within a short period," said Dr. Kanchankumar Bhagyawant, Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist at Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune.

Symptoms Of Chandipura Virus Infection

Symptoms usually begin suddenly and may initially resemble other viral illnesses. The expert urged to watch out for:

• Sudden high fever
• Severe headache
• Vomiting
• Excessive sleepiness or reduced activity
• Irritability or behavioural changes
• Convulsions or seizures
• Loss of consciousness in severe cases

"Parents should never ignore a fever lasting more than three days if it is accompanied by repeated vomiting, seizures, confusion or excessive sleepiness. Seeking immediate medical care can be lifesaving," Dr. Bhagyawant said.

Why Are Children More At Risk?

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According to Dr. Bhagyawant, children below 15 years, especially those living in rural and semi-rural areas, are the most vulnerable to Chandipura virus infection. Although adults can be infected, severe disease is far less common.

"The Chandipura virus infects young children, leading to inflammation of the brain called encephalitis," Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, former President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell, Kerala told HealthandMe.

Children are at greater risk because of several factors:

• Immature immune system: Young children have fewer antibodies and are less able to fight new viral infections.
• Higher exposure: Outdoor play increases contact with sandflies, particularly during the monsoon.
• Limited prior immunity: Most children have not been previously exposed to the virus.
• Rapid disease progression: The virus can multiply quickly, overwhelming a child's immune system.
• Developing brain: Children's brains are more vulnerable to encephalitis and neurological damage.
• Delayed diagnosis: Early symptoms resemble common viral infections, delaying treatment.
• Limited healthcare access: Rural areas may have fewer diagnostic and treatment facilities.
• Poor vector control: Inadequate measures to control sandflies increase the risk of transmission.

How Can Chandipura Virus Infection Be Prevented?

"There are no known anti-virals or vaccines, which means that our treatment is dependent on the patient receiving early medical attention and supportive care. Children are the victims. Vector control, avoiding bites, especially in monsoon seasons is important," Jayadevan said.

Dr. Bhagyawant recommended:

• Use mosquito or sandfly nets, especially for children at night.
• Apply age-appropriate insect repellents.
• Dress children in full-sleeved clothing and long pants.
• Keep homes and surroundings clean.
• Eliminate stagnant water and improve sanitation around homes and animal shelters.
• Install window screens where possible.
• Seek immediate medical attention if a child develops a high fever along with vomiting, seizures or altered consciousness.

Veteran radio and television broadcaster Paul Gambaccini has revealed that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

The 77-year-old presenter, who has been a regular on the BBC since the 1970s, shared a statement revealing that he received the diagnosis in 2025.

"As Freddie Mercury once sang, you can't turn back the clock, you can't turn back the tide. Ain't that a shame. There's no denying it's a serious condition with an uncertain future, but for now life goes on as normal,” he said.

Gambaccini added that he would "be as open as I can as things progress", and that he was grateful for the kindness and support he had already received.

"For now, I wish to be given the space to keep on broadcasting the music I love to the listeners I love even more. These are the days of our lives," he said.

The broadcaster said he would continue presenting The Paul Gambaccini Collection on BBC Radio 2 every Sunday, as well as his shows on Greatest Hits Radio.

The Alzheimer's Society said Gambaccini's experience "shows that there can be life after a dementia diagnosis", the BBC reported.

What Is Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and primarily affects adults aged 65 years and older. Around 1 million people are living with dementia in the UK.

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the buildup of abnormal proteins in the brain—amyloid plaques and tau tangles—which damage nerve cells responsible for memory and thinking.

Amyloid proteins accumulate into sticky plaques between brain cells, while tau proteins twist into thread-like tangles inside neurons. Together, these changes disrupt communication between brain cells and eventually lead to their death.

Over time, this progressive damage affects memory, thinking, behavior, and the ability to carry out everyday activities. In advanced stages, people may lose the ability to communicate, care for themselves or respond to their surroundings.

Although the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease remains unclear, experts believe it results from a combination of genetic, biological and lifestyle factors. Physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet and social isolation may increase the risk of developing the condition.

Early symptoms often include forgetting recent conversations or events. As the disease progresses, memory loss becomes more severe and daily functioning becomes increasingly impaired.

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease. In its advanced stages, complications such as dehydration, poor nutrition and infections can become life-threatening.

Common Symptoms Of Alzheimer's Disease

People with Alzheimer's disease may experience one or more of the following:

• Memory loss that disrupts daily life, such as getting lost in familiar places or repeatedly asking the same questions.
• Difficulty managing finances or paying bills.
• Trouble completing familiar tasks at home, at work or during leisure activities.
• Poor or declining judgment.
• Frequently misplacing items and being unable to retrace steps to find them.
• Changes in mood, personality or behavior.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in India, while lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, according to the latest GLOBOCAN estimates of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The report highlights that India's cancer burden is shaped by region-specific risk factors, with breast, oral, cervical, lung and esophageal cancers together accounting for nearly half of all cancer cases and deaths in the country.

It also estimates that nearly one in 10 Indians is at risk of developing cancer before the age of 75, while around seven in every 100 people face the risk of dying from the disease before reaching that age.

Breast Cancer Tops New Diagnoses

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Female breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in India, accounting for 192,020 new cases in 2022.

The five most common cancers in India are:

• Breast cancer: 192,020 cases
• Lip and oral cavity cancer: 143,759 cases
• Cervical cancer: 127,526 cases
• Lung cancer: 81,748 cases
• Esophageal cancer: 70,637 cases

Among women, breast cancer accounts for more than one in four new cancer diagnoses, while cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer despite being largely preventable through HPV vaccination and regular screening.

Among men, cancers of the lip and oral cavity remain the leading diagnosis, reflecting the continuing impact of tobacco use.

Lung Cancer Is the Deadliest

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Although breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer, lung cancer causes the highest number of cancer deaths in India, highlighting its poor survival rates and the importance of early diagnosis and tobacco control.

Lip and oral cavity cancer ranks as the second most common cancer by incidence and the third leading cause of cancer deaths, giving

India one of the world's highest oral cancer burdens.

India's Cancer Burden Continues to Rise

According to the WHO Global Status Report on Cancer 2026:

• India recorded an estimated 1.6 million new cancer cases in 2024.
• Around 900,000 cancer deaths occurred during the year.
• Annual new cancer cases are projected to rise to 2.8 million by 2050, driven by population growth, ageing and changing lifestyles.

WHO: India Needs Stronger Prevention and Early Detection

The report says India's cancer profile reflects unique regional risk factors, particularly the country's high burden of oral cancers.

"India's cancer burden reflects the influence of region-specific risk factors, particularly the high prevalence of oral cancers, highlighting the need for stronger prevention, early diagnosis and improved access to treatment," the report said.

The WHO says health systems must move beyond treating tumors alone and adopt a more people-centred approach to cancer care.

Nearly 40% of Cancer Cases Are Preventable

The report estimates that almost four in 10 cancer cases worldwide are linked to preventable risk factors, including:

• Tobacco use
• Alcohol consumption
• Overweight and obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infections
• Helicobacter pylori infection.