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 ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has surpassed 1,000 confirmed cases, according to the latest update from the country's Health Ministry.

In a statement posted on X, the ministry said as of June 20, the outbreak has resulted in 1,003 confirmed cases and 254 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 25.3 per cent

More than 100 people have recovered from the disease, while 365 patients are currently in isolation or receiving hospital treatment.

"The threshold of 1,000 confirmed cases has been crossed. Despite this progression, response teams continue active investigations, epidemiological surveillance, and prevention actions in affected areas," the ministry said.

"The response to the Ebola virus disease continues in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, with an improvement in the number of recoveries but a decrease in the contact follow-up rate," the ministry added.

Health Workers Increasingly Affected

Also read: Australia’s H5N1 Detection Marks End Of Last Virus-Free Continent

The outbreak is also taking a growing toll on healthcare workers. According to the DRC's National Public Health Institute, at least 78 nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers have contracted the disease during the outbreak, and 18 have died.

Abdou Sebushishe, medical lead in Congo for the International Medical Corps, said all infected healthcare workers were exposed outside dedicated Ebola treatment facilities, Bloomberg reported.

The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which often begins with symptoms similar to malaria and other common illnesses.

Because early symptoms can be difficult to distinguish, healthcare workers may come into contact with infected patients before Ebola is suspected and strict infection-control measures are implemented.

Sebushishe said infections among healthcare workers have been linked to several factors, including:

• Inadequate infection-control practices
• Shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Limited training for healthcare staff
• Weak disease surveillance systems in health facilities.

Israel Reports 2 Suspected Cases

Meanwhile, Israel's Health Ministry has reported two suspected Ebola cases involving individuals who recently returned from Congo.

Officials stressed that Ebola infection has not yet been confirmed, and laboratory testing is underway. Results are expected in the coming days, according to local media reports.

The ministry said it is conducting an epidemiological investigation to identify contacts and assess any potential links between the suspected cases.

According to the Health Ministry, Israel has never recorded a confirmed Ebola case. During the major West African Ebola outbreak in 2014, several suspected cases were investigated, but all ultimately tested negative.

Read More: WHO Sounds Alarm on Europe's Extreme Heat: Here's How Hot It Could Get Across Countries

What Is Ebola?

Ebola is a severe and often fatal viral hemorrhagic fever first identified in 1976. Since then, more than 30 outbreaks have been recorded, primarily in Central and West Africa.

Common symptoms include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Weakness and fatigue
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Muscle pain
• Sore throat
• Unexplained bleeding or bruising

In severe cases, the disease can lead to organ failure, internal bleeding, shock, and death. Aid organizations warn that without stronger surveillance, expanded testing, faster laboratory turnaround times, and more effective contact tracing, the outbreak could continue to grow in the coming weeks and months.

Australia has officially lost its status as the last continent free of the H5N1 bird flu virus after authorities confirmed the highly pathogenic strain on the mainland.

The highly contagious H5N1 variant of avian influenza has now been detected on every continent, marking a significant moment in the disease's global spread.

H5N1 Confirmed In Two Wild Birds

The virus was first detected in a migratory seabird, a brown skua, found on a beach in Cape Le Grand National Park near Esperance in Western Australia, around 700 km southeast of Perth.

Authorities later confirmed a second positive case in a northern giant petrel found on a remote beach along Western Australia's south coast.

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said testing conducted by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) confirmed both birds were infected with H5N1 avian influenza.

"We all knew we couldn't be bird flu-free forever," Collins told a press conference.

No Evidence of Widespread Outbreak Yet

Also read: WHO Sounds Alarm on Europe's Extreme Heat: Here's How Hot It Could Get Across Countries

Despite the discovery, officials say there is currently no evidence of mass wildlife deaths or spread into Australia's poultry industry.

Collins said Australian poultry and agricultural systems remain free of bird flu and authorities are investigating whether the virus has become established in local wildlife populations.

"We are working to determine whether the H5 bird flu has established in the wildlife of Australia, other than these two isolated birds," she said.

Samples from the infected birds will undergo further analysis over the coming week as researchers look for signs of transmission to other species.

Further, Western Australia's Chief Veterinary Officer Michelle Rodan said authorities had received 58 reports of sick or dead birds through an emergency hotline between Friday and Sunday afternoon. Nine samples have so far been collected for testing.

Why Australia Had Remained H5N1-Free

Read More: Father's Day: AI Now Reading Sperm, Giving Hope of Fatherhood to Infertile Men

Until now, Australia was the only continent where the H5N1 strain had not been detected. Although the virus has circulated across Asia since the 1990s and reached Antarctica in 2024, Australia had remained unaffected.

According to Dr. Michelle Wille, ARC Future Fellow at the University of Melbourne, Australia's unique bird migration patterns likely delayed the virus's arrival.

"There are no duck species which routinely migrate between Australia and Asia, nor are there ducks that migrate through Antarctica," Wille wrote in The Conversation.

However, evidence suggests other seabirds—including gulls, skuas and giant petrels—may have helped carry the virus over long distances across Antarctica and subantarctic regions, eventually bringing it closer to Australia, he said.

Why H5N1 Is A Concern

Read to Know: How Climate Change Is Increasing the Global Disease Burden | Explained

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.

Although severe human cases have historically shown a mortality rate of around 50%, sustained human-to-human transmission has not been observed.

How To Protect Yourself

Health authorities recommend the following precautions:

• Avoid direct contact with sick or dead wild birds and other animals whenever possible.
• Observe wildlife from a safe distance.
• 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.

As several European countries grapple with severe heatwave conditions, the World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm, warning that rising temperatures are becoming a major public health emergency.

"Heat is no longer only a weather story. It is a health emergency," said Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, in a post on social media.

The warning comes as Europe faces another summer of extreme temperatures, with the global health organization linking the trend to "climate change, rapid urbanization, and an "aging population".

Heat An Urgent Public Health Threat

In its recently launched Heat-Health Action Plans Guidance, the WHO described extreme heat as an "urgent and growing public health threat."

The agency noted that rising temperatures increase illness and deaths, place additional strain on healthcare and social care systems, and disproportionately affect vulnerable groups such as older adults, children, people with chronic illnesses, and outdoor workers.

"Our Region is the fastest-warming region globally. In the past four years alone, heat has claimed more than 200,000 lives, while heat-related mortality has risen by 30% over the past 20 years," said Kluge, in an interview with BBC News.

He stressed that many heat-related deaths can be prevented through timely action and preparedness.

The WHO Europe also urged governments, employers, and institutions to strengthen heat action plans to protect vulnerable populations.

Also read: Heatwaves, Ozone Pollution Driving Heart And Lung Disease Deaths In India: IIT Study

How European Countries Are Bracing The Heat?

Read More: Extreme Heat To Drive US Heart Disease Burden Up 200% By 2050: Study

France

Officials have announced a partial alcohol ban in certain areas and strengthened wildfire preparedness measures. The government has also ordered increased monitoring of water supplies used to cool the country's nuclear reactors.

Germany

Spain

In Spain, extreme heat forced the closure of a soccer fan zone, highlighting the impact of rising temperatures on public events and outdoor activities.

Portugal

Portugal is expected to experience its hottest conditions early next week. According to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), temperatures could reach as high as 42°C.

Italy

Italy is also preparing for a significant heatwave. Weather forecasts suggest temperatures in several northern and central cities could hit 40°C for the first time this year, affecting both residents and tourists across the country.

UK

Storm Alert

Alongside soaring temperatures, several European countries are facing the risk of severe storms. Meteorological agencies have warned that heat and humidity could fuel thunderstorms, increasing the likelihood of flash floods, strong winds, and other weather-related disruptions.

Read More:22 Treated For Heat Illness At FIFA Fan Festival: How Are World Cup Players Protected?

WHO Calls For Immediate Action

WHO Europe has urged governments, employers, and institutions to strengthen heat action plans to protect vulnerable populations.

Kluge said that it is important to

• warn communities early,
• make cities cooler,
• ensure access to water and shade,
• check on those most at risk,
• prepare health systems before temperatures peak.

How To Protect Yourself During Extreme Heat

To reduce the health risks associated with extreme temperatures, one should

• Stay hydrated throughout the day
• Seek shade and cooler indoor environments
• Avoid outdoor activities during peak afternoon heat
• Check regularly on elderly relatives, neighbors, and other vulnerable individuals
• Follow public health advice issued by local authorities
• Protecting outdoor workers from midday heat exposure.