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 US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approval of Vertex Pharmaceuticals' Casgevy (exagamglogene autotemcel), making it the first gene therapy approved for children as young as 2 years with sickle cell disease (SCD) and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT).

Earlier, the one-time CRISPR-based gene-editing therapy was approved only for patients aged 12 years and older. The expanded label is expected to make approximately 5,500 additional children in the US eligible for treatment, the company said.

Why The Expanded Approval Matters

The FDA said earlier intervention could help prevent irreversible organ damage and improve long-term health outcomes.

“With today’s decision, pediatric patients as young as 2 years of age can now access a critical additional treatment option to treat these debilitating, life-threatening diseases,” said Karim Mikhail, Acting Director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER).

"Making this therapy available to younger patients opens a critical window for intervention and gives these children a meaningful chance at a healthier future," added Megha Kaushal, Acting Deputy Director of the FDA's Office of Therapeutic Products.

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Clinical Trial Results

The expanded approval is backed by clinical trial data in children aged 5 to under 12 years.

For sickle cell disease:

• All 8 evaluable patients experienced no severe vaso-occlusive crises (painful episodes) for at least 12 consecutive months within the first two years after treatment.

For transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia:

• Eight of nine evaluable patients achieved transfusion independence for at least 12 consecutive months.
• The median duration of transfusion independence was 20.1 months.

What Is Casgevy?

Casgevy is a one-time gene-editing therapy that uses CRISPR technology to modify a patient's own blood stem cells, enabling the body to produce healthier red blood cells.

Also Read: Popular Potato Chips Brand Recalled, Classified Under Highest FDA Risk Level Over Salmonella Contamination

For people with sickle cell disease, it aims to prevent painful vaso-occlusive crises. In beta thalassemia, it can eliminate the need for regular blood transfusions in many patients.

“These disorders carry a heavy burden for children and their families, affecting growth, development, and long-term health in profound ways,” said Kaushal, also a pediatric hematologist. “Grounded in the scientific evidence that earlier treatment reduces the risk of lasting end-organ damage, making this therapy available to younger patients opens a critical window for intervention and gives these children a meaningful chance at a healthier future.”

The FDA granted the expanded approval through its Commissioner's National Priority Voucher program, completing the review in 53 days.

Vertex said it has also submitted applications to expand Casgevy's use in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, where regulatory reviews are currently underway.

A popular snack brand is currently under scrutiny after its multiple products were classified under the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Class I recall. The move came after concerns over its product being contaminated with Salmonella surfaced.

Why Did The Product Get Recalled?

According to the FDA, the recall was initiated in May by Utz Quality Foods LLC after the company found out that a seasoning ingredient containing milk powder, sourced from California Dairies Inc. through a third-party supplier, may have been contaminated with Salmonella.

The recall affects a few varieties of its Zapp's and Dirty’s potato chips, including Zapp's Bayou Blackened Ranch, Big Cheezy, and Salt and Vinegar potato chips, as well as Dirty brand Salt and Vinegar, Maui Onion, and Sour Cream and Onion potato chips.

According to the FDA, Utz said the seasoning batches tested negative before being used in production, but the decision to recall the products was taken as a precautionary measure.

While no illnesses have been reported yet, the FDA's move indicates there is a reasonable probability that consuming these products could result in adverse health consequences and even death.

Also read: Cyclospora Parasite Spreads Across 17 US States: How To Prevent Parasitic Infection

What Does FDA’s Class I Recall Signify?

The FDA uses three categories to classify product recalls based on the level of public health risk. A Class I recall is usually reserved for products that pose the highest risk to consumers.

It is issued when there is a reasonable probability that consumption or use of the product will cause serious health problems or death.

What Is Salmonella & How Serious It Is?

Salmonella infection, known as salmonellosis, usually develops between six hours and six days after consuming contaminated food.

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Common symptoms of salmonellosis include:

• Diarrhea

• Fever

• Stomach cramps

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Headache

Most healthy people recover within four to seven days without targeted treatment. However, it can become severe when the infection enters the bloodstream. Deemed as a medical emergency, this situation prompts urgent attention.

Those with weakened immunity systems, such as young children, older adults, and women who are expecting are at the greatest risk of developing serious complications from salmonellosis. In rare cases, the infection can become life-threatening.

The FDA has advised consumers not to eat the recalled potato chips. It has also said that anyone who has purchased the affected products should either discard them or return them to the place where they bought them for a refund.

The regulatory body has also said that consumers who experience symptoms of salmonellosis after eating the recalled products, especially those at higher risk for complications, should seek medical care immediately.

Although no infection cases linked to the recalled chips have been reported to date, health officials say the recall is intended to prevent potential cases before they occur.

Women diagnosed with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) should receive an annual NHS health review and be diagnosed earlier to reduce their long-term health risks, according to draft guidance released by the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

The guidance, now open for public consultation, recommends yearly reviews to monitor symptoms, treatment and the risk of developing serious conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Earlier diagnosis, NICE says, could help people access timely care and make lifestyle changes before complications develop.

PMOS, until recently known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), was renamed following an international consensus published in The Lancet. The new name better reflects the condition's endocrine, metabolic and ovarian features.

What Does The Draft Guideline Recommend?

Also read: PCOS Is Now PMOS: What The Name Change Means For Millions Of Women

NICE recommends that everyone diagnosed with PMOS should be offered an annual review covering:

• Menstrual irregularities
• Symptoms such as excess hair growth (hirsutism)
• Medication use
• Screening for long-term health risks, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease

The guideline also includes recommendations on fertility treatment, stating that eligible patients should be offered IVF in line with existing NHS fertility guidance. It also addresses the management of common PMOS-related conditions, including acne, hirsutism and obstructive sleep apnea.

Given the increased risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disease in people with PMOS, the guidance directs healthcare professionals to relevant NICE recommendations for managing these conditions.

Earlier Diagnosis A Key Priority

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The draft guideline highlights that PMOS remains underdiagnosed despite affecting an estimated one in eight women.

It recommends investigating PMOS in anyone with irregular or absent menstrual cycles alongside signs of excess male hormones, as these are common indicators of the condition.

The guidance covers girls aged over 10, as well as adult women, trans men and non-binary people who are not receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy or surgery.

People with suspected PMOS should be offered blood tests to measure hormone levels and, where appropriate, pelvic ultrasound scans. The guideline also states that PMOS should not be ruled out after menopause and notes that the condition may be more prevalent among women of Black, Asian and mixed ethnic backgrounds.

Marie Anne Ledingham, consultant clinical adviser for women's and reproductive health at NICE, said the guidance is intended to improve consistency of care and ensure people receive appropriate long-term monitoring.

"PMOS is a common but often overlooked condition that can have a major impact on health and well-being. Recommending a simple annual review is an important step towards ensuring people get the ongoing care and monitoring they need," Ledingham said, in a statement.

Mental Health And Fertility Addressed

The draft guidance recognizes that PMOS affects far more than reproductive health. It is associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep apnoea, pregnancy complications and fertility problems.

For people planning a pregnancy, NICE recommends advice on achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, balanced nutrition, regular exercise, good sleep and mental wellbeing to improve reproductive outcomes.

The guidance also stresses that eating disorders should not be overlooked or dismissed based solely on a person's weight.

Laser Hair Removal Not Recommended

While the draft guideline includes recommendations to manage hirsutism, it does not support routine NHS funding for laser and light-based hair removal therapies. NICE concluded that these treatments are not cost-effective, estimating they could cost the NHS "up to £100 million annually" in England if routinely funded.

The draft guideline is open for consultation until August 11, 2026, with the final NICE guidance on PMOS expected to be published in December 2026.