Overview

This is a disease that is transmitted from mosquitoes to humans and affects many people in the world. Found in densely populated countries and continents, like Africa, Asia and the tropics of the Americas, this has severe symptoms. This viral disease is caused by the Chikungunya virus of the Togaviridae. First identified in the United Republic of Tanzania in 1952 and subsequently in other countries like Africa and Asia. Since 2004 the outbreak of CHIKV virus has become more widespread and caused partly due to the viral adaptations allowing the virus to be spread more easily by Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. The transmission has been noted to persist in countries where there is a large population, but interestingly, the transmission has been interrupted on islands where a high proportion of the population is infected and then immune.

Symptoms

The onset of the disease is usually in 4-8 days and after a bite of an infected mosquitoes, it is characterized by an abrupt onset of fever and then joint pain. This joint pain is severed and lasts for a few days but may prolong for months maybe even years. Other signs are joint swelling, muscle pains, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. These symptoms also overlap with those of dengue and Zika virus and can be misdiagnosed. Most people fully recover from the infection and experience only mild and sometimes the infection even goes unrecognized. However, there have been cases of eye, heart, and neurological complications. The elderly and newborns are more susceptible to the infection and if they have any underlying conditions then they are likely to become severely ill increasing the risk of death.

Diagnosis and treatment

The diagnosis and treatment of the virus may be done by blood sampling and other tests like reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR). Other tests detect the activity of the antibodies. These can be detected in the first week after illness onset and can be detected for about 2 months. Many clinical measures can be taken to address fever and joint pain. But there is no specific anti-viral drug treatment for the virus.

Preventing Chikungunya

As this disease is caused by the bite of a mosquito, you must reduce the opportunities to let the mosquito breed. Mosquitoes bite during the day and night, and for people who live in risk areas like southeast Asia, Africa and tropical regions of America, many outbreaks happen each year. The best way to prevent it is to protect yourself from the mosquito's bite. You also must get vaccinated before travelling to any of these regions. Use insect repellent, and wear long-sleeved shirts and pants. You can also treat your clothes and gear with permethrin. As we all know, they tend to breed in humid places and places where they have access to water, so try to close the rooms that are air-conditioned with screens and windows. Use nets and mosquito repellents if you are sleeping outside. There are many different types of mosquito repellents like paper, liquid etc, and they are quite effective. If your job needs, you to be stationary for long hours or frequently go outside you must take the necessary precautions.

You've probably seen gallon jugs with stuff like "BORG o'clock somewhere" scrawled on them in Sharpies, often showing up at parties. Well, there's actual research on them now, and it's not great.

The study by Rutgers University, published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, surveyed over 100 college students about their BORG habits. The study finds significant health risks.

What Is BORG?

BORG stands for "Blackout Rage Gallon," and it's basically a personal-sized jug loaded with liquor, water, and whatever flavoring you're into. It started gaining traction around 2020 and hasn't slowed down since the hashtag #borg has racked up millions in views on TikTok alone.

Here's the number that stands out, though. A full BORG can pack up to a fifth of liquor. That's about 17 standard drinks. In one jug. And it is meant for one person.

ALSO READ: Alcohol-Linked Cancer Deaths Doubled In US: Colorectal Leads In Men, Breast Leads In Women

The study pointed out that drinking games have always been part of college culture. But BORG drinks might be worse than most, mainly because of how they're made. Mixing hard liquor with sweet flavors can make people drink more without realizing how much alcohol they're actually consuming, and the fact that people often share sips of each other's jugs only adds to the risk.

"Excessive drinking in young adults has been fueled by drinking games for many decades. But the mixing of hard liquor and additive flavorings in BORGs may be particularly harmful given the sweetness of the beverage and the lure of sharing one's BORG and tasting others' concoctions," said lead researcher Andrea King, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the University of Chicago, US.

When Can BORG Drinks Go Wrong?

The actual numbers from the study are rough. Almost a third of students said they'd blacked out from a BORG at some point, not just "drunk," actually blacked out, meaning their brain stopped saving memories from that stretch of time.

Nearly 20 percent of students said they threw up, and nearly 6 in 10 admitted to saying or doing something embarrassing. And this is just the students who actually admitted to having done this. The actual count could be much higher. Some cases were serious enough to end in injuries or trips to the emergency room.

According to the World Health Organization, there is no safe level or risk-free amount of alcohol consumption that does not affect health.

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BORGs: The ‘Safe Drinking’ Myth

What's even more interesting, however, is how this trend began in the first place. BORGs were initially promoted on social media as the more responsible choice when it came to drinking. The idea was for everyone to bring their own jug instead of sharing cups, so as to avoid the spread of germs during the pandemic.

Some recipes online even threw in electrolytes or caffeine, supposedly to dodge hangovers or keep people from getting too drunk. Students still shared their BORGs constantly, and the added ingredients did nothing to stop the harmful effects of drinking so much alcohol at once.

Even knowing all this, however, a lot of students said they're not planning to stop. That's part of why this study seems to emphasize the fact that awareness matters so much, both for students and for their parents.

As King put it, "There are choice points along the way, ranging from whether to attend a BORG event, and if one does attend, whether to bring a BORG beverage and how much (if any) alcohol to put in the beverage. It doesn't have to be all-or-none, as being aware and mindful to minimize risks can be key."

Alzheimer’s disease is normally seen as a disease of old age, something that starts when memory starts to fail in the 70s or 80s. But science has a totally different narrative. Alzheimer’s is not something you ‘catch’ suddenly in old age. It’s a sluggish, degenerative disorder that develops slowly over decades. When a person begins to forget names, ask the same questions, or have trouble with everyday chores, there may have been damage to the brain for years.

This is why neuroprotection should start much earlier, ideally in our 30s and 40s.

Today, most patients only see the neurologist when the symptoms are obvious. Unfortunately, at this stage the disease process has already progressed and therapy options are limited. Doctors and health professionals need to be more open about prevention, to teach younger folks that brain health is established well before retirement age.

Our modern lifestyle is a silent neurological risk. A busy life is making chronic stress, poor sleep, physical inactivity, bad diets and extended hours of sitting normal. But these common activities may be quietly contributing to inflammation that’s damaging blood arteries and brain cells over time. Studies increasingly connect mid-life problems like obesity, diabetes, hypertension and sleep difficulties to a greater risk of dementia in later life.

Sleep is particularly important for removing such toxic substances from the brain. Constant stress boosts cortisol levels, which may interfere with memory areas. A sedentary lifestyle lowers the blood supply to the brain and undermines cognitive resiliency. Something that seems inconsequential today may be important decades from now.

The good news is that prevention is effective. Regular exercise, good sleep, management of stress, social activity, mental stimulation and regular health checks can all help protect the brain. Neuroprotection is not about fear; it’s about awareness and action.

What we decide to do in our 30s and 40s is not just about our careers or lifestyles; it’s about the health of our brains in our 70s and 80s. We need to change the conversation around Alzheimer’s from late-stage therapy to early-life prevention.

By Dr. Neha Pandita, Senior Consultant Neurology, Fortis Noida

From upscale salons to local aesthetic clinics, a quick IV infusion of glutathione is being offered for skin brightening and anti-ageing. But these increasingly popular cosmetic drips may neither be legal nor safe and may carry several health risks, doctors have warned.

Glutathione is an unapproved therapy that involves risks at many levels, including toxins. As per the US FDA, injectable/IV glutathione is not FDA-approved as a safe compounded sterile injectable, carrying high risks of contamination and severe adverse reactions.

Warning Against Glutathione IV Drips

In a social media post on X, noted hepatologist Dr Cyriac Abby Philips called out an advertisement for a clinic offering glutathione IV drips, promising skin whitening.

He warned people to “absolutely” avoid it, as the effects on skin may be temporary but carry long-term health risks from kidney to liver dysfunction, and potentially fatal skin reactions.

“Because the body continuously produces melanin, any potential lightening effect is temporary. Once the extreme systemic doses are stopped, the skin's natural pigmentation returns,” Dr Abby said.

Further, he also stated that the procedure is mostly offered by "cosmetologists" or commercialized dermatology clinic chains. As cosmetology is not a recognized medical degree or a protected medical title under the National Medical Commission in India, people claiming to be "cosmetologist" is not really a medical practitioner, but merely certified "coaches" or "wellness experts".

Poor Evidence Supporting IV Glutathione

The expert, better known as “LiverDoc” also noted that the clinical evidence supporting IV glutathione is exceptionally poor.

“The administration of IV glutathione in dermatology and cosmetology clinics is a lucrative marketing trend that operates outside the bounds of evidence-based medicine”.

“Marketing claims rely heavily on anecdotal reports and a single, widely criticized trial that suffered from a tiny sample size, poor study design, and unreliable evaluations,” he added.

FDA Warning Over Glutathione IV Treatments

“Because IV glutathione is not approved for cosmetic use, the solutions utilized in wellness clinics and med-spas are typically sourced from "compounding pharmacies". This bypasses standard pharmaceutical manufacturing regulations, introducing severe risks”.

Dr. Abby explained that a "compounded drug" is a custom medication created by a pharmacist or physician who combines, mixes, or alters ingredients on their own.

He cited how in August 2026, the US FDA issued an urgent safety warning after dozens of patients experienced potentially fatal infection (sepsis)-like symptoms — including fever, chills, low blood pressure, and hospitalization — following glutathione IV treatments.

“Clinics were found to be compounding IV drips using dietary-supplement-grade powder, which contained dangerously high levels of bacterial endotoxins. Administering high doses has been linked to severe adverse effects, including anaphylaxis, acute kidney and liver dysfunction, and potentially fatal skin reactions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS and TEN),” Dr Abby said.

India Tightens Rules Around Injectable Cosmetics

In May 2026, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) tightened rules around cosmetic use.

In a new public notice issued, the CDSCO stated that cosmetic products that come in injectable form do not fall under the definition of cosmetics under the law. It said that such products are not permitted for use by consumers, professionals, or aesthetic clinics.

Other Potential Health Risks

According to the Philippines FDA, given that glutathione affects the production of melanin — the pigment that gives human skin, hair and eyes their colour — there are theoretical concerns about the long-term skin cancer risk.

Other potential risks include transmission of infectious agents, such as HIV, hepatitis C and B. This is of particular concern when a non-medical practitioner administers this treatment or it is done in a non-sterile facility.