HMPV in Malaysia: A surge in the number of cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is seen in Malaysia, after it was reported in China, this year. A 45% increase from last year has been seen as per the government reports. The world is now closely looking at the HMPV and accounting for its cases after China reported a sharp surge in respiratory illness over the last few weeks.

As per the Strait Times, the Malaysian health ministry urged its people to remain vigilant. The advisory also asked public to be prepared for an increase in respiratory tract infection as it will continue to increase due to extreme weather conditions. As of now, Malaysia witnessed 327 new HMPV cases in 2024, up from 225 cases reported in 2023.

Read for HMPV Virus Symptoms, Causes , Treatment and Prevention

Safety Measures

If reports were to be believed, the best way to prevent the virus from spreading is through hygienic sanitary practices. This includes washing hands with soap, wearing a face mask and covering your nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing. These are similar safety measures which were also implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. As per experts, this spike in the beginning and end of the year during extreme winters is expected.

What is happening in China?

It has been fiver years since COVID-19 outbreak was reported, and now China is making the headlines due to the outbreak of yet another respiratory illness. As per sources, HMPV infection is growing at an exponential rate and as a result, there has been a burden on health facilities and crematories.

The Chinese health authorities have implemented a pilot system to combat this upsurge. This involves tracking cases of pneumonia with unknown origins. These efforts are launched by China's disease control agency to increase preparedness for respiratory outbreaks during the winter months.

Who are at most risk?

The virus has affected vulnerable populations, including children whose immune systems are still not fully developed, and elderly persons who already have a pre-existing respiratory diseases.

What are the common symptoms?

The symptoms are flu-like, they include:

• Fever
• Coughing
• Nasal congestion
• Runny Nose
• Sore Throat
• Nausea and vomiting

In some severe cases, a person may have bronchitis or pneumonia and also increase the risk of asthma or COPD.

Is it contagious?

Like any other respiratory diseases, this too can be spread through contaminated respiratory droplets from infected person to a healthy person. It could spread through sneezing, coughing or through aerosolized microorganism through touching.

Origin

As per the 2022 study titled Zoonotic Origins of Human Metapneumovirus: A Journey from Birds to Humans, the metapneumovirus are member of the family Pneumoviridae and have been identified earlier in birds, also known as the avian metapneumoviruses (AMPV). This is why HMPV and AMPV are closely related.

HMPV was first discovered in 2001, however, studies show that it has been circulating for at least 50 years.

The novel pneumovirus first identified in South African turkey farm was identified soon in farms throughout Western Europe, Asia, and South America. However, it took 23 years after the discovery of AMPV for HMPV to be discovered. In 2001, a Dutch group performed virus isolations from clinical samples from 28 epidemiologically unrelated children. They all shared common characteristics of suffering from respiratory tract infection and RSV. The study revealed that they were infected by HMPV infection and the same study revealed that this virus has been circulating since last 50 years.

President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he is ready to make public the results of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan he underwent in October, a test that has prompted questions from political opponents and medical observers. The President also admitted he did not know which part of his body the imaging focused on.

While speaking to reporters aboard the flight back to Washington after a visit to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump addressed the matter of the medical report. The scan was conducted during his second physical examination of the year at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He said he had no objection to sharing the records and told the press, “If you want to have it released, I’ll release it.”

Trump MRI Raises Questions About Routine Testing

President Donald Trump said that he is ready to make public the results of an MRI scan he underwent in October. The White House has repeatedly maintained that his overall health remains strong. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said before that the 79-year-old president received “advanced imaging” as part of his “routine physical examination,” and that the full assessment showed he stayed in “exceptional physical health.”

Still, Trump’s own remarks brought an unexpected angle to the discussion. When asked what the scan was meant to check, he described the procedure as standard. He told reporters, “Getting an MRI is very standard. What, you think I shouldn’t have it? Other people get it. I had an MRI.” He added that the findings were “perfect,” and repeated his doctors’ comment that it was “the best result he has ever seen as a doctor.”

Although he spoke with confidence about the results, he could not explain what the scan was intended to examine. “I have no idea what they analyse, but whatever they analyse, they analysed it well and they said that I had as good a result as they’ve ever seen,” he said. He did make one point clear: “It wasn’t the brain because I took a cognitive test and I aced it.”

Trump MRI Disclosure Sparks Fresh Political Debate

News of the MRI has revived debate over Trump’s willingness to share information about his health, as MRIs are not usually part of a routine annual evaluation. They are generally recommended when doctors need to study issues involving the brain, spine, or heart. The October appointment at Walter Reed followed another physical only a few months earlier and came at a time when there were reports of chronic venous insufficiency, adding to scrutiny of his health status.

Trump MRI and His Known Medical Condition

Earlier this year, the White House confirmed that Trump has chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a vascular condition in which the veins in the legs have difficulty sending blood back to the heart. This problem can lead to swelling and discomfort.

On October 10, Trump returned to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Leavitt described the visit as a “routine annual check-up,” although it was his second such trip in six months. Dr. Sean Barbabella, the White House physician, did not offer details on the imaging or preventive screenings done during the appointment. He did say that the President’s laboratory reports were “exceptional,” and that his cardiac profile suggested a biological age nearly 14 years younger than his actual one.

On October 27, Trump disclosed that he had undergone an unspecified MRI during an earlier visit to Walter Reed. He said the scan produced “some of the best reports for the age” and “some of the best reports they’ve ever seen,” but the absence of further explanation has added to questions regarding his health.

Trump has also spoken before about taking the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a screening tool used to detect cognitive decline. He has often described it as a “very difficult IQ test.” It is not clear if another MoCA was completed during the October visit or if he was referring to the ones taken in April 2025 or January 2018.

Delhi pollution continues to worse, while yesterday their was a brief respite when the air quality index (AQI) levels were reported under the 'poor' category, and the AQI dropped to 269 at 7am on November 30. However, today, on December 1, the AQI at several stations crossed 300.

As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 325, ITO at 325, Rohini at 341, Bawana at 339, RK Puram at 336, Vivek Vihar at 321, Shadipur at 324, and Pusa at 322.

Children Are The Worst Victims Of Delhi Pollution

The toxic air in Delhi has spared no one, but the worst affected are children. On a recent weekday morning in Noida, a suburb near Delhi, BBC reported that at a crowded children’s clinic parents waited anxiously with little ones who were coughing, wheezing or struggling to breathe.

Most families said their children started falling sick in October, right when the capital’s air quality slipped into the hazardous range. This is a yearly pattern across northern India. A mix of slow winds, industrial fumes, vehicle emissions, dropping temperatures and the burning of crop residue creates a thick layer of pollution that settles over the region.

Since last month, Delhi’s Air Quality Index has mostly stayed between 300 and 400. These levels are over 20 times higher than what the World Health Organization (WHO) considers safe. Readings this high affect everyone, but young children and older adults are the most vulnerable.

Hospitals across the city have been overwhelmed with children suffering from pollution-related illnesses. Dr Shishir Bhatnagar, who heads the clinic in Noida, told BBC the number of cases has jumped sharply. He explained that young children are especially at risk because their immunity is still developing. He usually sees about 20 to 30 percent of cases linked to pollution, but that number doubles during the winter smog.

Although authorities often introduce emergency measures like halting construction or restricting vehicles, the situation has barely improved. Even an attempt at cloud seeding this year failed to bring relief, leaving millions worried about their families’ health.

For some parents, the fear is constant. BBC reports that Khushboo Bharti remembers rushing her one-year-old daughter to the hospital after a severe coughing fit left the baby vomiting and struggling to stay alert. The toddler later needed oxygen and was diagnosed with pneumonia. Other parents share similar worries, wondering whether the polluted air might cause lasting harm.

Research has repeatedly shown that prolonged exposure to polluted air can impair lung development, weaken immunity and even affect brain health. A recent study from the University of Cambridge linked certain pollutants to higher risks of dementia later in life.

While schools have postponed outdoor activities and moved younger classes online, these precautions mainly help families who have access to resources. For children living in crowded homes or near busy roads, the daily exposure is far worse. Doctors urge parents to keep children indoors when possible and use N95 masks, but many families find this unsustainable.

Parents say they feel helpless. They know children need space to play and fresh air to grow, yet every winter forces them to choose safety over normal childhood experiences.

How To Read AQI?

As per CPCB standards, here's how you can read AQI:

• 0 to 50 Good
• 51 to 100 Satisfactory
• 101 to 200 Moderate
• 201 to 300 Poor
• 301 to 400 Very Poor
• 401 to 500 Severe

Aids Day, a day that focuses on raising awareness on a disease that effects 40.8 million lives. In 2024 alone, 630,000 people died from AIDS-related deaths. What really is AIDS? It stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which is an advanced stage of HIV, caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. It damages the immune system so that the body is less able to fight infections and diseases.

Thus, every year, on December 1, World AIDS Day is observed to increase awareness on the same, provide support to people living with it and remember those who have lost their lives to the illness.

World Aids Day 2025: Theme

This year, the theme for Aids Day is "Rethink, Rebuild, and Rise".

The International AIDS Society (IAS) wants to create a simple message through the theme that it is important for everyone to connect and work against HIV. This is an urge to everyone from local activists to scientists, to governments, and to the global organization.

The world’s fight against HIV is entering a critical phase. Hard-won progress is under threat as political tensions grow and funding becomes uncertain. This year’s theme, “Rethink. Rebuild. Rise.” is a powerful reminder that the global community must stay united, resilient and forward-thinking to meet the challenges ahead.

Rethink calls for stronger, long-term financial planning. It urges countries to invest more of their own resources instead of relying mainly on international support.

Rebuild highlights the need to strengthen health systems, protect scientific research and support civil society groups. It also emphasizes grounding every decision in solid evidence and pushing back against misinformation.

Rise encourages the world to move ahead with a fully funded, people-centered strategy that safeguards past achievements and brings us closer to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Importance Of World Aids Day 2025

The United Nations notes that in 2025, funding crisis is threatening the progress made in the prevention of the illness. This is why this day is a reminder for more people to connect, initiate community services that are vital for the marginalized population who are often deprioritized while the rise in punitive law criminalizes same sex relationships, gender identity, and drug use that amplifies the crisis, and makes HIV-AIDS services inaccessible.

The global response to AIDS has been shaken in recent months, and much more work is needed to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of ending AIDS by 2030. The crisis is far from over, and in today’s challenging environment, a fresh, transformative strategy is essential to reduce risks and stay on track.

World Aids Day: Origin

The day was first observed in 1988 when the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations first launched it to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS, erase misconception, and build empathy for people living with AIDS. This day reminds people around the world that AIDS is not only a health problem but also a social and humanitarian issue for which everyone should work together.

Can You Prevent AIDS?

The prevention of AIDS starts from the restriction and complete stoppage of HIV. While there is no vaccine or permanent cure yet, there are ways to prevent AIDS:

• Practice Safe Sex
• Don't Share Needles
• Prevent Mother-to-child Transmission
• Ensure Safe Blood Transfusions