With the world coping with various bacterial infections, in Australia, it is the season of meningococcal disease. Last month, two Tasmanian women were hospitalized with invasive meningococcal disease, which has brought the numbers to 48.

The cases are showing an uptick, and health authorities are now urging people to watch for symptoms and to check whether they are eligible for vaccination.

What Is Meningococcal Disease?

According to the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, meningococcal disease is a contagious disease caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis, which is also known as the meningococcal bacteria. It can develop quickly and could be fatal if not treated. Anyone with a suspected meningococcal infection needs to see their doctor immediately.

The official government website of Australia notes: "Meningococcal disease is a medical emergency. It can kill within hours, so early diagnosis and treatment are vital. Do not wait for the purple rash to appear, as that is a late stage of the disease"

However, the ray of hope is that this disease is vaccine-preventable.

What Are The Common Symptoms?

The Australian Government's Healthdirect notes that the common symptoms of this disease include:

• Fever
• Purple rash
• Meningitis
• Sepsis
• Headache
• Neck stiffness
• Light sensitivity
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Drowsiness and confusion
• Leg pain or other muscle or joint aches and pains

In babies or young children, the following can be the symptoms:

• difficulty feeding or reduced feeds
• irritability
• tiredness and floppiness
• seizures
• having a high-pitched cry
• having a bulging fontanelle (the soft spot on the top of their head)
• pale or mottled skin

The disease can live in the nose and throat of many healthy people and could spread through coughing, sneezing, sharing eating or drinking utensils, and by kissing.

Complication with the disease can also lead to:

• limb differences, or losing a limb
• skin scarring
• hearing loss
• blindness
• learning difficulties
• brain damage

Vaccination

There are different vaccines that treat the different types of this disease, including A, B, C, W, and Y. The vaccination meningococcal B and meningococcal ACWY can be taken at 6 weeks of age.

The MenACWY vaccine is a conjugate vaccine, which means it combines sugars from the outer coating of the bacteria with a protein. This helps trigger a stronger immune response, particularly in young infants.

In contrast, the MenB vaccine doesn’t use the sugar capsule. Instead, it contains four different proteins taken from the surface of the meningococcal B bacteria.

One should speak to a doctor if they have not been vaccinated at a younger age. The vaccination is recommended for:

• babies, children, teenagers and young adults
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
• young adults who live in close quarters or who are current smokers
• travellers
• people who have certain medical conditions that increase their risk of meningococcal disease
• laboratory workers who work with the bacterium that causes meningococcal disease

However, as Healthdirect, an Australian Government's website notes that even with the administration of vaccine, meningococcal disease laboratory workers who work with the bacterium that causes meningococcal disease symptoms may still may linger. In such a case, go visit the hospital for further checks.

When most people think of air pollution, the first images that come to mind are smog-choked skylines and coughing fits on high-traffic days. We already know dirty air puts our lungs and heart at risk but here’s the thing: science is beginning to unravel just how deep air pollution’s impact might go—and the brain is increasingly in the crosshairs.

Recent research from institutions across the globe suggests that long-term exposure to certain air pollutants may increase the risk of developing brain tumors and possibly even triggering cerebral aneurysms. While definitive cause-and-effect has yet to be established, the evidence is mounting—and it’s enough to raise serious public health concerns.

For decades, the dominant narrative around air pollution has focused on respiratory and cardiovascular damage. However, scientists are now turning their attention to neurological effects, especially as ultrafine particles (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide—both prevalent in vehicle emissions—are small enough to breach the blood-brain barrier.

A study published in Neurology by researchers from the Danish Cancer Institute found a potential link between long-term exposure to air pollution and increased risk of meningioma, a generally noncancerous brain tumor. While the study stopped short of proving causation, it tracked over 16,000 individuals for 21 years, revealing a noticeable pattern: people exposed to high levels of ultrafine particles had a significantly higher likelihood of developing these tumors.

“Our study suggests that long-term exposure to air pollution from traffic and other sources may play a role in the development of meningioma and adds to the growing body of evidence that air pollution can affect the brain, not just the heart and lungs,” said Ulla Hvidtfeldt, lead author and doctoral student at the Danish Cancer Institute in Copenhagen.

Can Air Pollution Cause Brain Aneurysms?

While meningiomas are often treatable and non-aggressive, other pollution-linked brain conditions are far more dire. One of the most devastating is aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH)—a rare type of bleeding within the brain that can lead to paralysis, coma, or even death.

Neurosurgeon Dr. Robert Rennert and his team at the University of Utah conducted a five-year retrospective study on patients treated for aSAH. Their focus? To explore whether exposure to PM2.5 particulate pollution could be a trigger.

What they found surprised them. Patients were more likely to suffer a brain hemorrhage three to six months after spikes in pollution levels—not in the days immediately following exposure.

“The delay between pollution peaks and aneurysmal rupture makes it tricky to study, but the implications are serious,” said Rennert. “aSAH has a high mortality rate, and identifying environmental risk factors is crucial for public health.”

These findings, recently published in npj Clean Air, are preliminary but highlight the need for continued research into how pollution may silently undermine brain health long before symptoms arise.

Even "Safe" Levels Aren’t So Safe for Developing Brains

If adults are at risk, children may be even more vulnerable. A large-scale study from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, supported by the National Institutes of Health and the EPA, found that even air pollution levels considered “safe” by current EPA standards were linked to changes in children’s brain function and connectivity.

Using MRI scans from over 9,000 participants in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, researchers mapped air quality data—including PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone—at each child’s home. Children exposed to higher pollution levels showed deviations in the connectivity of key brain networks involved in emotion, memory, and learning.

“These changes might seem small, but a deviation in any direction from normal brain development—whether too much or too little connectivity—can be harmful down the line,” explained Devyn L. Cotter, lead author and doctoral candidate in neuroscience at USC.

Why You Should Be Rethinking Air Quality Standards?

Given the growing body of research pointing to neurological harm from pollutants, scientists and public health advocates are now urging regulators to revisit and tighten existing air quality thresholds.

In early 2024, the EPA proposed stronger standards for PM2.5. However, limits for nitrogen dioxide have not changed since 1971—despite its link to inflammation, asthma, and now, possibly brain dysfunction.

“On average, air pollution levels are fairly low in the U.S., but we’re still seeing significant effects on the brain,” Cotter said. “That’s something policymakers need to consider when updating regulations.”

The American Lung Association’s 2024 list of the most polluted U.S. cities ranked Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem 25th for short-term PM2.5 levels—a concern for residents, especially during winter inversion events.

This isn’t just a scientific curiosity. Understanding how air pollution affects the brain changes how we think about environmental exposure, urban design, and even healthcare planning.

Unlike respiratory conditions that are often treated symptomatically, the neurological damage from pollution can be insidious—taking years to manifest and, in some cases, irreversible. From increasing the risk of aneurysmal rupture to altering a child’s cognitive development, the stakes are high.

Dr. Rennert says the goal of his team’s ongoing research is to provide actionable data that can guide both individual choices and policy decisions. “We’re hoping our findings can push people and governments toward change—stricter pollution quotas, better urban planning, and increased public transit use,” he said.

Is There Anything You Can Do To Prevent This?

While systemic change requires regulation and infrastructure shifts, individuals can still take steps to reduce their exposure:

• Check your local air quality index (AQI) and limit outdoor activity during high pollution days
• Use high-quality air purifiers indoors, especially in cities or high-traffic areas
• Advocate for cleaner transit systems and emissions standards in your community

Air pollution is no longer just a lung issue. As we begin to understand its creeping impact on our brains—from subtle cognitive changes in children to deadly aneurysms in adults—it becomes clear that clean air is a non-negotiable part of public health.

South Korean actress Kang Seo-ha, known for her performances in K-dramas like First Love Again and The Flower in Prison passed away at the age of 31 after a long battle with stomach cancer. Her family also confirmed the news on Monday.

Kang's family took to Instagram, and posted a video along with a long note in remembrance of her.

“I still can’t believe it, unnie. Even while enduring such immense pain, you worried about those around you and about me. Even though you couldn’t eat for months, you insisted on paying for my meals with your own card and never let me skip a meal. My angel, who left us far too soon. Even as you endured everything with painkillers, you said you were grateful that it wasn’t worse, and I felt truly ashamed. My dear sister, you went through so much. I hope you are only happy and free from pain where you are now,” the note read.

A memorial service is also being organized at Seoul St Mary's Hospital and the funeral procession is scheduled at 7.40am on July 16 (KST).

Kang Seo Ha's Cancer

It was in 2024 that Kang was diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer. As per reports, she had stage IV stomach cancer and underwent treatment, including multiple rounds of chemotherapy, while she continued to fulfill her professional commitments. However, in mid-2025, her health rapidly declined, leading to her death.

As per the National Cancer Institute, US, cancer stage describes the extent of cancer in the body, which includes the size of the tumor, whether it has spread, and how far has it spread from where it was first formed.

In stage IV stomach cancer, which Kang too was suffering from, the cancer spreads to other body parts, mostly lungs, liver, distant lymph nodes, and the tissue that lines the abdomen wall.

Stage IV stomach cancer, also known as metastatic stomach cancer, occurs when cancer cells spread from the stomach to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or bloodstream. The new tumors are still made up of stomach cancer cells, not cells from the organs they’ve reached. So, if the cancer spreads to the lungs, it's still considered stomach cancer — not lung cancer — and is referred to as metastatic stomach cancer.

Stomach Cancer And Its Types

The National Cancer Institute, US, notes that stomach cancer starts in the cells lining the stomach. There are various types of stomach cancers including:

Adenocarcinoma of the stomach, which begins in the mucus-producing cells in the innermost lining of the stomach. Nearly all stomach cancers are adenocarcinomas.

Gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GEJ) is a cancer that forms in the area where the esophagus meets the gastric cardia. GEJ may be treated similarly to stomach cancer or esophageal cancer.

Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors are cancers that begin in neuroendocrine cells (a type of cell that is like a nerve cell and a hormone-making cell) that line the gastrointestinal tract.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) begin in nerve cells that are found in the wall of the stomach and other digestive organs. GIST is a type of soft tissue sarcoma.

Primary gastric lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that forms in the stomach. Most primary gastric lymphomas are either mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) gastric lymphoma or diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the stomach.

Also Read: Australia Sees Rise In Meningococcal Disease: What You Need To Know About Symptoms And Vaccination

More than 14 million children worldwide did not receive a single routine vaccine last year, according to a joint report released Tuesday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. The number remains unchanged from 2023, highlighting a worrying stagnation in global immunization efforts.

The annual estimate of global vaccine coverage found that 89% of children under one year received the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine in 2024 — the same as in the previous year. However, only 85% completed the full three-dose series, a slight rise from 84% in 2023.

Despite modest gains, officials warn that progress is faltering due to geopolitical shifts, humanitarian crises, and rising vaccine misinformation.

Foreign Aid Cuts Threaten Vaccine Programs

The report comes amid a sharp pullback in international health funding, particularly from the United States. Earlier this year, President Trump officially withdrew U.S. membership from the WHO, suspended most humanitarian aid, and moved to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Further compounding the issue, U.S. Health

Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic, recently announced the withdrawal of billions of dollars pledged to Gavi, the global vaccine alliance. He accused the group of “ignoring the science,” despite overwhelming evidence that vaccines are safe and effective.

These decisions are expected to significantly impact global vaccine rollouts, especially in low-income countries.

Who's Being Left Behind?

Nine countries accounted for 52% of all unvaccinated children in 2024. These include:

• Nigeria
• India
• Sudan
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Ethiopia
• Indonesia
• Yemen
• Afghanistan
• Angola

Among them, Sudan reported the lowest coverage for DTP vaccines — a reflection of the country’s ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis. WHO officials said war, displacement, and weak health systems are major barriers to vaccination.

“Access to vaccines remains deeply unequal,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Drastic cuts in aid, coupled with misinformation about vaccine safety, threaten to unwind decades of progress.”

Measles on the Rise Amid Lagging Coverage

The report showed a slight improvement in global measles vaccination rates, with 76% of children receiving both doses — up from previous years. But experts warn this is far below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks of this highly contagious disease.

In 2024 alone, 60 countries reported large measles outbreaks. The United States is currently experiencing its worst measles outbreak in over 30 years, while Europe recorded 125,000 cases, more than double the 2023 count.

Last week, a child in Liverpool, UK, died of measles. Despite ongoing public awareness campaigns, only 84% of children in the U.K. are vaccinated against the disease.

“It’s Never Too Late to Be Vaccinated”

Experts are urging families and governments to act. “It is hugely concerning, but not at all surprising, that we are continuing to see outbreaks of measles,” said Helen Bradford, a children’s health professor at University College London. “The only way to stop measles spreading is with vaccination. It is never too late to be vaccinated — even as an adult.”