Canada federal government issued an advisory that travellers going to Cuba should aim to prevent mosquito and midges bites, these are the insects transmit chikungunya and Oropouche.

Cuba right now is battling a "surge" of several infectious diseases. This has been the most serious crisis in the recent decades. These infections are chikungunya, dengue, and Oropouche. Hospitals as well as mortuaries are overwhelmed with the number of patients and deceased, noted a peer-review medical journal BMJ, the piece was reported by journalist Luke Taylor.

More than 38,000 suspected cases of diseases were reported, noted the study, spread by different injects, which cause fever and joint pain.

Cuba's Deputy Minister of Public Health Carilda Peña García also confirmed that 12 people have died from dengue and 21 people from chikungunya this year, BMJ reported.

Public health authorities in Cuba are facing criticism for playing down how serious the current surge of illnesses really is. Journalist Taylor cited experts who claimed official figures cannot be fully trusted, with some describing hospitals and funeral homes as overflowing.

In October, Cuban Minister of Public Health José Ángel Portal Miranda acknowledged an increase in disease circulation but suggested it was expected due to summer heat and wet weather. He said these illnesses were neither new nor unusual.

The problem is not limited to Cuba. Countries such as Brazil, Colombia and Peru have also reported spikes in dengue, chikungunya and other mosquito-borne diseases, according to the article.

Canadian travel guidance for Cuba

Canadian authorities have updated travel advisories for Cuba, warning visitors to take extra precautions against mosquito and midge bites. These insects are known to spread diseases such as chikungunya and Oropouche.

Travellers are advised to use approved insect repellents on exposed skin and to wear loose, light-colored clothing made from tightly woven fabrics like nylon or polyester. Hats, socks, closed-toe shoes, long trousers and long-sleeved shirts are also recommended to reduce skin exposure.

Officials also suggest staying in accommodations that limit insect entry, such as rooms with closed windows and air conditioning. In places that are not fully enclosed, using insecticide-treated mosquito nets is advised.

The Canadian government recommends speaking with a healthcare provider at least six weeks before travel to understand potential health risks and necessary precautions. It has also noted that cases of hepatitis A have been reported among travellers returning to Canada.

Read: What Makes Malaria Different From Other Mosquito-borne Diseases?

Dengue vs Chikungunya vs Oropouche

Dengue

Dengue is a type of viral infection most common in tropical and subtropical countries worldwide. The disease is usually transmitted through infected mosquitoes, causing the virus to enter the body of humans upon getting bitten. Some of the common symptoms of dengue include nausea, body aches, rashes, and so on. Upon noticing the symptoms, you must immediately visit the doctor for a prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Chikungunya

Chikungunya virus infection is a disease that spreads to people after they get bitten by infected mosquitoes. An RNA virus from the alphaviruses group is transferred to the vector mosquito. This mosquito then contaminates a healthy individual's blood by feeding on a part of their body.

Oropouche

The oropouche virus is primarily transmitted through the bites of infected midges (tiny flies) and mosquitoes. It shares similarities with other arboviruses like dengue and Zika, causing symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle aches. In severe cases, the virus can lead to meningitis, an inflammation of the brain's protective membranes.

Tamil Nadu health authorities have ramped up surveillance efforts and implemented preventive and control measures to curb rising chickenpox cases in the state.

The Directorate of Public Health (DPH) and Preventive Medicine has instructed all health officers to intensify active and passive surveillance in all government and private health facilities, schools, colleges and hostels.

They were also directed to ensure that all suspected and confirmed cases are entered into the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) line list with complete demographic and clinical details.

All medical officers across the state have further been asked to be alert to differentiate chickenpox from other rash illnesses such as measles, rubella, and hand, foot and mouth disease.

This comes weeks after doctors across Pune also warned against the exponential rise in chickenpox cases this winter.

Dr Shirish Kankariya, head of paediatrics at Apollo Hospital Swargate, said he had seen around 15 chickenpox patients in Jan alone, and the current season has brought a visible uptick in cases.

"Chickenpox cases have risen. We are also seeing infections in older children and adult family members, who never had the disease earlier," he told Times of India.

Dr Prateek Kataria, consultant pediatrician and neonatologist at Sahyadri Hospital also noted that out-patient departments (OPDs) have recently seen a large increase confirmed chickenpox cases this year.

He also told the publication: "We are seeing many children with chickenpox in the OPD even among those who have taken both doses of the vaccine. This is expected because the vaccine does not guarantee 100% protection, but vaccinated children usually develop milder illness and do not need hospitalization."

What Is Chickenpox And How Does It Spread?

Chickenpox, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, is extremely contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets or direct contact with someone who is infected. In children, it often starts as a mild rash accompanied by fever, but it can spread quickly in crowded areas.

The virus can also be transmitted through coughing or sneezing, and it is most infectious a day or two before the rash appears and in the early days of the rash. In individuals with weak immunity, the dormant virus may reactivate later in life, causing shingles (herpes zoster).

How To Detect Chickenpox Symptoms Early?

Spotting chickenpox early means looking for general warning signs like fever, fatigue, headache, and loss of appetite, which usually appear one to two days before the rash.

The rash itself starts as tiny red spots that later form fluid-filled blisters and eventually scab over. Paying attention to these early symptoms, especially after known exposure, can help identify the infection sooner.

How To Spot A Chickenpox Rash

The first rash usually shows up as small red bumps on the face, chest, or back. These bumps quickly turn into blisters filled with fluid, which are contagious. Over a few days, the blisters break and crust over, forming scabs. It’s common to see spots, blisters, and scabs all at the same time, according to the CDC.

Stages Of Chickenpox

The Mayo Clinic explains that chickenpox progresses in three main stages:

• Incubation Stage (10–21 days): After exposure, the virus remains inactive. Infected individuals typically show no symptoms during this period.
• Prodromal Stage (1–2 days): Early signs include fever, tiredness, headache, loss of appetite, and body aches. This is also when the virus can start spreading to others.
• Rash Stage (5–10 days): Red, itchy spots appear first on the face and chest, spreading across the body. These spots develop into fluid-filled blisters that scab over within a few days. Mild fever, itching, and discomfort are common during this stage.

A new study published in The Lancet Oncology journal today revealed that breast cancer continues to be the most common cancer among women worldwide, and predicted that the number of new cases of the deadly disease will reach more than 3.5 million globally in 2050 -- rising by a third from 2.3 million in 2023.

The Global Burden of Disease analysis with data from 204 countries revealed that despite advancements in breast cancer treatments, yearly deaths from the disease will rise by 44 percent -- from around 764,000 to 1.4 million.

While breast cancer disproportionately impacts countries with limited resources, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including not smoking, getting sufficient physical activity, lowering red meat consumption, and having a healthy weight were found to prevent over a quarter of healthy years lost to illness and premature death.

“Breast cancer continues to take a profound toll on women’s lives and communities,” said lead author Kayleigh Bhangdia from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington, US.

“While those in high-income countries typically benefit from screening and more timely diagnosis and comprehensive treatment strategies, the mounting burden of breast cancer is shifting to low- and lower middle-income countries where individuals often face later-stage diagnosis, more limited access to quality care, and higher death rates that are threatening to eclipse progress in women’s health,” Bhangdia added.

Inequalities In Breast Cancer Burden

The study revealed that the rates of new cases remain highest in high-income countries (HICs), but are growing fastest in low-income countries (LICs).

Women in low- and lower-middle-income countries accounted for 27 percent (around 628,000) of new cases globally, exposing likely disparities in timely diagnosis and shortages of quality treatment, including radiotherapy machines, chemotherapy drugs, and pathology labs, and standard treatments.

In 2023, an estimated 2.3 million new breast cancers were diagnosed worldwide in women (with 73 percent or 1.67 million cases occurring in high- and upper-middle-income countries). Of these, 764,000 ended in deaths (with 39 percent or 300,000 deaths occurring in low- and lower-middle-income countries).

Further, the number of years of healthy life lost due to poor health and early death more than doubled from 11.7 million years in 1990 to 24 million years in 2023.

Women in low- and lower-middle-income countries also contribute to more than 45 percent of all the ill-health and early deaths from breast cancer globally (nearly 11 million years of healthy life lost).

Three-fold Rise In Pre-menopausal Breast Cancer

The study reported a three-fold rise in pre-menopausal breast cancer in women aged 55 or older in 2023 -- compared to women aged 20-54 years.

However, rates of new cases have risen in women aged 20-54 years (up 29 percent) since 1990, with rates in older women remaining relatively unchanged.

Major Lifestyle Risk Factors

In 2023, 28 percent of the global breast cancer burden (6.8 million years of healthy life lost to disability, illness, and early death) was linked to six potentially modifiable risk factors. These include:

• High red meat consumption -- linked to nearly 11 percent of all healthy life lost
• tobacco use (including second-hand smoke; 8 percent),
• high blood sugar (6 percent),
• high body mass index (4 percent),
• high alcohol use and low physical activity (both 2 percent)

Substantial progress has been made in reducing the global breast cancer burden linked to high alcohol use and tobacco between 1990 and 2023, which declined by 47 percent and 28 percent, respectively.

Donald Trump is again in the news, this time not for his cognitive conditions and speculations around it, but for a skin rash and redness around his neck. During a Medal of Honor ceremony in the East Room of the White House, many pointed out the redness around his neck and asked if there was any underlying medical reason to it. The close-up photos shows clear red marks around the 79-year-old president's neck.

Also Read: Breast Cancer To Reach Over 3.5 Mn By 2050, Deaths To Surge 44% Predicts Lancet Study

Why Does President Trump Have Red Rashes Around His Neck?

As per the White House, this redness around his neck is due to a skin cream he has been using. However, the White House has not given any specific reason behind the treatment for which the skin cream has been prescribed. "President Trump is using a very common cream on the right side of his neck, which is a preventative skin treatment, prescribed by the White House Doctor,” Sean Barbabella, the president's doctor, said in a statement. “The President is using this treatment for one week, and the redness is expected to last for a few weeks.”

No follow-up questions on the treatment were given, neither any clarity was given on the condition. However, zoomed in photos from as far back as the Board of Peace meeting at the US Institute of Peace on February 19 too show the redness on President's neck.

Topical treatments can sometimes lead to temporary skin irritation, flushing, or redness - especially if they contain active ingredients like retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, alpha hydroxy acids, or prescription-strength dermatological compounds.

Trump’s medical report from his April 2025 physical exams has noted he was on mometasone cream “as needed” for an unspecified skin condition.

Also Read: Ashley Dalton Diagnosed With Incurable Breast Cancer Stands Down From Her Position

Why Do Skin Cream Cause Redness And Rashes?

While this is not true for all creams, some skin cream could make your skin red by increasing the turnover of cells that stimulate collagen production or reduce inflammation.

In this process, the skin may appear red, slightly inflamed, or sensitive – especially in areas like the neck, which tends to have thinner skin than the face.

Common reasons for redness caused by skin cream include:

• Irritant contact dermatitis
• Allergic reaction to ingredients
• Increased blood flow from active compounds
• Over-application of product
• Sun sensitivity after use
• Skin around your neck may especially react more visibly than other areas due to its delicate texture.

When should redness be a concern?

Even though temporary redness from skincare products is usually harmless, doctors say you must always use creams after a prescription and reach out to them in case of:

• Severe burning or itching
• Blistering or peeling
• Swelling of the face or throat
• Symptoms lasting more than a few days
• Signs of infection
• In most cases, discontinuing the product allows the skin to return to normal within a short period.