When the World Health Organization (WHO) officially pronounced COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020, it signaled the start of an unprecedented public health crisis that would redefine societies globally. Since SARS-CoV-2 first appeared years ago, developments with vaccines, treatments and public knowledge generated optimism that the virus would fade into endemicity.

By the early part of 2025, India's daily cases and hospitalizations had fallen to negligible numbers, and societies were able to creep back to near-normal ways of life. But as India heads into the summer of 2025, a sharp rise in cases in several states—from Kerala to Delhi, Karnataka to Chandigarh—came as a rude reminder that the pandemic was far from over.

In urban and semi-urban hubs, outpatient departments (OPDs) are seeing patient volumes three to four times greater than two weeks ago. In large hospitals in Bengaluru, Belagavi, and elsewhere, doctors say lines spill into waiting rooms as people with mild to moderate illness line up for tests and consultation. Intensive-care units are still relatively unaffected, but increasing OPD traffic indicates a key public-health issue: controlling diffuse, low-severity illness without swamping primary health-care facilities

New Covid Symptoms

In contrast to earlier waves, where loss of taste and smell were the hallmark clinical presentation, current infections present mainly in the upper respiratory and GI tracts. Clinicians observe that patients typically present with:

Hoarseness and Throat Pain: A sore, strained voice often preceding or following sore throat.

Low-grade Persistent Fever: Temperature ranging around 100–101°F for two to three days.

Gastrointestinal Distress: Painless, watery diarrhoea of 24–48 hours duration, often followed by profound lethargy that can last weeks after infection.

Mild Stomach Cramps and Fatigue: Intermittent abdominal aching accompanied by extreme tiredness.

Even if these symptoms themselves are usually mild, their unusual combination can result in misdiagnosis or delayed testing—especially in areas where influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) are still endemic

Decoding the Variants Behind the Surge

Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) genomic surveillance identifies the rise as due to a number of Omicron sublineages—mainly JN.1, NB.1.8.1 and LF.7. These have been listed by WHO as "Variants Under Monitoring" and have mutations that increase transmissibility while retaining largely mild clinical profiles.

Early evidence implies that NB.1.8.1's spike-protein mutations might bestow enhanced immune evasion and cell-binding competence, although no unequivocal connection to increased severity has been found. As the push for sequencing grows stronger, public-health officials hope to track the geographic distribution of each subvariant to inform focused interventions.

Who's at Maximum Risk?

Healthy adults recover within days, but some remain susceptible:

Older Adults (65+ years): Immune senescence can delay viral clearance and complicate comorbidities.

Individuals with Chronic Illnesses: Diabetes, hypertension and chronic respiratory illnesses raise the risk for complications.

Immunocompromised Persons: From transplant recipients to those taking long-term corticosteroids, suppression of the immune system can impede both vaccine efficacy and natural healing.

Young Children: Though uncommon, some instances in infants and toddlers occasionally need hospital observation for hydration issues.

In Chandigarh, a 40-year-old man with no history of health problems died of acute cardiorespiratory arrest almost immediately after returning a positive result—highlighting the virus's erratic course in vulnerable hosts

Both national and state authorities have ramped up testing, contact tracing and isolation measures. In Karnataka, Karnataka Health Department made mask wearing compulsory again in health-care institutions and redirected isolation beds in district hospitals. West Bengal's latest advisory makes it mandatory for private hospitals and labs to report positive cases of the day in a standardized format and store samples for sequencing, a sign of sharpened alertness after an extended period of complacency

Parallelly, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is assessing vaccine inventories and examining precautionary booster campaigns for high-risk groups. Top pulmonologists and infectious-disease specialists advise against across-the-board booster drives, referring to prevailing evidence that existing vaccine regimens still provide strong protection against severe disease—despite surfacing subvariants.

What Kind of Prevention Can Be Done At A Personal Level?

Since COVID-19 and other ILIs blur together so indistinctly, experts recommend that the public embrace commonsense practices:

Test Early: Get RT-PCR or rapid-antigen testing when symptoms first appear, such as hoarseness or diarrhoea.

Isolate Early: Stay home for at least five days after symptom onset or after becoming negative through testing.

Practice Mask Discipline: Wear good-fitting masks—especially in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor areas.

Prioritise Hygiene: Proper hand hygiene and surface disinfection cut down on SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens' transmission equally.

Stay Hydrated and Rested: Proper fluid intake and rest promote immune strength and counter fatigue.

While the clinical impact of the latest wave seems contained, its spread so quickly reflects the ongoing threat of viral evolution. With the world and regional health systems preparing for a possible surge in influenza and other respiratory viruses later in the year, an interlinked surveillance strategy—capitalizing on genomic information, syndromic reporting and vaccination data—will be essential.

COVID-19 cases in India continue to rise, the numbers have now touched 3,758. Kerala, the southern-most state in India has reported the highest of the cases, leading with 1,400 cases, followed by Maharashtra with 506 cases.

On Saturday, the Union Health Ministry released a data, which registered 685 more active cases, another data was released on Sunday, which reported 360 new infections, which had been recorded within 24 hours.

Apart from that, two COVID-19 deaths were also reported during the same time, in Kerala and Karnataka. In Karnataka, a 63-year-old man who had comorbidities including pulmonary TB, squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa, and was also tested positive for COVID-19, passed away. While in Kerala, a 24-year-old woman with COVID-19 and pre-existing conditions like sepsis, hypertension, and decompensated chronic liver disease (DCLD) also passed away, reported the Health Ministry.

As per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare figures, in the last 24 hours, Kerala reported 64 new cases, Maharashtra reported 18, while Delhi reported 61 new cases.

India Impacted By COVID-19

In Delhi, a 60-year-old woman who had been tested positive with COVID-19 also passed away, as per the official. This has also marked the first death in the capital during the current wave. The woman is said to have undergone surgery for intestinal obstruction, and incidentally found out that she was also COVID-19 positive.

Gurugram too reported a spike in COVID-19 cases after two and a half years. Dr Alka Singh, who is the Civil Surgeon also urged people to not ignore flu-like symptoms. From the cases reported earlier, it has been found that people who had been suffering from flu were in fact, COVID-19 positive.

Four new Covid-19 cases were reported in Gurugram on Sunday, bringing the total during the current surge to 23, with 12 active cases. All patients have mild symptoms and are isolating at home. The health department collected 97 samples for testing the same day.

Maharashtra reported 65 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the total since January 1 to 814. Pune accounted for 31, Mumbai 22, Thane nine, Kolhapur two, and Nagpur one. The state currently has 506 active cases, with 300 recoveries so far, according to the health department.

ALSO READ: India Records 3,395 Active COVID-19 Cases, 26 Deaths, Kerala And Maharashtra Among Worst-Hit States

In Odisha, active cases have risen to 12, all presenting mild symptoms and placed in isolation, said Nilakantha Mishra, the state’s Director of Public Health.

Andhra Pradesh’s information minister K Parthasarathi urged people to remain vigilant amid a national rise in infections, advising caution in crowded public spaces such as railway stations, bus stands, and airports.

West Bengal registered 82 new cases in the past 24 hours, taking the number of active cases in the current wave to 287. Six people were discharged after testing negative. Updated figures from the state health department are awaited.

Punjab has six active Covid-19 cases, with five reported from Ludhiana. One death has occurred. Among the infected are two children of the deceased, who are asymptomatic and in quarantine. The remaining cases include a returnee from Kerala and two individuals who had contact with travellers from high-infection states.

In view of the rising Covid-19 cases, the Karnataka government on Saturday issued an advisory urging the public to wear masks in crowded spaces, maintain physical distancing, and follow hygiene protocols.

Union minister of state for health and AYUSH, Prataprao Jadhav, assured last week that the central government is fully prepared to manage any emerging Covid-19 situation.

For the longest women's health have been ignored in medicines. While there is progress, but it still needs to go in a long way. However, whatever has been succeeded has not always been easy. But, imagine a life without options, with a Plan B? Thanks to Étienne-Émile Baulieu, the French scientist who passed away at the age of 98 in his home in Paris for developing the abortion pill.

Renowned for his groundbreaking work on steroid hormones, Baulieu dedicated his career to advancing scientific knowledge and championing individual freedom. His institute remembered him as someone whose work was shaped by a deep commitment to progress, human dignity, and better living.

Who Was This Scientist?

Born Étienne Blum in Strasbourg on December 12, 1926, Baulieu changed his name when he joined the French Resistance at the age of 15 during the Nazi occupation. This early experience shaped his lifelong values of liberty and courage. After completing medical and science doctorates, he began pioneering research in endocrinology and hormonal medicine.

An Invention That Changed Lives Of Millions

In 1982, Baulieu developed RU-486—commonly known as mifepristone or the abortion pill. The drug offered a non-invasive, medically safe alternative to surgical abortion. It was a turning point in reproductive healthcare, providing millions of women worldwide with a private and less traumatic method of ending a pregnancy.

Despite its significance, the pill attracted controversy. Baulieu faced severe backlash, including threats from anti-abortion groups. Even today, access to the medication is restricted or banned in certain countries. Yet, it remains one of the most widely used abortion methods, especially in places where surgical access is limited.

The Impact, The Challenges

Since its development, mifepristone has been approved in over 100 countries. The World Health Organization included it on its list of essential medicines in 2010. Still, its availability remains a battleground, particularly in the United States, where recent legal rulings have challenged access to abortion pills.

Baulieu continued to defend his work until the end, noting in a 2023 interview that restricting access to the drug undermines decades of progress toward gender equality and freedom.

His research extended into the fields of aging and mental health. His work on the hormone DHEA led to significant findings about neurosteroids, and he pursued treatments for Alzheimer’s and depression. In 2008, he founded the Institut Baulieu to focus on preventing and understanding neurodegenerative diseases.

He received France’s highest honors, including the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour and leadership roles in the Academy of Sciences. Leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron praised him as a visionary who changed the world. Macron wrote, “Few French people have changed the world to such an extent,” calling Baulieu a “beacon of courage.”

Baulieu is survived by his wife, three children, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. His work—especially the invention of the abortion pill—remains a powerful symbol of science serving humanity.

The debate over adding fluoride to public drinking water is gaining intensity in the United States. Formerly thought of as a great public health success, water fluoridation is being increasingly challenged by intensified concerns and legislative prohibitions in a few states. New evidence, however, published in JAMA Health Forum cautions that dis-fluoridation of community water systems could carry a high price tag — for children's oral health as well as the country's health care system.

Fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral in some foods and groundwater, is referred to as "nature's cavity fighter." Fluoride hardens tooth enamel, the hard, outer layer of the teeth, making them more resistant to the acids formed by bacteria in the mouth that lead to tooth decay. Tooth decay, or dental caries, is still one of the most prevalent chronic illnesses in children and teenagers in the US, impacting millions.

Fluoride was first added to public water in the US in 1945 and has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as being among the 10 greatest public health successes of the 20th century. Fluoridated water gives both systemic and topical protection, the kind that makes teeth more resistant to decay before they even come up through the gums and protects enamel throughout life.

Researchers Dr. Lisa Simon of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dr. Sung Eun Choi of Harvard School of Dental Medicine recently examined national oral health data to simulate the effect of fluoride removal from US public water supplies. The results are sobering.

They calculate that eliminating fluoride would cause 25.4 million more decayed teeth among children and teens just in five years, while health care expenses would balloon to $9.8 billion. In a decade, those numbers could almost double to 54 million extra decayed teeth and $19.4 billion in dental care costs.

To give it some perspective, the study estimates one additional rotten tooth per three children in the US — a public health regression that's astounding.

Not all populations would share the burden equally. Dr. Simon points to disparities, pointing out that children from poorer backgrounds and from disadvantaged communities would increasingly depend on fluoridated water to help prevent cavities because they have limited access to dental services. Stripping fluoride away would exacerbate oral health gaps.

Currently, approximately two-thirds of the US population is getting fluoridated water, with nearly 40% of children being exposed to optimal levels of fluoride to prevent tooth decay very effectively. Only nearly 1.5% of children have fluoride levels high enough to endanger fluorosis — a cosmetic dental condition that results in mild discoloration of the teeth.

The Canadian city of Calgary provides a cautionary tale. In 2011, Calgary's city government took fluoride out of its public water system amid public outcry. Within a decade, dental health officials noticed a notable increase in cavities in children, leading to the city reinstating water fluoridation in 2021.

This example provides the real-world illustration backing the new study's projections.

How Fluoride Protects Tooth Decay?

Cavities result when bacteria in the mouth infect sugars and release acid that destroys tooth enamel. Fluoride acts by incorporating itself into the structure of the enamel, making the enamel resistant to acid attack and able to repair early damage caused by decay.

In infants, fluoride is important even before the eruption of teeth. It gives a systemic effect by making developing teeth in the gums harder by ingestion of fluoride-rich water and food. For adults and older children, fluoride's local action—via toothpaste, mouth rinses, and water—preserves enamel resistance.

The US Department of Health and Human Services now recommends that fluoride in public water be adjusted to 0.7 milligrams per liter, a scientifically proven level to achieve the optimal balance of cavity prevention with minimal fluorosis risk.

Fluoridation is similar to other public health interventions like the addition of iodine to salt or vitamin D to milk, which are intended to avoid widespread deficiencies of nutrients and improve population health.

Yet, political and public opinion changes have prompted legislative measures in certain states such as Utah and Florida prohibiting water fluoridation. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced in April 2024 that he would recommend that the CDC discontinue the recommendation of fluoride in public water, which further heated the current debate.

What Are The Alternatives Available?

Although fears regarding the safety of fluoride have continued in some quarters, the dental and medical communities' consensus is clear: that water fluoridation at recommended concentrations is safe and beneficial. The danger of fluorosis, usually mild and superficial, is small and commonly outweighed by the advantages of prevention of cavities.

For families concerned about dental health without fluoridated water, alternatives include fluoride toothpaste, professional fluoride treatments at the dentist, and fluoride-containing mouth rinses—though these depend on access to dental care and adherence to proper use.

Children under six should not use fluoride mouthwash without dental supervision due to the risk of swallowing.

The economic consequences of rising cavities from fluoride loss are substantial. Treatment expenses for untreated cavities—fillings, root canals, and extractions—can be burdensome on families and health care systems. Untreated dental disease also has an adverse impact on children's quality of life, resulting in pain, infection, eating difficulties, and lost school days.

The projected $9.8 billion in additional dental care costs within five years, escalating to nearly $20 billion over a decade, represents a substantial burden on families, insurance providers, and public health programs.

The fluoride in water debate captures wider public health policy challenges where scientific truth converges with public opinion and politics. As some places consider banning fluoridation, the new study serves as a reminder of the possible unintended effects.

For now, fluoride remains a cornerstone of dental public health in the US and many countries worldwide. Continuing public education on its benefits, addressing misinformation, and ensuring equitable access to dental care remain critical components in safeguarding children’s oral health.

Fluoride's removal from public drinking water may spark a dental emergency for an estimated million American children, resulting in additional cavities and increased health care expenditures. The data from this new study, along with the real-life experience of Calgary, confirms fluoride's central part in preventing tooth decay.