Is there a new pandemic lingering over us? Is Japan at the brink of declaring a health epidemic? After the COVID-19 pandemic, this question has been looming over everyone for a while now. However, it is an undeniable fact that with climate change, illness are now staying all round the year, talking about the COVID-19 virus specifically, it too has now become a seasonal-like virus. However amid this, Japan has declared a nationwide flu outbreak, which has a high rise in hospitalization, school closures and has left public healthcare system under a lot of pressure.

What Is Happening In Japan?

As per the media reports in Japan, the Health Ministry has confirmed the national average has surpassed the epidemic threshold reaching 1.04 patients per medical institution.

Typically, Japan's flu season is in late November or December, however, this year, it seems to have arrived sooner.

The Health Ministry also noted on October 3 that more than 4,000 people have been hospitalized with influenza and that there was a four-fold increase seen in Japan in the previous week. As of now, 28 of the 47 prefectures in Japan has reporting rise in cases, especially in Tokyo, Okinawa and Kagoshima. It has forced over 130 schools and childcare centers to close. Okinawa reported the highest numbers.

Read: Covid, Cold, Or Flu: How To Differentiate Between These Infections?

Is The Flu Happening Only In Japan?

Similar trends have been reported in Singapore, Thailand, and India. In northern India, the H3N2 strain—descended from the 1968 Hong Kong flu virus, has been spreading, while Thailand recorded more than half a million flu cases this year with 59 deaths. Singapore also saw a steady rise in flu and respiratory infections as inter-monsoon rains forced people indoors.

Climate Change Could Lead To Virus' New Variant

Experts suggest that changes in weather patterns, global travel, and evolving viral strains could be contributing to these early and frequent outbreaks. Warmer climates and extreme weather may be influencing how and when flu viruses spread, with studies hinting that heavy rainfall and higher humidity could drive people indoors, creating ideal conditions for transmission. Climate change could also affect virus survival and migration patterns of wild birds, further influencing outbreaks.

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) latest vaccine guidelines for the Southern Hemisphere introduced new H1N1 and H3N2 strains, indicating that mutated versions are circulating. Experts are particularly monitoring subtypes like H5, H7, and H9 in animals, as new strains could potentially trigger another pandemic similar to the 1957 H2N2 “Asian Flu.” The recent detection of bird flu strains in mammals has raised further concerns about possible cross-species mutations.

While there’s no evidence that influenza viruses are mutating faster than before, experts agree the virus continues to evolve in ways that challenge immunity from previous infections or vaccines. Regular flu vaccination remains the best defense, especially for the elderly and vulnerable. Experts also stress the need for better awareness, improved hygiene practices, and policies that discourage working while sick. A universal flu vaccine that covers multiple strains could offer a long-term solution—but it’s still in development.

Tiger Woods, American professional golfer has announced that he underwent a back surgery on Friday. This was to addressed his collapsed disc in his spine.

The 15-time major winner shared on his social media that he had a lumbar disk replacement surgery after he experienced in his back. The operation went successful, he said. The 49-year-old is undergoing a back surgery for the second time in over a year. Earlier, he had a surgery done on his lumbar spine in September 2024 to relieve nerve impingement of his lower back.

A statement by Wood's X account read: “After experiencing pain and lack of mobility in my back, I consulted with Doctors and Surgeons to have tests taken. The scans determined that I had a collapsed disc in L4/5, disc fragments and a compromised spinal canal. I opted to have my disc replaced yesterday, and I already know I made a good decision for my health and my back. On Friday, Tiger underwent lumbar disc replacement surgery in his L4/5 Lumbar spine for lower back symptoms. The surgery was deemed successful and performed by Dr Sheeraz Qureshi and his team at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.”

Woods had earlier ruptured his left Achilles while training at home this year in March.

What Does It Mean To Have A Collapsed Disc?

Spinal discs sit between the 33 vertebrae that provide cushioning to vertebrae and absorb shock and pressure. They also help with flexibility, mobility and are made of tough outer layer of cartilage, surrounded with a soft jelly-like inner layer.

However as we age, our spinal disc also age with us. They become drier, stiffer, and less flexible over time, which makes it prone to injury and damage. This natural wear and tear can cause discs to tear or to slip out of place. A collapsed disc destabilizes the spine and hinders the discs’ ability to protect vertebrae.

Collapsed discs occur more frequently in cervical and lumbar spine. This is where vertebrae bear more body weight and have a wide range of motion, which makes them more prone to injury or damage.

What Are The Common Symptoms?

In a Lumbar Spine, the common symptoms of collapsed disc are:

• low back pain
• pain that radiates down the buttocks, thighs, legs and feet
• weakness and numbness or tingling in the back, legs, and feet
• reduced movement in the back

In Cervical Spine, this is what the symptom of collapsed disk feels like:

• neck pain
• pain that radiates down the shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers
• weakness and numbness or even tingling in arms, hands, and fingers
• reduced range of motion in the neck

What Could Be Causing Disc To Collapse?

Spinal Osteoarthritis: This happens when the cartilage that cushions the spine’s joints wears down, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced movement. Over time, it can weaken nearby structures and cause the discs between the vertebrae to collapse.

Herniated Disc: A herniated disc occurs when the outer layer of a spinal disc tears, allowing the inner gel-like material to leak out. This can cause pain, pressure on nerves, or even break the disc into smaller pieces.

Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD): DDD refers to age-related wear and tear of spinal discs. It can lead to back pain, disc collapse, nerve compression, and spinal instability.

Other causes include traumatic injuries (from falls, accidents, or sports), repetitive strain (from heavy work or high-impact activities like running), and obesity, which adds pressure to the spine.

A recent pediatric study suggests that repeated COVID infections increase the likelihood of developing long COVID. According to the research, children and young people infected a second time were twice as likely to experience lingering symptoms compared to those who only had the virus once. Long COVID after a reinfection was linked to higher risks of heart problems, kidney damage, cognitive difficulties, and other complications, according to an analysis published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.

“Many believed that reinfections would be milder or carry fewer long-term consequences, but we found that the risks extend across a range of health issues, challenging assumptions that children recover quickly,” said Bingyu Zhang, a PhD student in Applied Mathematics & Computational Science at Penn. “These findings can help guide clinical decisions, encourage vaccination, and inform how resources are directed to care for COVID patients.”

The study examined health records from around 407,000 children across 40 pediatric hospitals. Among those with just one documented COVID infection, there were roughly 904 cases of long COVID per million over a six-month period. However, for children who had contracted the virus twice, that number jumped to 1,884 per million, effectively doubling the risk.

Focusing On The Youngest Patients

Most research on long COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), has focused on adults. This study aimed to understand the long-term effects on children and adolescents under 21, particularly during the omicron wave, which predominated between late 2021 and early 2022. Omicron and its subvariants continue to circulate, causing infections and reinfections in young populations today.

“The findings reinforce one of the strongest reasons I give families and physicians for vaccination: fewer infections mean lower chances of long COVID,” said Dr. Ravi Jhaveri, head of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

Heightened Risk For Serious Conditions

The researchers also analyzed the likelihood of specific complications after a second infection. Children who had COVID twice were more than three times as likely to develop myocarditis, a potentially dangerous inflammation of the heart muscle. Other significant risks included a doubled chance of blood clots, severe kidney damage, abnormal heart rhythms, heart disease, and extreme fatigue.

“Examining the public health consequences of COVID, including long COVID, helps us pinpoint which children are more vulnerable and ensures they receive proper monitoring and care,” explained Dr. Jeffrey Morris, director of Biostatistics.

The importance of large-scale studies

This study is part of the NIH-funded RECOVER initiative, which investigates COVID’s long-term impacts. Pooling data from multiple hospitals and patients across the country allows researchers to study trends and outcomes in diverse populations, creating a clearer picture of long COVID in children.

According to senior author Yong Chen, PhD, the project’s scale and coordination are crucial. “Without this infrastructure and sustained support, we wouldn’t have access to such comprehensive pediatric data or be able to evaluate long COVID rigorously,” he said.

Next steps for research

The team plans to continue tracking pediatric patients over longer periods, study whether new COVID variants affect long-term risks, and explore ways to prevent severe complications. They also aim to identify which children are most at risk, so families and clinicians can better protect them from the lasting effects of reinfections.

Senegal has reported 17 deaths from Rift Valley Fever (RVF), according to a health ministry official on Thursday, marking a rare and serious outbreak of the viral disease in the West African nation. So far, 119 cases have been confirmed, primarily in northern Senegal’s livestock-producing areas. The outbreak is raising concerns about further spread, said Dr. Boly Diop, head of RVF surveillance at the health ministry. But what exactly is Rift Valley Fever, why is it spreading in Senegal, and can it infect humans?

What Is Rift Valley Fever?

Rift Valley Fever is a viral illness that mainly affects animals but can also infect humans. The disease can cause severe illness in both animals and people. According to the World Health Organization, the RVF virus is part of the Phlebovirus genus. It was first identified in 1931 during an investigation of a sheep epidemic in Kenya’s Rift Valley.

Outbreaks have since been reported throughout sub-Saharan Africa. In 1977, a major outbreak struck Egypt after infected livestock were introduced through trade along the Nile irrigation system. Between 1997 and 1998, another significant outbreak affected Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania, following heavy rains and flooding linked to the El Niño phenomenon. In September 2000, infected livestock from the Horn of Africa carried the virus to Saudi Arabia and Yemen, marking the first known instance of Rift Valley Fever outside Africa and raising concerns about its potential spread to parts of Asia and Europe.

Signs and Symptoms of Rift Valley Fever

Many infections are asymptomatic, but uncomplicated human cases of RVF typically present like a short-term flu like illness. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, severe muscle and joint pain, light sensitivity, and loss of appetite. Occasionally, patients may experience a petechial rash, nausea, vomiting, or nosebleeds, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

How Is Rift Valley Fever Transmitted?

As the WHO explains, Rift Valley Fever is primarily an animal disease but can also infect humans. It is spread by mosquitoes and blood-feeding flies. Most human infections occur through direct or indirect contact with the blood or organs of infected animals. This can happen while handling animal tissue during slaughter, assisting with births, performing veterinary procedures, or disposing of carcasses or fetuses. Certain occupations, such as herders, farmers, slaughterhouse workers, and veterinarians, are therefore at higher risk. There is also evidence that humans can contract RVF from consuming unpasteurized or undercooked milk from infected animals.

Infections may also result from bites by infected mosquitoes, particularly Aedes and Culex species, and transmission through blood-feeding flies is possible as well.

Do We Have a Vaccine for Rift Valley Fever?

Since most human cases are mild and short-lived, specific treatment is generally unnecessary. Severe cases are managed with early supportive care, including fluid management and treatment of individual symptoms, according to WHO guidance.

An inactivated vaccine has been developed for humans but is not licensed or commercially available. It has been used experimentally to protect veterinary and laboratory staff at high risk of exposure. Additional candidate vaccines are currently under investigation.