Actor Jarryd Nurden, a known name in theatre has finally made his return to the West End stage six months after his surgery that removed half of his lung due to a rare cancer.

Jarryd first thought he had nothing more than a stubborn winter bug. In late 2022, he came down with what felt like a “very bad flu,” pushing through fatigue and discomfort while performing in a Christmas pantomime. He assumed it was simply illness made worse by long rehearsals and a busy stage schedule. But the symptoms persisted, and further medical checks revealed something far more serious than a seasonal infection.

A Flu That Turned Out To Be A Lung Cancer

What Jarryd thought was flu turned out to be a rare form of lung cancer. The doctors re-examined the old medical scans, which had shown minor scarring, which was thought to be form a childhood drowning accident. This is when the doctors discovered a tumor had doubled in size, and it grew from two to four centimeters.

In January 2023, the same day he received news that he had secured a role in We Will Rock You, Jarryd attended an appointment at Guy’s Hospital, where doctors told him about the tumor. “When I had that phone call, that’s when my world crashed,” he told The Independent. “I was like: ‘I’m properly screwed.’”

The Diagnosis Of The Rare Lung Cancer

After months of tests and a keyhole surgery in August 2023 to examine the tumor, doctors confirmed it was primary malignant neuroendocrine neoplasm of the lung (atypical carcinoid), a rare form of lung cancer.

“That phone call I’ve always described as being underwater,” he said to The Independent. “Everything just slows down, and you’re like: ‘Oh, I have cancer’… I don’t drink, I don’t smoke… How’s this happening?”

Though the tumor was removed, some cancerous cells remained. Jarryd was given a choice: chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or a major operation to remove part of his lung. He chose surgery.

In October 2023, he underwent a completion lobectomy, removing the entire lower lobe of his left lung. The recovery was brutal. “Recovery was really hard… I think it was touch and go at one point,” he shared with The Independent. Complications meant four months in hospital, a second open surgery due to infections, and enduring the most intense pain he had ever felt.

Despite the hardship, the Actors’ Trust helped support him financially while he was unable to work. He underwent additional treatment in July 2024 to insert stents into a chest fistula and continued healing.

Way Back To The Stage

Against all odds, just three months after his last surgery, Jarryd accepted an offer to join the international tour of Chicago, covering the role of Mary Sunshine. He rehearsed for one day in London, flew to China, had a two-hour rehearsal, and stepped onstage.

“It was do or die… The challenge was intense,” he told The Independent. Taking his bow afterward was overwhelming. “It was immense gratitude… for being back on stage… being with such a supportive company.”

He added, “I think when you go through something very life-changing, you stop sweating the small stuff… You do have that second chance at life, essentially.”

Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk has once again reduced the prices of its blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy in India. The strategic move is aimed at staying ahead of the entry of the low-cost generic competition in the country.

Starting today, the Ozempic price in India will be cut by 36 percent, while Wegovy has seen a steeper 48 percent reduction — limiting the base price below Rs 6,000 per month.

While Ozempic is available in three dose strengths of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg in India, Wegovy has five dose strengths.

Ozempic's and Wegovy's lowest doses of 0.25 ⁠mg will now be priced at Rs 1,415 for a weekly shot from Rs 2,200 and Rs 2,712 earlier, respectively, Novo Nordisk India said in a statement on Tuesday.

The average price reduction across doses is 23.8 percent for Ozempic and 27 percent for Wegovy, it added.

Speaking to the media, Novo Nordisk stated that the price cut will benefit a large section of people with diabetes and obesity in India.

The generic weight loss drugs will open up a huge customer base, especially in India, with a high burden of diabetes and obesity.

Novo first slashed Wegovy's price for the first time by up to 37 percent from its launch price last year.

In addition to the entry of generics, the launch of rival Eli Lilly's blockbuster diabetes and obesity drug Mounjaro in India in 2025.

Also read: Semaglutide Becomes Cheap In India: A Gamechanger Or Health Gamble?

Entry Of Generics In India

Soon after the end of Novo Nordisk's patent on semaglutide, on March 20, a host of companies in India launched generic versions of Ozempic.

This includes NATCO Pharma's Semanat and Semafull, priced at Rs 1,290 per month and Rs 1,750 — about 90 per cent cheaper than Ozempic, costing Rs 8,800 per month.

Eris Lifesciences also announced its plans to launch a multi-dose vial under the brand name Sundae at the same price.

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals have also launched their generic versions of semaglutide.

Dr. Reddy’s Obeda is priced at Rs 4,200 per month, available in 2 mg and 4 mg strengths.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries will sell under the brand names Noveltreat (doses ranging from Rs 900) and Sematrinity (doses ranging from Rs 750). Meanwhile, Glenmark’s GLIPIQ vials range from Rs 325 to Rs 440 per week.

Zydus Lifesciences has also announced the launch of its generic version of semaglutide injection under the brand names SEMAGLYNTM, MASHEMATM, and ALTERMET. The average monthly cost of the treatment will be about Rs 2,200, the company said in a statement.

How Does Semaglutide Work?

Semaglutide works as a GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics the GLP-1 hormone to regulate appetite and blood sugar. It slows gastric emptying and makes you feel fuller longer. It also signals the brain to reduce hunger and cravings, and triggers the pancreas to release insulin when blood sugar is high.

Also read: This Pill Is More Effective For Weight Loss Than Ozempic, Scientists Say

They work by increasing insulin release in a glucose-dependent manner, decreasing the liver's production of glucagon, and slowing down the emptying of the stomach, which helps lower blood sugar levels after a meal. They also act on the brain to suppress appetite and increase feelings of fullness, leading to reduced calorie intake.

In people with type 2 diabetes, notes Harvard Health, the body's cells are resistant to the effects of insulin and the body does not produce enough insulin, or both. This is when GLP-1 agonists stimulate the pancreas to release insulin and suppress the release of another hormone called glucagon.

These drugs also act in the brain to reduce hunger and act on the stomach to delay emptying, so you feel full for a longer time. These effects can lead to weight loss, which can be an important part of managing diabetes.

Health officials in the US have issued a risk of leptospirosis — a bacterial illness — in Hawaii, after the “Kona low” storm floods.

The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) and the Hawaiian Humane Society (HHS) have urged residents and recovery workers to monitor for signs of leptospirosis that can affect both people and pets.

Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria Leptospira, which are carried in the urine of infected animals, including rats, mice, mongoose, livestock, and dogs.

The disease can spread via the urine of infected animals and can enter the human body through broken skin or through the mouth, nose, or eyes.

“Hawaii already has among the highest rates of leptospirosis in the country due to its warm, wet climate,” said HHS and DOH in a joint statement.

“Flooding events like the recent Kona low storm can dramatically increase exposure risk by spreading contaminated soil and water across a broad area,” it added.

The agency urged people to check out symptoms in pets, such as fever, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle soreness, and get medical help.

The risk of Leptospirosis outbreak is common after a storm, because the dead animals are likely to spread the bacteria. Further, flooding also forces rodents out of their burrows, leading them into homes, shelters, and debris piles where they shed bacteria more easily.

What Is Leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is one of the most prevalent zoonotic diseases worldwide, often linked to poor sanitation and agricultural practices that involve contact with animals or contaminated water.

The bacteria can survive in contaminated water or soil for weeks to months, primarily spreading through the urine of infected animals.

Also read: With Rising Temperatures A Major Rat Infestation Is Taking Over The World- Why Is This A Health Hazard?

Humans can contract the disease through direct contact with infected urine or through contaminated food, water, or soil.

There are two main forms of leptospirosis: icteric leptospira, which presents with jaundice, and anicteric leptospira, a milder variant without jaundice. Leptospirosis can also manifest as Weil's disease, a severe complication.

What Are Symptoms Of Leptospirosis in humans?

Symptoms typically develop 2 to 30 days after exposure and can range from mild to severe. Initial signs often include

• high-grade fever,
• red eyes (conjunctival suffusion),
• calf tenderness,
• headache,
• dry cough,
• nausea,
• diarrhea.

In more serious cases, the infection can lead to complications such as

• jaundice,
• kidney damage
• liver damage,
• meningitis,
• respiratory issues,
• hemorrhages.

Pulmonary hemorrhage — acute bleeding from the lungs — can also occur, posing life-threatening risks such as respiratory and renal failure. The illness may last from a few days to several weeks, and without treatment, recovery can take months, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

What Precautions Should Be Taken?

To reduce the risk of leptospirosis infection, individuals are advised to take several important precautions. According to the CDC, it is essential to avoid wading through dirty rainwater, especially during the rainy season, and to wear gumboots in such conditions.

Proper care of any injuries or cuts is crucial, and frequent handwashing, particularly after handling food or working in potentially contaminated environments, is highly recommended. Additionally, individuals should avoid contact with animals that appear sick or are known carriers of the bacteria.

Vaccination is also vital—pet owners should ensure their pets are vaccinated against leptospirosis, especially if they are frequently exposed to water or wildlife. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of clean water and preventing water stagnation around the home can further minimize the risk of infection.

The emerging COVID variant, BA 3.2, nicknamed “Cicada,” has revived memories of the COVID-19 pandemic that disrupted the world and raised fresh concerns about the possibility of severe illness.

The variant has been given the nickname “Cicada” due to its reappearance after remaining dormant or undetected for a long period, much like cicadas that emerge after years underground.

With the variant already spread to 23 nations, as of February, experts are urging people to use masks to avoid transmission.

What Is The Cicada COVID Variant?

Cicada was first identified in a respiratory sample in South Africa in November 2024.

It is a descendant of the Omicron BA.3 lineage, and is genetically distinct from the previously circulating JN.1 lineages (including LP.8.1 and XFG).

BA.3.2 comprises two major branches, BA.3.2.1 and BA.3.2.2. BA.3.2.2 also has substitutions like: K356T, A575S, R681H, and R1162P.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated BA.3.2 as a Variant Under Monitoring (VUM). It means the variant may not be that dangerous yet, but it may have concerning mutations.

As per the US CDC’s latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Cicada has “70 to 75 substitutions and deletions in the gene sequence of its spike protein”.

Time To Mask Up

Dr. Sai Balasubramanian, a doctor and healthcare strategy executive, writing in Forbes, stressed the need to follow COVID practices such as masks and hand hygiene.

"Healthcare professionals recommend taking general precautions, similar to those used to prevent most viral transmission: get vaccinations when appropriate, wear masks in crowded areas or indoors where there is a high risk of transmission," he said.

He also urged “avoid individuals who have known illness or infections, wash hands frequently, and continue to stay apprised of local community guidelines and the infection spread”.

Cicada variant “is different from the (Covid-19) viruses we have been dealing with for the last two years," Prof Ravi Gupta, of Cambridge University, who advised the UK government during the pandemic, was quoted as saying by The Mirror.

Will The Cicada Variant Cause Severe Illness?

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has the potential to turn deadly in people, especially among vulnerable populations such as those with a weak immune system.

The Cicada variant is particularly concerning as it provides no immune protection to people with previous infection or even vaccination.

Yet, the World Health Organization and health experts advise that existing COVID vaccinations can help prevent severe illness and hospitalization.

"It would appear that all the protections we have from our experience with the virus and with vaccines probably offer more limited—not zero—but more limited protection against this strain," Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, was quoted as saying by Time.

Cicada Variant: Any New Symptoms?

The symptoms of Cicada aren't different from those of previous COVID variants. These include:

• sore throat,
• fever or chills,
• headache,
• cough,
• body aches,
• runny nose
• nausea
• diarrhea.