Food aggregator Zomato has once again triggered flak after it was accused of selling "analogue" paneer to restaurants on its B2B platform Hyperpure. On Zomato's website, the dairy ingredient was labelled "fit for tikka and gravy paneer dishes." It added that the paneer was "made from skimmed milk and vegetable oil". "Milk fat is replaced with vegetable fat," the description added. However, its harmful impact on health came into spotlight after a user pointed it out.

"India loves paneer dishes and restaurants sell fake paneer made with vegetable oils without any disclaimer. They made you believe that you are eating healthy food by eating varieties of paneer dishes over junk food This is being sold on the website of Zomato for restaurants," wrote X user Sumit Behal on sale of the "fake" paneer on Hyperpure website.

Traditional paneer is a soft and fresh, non-melting cheese that's common in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine. It is made by curdling milk with acidic ingredients, like lemon juice, vinegar or citric acid, to seperate curd from whey. The curds are drained and pressed to remove excess water. On the other hand, the analogue paneer is made from ingredients using vegetable oils and starches. These hydrogenated vegetable fats that the "fake" paneer contain may also have trans fats that are lethal to a person's cardiovascular health. They also increase the risk of cardiovascular health, increases heart disease, high cholesterol and inflammation.

According to reports, one kilogram of artificial paneer costs nearly as much as half of the original paneer and thus, is used by many restaurants to increase their profit margins.

How To Identify Fake Paneer?

As per FSSAI, an iodine test can also help with identifying fake paneer. Take a pan and boil paneer in it. Add a few drops of iodine tincture to the boiled paneer. If it turns blue, it's artificial.

Another trick to identify fake is the toor dal test. Allow the boiled paneer to cool in water. Add some toor dal to the water and let it sit for 10 minutes. If the water turns light red, then it is fake paneer.

Cholera, a disease so fatal that it can become severe within hours without treatment, was something we thought was not a big cause of worry. With proper measures, the cases of cholera were contained, however, recently we are seeing a worrying rise in the numbers again.

According to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO), the global situation with cholera is getting worse. In 2024, the number of people who got sick from cholera went up by 5%, and the number of people who died from it jumped by 50% compared to the year before. More than 6,000 people died from this disease, even though it's easily preventable and treatable. The real numbers are likely even higher, because many cases and deaths are never officially reported.

What is Cholera, How Is It Treated?

According to WHO, cholera is a severe sickness that causes watery diarrhea. It is caused by a germ called Vibrio cholerae, which people get from eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated with the germ.

Cholera is a big problem for global health, and its presence often points to a lack of clean water, proper sanitation, and overall development in a community. Access to safe drinking water and good hygiene practices are key to stopping cholera and other similar diseases.

Most people who get cholera have mild to moderate symptoms and can be treated with a simple solution called oral rehydration solution (ORS). However, the illness can get very bad very quickly, so it's crucial to start treatment right away to save lives. People with severe cholera need to be treated with fluids given directly into their veins, along with ORS and antibiotics.

What Is Causing The Increase In Cholera Cases?

Cholera is a disease caused by a type of bacteria that spreads through water contaminated with human waste. It's becoming more common because of several big problems around the world:

• Conflict and wars disrupt clean water systems and force people to move from their homes.
• Climate change can cause floods and droughts, which also affect water safety.
• Population displacement, or people being forced to leave their homes, often means they live in crowded camps with poor sanitation.

In 2024, 60 countries reported cholera cases, which is a big jump from the 45 countries in 2023. Most of the outbreaks (98% of cases) were in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The disease even came back to places like Comoros, which hadn't had an outbreak in over 15 years, showing how easily it can spread.

Is Cholera Preventable?

The report shows that many health systems are struggling to fight cholera. In Africa, the number of people who died from the disease went up, which shows there are problems getting life-saving care to those who need it. A worrying one-fourth of all deaths happened outside of hospitals, which means people couldn't get the treatment they needed in time.

To fix this, governments and aid groups need to make sure people have access to safe drinking water and clean toilets. They also need to share accurate information so people know how to protect themselves. During outbreaks, it's crucial that people can quickly get treatment and vaccines.

Is There A Vaccine for Cholera?

A new cholera vaccine called Euvichol-S® became available in early 2024, which helped the global supply. However, the world still doesn't have nearly enough vaccines to meet the demand. In 2024, countries asked for 61 million doses, but only 40 million were available. Because of this shortage, a temporary rule was put in place to give only a single dose of the vaccine instead of two, to make the limited supply last longer.

The WHO says the risk of cholera is "very high" globally and is working hard to reduce deaths and stop outbreaks. The crisis is expected to continue into 2025, with many countries already reporting new outbreaks.

In Northeast Ohio, late summer usually means backyard cookouts, packed ballfields, and sticky, humid nights. This year, though, it has brought something less welcome: a rise in mosquito bites, and a rise in West Nile virus (WNV) cases.

Local health departments reported that two residents, one in Medina County and another in Cuyahoga County, tested positive for West Nile virus in August, according to Ideastream Public Media. Data from the Ohio Department of Health showed six confirmed cases statewide as of August 21.

Nationwide, the numbers tell a bigger story. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been at least 771 human cases reported across 39 states as of September 9. Alarmingly, 490 of those cases were neuroinvasive, meaning they affected the brain or spinal cord, and were potentially life-threatening.

West Nile Virus: The Most Common Mosquito-Borne Illness

West Nile virus remains the most common mosquito-borne illness in the continental United States, according to Vector Disease Control International. Most infected people never develop symptoms, but those who do may experience fever, body aches, nausea, vomiting, or a rash.

In about 1 in 150 cases, the virus causes brain inflammation or meningitis, which can be deadly.

Older adults and immunocompromised individuals face the highest risk of severe complications. “Protecting yourself is especially important for people who are more at risk,” CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook emphasized, urging the public to use repellent, wear long sleeves, and drain standing water near their homes.

Also Read: West Nile Virus Spotted In Weld County Mosquitoes, Here’s What You Need To Know

Why This Outbreak Is Concerning

This year’s surge is not random. Mosquitoes thrive in warm, wet conditions. Longer, hotter summers and heavier rainfall, both linked to climate change, mean longer breeding seasons and more stagnant pools where larvae grow.

"It's always worse in the summer because that's when the mosquito population is at its highest," said Dr. Amy Edwards, an infectious disease specialist at University Hospitals in Cleveland, as reported in The Cool Down. She added that Ohioans face a very different risk today than a generation ago: “For people who grew up in Ohio, mosquitoes and ticks didn't used to carry disease here. Across the U.S., the rate of mosquito-borne illness is going up.”

The trend isn’t limited to West Nile. Lyme disease has been spreading to areas previously considered too cold for ticks, and dengue fever has reemerged in Florida, all signs of vector-borne diseases finding new footholds.

Also Read: Parkinson’s Mystery Cracked? Study Finds Brain Cells May Be Burning Themselves Out

Season Isn’t Over Yet

Public health officials stress that the danger is far from gone. “Infections can continue to occur until the first hard frost of the season, which is likely still many weeks away,” said Dr. Robbie Goldstein, Massachusetts’ public health commissioner, in a recent advisory. He urged people to remain vigilant, as mosquito activity remains high through early fall

The CDC updates its case counts biweekly through ArboNET, a national arboviral surveillance system. The agency notes that symptoms can take between two to fourteen days to appear after a mosquito bite, and in people with weaker immune systems, it can take even longer.

Prevention Remains the Best Defense

There is currently no specific treatment for West Nile virus. For most, recovery involves managing symptoms such as fever and fatigue. Severe cases may require hospitalization for intravenous fluids or even respiratory support.

Health experts recommend taking steps to minimize mosquito exposure:

• Use EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, especially during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
• Eliminate standing water in flowerpots, gutters, and other outdoor containers.
• Ensure window and door screens are intact to keep mosquitoes out.

West Nile Virus In The US

West Nile virus, first detected in the U.S. in 1999, is now a recurring part of late summer and early fall. Its growing prevalence serves as a warning of how climate change, urbanization, and changing ecosystems can amplify public health threats.

As the season continues, experts urge residents to stay proactive rather than complacent. The mosquito buzzing around your backyard may be more than an annoyance, it could be carrying a virus that has sickened hundreds this year and shows no sign of stopping.

A new study published in eLife has shed light on why dopamine-producing neurons, the brain cells crucial for motor control, die off in Parkinson’s disease. Researchers from the Gladstone Institute for Neurological Disease in the US found that these neurons may essentially be burning themselves out due to overactivity, potentially triggering or accelerating the condition.

Neurons Working Overtime

Parkinson’s disease is marked by the progressive death of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, the part of the brain that controls movement. Building on earlier research in animal models, the Gladstone team explored whether the surviving neurons overcompensate for lost cells by becoming hyperactive, ultimately causing damage to themselves.

To test this theory, scientists used genetically modified mice and stimulated their dopamine neurons with drugs for several days. The result: the neurons gradually degenerated and died, particularly in the substantia nigra, mirroring what happens in human Parkinson’s patients.

“An overarching question in the Parkinson’s research field has been why the cells that are most vulnerable to the disease die,” says neuroscientist Ken Nakamura from the Gladstone Institute. “Answering that question could help us understand why the disease occurs and point toward new ways to treat it.”

Calcium Changes and Gene Shifts

The study went a step further by examining changes inside these overworked neurons. Researchers found alterations in calcium levels and shifts in the expression of genes involved in dopamine metabolism and calcium regulation. These findings were mirrored in brain samples from people with early-stage Parkinson’s disease, suggesting that the mechanism seen in mice is relevant to humans.

“In response to chronic activation, we think the neurons may try to avoid excessive dopamine, which can be toxic, by decreasing the amount of dopamine they produce,” explains neuroscientist Katerina Rademacher, lead author of the study. “Over time, the neurons die, eventually leading to insufficient dopamine levels in the brain areas that support movement.”

A Vicious Cycle

The research suggests a troubling cycle: as some neurons die, the remaining ones become even more active to compensate, which may in turn accelerate their demise. This process is similar to lightbulbs burning too brightly and eventually blowing out.

Scientists have long debated why these vulnerable cells die, with previous theories focusing on faulty mitochondria, toxic protein clumps, and genetic mutations. This new study adds another potential cause to the list, overactivity itself.

Hope for Future Therapies

If confirmed in further studies, this discovery could open the door to new therapies. Adjusting the firing patterns of dopamine neurons with medication or deep brain stimulation might help prevent them from overworking and prolong their survival.

“It raises the exciting possibility that adjusting the activity patterns of vulnerable neurons could help protect them and slow disease progression,” Nakamura notes.

The findings represent a step forward in understanding Parkinson’s disease, offering fresh clues for researchers seeking ways to halt or slow its devastating impact.