The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is urging British tourists to take one simple step to prevent their autumn holiday from being "ruined" by illness. Amid a potential rise in infections this year, the agency is advising travelers to make sure they are protected against measles before heading abroad.

What is Measles?

Measles is a very contagious illness that can make you feel quite sick. It's caused by a virus and can be serious, sometimes leading to dangerous problems like brain swelling or pneumonia. The best way to protect yourself and others is to get the measles vaccine. The first signs of measles can feel like a bad cold or flu. You might have:

• High fever
• A cough
• Runny nose
• Red or watery eyes
• Tirednes
• Sore throat and muscle pain

Are Measles Cases Rising Globally?

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can cause a fever, a cough, red eyes, and a rash. It can be prevented with the MMR vaccine. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that measles cases in Europe have reached a 25-year high, with over 127,000 cases reported last year. More than half of these cases required hospitalization, and there were 38 recorded deaths.

The UKHSA issued a message on social media platform X, stating, "Planning an autumn or winter getaway? Don't let measles ruin your holiday. Two doses of the #MMR vaccine give you full protection, and you can catch up at your GP practice if you've missed any."

Why Vaccination Is Key For Measles

Getting vaccinated against measles is a critical step in staying healthy. Measles isn't just a simple rash; it's a serious illness that can lead to severe, life-threatening problems like pneumonia (a lung infection), meningitis (brain inflammation), and even blindness.

The good news is that the MMR vaccine is highly effective at preventing measles, as well as mumps and rubella. In the UK, all children are offered this vaccine, and two doses can give you protection for life. If you're not sure if you or your child has had the vaccine, you can contact your local doctor's office (GP surgery), which can provide it for free. Health experts emphasize that when more people are vaccinated, it protects everyone, especially those who can't get the vaccine themselves.

What Measles Looks Like: How To Identify Measles?

According to Center of Disease Control and Prevention, a measles rash is a key sign of the illness, and it has a very specific pattern. It usually begins as flat, red spots on your face near the hairline. Over the next few days, it will spread downwards to cover your neck, body, arms, and legs.

Facial Rash: The rash often appears as small, red, raised spots on the forehead and cheeks. It might look different depending on a person's skin tone. as small, red, raised spots. It can look different on various skin tones.

Body Rash: The rash won't stay on your face; it will spread across your entire body.

Other Symptoms: The rash is usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as a runny nose, watery eyes, and a cough.

Healing: As you start to recover, the rash will fade, and your skin may begin to peel or flake off.

Koplik spots: One of the earliest signs of measles is tiny white spots with a bluish center that show up inside the mouth. These are called Koplik spots and often appear a few days before the main rash.

If you smoke or around people who smoke, you may have heard them exclaim how smoking makes them lose appetite and helps them lose weight. If you are a person who struggles with weight gain, this logic may appeal to you, however, it could affect you in a completely different way than you realize. Type 2 diabetes is more common than you may realize, more than 38 million Americans have diabetes and 90% to 95% of them have type 2 diabetes (CDC data).

One of the best ways to contain type 2 diabetes is by losing weight. If you think that smoking could be a way to lose this weight, you may want to re-think that.

New research suggests that smoking increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, regardless of the specific subtype a person might have. This study, which combines data from Sweden, Norway, and Finland, also found that people with a genetic risk for diabetes are even more vulnerable to the negative effects of smoking.

What Are The Sub-Types of Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is not a one-size-fits-all condition. Researchers have proposed that it can be broken down into four distinct subtypes, each with different characteristics and health risks.

• SIRD (Severe Insulin-Resistant Diabetes): The body's cells do not respond well to insulin.
• SIDD (Severe Insulin-Deficient Diabetes): The body does not produce enough insulin.
• MOD (Mild Obesity-Related Diabetes): Linked to obesity, often starting at a younger age.
• MARD (Mild Age-Related Diabetes): Develops later in life.

How Does Smoking Affect Diabetes?

The study, which analyzed data from over 3,300 people with type 2 diabetes and almost 3,900 healthy individuals, found a strong connection between smoking and all four diabetes subtypes.

Increased Risk for All Subtypes

People who had ever smoked (current and past smokers) were at a higher risk of developing any of the four diabetes subtypes compared to non-smokers.

What Diabetes Was Linked To Smoking?

The connection was particularly strong for SIRD, the type of diabetes where the body resists insulin. Smokers were more than twice as likely (2.15 times) to develop SIRD than non-smokers. Smoking was also responsible for over a third of all SIRD cases in the study.

Heavy Smoking Increases Risk Further: Heavy smokers (those who smoked at least 20 cigarettes a day for 15 years) had an even higher risk for all four subtypes, with the risk for SIRD being 2.35 times higher than for non-smokers.

Smokeless Tobacco: The study also found a link between heavy use of snus (a smokeless tobacco product) and an increased risk of the more severe diabetes subtypes (SIRD and SIDD) in men.

Could Your Genetics Put You At Higher Risk of Diabetes?

The research also explored how smoking affects people who are already at a high genetic risk for diabetes. The findings showed that heavy smokers with a genetic predisposition for poor insulin production were particularly vulnerable. For example, a heavy smoker with a high genetic risk for impaired insulin secretion was over three times more likely (3.52-fold) to develop SIRD compared to a person without these risk factors.

The study's overall conclusion is clear: smoking raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, regardless of which subtype a person is prone to developing.

If you are in Delhi-NCR and have recently been coughing, sneezing, or running a fever, you are not alone. A recent LocalCircles survey shows that 69 per cent of households in the region currently have one or more members experiencing Covid, flu, or viral fever-like symptoms.

The report, titled “Viral illnesses soar in Delhi NCR as 69% households surveyed confirm one or more members experiencing symptoms,” highlights a sharp increase from 54 per cent in March 2025 to 69 per cent now. Here’s a closer look at the H3N2 virus, its symptoms, and the precautions you should take.

What Is the H3N2 Virus?

The virus spreads rapidly through droplets from coughing, sneezing, or even talking. It can also spread when a person touches contaminated surfaces and then touches their face. H3N2 can be particularly dangerous for young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that in these groups, H3N2 can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and hospitalization.

ALSO READ: Global Warming Is Driving a Surge in Dengue Cases, Study Warns

Symptoms of H3N2 Virus to Watch ForAccording to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), H3N2 has been the predominant strain causing the recent surge in flu cases across India. Data from hospital admissions for Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) indicates that 50% of these patients tested positive for H3N2.

Common symptoms include:

• Sudden high fever (often above 38–39°C) with chills
• Persistent cough and sore throat
• Severe fatigue, weakness, and body aches
• Headache and nasal congestion
• In children: nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

ALSO READ: West Nile Virus Isn't Over Yet, New Cases In US On Rise

Precautions Against H3N2 Virus

• Wash hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Wear masks in crowded or poorly ventilated areas
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; dispose of tissues immediately
• Avoid close contact with sick individuals; isolate infected household members if possible
• Keep living spaces well-ventilated
• Maintain good nutrition, hydration, and adequate rest
• Consider the seasonal influenza vaccine, which often protects against H3N2 strains—especially important for children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses

H3N2 in the United States

The WHO continues to stress that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza, particularly for high-risk groups and their caregivers.

Recently weight loss medication has gained a lot of popularity. Many people are getting these medicines prescribed in order to lose weight; however, it is not as straightforward of a process as we think it is. There are various aspects of it you should know about before you start taking the medication. One of which is that one needs to take it consistently even after they lose weight because they may gain weight back. How effective the medicine is on you also matters.

Whenever it comes to new medication that can majorly alter a person’s lifestyle physique as well as how their body functions, like Ozempic, one has to be very careful with the doses.

While too much of it can trigger health issues, less of it may not give you the desired effect. So, what should a person do when they are not seeing the results they want? A new study shows that a higher dosage than what we currently have approved, could actually help with better weight loss in obese adults.

An international study has found that a higher weekly dose of the drug semaglutide (7.2 mg) is safe and more effective for weight loss than the currently approved dose (2.4 mg). The findings, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, suggest that this higher dose could be a new and powerful option for adults living with obesity, including those who also have type 2 diabetes.

How Much Semaglutide Dosage Helped People Lose Weight?

In adults who do not have diabetes, a 7.2 mg weekly dose of semaglutide led to a significant average weight loss of almost 19%. This is a notable improvement over the 16% weight loss seen with the standard 2.4 mg dose and a 4% loss in the placebo group (who received a dummy treatment).

Almost half of the participants on the higher dose lost 20% or more of their body weight, with about one-third losing at least 25%. These participants also saw improvements in their waist circumference, blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, which are all important for reducing health risks related to obesity.

For adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes, the 7.2 mg dose also showed better results. These individuals experienced an average weight loss of 13%, compared to 10% with the 2.4 mg dose and 3.9% with the placebo. The higher dose also led to significant reductions in blood sugar levels and waist size.

Is It Safe To Take More Semaglutide?

The study found that the higher dose of semaglutide was safe and well-tolerated overall. The most common side effects were gastrointestinal issues, like nausea and diarrhea, and some tingling sensations. However, most of these side effects were manageable, resolved on their own over time, and did not cause people to drop out of the trial. The researchers did not find any increase in serious health problems or severe drops in blood sugar (hypoglycemia) with the higher dose.

Researchers believe this higher dose could help more people achieve their health goals and reduce the worldwide burden of obesity. They also noted that more research is needed to fully understand the long-term benefits and risks.