It has been a long season of illness, diseases and infections and it feels like it is going to stay even further. Experts from the UK’s Health Security Agency have warned that people who have already had norovirus, which is also called the winter bug, or the vomiting bug, could be at risk of catching it again this season.

As per the data, a different strain of the virus is on the rise. However, research also shows that having only one strain does not guarantee that you will not catch it again. It is a cause of concern again, as it is particularly severe for young children, older people and people with weakened immune systems.

As per the reports and the figures, the cases are currently “exceptionally high” with numbers at more than double the five-season-average for this time of year. Amy Douglas, the lead epidemiologist at the UKHSA, told the BBC that the biggest impact was seen in hospitals and care homes. “With multiple genotypes spreading at the same time, people could end up getting infected more than once this season," she said. Cases are also higher than expected because of the emergence of the recent strain which is called the GII.17. However, the more number of cases are also being reported because of improved testing.

What Does The Recent Data Show?

Recent data indicates that a different but more common strain of norovirus is spreading.

This means individuals who have already had one strain of the virus could still be at risk of reinfection, as immunity to one variant does not provide full protection against another.

However, there is no evidence to suggest that either strain causes more severe illness than usual.

Norovirus cases typically decline as temperatures rise, but the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says it is too early to determine whether infections have peaked.

Hospitalizations remain close to record levels, with an average of 1,134 patients admitted daily last week. While this is a slight drop from the previous week’s 1,160 cases, it is still nearly two and a half times higher than the same period last year.

What Is Norovirus?

Also called the bug outbreak, it is caused by the group of viruses that cause severe vomiting and diarrhea. As per the UK Health Security Agency, data for the current 2024-25 season in England shows that norovirus laboratory reports are notably higher than the 5-season average.

The data also shows that norovirus typically increases through autumn and into winter, however, this year, an unusual rise has been noticed. The Hospital Norovirus Outbreak Reporting System (HNORS) is showing more outbreaks than average.

Dr Luke Powles, Associate Clinical Director, Health Clinics Bupa Global and UK also explained that this virus is also called the winter vomiting bug and is "one of the most common stomach bugs in the UK. It is highly contagious, so spreads easily". The doctor also notes that while the name suggest 'winter', you can get it any time of the year, though it is most common in colder months.

How Do You Get The Virus?

For most people, having norovirus is unpleasant, but mild and recovery could be made in 1 to 2 days. However, it could be more serious for babies, older people and anyone with any existing health condition.

Anyone can get the virus by accidentally getting particles of virus in your mouth and ingesting it. These particles are from faeces or vomit from infected people, or can be transmitted via contaminated food and water. It could also spread by touching unclean surfaces like door handles or cutlery.

It is also the No.1 cause of foodborne illness in the US and first occurred in Norwalk, Ohio, in a school in 1968. This is why the first strain is named after the location and is called the Norwalk virus.

It is the main cause of gastroenteritis. The common symptoms include:

• Nausea
• Projectile vomiting
• Watery diarrhea

Usually it lasts for up to 2 days, though for anyone as mentioned above with an existing health condition, or babies who do not yet have a fully developed immune systems, children and older people may be at more risk. If your symptoms are not relieved in 2 days, or it worsens, or you have a serious illness, it is best to consult your doctor.

When 48-year-old Ryan Alto from California walked into the emergency room with what seemed like mild flu symptoms, no one—not even he—could have predicted how rapidly things would spiral. Within hours, he was hallucinating. Soon after, he lost consciousness. By the end of the day, Ryan had slipped into a coma. What doctors discovered next would upend everything his family knew about illness, mental health, and recovery.

He wasn’t battling a virus. He wasn’t having a psychiatric breakdown. Ryan had Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis—a rare, autoimmune brain disorder so misunderstood it’s often mistaken for mental illness.

What is Brain on Fire Disease?

Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis, sometimes referred to as “Brain on Fire” disease, is caused when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks NMDA receptors in the brain. These receptors play a key role in memory, cognition, and behavior. When they malfunction, it can look eerily similar to a psychiatric or neurological breakdown.

Symptoms of Brain on Fire Disease

Initially, patients often present with flu-like symptoms: mild fever, fatigue, headaches. But in a matter of days, things can shift dramatically—paranoia, hallucinations, speech problems, seizures, and even catatonia may emerge.

In Ryan’s case, these escalated quickly. He started speaking incoherently. He experienced delusions, then seizures, and within days, fell into a coma that lasted eight weeks. When he woke up, the world was unrecognizable. He couldn't stand, speak, or even identify familiar faces.

Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis affects an estimated 1.5 people per million annually, but that number may be underreported due to frequent misdiagnosis. Its symptoms mimic schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe anxiety, often delaying correct treatment.

Women, especially between ages 12 to 45, are disproportionately affected. In these cases, the condition is frequently associated with tumors, particularly ovarian teratomas, which trigger the immune response. For others, it can follow a herpes simplex infection—another key but underrecognized link.

A study published in Neurology found that nearly 27% of patients recovering from herpes simplex encephalitis went on to develop autoimmune encephalitis, with Anti-NMDAR accounting for the majority of those cases.

Can 'Brain on Fire Disease' Be Treated?

The key to managing this condition lies in quick recognition and aggressive early treatment. But diagnosis isn’t straightforward. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid tests are needed to detect the anti-NMDA antibodies, which can take time—time many patients don’t have.

That’s why most experts recommend beginning immunotherapy based on clinical suspicion, even before test results are back.

Treatment typically begins with high-dose steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), or plasmapheresis to suppress the immune attack. If a tumor is detected, surgical removal becomes urgent. In more stubborn or recurring cases, drugs like rituximab or cyclophosphamide are introduced for long-term immune modulation.

In Ryan’s case, immunotherapy began after his coma was induced to manage seizures and brain swelling. Since regaining consciousness, his recovery has been slow but steady. He remains disoriented and confused, sometimes mistaking objects or people for things they’re not—a stuffed toy, to him, is a living creature. He’s learning to move again, a process his family says may take up to a year or more.

One of the most challenging aspects of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is managing its psychiatric manifestations. Patients can swing between aggression, hallucinations, mutism, and catatonia—often within hours. That’s why psychiatric support is as crucial as neurological intervention.

Medications like benzodiazepines, valproic acid, and certain antipsychotics like quetiapine are commonly used to manage behavioral symptoms. But the challenge lies in balance: too much sedation can worsen neurological symptoms like abnormal movements or cognitive delays.

Doctors typically tailor medication regimens carefully, opting for sleep aids like trazodone or clonidine when needed and tapering off psychiatric drugs as neurological recovery improves.

How Treatment Helps Manage Seizures?

Seizures are common in anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis and often the first visible signs of a deeper problem. Most patients experience focal or generalized seizures, and while immunotherapy usually helps reduce them, anti-seizure medications are added to prevent complications.

Interestingly, sodium channel blockers tend to perform better than some commonly used medications like levetiracetam, which can worsen psychiatric symptoms. Most patients can eventually taper off anti-epileptics after two to three years of stability.

Can This Disease Come Back?

Unfortunately, yes. Relapses are a real possibility, even years after initial recovery. This underscores the need for long-term monitoring. Experts advise follow-ups with a neuroimmunologist, especially if the original trigger—like a tumor—was never identified.

If relapse occurs, doctors recommend treating it as aggressively as the first time: re-evaluation for tumors, renewed immunotherapy, and psychiatric support.

If you or someone you know starts showing sudden, unexplained changes in behavior—especially after a recent infection or illness—don’t dismiss it. Ask about autoimmune encephalitis. Because sometimes, what looks like a breakdown… is actually the brain crying out for help.

Women carrying excess body fat face a significantly higher risk of developing breast cancer after menopause, new research has revealed. The risk climbs even higher for women who also suffer from heart disease—drawing attention to a worrying but often overlooked health intersection.

The study, led by Dr Heinz Freisling of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), analyzed health data from over 168,000 postmenopausal women. Their findings show a clear link between body mass index (BMI) and breast cancer risk—especially in those with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions.

The Connection Between Weight and Heart Health

The analysis found that for every 5kg/m² increase in BMI, the risk of breast cancer went up by 13% in women without heart disease. However, in women with heart disease, the same weight gain increased their risk by 31%.

To put this into perspective, researchers estimate that this dual burden of excess weight and heart disease could lead to 153 additional breast cancer cases per 100,000 women every year.

BMI is a standard measure used worldwide to evaluate a person’s weight category based on height and weight. While useful, it doesn’t fully capture individual health or fat distribution, making regular check-ups and a broader assessment all the more important.

“Excess weight can cause hormonal imbalances, particularly raising oestrogen levels, which are known to fuel breast cancer,” said Dr Freisling. “Our findings could help guide risk-based breast cancer screening programs and support tailored prevention strategies.”

Obesity and Recurrence Risk

This is not the first time obesity has been linked to breast cancer. Earlier this year, Danish researchers reported that obese breast cancer survivors were up to 80% more likely to die of the disease. The risk of recurrence was also found to increase by 70% in overweight women.

Researchers suspect that what’s known as metabolic syndrome—a cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and excess fat around the waist—could be to blame. It may create chronic inflammation in the body, weakening the immune system’s ability to fight off cancer cells.

Breast Cancer: The Most Common Cancer in the UK

Breast cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in the UK, with nearly 56,000 new cases annually. It is also one of the leading causes of cancer-related death, with approximately 11,500 women dying from the disease each year.

The majority of breast cancer cases occur in women over 50, particularly after menopause. But alarmingly, global data show that breast cancer is increasingly affecting women under 50, a trend that scientists are still trying to understand.

Projections suggest that by 2050, breast cancer deaths in the UK could rise by over 40%, with 3.2 million new cases and 1.1 million deaths expected globally if current trends continue.

Prevention and Early Detection

Despite the sobering statistics, breast cancer is often treatable if caught early. Yet, more than a third of women in the UK still do not regularly check their breasts for signs of change.

Symptoms to watch for include:

• A lump or swelling in the breast or armpit
• Dimpling of the skin
• Changes in nipple shape or discharge
• Persistent rash or redness
• Sudden changes in size or shape of the breast

Health experts and charities such as CoppaFeel continue to urge women to make breast self-checks a monthly routine, as reported by DailyMail. You can do it in the shower, lying down, or while getting dressed—there’s no right or wrong method, as long as you stay familiar with your own body.

The National Health Service, UK, also encourages women aged 50 to 70 to attend routine breast cancer screenings every three years. If you notice any persistent or unusual changes, speak to your GP immediately.

A common stomach bug, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), could be responsible for millions of preventable cancer cases in the coming years, top researchers have warned.

Scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), estimate that H. pylori infection causes 76% of all stomach cancer cases globally. Despite its serious implications, the infection is often silent, producing no noticeable symptoms beyond common digestive complaints.

No Obvious Signs Until It Is Too Late

The bacteria, which lives in the lining of the stomach, is usually acquired through contaminated food, water, or close contact with infected individuals. It causes tissue damage over time that can eventually lead to stomach cancer.

What makes it dangerous is that most people don't realize they're infected. “The vast majority—between 80 to 90 per cent—of infected individuals show no symptoms,” the researchers noted. In some cases, H. pylori may cause painful stomach ulcers, which is when it’s typically detected.

Symptoms of stomach cancer are often subtle in the beginning:

• persistent indigestion
• bloating
• heartburn
• difficulty swallowing
• feeling full quickly
• unexplained weight loss
• fatigue

These can easily be mistaken for common gastrointestinal issues, which delays diagnosis and treatment.

Screening could save lives

The IARC team is now calling for more widespread screening for H. pylori, using simple blood, breath or stool tests. Writing in the journal Nature Medicine, they warn that if current trends continue unchecked, nearly 12 million people born between 2008 and 2017 will go on to develop stomach cancer due to the bacteria.

“We found that about three-quarters of all stomach cancer cases globally could be prevented with proper screening and treatment,” said Dr Jin Young Park, lead author of the study and head of IARC’s gastric cancer prevention programme. “It is essential that health authorities make gastric cancer prevention a priority and accelerate efforts to control it.”

Asia Is Most Affected, But The Risk Is Global

While the highest number of predicted cases is expected in Asia, around 2 million are projected to develop in the Americas and 1.2 million in Europe.

In the UK, data from Cancer Research UK (CRUK) shows that H. pylori is responsible for roughly 41 per cent of the 6,500 stomach cancer cases diagnosed annually—about 2,700 cases a year.

Historically, about 40% of the British population has tested positive for H. pylori, although rates are now believed to be declining. However, the risk persists, especially among older generations or those born in areas where the bacteria is still widespread.

Prevention Lies In Lifestyle Changes

Despite the global warning, CRUK has urged Britons not to panic. Dr Rachel Orritt, the charity’s health information manager, stressed that lifestyle factors such as smoking, poor diet, alcohol consumption and obesity remain more significant contributors to cancer risk in the UK, as reported by DailyMail.

“Although this is an important issue worldwide, in the UK other preventable factors cause more cancer cases,” she said. “Ways to reduce your cancer risk include stopping smoking, keeping a healthy weight, cutting down on alcohol and eating a healthy, balanced diet.”

CRUK also highlighted that over half of all stomach cancers in the UK are preventable, and that incidence rates have fallen by more than 25% in the past decade—a trend that is expected to continue.

Early Signs You Should Not Miss

Doctors advise that persistent symptoms like indigestion, nausea, weight loss, or discomfort in the upper stomach lasting more than three weeks should prompt a visit to a GP.

Around 18 people in the UK and 83 in the US are diagnosed with stomach cancer every day. The disease remains difficult to treat once advanced, with only 17 per cent of UK patients surviving beyond 10 years post-diagnosis.

With screening and treatment, H. pylori infection can be managed—and lives saved. The challenge lies in catching it before it silently progresses to something far more dangerous.