COVID-19 is back in the news, however, experts have time and again said that the virus will now work like a seasonal disease with new variant coming up as the season changes. Rightly so, the virus is back with two new variants making rounds - Nimbus (NB.1.8.1) and Stratus (XFG).

Health and Me had previously also reported on the surge in COVID-19 cases in UK, and the US. So, how concerned should you be?

Viruses Evolve

Medicine history is a proof that viruses evolve over time. This is also the case with the latest variants Nimbus and Stratus, which are the sub-variants of Omicron.

Nimbus was first reported in China, this year, and has been spreading across Europe and the US. Whereas, Stratus is now rapidly seen in the UK.

These both are now common strains. As per the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), they do not make people sick the way COVID-19 earlier used to. However, the variants are more contagious in nature, thus are better at spreading from person to person.

Why Nimbus Is Unique?

Scientists have noted that Nimbus has a strong protein that is better at attaching itself with human cells. As compared to the earlier variants, it is up to 2.5 times more efficient and highly transmissible.

While it does not have a severe symptom. It has an unusual symptom that causes "razor blade" like sore throat. People usually report a sharp pain while swallowing food or beverage.

Other symptoms that are similar to earlier variants are fatigue, mild cough, nasal congestion, and in some cases people may experience nausea.

What Makes Stratus Unique?

Stratus works a little differently from Nimbus. While it does not have a strong hold on cells, it evades immune responses better. This makes it easier for the virus to dodge antibodies. This means, the infection can happen in people even when they have been recently vaccinated.

However, the ray of hope is that like Nimbus, this virus also have not shown signs of severe illness. However, it can catch people off guard, especially now that other diseases like flu and RSV are also on the rise.

Should People Be Concerned?

As per the experts, while the number of cases are on rise, there is no evidence that suggests that these variants are more dangerous than the ones previously reported.

As per Dr Alex Allen, who is a consultant Epidemiologist at the UKHSA said, "Based on the available information so far, there is no evidence to suggest that the variants cause more severe disease or that the vaccines in current use will be less effective against them."

What Precautions Should One Keep In Mind?

• Ensure your vaccines are updated, especially if you have any elderly persons in your family, or those with chronic illness, ensure they are well protected.

• If entering a crowded place, use masks and hand sanitisers.

• Make sure your house is ventilated well, as it cuts down the risk of airborne spread.

• Listen to your body, if you feel sick, get it tested. It is not just a seasonal flu, it may be COVID. Keep test kits handy.

At a recent Times Network Health Summit, a panel of experts explored the mental health challenges facing India’s youth. With increasing pressures from academics, social media, and career expectations, young people are struggling with stress, anxiety, and emotional instability. To have a deeper conversation on this Panelists Major General Vikram Dev Dogra, Dr. Praveen Gupta, Neurologist, and Actor and Wellness Entrepreneur Pooja Bedi, along with our moderator Kalpana Sharma shared insights and practical strategies for coping in an increasingly demanding world.

The Generation of Overload

Major General Vikram Dev Dogra reflected on the differences between his generation and today’s youth. “Today, young people have access to more information, more opportunities, and more distractions,” he said. While this opens doors, it also brings challenges like mental stress, anxiety, and identity struggles. Constant screen time and social media pressure make balance rare, while decision-making and comparison often fuel stress.

Mental Health vs. Mental Illness

Dr Praveen Gupta emphasized that mental health challenges differ from mental illnesses. While mental health struggles affect many young people, clinical conditions require professional care. He noted that stigma and denial often prevent timely intervention, even among educated individuals. He said, "Open dialogue and early awareness are key to preventing crises and promoting long-term well-being."

Building Inner Connections

Panelists talked about the importance of building deep, meaningful connections. Pooja Bedi explained, “Small connections are good, but inner connections, spending time with friends, joining health camps, or even regular meetups, strengthen your mental health network.” These connections improve resilience and emotional adaptability, sometimes adding years to life.

Hobbies, Exercise, and Resilience For Mental Wellness

Developing hobbies and maintaining routines were identified as crucial tools for mental wellness. “When we grow older, routines can become monotonous. Hobbies give your mind something to look forward to daily,” Bedi said. Physical exercise was described as the single most important tool for brain health. Just 50 minutes of activity a day can improve blood flow, enhance cognitive function, and protect against conditions like dementia. Combined with hobbies and social connections, this creates a strong foundation for mental resilience.

Positivity as a Choice

Happiness, the panel emphasized, is a conscious choice. “Positivity is a mindset,” Bedi explained. “Every day, you choose whether to be happy or not. Spreading positivity starts with personal choice.” She also introduced her initiative, Happy Soul, which offers courses, meditations, and practical tools to enhance mental wellness. Interested individuals can visit poojabedi.com for upcoming sessions focused on meditation, manifestation, and personal growth.

The Role of Awareness and Action For Mental Health

The discussion concluded with a reminder that mental health challenges require both awareness and action. Limiting technology, encouraging open dialogue, growing hobbies, exercising, and making genuine social connections are all practical ways to maintain emotional balance. As Dr. Praveen Gupta noted, the key lies in early detection, honest conversations, and building resilience to adapt to life’s changes.

The Times Network India Health Summit & Awards 2025 hosted a moving session on “Breast Cancer and Beyond: Stories of Strength, Science and Survival.” The conversation brought together actress and breast cancer survivor Chhavi Mittal and Dr. Sumant Gupta, Senior Consultant & Head of Medical Oncology, Hematology, BMT & Director at Metro Cancer Institute, and moderator Pooja Jain, Special Correspondent, Times Network.

Chhavi Mittal's Journey of Taking Charge

Chhavi Mittal opened the session with a candid reflection on her cancer journey. She shared that the first step was not immediate resilience, but acceptance. “Initially, I thought there must be a mistake. Maybe my lifestyle or diet had gone wrong, and if I corrected it, it would go away. But the moment I accepted the diagnosis, I could begin asking the right questions and take charge of my recovery,” she said.

She described herself today as “Chhavi 2.0, a stronger version of myself,” and stressed that every cancer journey is unique. “No two cancers are the same, and no two patients’ reasons are the same. What mattered for me was focusing on lifestyle, routine, and the steps I could control.”

Recurrence, Fear and Moving Forward After Fighting Cancer

Addressing one of the most pressing concerns, "recurrence," Dr. Sumant Gupta explained that about 10–15% of breast cancer patients face the risk of the disease returning. “The first five years are the most critical. After that, the chances reduce significantly, almost to the level of the general population,” he said. But for patients, he noted, living with the fear of recurrence is often harder than the treatment itself. “What helps is a combination of medical vigilance and lifestyle changes like maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, and avoiding alcohol and tobacco. Science today has evolved to preserve not just survival, but also the quality of life.”

Chhavi echoed this sentiment, adding that fear should not overshadow living. “I was fit, disciplined with my diet, I breastfed both my babies, and still, I got cancer. If it recurs, it recurs. I choose not to live under the weight of ‘what if.’ Faith has to be stronger than fear,” she said.

The Role of Caregivers

The discussion also highlighted the silent strength of caregivers. Chhavi shared how her husband supported her journey by giving her space to heal, physically and emotionally. “Sometimes the biggest strength is just allowing your partner to walk their own path and being there quietly,” she said. Dr. Gupta added, “Cancer does not happen to one person alone—it happens to the whole family. Caregivers play an equally important role, from ensuring treatments are followed to supporting the patient’s mental health.”

Shifts in Cancer Treatment

Dr. Gupta explained how oncology has transformed over the decades. “Earlier, treatments were aggressive and destructive. Today, we focus on conservation and holistic care. Surgeries are less invasive, chemotherapy side effects like nausea and hair loss are managed far better, and innovations like scalp cooling and precision drugs have changed patient experience,” he said. He underlined that the focus has shifted from just survival to quality of life, ensuring that patients emerge from treatment with dignity and confidence intact.

A Survivor’s Perspective

Closing the session, Chhavi left the audience with a powerful message. “Breast cancer was the best thing that happened to me. It jolted me out of my comfort zone and pushed me to grow. At one point I stopped comparing myself to who I was before cancer. I began taking one day at a time, and that changed everything. Today, I stand stronger, not in spite of cancer, but because of it.”

Today at Times Network India Health Summit and Awards 2025, a special panel discussion focused on “Battling Dengue in India: Crisis, Control & the Promise of a Vaccination”. The panel brought together three experts: Dr. Sanjeev Bagai, Chairman of Nephron Clinic, Senior Consultant Paediatrician & Nephrologist, Padma Shri awardee, Dr. K. Madan Gopal, Advisor and Head of Public Health Administration, National Health Systems Resource Centre and Dr Atul Kakar, Chairperson of the department of Internal medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Together, they shared insights on how India can fight the growing dengue crisis.

Dengue Testing And Underreporting

Dr. Sanjeev Bagai began by explaining the challenges of testing. He noted that the NS1 antigen test, one of the most common diagnostic tools, does not turn positive until the end of the first day of infection. This often leads to false negatives if testing is done too early, adding to underreporting. He further talked about how many rural cases are never tested or are simply classified as “viral fever,” further skewing national numbers.

From a Seasonal Illness To A Perennial Problem

Dr. Madan Gopal stressed that dengue can no longer be considered a post-monsoon illness alone. “Over the decades, it has evolved from being a seasonal problem to becoming a perennial health threat,” he said, highlighting factors like rapid urbanisation, water stagnation, waste management failures, and climate change. “We need civic, community, and government surveillance working hand in hand to prevent mosquito breeding and control outbreaks,” he added.

Recognising The Dengue Symptoms

Dr Atul Kakar agreed that public awareness of warning symptoms is critical. Severe headaches, pain behind the eyes, back pain, and high-grade fevers should alert both patients and healthcare providers. Dr. Bagai explained that the infection passes through four phases, acute febrile, critical, plateau, and recovery. Importantly, he warned that a fall in fever does not signal recovery. Dr Bagai told us, “Instead, this is often when platelet counts dip, and complications can arise.”

Managing the Patient Burden

On hospital preparedness, Dr. Madan Gopal underlined that 70–80% of dengue cases can be managed at home with proper hydration and monitoring. He emphasised building capacity in both public and private healthcare sectors to identify warning signs early and prevent unnecessary hospital admissions that overwhelm facilities.

Dangers of Self-Medication During Dengue

Dr. Bagai strongly cautioned against relying on home remedies or inappropriate drugs. “Yoga, papaya leaf juice, or herbal concoctions do not cure dengue,” he said. He also warned against taking aspirin, ibuprofen, or antibiotics, as these can worsen bleeding risks and damage the liver or kidneys. The only safe medicine for managing fever, he stressed, is paracetamol along with adequate fluids.

Long Dengue

A critical takeaway from Dr. Bagai was that dengue does not end with the fever. He pointed to new research showing long-term complications, including higher risks of cardiac issues, autoimmune conditions, kidney damage, and neurological problems—sometimes lasting for months after infection. This “long dengue syndrome,” he said, is an emerging challenge that must be factored into health planning.

Dengue Vaccine

When asked about the future of a dengue vaccine, Dr Bagai was cautious. He explained that while early vaccine trials have taken place, the long-term efficacy is poor, with protection falling sharply after four to five years. “Some vaccines work only in the early stages of infection and fail against later serotypes. Others carry the risk of worsening the disease due to the body’s unpredictable immune response,” he said.

Dr Bagai added that dengue’s overlap with other viral exposures, including influenza, COVID-19, and Zika, complicates vaccine development. “The worst thing you can do is give a vaccine that ends up triggering a more severe infection. Some global studies have shown exactly that an increase in hospitalisations among vaccinated individuals,” he warned.

Instead of banking on a vaccine anytime soon, Dr. Bagai stressed that prevention must remain the priority. “The safest and most effective protection is to keep mosquitoes out of your homes, manage water storage, and prevent breeding grounds. Vaccines for dengue are still a far, far distance away,” he said.

Dr. K. Madan Gopal agreed that while research continues, community action, civic surveillance, and strong preventive measures remain India’s best defence in the near term.

The panel concluded that India’s fight against dengue requires:

• Early testing and accurate diagnosis to reduce underreporting.
• Mass public awareness campaigns on prevention and warning signs.
• Stronger civic action to control mosquito breeding.
• Responsible treatment with hydration, paracetamol, and medical supervision.
• Focus on vaccination research, given the presence of four dengue serotypes and risks of repeat infections.

Dr. Bagai summed it up: “Dengue is not just a seasonal fever anymore. It is a national health crisis that demands prevention, awareness, and scientific management, not myths or shortcuts.”

The partners of the Times Network India Health Summit are:

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knowledge partner- MGR University

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