This year's Doctor's Day was a reminder to all that doctor's too are human. The theme specifically focused on healing the healers, emphasizing on the need for people to recognize doctor's struggle and treat them with empathy and sympathy.

No Lines Between Personal And Professional Life

Health and Me had earlier reported on how doctors, even when they are not at work receive work questions all the time. In a previous interview with Health and Me, Dr Guru N Reddy, a senior gastroenterologist, shared, “I didn’t spend time with my family when my kids were growing up. My work always came first and then came my family.” He also shared that how whenever he is gone for a gathering, it turns into an unofficial consultation desk. “Can I quickly show you this report?” “There’s this pain that won’t go, can you suggest something?” These are the questions he is faced with even at family events.

All such scenarios will undoubtedly make a doctor feel overwhelmed. In fact, a survey conducted by Medtalks, a doctor engagement platform, revealed that doctors are burdened by growing mental and emotional burden.

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The survey, though small scale, conducted among 200 doctors across public and private health care, revealed an important issue. It found that 74% of respondents felt emotionally exhausted on a weekly or even on a daily basis. This survey also highlighted the depth of burnout and chronic stress in the medical profession.

Many doctors also agreed that even after their work hours, they were still entertained with questions related to their patients health through WhatsApp. The data revealed that over 83% of doctors felt that they were under constant stress as their patients continued to contact them through WhatsApp, phone calls, and digital messages, with many asking them for urgent queries. This round-the-check communication has blurred personal and professional boundaries, which has disassociated doctors from their own families.

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Looming Fear Of Threat And Violence On Doctors

The survey also found that threat and violence against doctors were a major source of stress and concern. Indian Medical Association (IMA) President, Dr Dilip Bhanushali, in an earlier interview with Health and Me had said, "Violence against doctors is not rare—it’s routine."

He further added: “We’ve seen mobs arrive with kerosene, petrol, even swords, burning down hospitals. There was a law during COVID promising seven years imprisonment and non-bailable warrants for attacks on doctors, but it hasn’t been enforced. Most states still have weak three-year, bailable punishments.”

He also pointed towards the RG Kar Medical College’s case where a female postgraduate trainee doctor was raped and murdered and her body was found in a seminar room on campus. Doctors across the nation went on a strike, demanding justice. “But we cannot go to the roads and do strikes every time. Despite it all, we uphold our Hippocratic oath.”

The survey too echoed the same feelings, where many respondents admitted that this fear has directly influenced their approach to diagnosis, communication, and decision-making. Doctors are now acting more defensively.

The strain on doctors is intensified by mounting administrative duties, fear of legal action, limited institutional support, and rising expectations to deliver flawless outcomes.

Over one-third of doctors reported working more than 60 hours a week, while only 17 percent are able to take a full, uninterrupted day off on a regular basis. Most respondents said they receive minimal support in coping with these demands. Strikingly, just 14 percent felt the current healthcare system allows them to prioritise their own wellbeing, whereas 52 percent said it does not.

Bubonic Plague: A Lak Tahoe area resident has tested positive for plague, as confirmed by the California health officials on Tuesday. The officials have confirmed that the resident was infected after being bitten by an infected flea while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area.

What does this mean for people living in the surround area? Questions about plague, how is it spread, or is it preventable are of course spiraling in everyone's mind right now.

Here, we try to answer all your concerns.

California Resident Plague Case

What happened? The health officials in California confirmed that a South Lake Tahoe resident tested positive for the plague. This is the same centuries-old disease that had killed millions during the Black Death.

The individual is believed to have contracted the infection after being bitten by an infected flea while camping near the Lake Tahoe Basin. According to El Dorado County Public Health, the patient is receiving care and recovering at home.

“Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher-elevation areas of El Dorado County,” said Kyle Fliflet, the county’s acting public health director. “It’s important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially while walking, hiking and camping in areas where wild rodents are present.”

Also Read: What History Teaches Us About Plague? Are There More Than One Type?

Plague: It is an illness that you can get from the bacterium Yersinia pestis or the Y pestis. It is a zoonotic disease, which means you can get it from animals and they also can get it from you. The disease usually spreads through bites from fleas that have been infected by biting an infected animal.

Read: California Resident Tests Positive For Plague, Officials Trace Case Back To Lake Tahoe Flea

Is The Bubonic Plague Back?

The Global Center for Health Security, by the University of Nebraska Medical Center notes that the bubonic plague never really went away.

The bubonic plague wiped out tens of millions of people in Europe in the 14th century and it thus gained the label 'Black Death'.

Last year too, a rare case of human plague was confirmed in rural Oregon, as confirmed by the Deschutes County Health Services. As per the report the individual is said to be infected by a pet car, which had symptoms.

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), US, on an average, seven human plague cases are reported each year in the country.

Is Bubonic Plague Contagious?

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), while not totally eradicated, "human to human transmission of bubonic plague is rare". However, bubonic plague is contagious.

The CDC notes that people usually get plague after being bitten by an infected rodent flea or by handling an infected animal. People can also become infected through exposure to sick pets, especially cats, which had been the case from Oregon, last year.

There are 3 ways a plague can spread, through animals, through blood, and through infectious droplets. However, all three different ways make for three different kinds of plagues. For bubonic plague, it is spread by flea bites, notes CDC.

Flea bites: Infected fleas transmit plague after feeding on sick rodents. When rodents die, fleas look for new hosts, including humans and pets, potentially causing bubonic or septicemic plague.

Contaminated fluids/tissues: Handling infected animals, such as skinning animals without protection, can spread plague bacteria, usually leading to bubonic or septicemic plague.

Infectious droplets: Plague pneumonia in humans or animals can release bacteria into the air. Inhaling these droplets may cause pneumonic plague, though direct close contact is usually required. Cats are especially vulnerable and can pass the infection to people.

Bubonic Plague Symptoms

The common signs of bubonic plague are:

• Fever
• Headache
• Chills
• Weakness
• One or more swollen, painful lymph nodes, called buboes (where the disease derives its name from)

These symptoms of bubonic plague usually start within the period of 2 to 8 days after being bitten.

The bacteria multiply in a lymph node near where the bacteria entered the human body. If the patient is not treated with the appropriate antibiotics, the bacteria can spread to other parts of the body.

Bubonic Plague Mortality Rate

As per EBSCO, a platform that provides research databases, e-journals and other library resources, the bubonic plague has a historically high case fatality ratio from about 30 to 60%. However, today, with the help of treatment, it can be reduced to 5% to 15%.

The CDC notes that over 80% of the US plague cases have been in bubonic form, with seven cases each year. Plague has occurred in people across all ages, though 50% of cases happen in people aged 12 to 45. CDC notes that while it happens to both men and women, the plague is more common in men, probably "because of increased outdoor activities that put them at higher risk".

As new COVID-19 cases continue to crop up, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is giving daily updates to help people. Amid the rise of new stains, as well as changing vaccine guidelines, one must stay up to date with COVID data.

Latest CDC data shows that 28,052 Americans were tested positive for COVID-19, western states are currently at the highest risk for new COVID-19 infections. This comes as the "stratus" variant and other virus strains continue to circulate nationwide.

How US is Tracking COVID Risk In States

Wastewater monitoring is a powerful tool that helps us track the spread of viruses like COVID-19. It can pick up on a virus's presence in a community even before people start feeling sick or go to the doctor. This is a great way to find infections, including those with no symptoms. If you see that wastewater viral activity is increasing, it means there's a higher chance of infection.

The amount of virus in the wastewater is given a level: Very Low, Low, Moderate, High, or Very High. These levels help show the risk of infection in a certain area. For example, a Very High level means the virus amount is over 7.8, while a Low level is between 2 and 3.4.

While national COVID-19 viral activity in wastewater has dropped from "moderate" to "low" this month, several states, particularly in the West, are bucking the trend. The CDC's wastewater monitoring data from August 3 to August 9, 2025, showed "very high" viral activity in:

• Utah
• Nevada
• Texas
• Alaska
• Hawaii

Additionally, states with "high" levels of viral activity as of August 14 include California, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, and Connecticut. The CDC warns that elevated wastewater levels may signal a higher risk of infection.

What Are The Symptoms of Current COVID Strain?

The "nimbus" or NB.1.8.1 variant is currently the most prevalent strain in the U.S., followed by the LP.8.1 variant, which is a descendent of Omicron. The "stratus" (XFG) variant is the third-most common and is making up a significant portion of the virus detected in wastewater.

Symptoms for these variants are largely consistent with previous strains, including fever, chills, cough, sore throat, and congestion. However, some reports have noted specific symptoms, such as "hoarseness" with the "stratus" variant and "razor-blade" sore throats with the "nimbus" variant.

Also Read: What History Teaches Us About Plague? Are There More Than One Type?

How Many Days After Exposure To Covid Do Symptoms Appear?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends you wait at least five days after being exposed to COVID-19 before taking a test. Testing too early can give you an incorrect result. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, however, you should test immediately.

However, no test is perfect. A test might not catch every case of the virus, if you believe you were exposed or have symptoms but get a negative result, it's a good idea to take multiple tests to be sure.

To avoid spreading the virus, it's safest to act as if you are positive until you have at least two negative test results. You should also self-isolate if you develop any symptoms, even if your test is negative.

Is COVID Still A Thing?

As of August 12, 2025, COVID-19 infections are either increasing or likely increasing in 34 states. In 14 states, the number of infections is staying about the same. Currently, no states are showing a decrease in infections.

While American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) sudden divergence from Centers of Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations after 30 years for the first time may have raised some eyebrows, soon after, Robert F Kennedy junior, American Health Secretary officially accused the Pediatricians' community of being “paid to promote by drug companies”.

In a X post, RFK Jr. said “Americans may ask whether the AAP’s recommendations reflect public health interest, or are, perhaps, just a pay-to-play scheme to promote commercial ambitions of AAP’s Big Pharma benefactors.”

How Does AAP’s Recommendation On Vaccine Differ From CDC

This argument started when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stopped recommending COVID-19 shots for all children ages 6 months and older. Kennedy praised this move.

However, the AAP kept its recommendation for young children to get vaccinated. They said that children under 2 years old are especially at risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.

Even with this disagreement, both the CDC and the AAP still recommend the shots for children who have other health problems. For healthy children, both groups agree that parents should talk with their doctor to decide what's best.

Is RFK Anti-Vaccines?

On more than one occasion Kennedy has questioned the validity of vaccines and how effective they are. Kennedy has also made false claims about vaccine safety, saying they cause illnesses and even death. He has also promoted unproven treatments for measles and suggested that doctors and scientists who advise the CDC can’t be trusted because of conflicts of interest

Even as measles cases are increasing, Kennedy has downplayed the risks. He has wrongly claimed that a natural measles infection gives a person better protection than a vaccine, ignoring the fact that measles can be deadly and can even harm a person's immune system for years after they recover.

The National Institutes of Health stopped giving money to researchers who study why people are hesitant about vaccines.

It also cut programs meant to find new vaccines for future pandemics. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also cut billions of dollars from state programs that help get children immunized.

Are Vaccine Budget Cuts Affecting People’s Health?

Since being appointed, Kennedy has halted 500 million dollars in vaccine projects. According to John Hopkins, the decision to cut $500 million in mRNA vaccine funding is a serious setback for public health and national security. It hurts our ability to be ready for the next pandemic.

This technology has huge potential beyond just fighting new viruses. Researchers are excited about using mRNA to create vaccines for diseases like HIV and even treatments for cancer and autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes. Cutting this funding will slow down all of this important research, allowing other countries to get ahead while we fall behind.

mRNA vaccines, first used for COVID-19, are a powerful new tool in medicine. Despite their success, misinformation is now threatening their future development and public trust.

Global immunization efforts are facing major threats from misinformation, growing populations, humanitarian crises, and funding cuts. The World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Gavi are warning that this is putting millions of children and adults at risk.

Outbreaks of diseases like measles, meningitis, and yellow fever are on the rise worldwide. Even diseases like diphtheria, which had almost disappeared in many countries, are now at risk of returning.

Are Preventable Diseases Making a Comeback?

According to UNICEF statistics, measles cases have been on the rise since 2021, reaching an estimated 10.3 million cases in 2023. This is a 20% increase from the year before. The trend is expected to continue into 2024 and 2025. In the past year, many countries have had large outbreaks. Other diseases are also a growing concern:

• Meningitis cases in Africa have risen sharply.
• Yellow fever is also climbing in Africa and the Americas.

These outbreaks are happening because global health funding is being cut. A recent survey found that many countries are struggling with their vaccination programs and don't have enough supplies. As a result, an estimated 14.5 million children missed all their routine vaccines in 2023.

Despite these challenges, vaccines remain one of the best tools for saving lives. Every year, they prevent almost 4.2 million deaths from 14 different diseases. Major progress has been made, including:

• A new vaccine has helped get rid of meningitis A in Africa.
• Yellow fever cases have been reduced.
• HPV vaccine coverage has nearly doubled in Africa, a big step in fighting cervical cancer.
• The introduction of malaria vaccines in Africa could save half a million lives by 2035.

Call for Action

UNICEF is urging everyone—parents, the public, and world leaders—to support vaccination. Investing in vaccines is a smart move, with a return of $54 for every dollar spent. Vaccines not only protect against diseases but also connect families to other important healthcare services.

A major goal is to raise at least $9 billion to fund a plan to protect 500 million children over the next five years.