Hark! It’s the season: for flu

(In the weekly Health Matters newsletter, Ramya Kannan writes about getting to good health, and staying there. You can subscribe here to get the newsletter in your inbox.)It is officially the flu season with winter and monsoon seasons creeping in on large parts of the world. There is a need to take precautions and be aware of the risks of the season, particularly at a time when we are hearing of old viruses resurging, or new, never-before heard pathogens rearing their heads, even known microorganisms that cause disease among humans, after a zoonotic spillover. As in the case of the Shamonda virus. Last week France reported the first human Shamonda virus case, a virus usually circulating amongst livestock. The severely immunocompromised patient died, spurring global public health concerns. While France said there was no health risk as a result of this, there are definitely problems when a new pathogen crosses the barrier. For everything we currently know about the Shamonda virus, read Athira Elssa Johnson’s explainer, here.She also writes on Melioidosis in India: a potentially deadly infection that may be going undetected. Melioidosis caused by B. pseudomallei which is found in soil and water in tropical and subtropical regions, can cause pneumonia, bloodstream infection, skin and soft-tissue infections, abscesses in organs such as the liver and spleen, septic arthritis and bone infections. It can also affect the kidneys, muscles and prostate. Meanwhile, as the second patient in Nigeria, a relative of the first case of death from Ebola in the nation, also died of Ebola, some hopeful news came from DR Congo where the Ebola vaccine trial began for the Bundibugyo strain. In the U.S., where an early U.S. flu season has set in, doctors warned that the current strain may signal a higher risk for younger people; and urged them to get shots. Talking of the weather, it is also time to discuss pollution and climate-related health effects. Nikhil M. Babu writes that air pollution in Delhi-NCR has come ahead of winter.In Mumbai, Yohaan Varghese says another crisis is brewing, as attention remains on the northern States. Mumbai recorded 231 days of ‘good’ or ‘satisfactory’ air quality in 2026. The BMC has been forced to unveil a winter pollution action plan.Geetha Srimathi interprets a global report that claims: Extreme weather, harmful chemicals escalating health risks among food workers.As a bellwether State for healthcare in the country, what happens in Kerala affects the entire nation, in some way. The Spinal Muscular Atrophy controversy, currently brewing in the southern State too could contain lessons for the nation.First do read C. Maya’s explainer on what this controversy is all about, here. After the government switched the drug in its SMA programme from branded to generic, parents of children living with SMA have been asking for a switch back to the branded version; meanwhile the label on a drug bottle has sparked concerns, and political parties have now latched on to the issue.Meanwhile, experts have opined that the Row over SMA drug distribution in Keralam is unwarranted and a hospital rejected charges of ‘clinical trial drugs’ given to children. Further a doctor at SAT Hospital said Parents were actually counselled about the generic drug that was to be used ahead of administration.We are sure to be following up this story until it reaches its logical conclusion. Further on the regulation scenario in the health care/medical sector, the issue of prices of drugs was top of the agenda after the recent Supreme Court judgement. Devyanshi Bihani looked at data and found that ₹8,447 crore in medicine overcharging claims remain outstanding as SC seeks wider price controls.Bindu Shajan Perappadan wrote on the concerns over the National Medical Commission withdrawing the 2023 Rules on medical education standards. While the government claims this has been done to eliminate duplication and multiple overlaps, it has raised questions about how violations by medical colleges will be penalised, and how compliance with prescribed standards will be verified under the remaining regulatory framework. She also recorded the disability lobby’s demand that the Centre classify communication aids as essential products.Dr. C. Aravinda explained what the National Medical Commission’s new guidelines say about advertising in medicine, while Afshan Yasmeen reported a Lancet review that called for clinical assessment over routine scans for back pain. It may no longer be an overstatement to say ‘diet is everything’ when it comes to staying on the good side of health. Studies have proven, increasingly, the impact of a diet over the body’s ability to handle disease, fight various conditions and stay on the path of good health. This recent UK-Chennai collaborative study showed that good-quality diets are associated with better cholesterol levels even among those with a genetic predisposition.Jacob Koshy wrote about a study that claimed Plant-based meat yielded a higher share of absorbable protein than traditional meat, and on the side of plants, still, Vasudevan Mukunth asked if theCentre’s new fortified potato variety the Centrecan address India’s hidden hunger or undernutrition problem. And more:I wrote on Lymphatic drain massage; and how Medicine is placed as a central plot in modern Tamil literature Dr. B.K. Madhusudhan explainedWhat happens inside the brain during a stroke?Dr. Margubur Rahaman and Ankit Mishra wrote: Why West Bengal’s C-Sections, at nearly 1 in 2 births, demand a hard lookMicrosoft develops AI tool that can diagnose ‘sequentially’ like a doctor K. Sreedevi wondered if we are in danger of outsourcing all of childhood’s learning curves to AI? In our 56th episode of the Health Wrap, we talk about Early Alzheimer’s, cancer research paper mills and treatment access. Do catch the video online.(There is much more, do head to our health page and subscribe to the health newsletterhere)