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Category: Health

  • The Threat of El Niño 2026

    The Threat of El Niño 2026

    A potentially historic “Super” El Niño is currently developing in the Pacific Ocean. The latest World Meteorological Organisation update suggests a high probability of El Niño conditions emerging between June and August 2026. According to the forecasts, this event could be very similar to the 1876–78 El Niño in terms of intensity, the strongest on record, which led to severe droughts and widespread famines across several affected regions.

    What is El Niño?

    El Niño is a natural phenomenon that affects the climate by increasing the temperature of the surface layer of the tropical Pacific Ocean along the equator. 

    This phenomenon occurs every 2 to 7 years, and causes a disruption of weather patterns globally. Despite having varying levels of intensity from year to year, El Niño has a widespread climate effect as it is commonly associated with warmer-than-average temperatures across the globe. Southeast Asian countries often suffer from decreased rainfall and droughts, whereas North and South American regions tend to have heavy rainfall that causes floods and landslides. 

     

    What Happens When a Natural Cycle Meets a Warming Planet

    Australia and Indonesia have drier climates that affect the availability of water resources and agriculture. In recent years, researchers have become increasingly concerned about the direct link of El Niño to the rapid change in climate. Though a natural phenomenon, human-induced climate change may have an inordinate impact on El Niño. For instance, if an El Niño event occurs during a period of already high global temperatures, it can further contribute to record-breaking heat, as experienced in 2026. 

    Climatologists point out that this rapidly growing phenomenon is causing unprecedented warming of the planet and putting the year among the hottest years ever recorded, while 2027 may see even higher temperatures.

    “El Niño conditions will pour fuel on the fire of a warming world.  Impacts will hit even harder, travel even farther, and cross borders with devastating speed.  The only effective response is climate action equal to the crisis – ending the addiction to fossil fuels, accelerating the shift to renewables, protecting the most vulnerable, and delivering early warning systems for all.”  warns UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his WMO press release.  

     

    To conclude, the emergence of El Niño serves as an alarming indicator that climate-related catastrophes are no longer distant possibilities. The scale of its impact on weather conditions highlights the urgent need for stronger mitigation measures and preparedness for the future. Ignoring these signals could leave communities increasingly exposed to possible climate extremes, making them more vulnerable to such future events.

  • The Virus That Will Not Go Away: DRC’s Outbreak of Ebola

    The Virus That Will Not Go Away: DRC’s Outbreak of Ebola

    On 5 May 2026, World Health Organization (WHO) received reports of an outbreak of an unknown disease in Mongbwalu Health Zone, Ituri Province, in the Democratic republic of Congo causing high mortality, including among health workers. These patients showed symptoms common in Ebola viruses. Ten days later on 15 May scientists at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in Kinshasa confirmed that 13 blood samples were positive for Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD). 

     

    Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease is a very rare and severe variant of Ebola virus disease, also known as viral haemorrhagic fever. It is a zoonotic disease ,with fruit bats suspected to be the natural reservoir. Human infection is attributed to direct exposure to blood or other body fluids from infected wild animals (such as bats or non-human primates) and then to direct contact with the blood, other body fluids, organs or contaminated surfaces or items from infected humans. A vaccine or specific therapeutics for Bundibugyo virus is not available. The Virus therefore presents a significant threat to the potential widespread international spread.

     

    In response to the outbreak, the DRC Ministry of Public Health declared an Ebola outbreak on May 15. By the next day there were confirmed cases of BVD in Kampala, the capital of neighboring country Uganda. They were attributed to travel from the Congo into Uganda. On May 17, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The highest alert given by WHO, it seeks coordinated international funding and response mechanisms. 

     

    As of June 17 the DRC’s total number of confirmed cases was 837 and the total number of confirmed deaths was 196, with sixteen health workers confirmed infected. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) reported that the health care workers in DRC were reporting shortages in PPE and testing kits leading to high points of exposure to the disease.

    There are a number of problems that are slowing down the response to the outbreak. In eastern DRC conflict amongst various militant and ethnic groups is an obstacle in providing medical care. Large amounts of the population in disease stricken regions such as Ituri are displaced. Estimates put the number of displaced populations at over 990,000.

     

    Out of a $319 million response budget, $2,87 million still remains unsecured. With the cutting of USAID by the Trump administration and the exit of the United States from the WHO, raising funding still remains to be a big issue in combating the epidemic.

     

    There have also been multiple instances of people not cooperating with health workers and clashing with police and authorities over the deceased bodies of family members. Multiple suspected Ebola patients have run away from their medical centers where they were kept for observation.

     

    Eastern DRC borders 9 countries and is a crossroads of trade, mining and industry. The region also has frequent movement of refugees due to various conflicts leading to a high risk of transmission that might affect trade and commerce around the world. Unlike Mongbwalu , Kampala is a capital city. The international airport in Kampala has routes to other parts of Africa along with several intercontinental destinations. Transmission could soon leave Africa and trouble the rest of the world.

     

    The DRC has successfully contained Ebola outbreaks before. There are numerous international organizations and institutions set in place to fight back against the virus. At the forefront of response is the development of a vaccine. The coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has announced funding to fast track 3 vaccine candidates that can counter BVD. The vaccines are being developed by IAVI, Moderna and the University of Oxford. According to health officials the outbreak needs to be fought on a global level with various nations providing financial, logistical and medical support. The next few months are critical in the fight against the outbreak and is a test of not only DRC’s medical safeguards but the world’s.

    Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons

  • Russia Turns to AI for Breakthroughs in Oncology

    Russia Turns to AI for Breakthroughs in Oncology

    Once defined by its military aerospace strength, Russia is now channelling its scientific expertise into healthcare with artificial intelligence (AI) driving breakthroughs in diagnostics, drug discovery and personalised cancer treatment. By harnessing artificial intelligence, the country is making significant advancements in diagnostics, drug discovery, and personalised cancer treatment, positioning itself as a rising force in healthcare innovation.

    The global AI in medicine market is currently valued at $22 billion, with Russia’s share already at 12 billion rubles. Analysts predict explosive growth, forecasting the global market to reach $130-160 billion and the Russian market to hit 78 billion rubles by 2030. The explosive growth is an example of the successful embedding of the rapid integration of AI and medicine

    A prime example of successful implementation comes from Russian ophthalmology. The Krasnov Research Institute of Eye Diseases is using AI to diagnose, monitor, and treat retinal diseases, a crucial innovation for an ageing population. Similarly, developing personalised vaccines for colorectal cancer is seen as a significant achievement in the medical field. Imagine an ophthalmologist in Moscow not just depending upon his own trained eye but adding an AI that can deduce the patient’s retina with superhuman precision. AI, when used as a significant tool in diagnosis, can do wonders once blended with the trained expert’s eyes.

    Russia has identified AI as a crucial area for Strategic Development. Institutes such as Skovo Institute of Science and Technology are working on developing AI in drug discovery and medical image analysis. AI is commonly used to analyse X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs. In Oncology, Russian researchers are developing personalised vaccines for colorectal cancer. AI models analyse tumour genetics, identify unique cancer antigens, nd design vaccines tailored to each immune system. This makes the treatment more individualised rather than following a generic treatment process with a one-size-fits-all approach.

    However, the implementation of AI in healthcare comes with risks, as mistakes can threaten the lives of patients. AI models can sometimes distort data or fail to understand context. Mitigating these risks requires rigorous testing and significant investment.

    The following 3-5 years are seen as decisive. For Russia to succeed, companies must develop a careful strategy that includes managing investor expectations, ensuring high-quality data to train AI models, and creating testing platforms to get feedback from doctors. Those who can bring clinically validated solutions to market first will set a new standard for medical care in Russia and beyond. However, no matter how real the potential is, the proof and science will only be considered after successful large-scale clinical trials. The world is looking for better solutions and medicines. The use of AI by superpowers in the medical field, rather than warfare, is definitely an effort that is being globally applauded.

  • India’s Shukla Joins ISS in Historic First: Why the Mission Marks a Turning Point for India

    India’s Shukla Joins ISS in Historic First: Why the Mission Marks a Turning Point for India

    On June 26 2025, the SpaceX Dragon capsule docked with the International Space Station (ISS), and Shubhanshu Shukla made history by becoming the first Indian to step into the orbiting laboratory and the second Indian national to reach space, since Rakesh Sharma in 1984.

    Ahead of his arrival, Shukla sent out a message in which he said, “The Tiranga (Tricolour) embossed on my shoulders tells me that I am with all of you…Together, let’s initiate India’s Human Space Programme. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat.”

    After multiple delays, the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission was finally launched on 25 June at 2:31 a.m. Eastern Time (12:01 p.m. IST). The mission consisted of a government-sponsored crew and was launched by Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX and NASA. India has paid around $70 million to commercial space company Axiom for a seat in the space mission to the ISS.

    Joining Shukla were American veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, Polish engineer Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Hungarian researcher Tibor Kapu. This is the first time that astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary have travelled to the ISS.

    Shubhanshu Shukla / Source: X / SpaceX

    The two-week-long mission aims to conduct approximately 60 experiments on behalf of 31 countries, including the astronauts’ home countries as well as Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria and so on. The experiments range from studying the effects of microgravity on diabetes and muscle atrophy to microgravity farming of fenugreek and green gram, and exploring cyanobacteria for potential life-support systems.

    This mission marks a huge win for India, as it allows the country to contribute towards advanced research and innovation, further strengthening its position in the international space exploration arena.

    Shuhanshu Shukla’s participation marks a moment of renewed confidence in India’s space ambitions, as India plans to launch Gaganyaan in two years. This will be its first manned mission, making it the fourth country in the world to achieve this feat.

    Shukla was announced to be among the four astronauts selected to man the Gaganyaan mission by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 27 February 2024 at ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. He began his journey towards space exploration in 2019 when he was selected as an astronaut by the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), which is a part of the Indian Air Force’s Human Spaceflight Programme. IAM and ISRO eventually shortlisted him for the final four.

    “This is not the beginning of my flight. This is the beginning of India’s human spaceflight efforts. I am with you all. You can be part of this journey, feel the energy, and share in this mission.”
    — Shubhanshu Shukla, ten minutes after launch, as the capsule entered orbit.

    Since 2022, India and the USA have actively worked towards building both economic and technological cooperation through a collaborative framework, namely, the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET). Under iCET, the two countries have discussed the possibility of joint manned spaceflights. Shukla has further helped to prove that this possibility can be turned into reality soon.

    This mission also provides India with direct information and hands-on experience on modern, crewed spaceflights; this includes knowledge of docking operations, life-support systems and real-time mission operations aboard the ISS. Detailed insights into the functioning of the ISS will also help the development of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS), India’s planned indigenous space station, which is set to launch in the 2030s.

    Furthermore, as noted by the Republic, by collaborating with Polish and Hungarian astronauts aboard a US-operated spaceflight, Shubhanshu Shukla represents India as a bridging force between the Western Alliances and the Global South.

    Thus, this launch is not only a scientific breakthrough for Indian space exploration, but also a socio-political and economic opportunity for India to prove its standing in a competitive global space landscape. As Gaganyaan approaches and India is inching towards building its own space station, India’s space footprint is laying the groundwork with each mission.