“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” –Dr Seuss

Dengue reborn
Dengue – a viral disease that can refer to both dengue fever and the more severe dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) – swept away records again this monsoon season as it raged across Pakistan, infecting more and more people. Although it may not be the most devastating of the mosquito-borne diseases, dengue has become a major public health concern for two reasons: the speed with which it is spreading and the escalating seriousness of its complications. In the 19th century, dengue fever was a mild illness found in the tropics. Deaths were rare, and years passed between major epidemics. But since the mid-20th century, the range of the dengue virus has steadily broadened. Moreover, today’s dengue infection is not what it once was. DHF now appears in many dengue epidemics. In addition to the fever, rash, headache, and muscle and joint pain of classic dengue fever (which earned dengue its nickname of “breakbone fever”), DHF sometimes causes hemorrhaging that can lead to shock and even death. Epidemic DHF is now a leading cause of hospitalisation and death among many in Pakistan, especially in the Punjab province. But what’s causing this disease to spread like fire? One major factor is the effect of climate change on the dissemination of dengue. Like many vector-borne diseases, dengue fever shows a clear weather-related pattern: rainfall and temperatures affect both the spread of mosquito vectors and the likelihood that they will transmit virus from one human to another. Several studies have predicted that global climate change could increase the likelihood of dengue epidemics. So, how can we curb dengue’s expansion? Researchers are coming at dengue from a variety of angles to try to curb the virus’s spread. Though up till now, there are no available vaccines or antivirals for dengue infection, leaving mosquito control as the only current method for prevention and control.
Sara Javed,
Lahore.

Oversharing on social media and mental health
We all know ‘those’ people. They may be in our family. They may be in our circle of friends. I’m talking about the ones who overshare on social media. You know, give you the minute-by-minute detail of their lives and those who post endless selfies. Social media is a place to engage with each other and have fun – share memories, share good times and bad, share experiences. Not share everything short of when you use the restroom. Oversharing on social media has become a problem. People are using platforms as their online diaries, broadcasting their personal grievances and details of their children’s lives for the entire world to see. This oversharing has negative effects on our mental health. FOMO (fear of missing out) has a big effect on oversharing and often a bigger detrimental effect on mental health, it can often lead to extreme dissatisfaction. If you don’t receive the ‘appropriate’ amount of likes and comments users may internalise the belief that they are unpopular or unliked by their peers. The need for validation by others can cause you to share unfavourable or ‘attention-seeking’ posts to gain the attention you aren’t receiving otherwise. Many mental health conditions such as bipolar, depression, or anxiety can also cause oversharing. It can be a way to self gratify when you get attention from like-minded people who encourage you to relish in unhealthy behaviours. If you aren’t receiving validation from those around you about your mental health, you can often turn to the internet to supplement this. But how can one stop oversharing? Figuring out the time and place to overshare, and understanding its effects on your mental health can be a useful activity, but the first step is learning when you overshare and how you can reel it in.
Javeria Zia,
Karachi.