United News of Bangladesh

Nearly 80 percent of strokes are preventable through lifestyle modifications and controlling high blood pressure, quitting smoking, avoiding unhealthy diets and staying physically active, said experts. The experts said this at the International Stroke Conference 2025 held on Sunday at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), marking a significant milestone in advancing stroke awareness, prevention and treatment. They urged community-level interventions and called for integrating stroke education into schools, workplaces, and even urban planning. Speakers said that a new era for acute stroke care and the development of next-generation neurointervention services conference can raise public awareness, enhance prevention and ensure modern stroke treatment in Bangladesh. With the theme of “Transformation of Acute Stroke Care and Development of Next Generation Neurointervention Services in BMU,” the scientific session highlighted innovative approaches to emergency stroke treatment and advanced neurointervention technologies. Experts emphasised that stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and disability in Bangladesh — yet most cases are preventable. Organised by BMU’s Department of Neurology, the event took place at Shaheed Dr. Milon Hall. BMU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam attended the programme as the chief guest while Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Prof. Dr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad presided over the session. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam said the International Stroke Conference would open a new horizon in stroke management. “With the support of foreign experts, BMU aims to ensure state-of-the-art stroke treatment facilities in Bangladesh. Their participation today reflects a strong commitment to advancing modern neurological care in our country,” he said. Other speakers highlighted the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration, prevention strategies, and the need for integrated stroke management. Experts said despite progress in medical science, public knowledge about stroke remains alarmingly low. Millions in Bangladesh still fail to recognise early symptoms, leading to treatment delays and preventable deaths, they said. Recognising some early signs including face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty can save both life and brain, they said. Speakers later emphasised the need to align Bangladesh’s stroke management guidelines with international standards, expand data sharing, and strengthen global training programs. Sustainable progress in stroke prevention and care is impossible without global collaboration, they said.

High-protein foods are often associated with weight loss, but some popularly marketed protein-rich items may actually contribute to weight gain due to their high fat and carbohydrate content. In an October 23 Instagram post, online nutrition coach Justin Gichaba highlighted five such foods that can add to belly fat instead of supporting fat loss. Peanut butter – Often considered a protein powerhouse, peanut butter is actually high in fat, which significantly increases its calorie content. While it provides some protein, the accompanying fats can outweigh its benefits. Beans – Though beans are thought to be protein-rich, they contain a large amount of carbohydrates alongside their protein, which may hinder weight loss if consumed in excess. Quinoa – Despite being marketed as a high-protein grain, quinoa is primarily composed of carbohydrates. Its protein content is relatively modest and should not be relied on as a main protein source. Nuts – Almonds, cashews, pistachios, and other nuts are packed with fat along with protein. The high fat content limits their effectiveness as a primary protein source. Granola – Even varieties labeled “high protein” are typically rich in carbohydrates and fats, which outweigh the protein content, potentially impacting fat loss goals. Gichaba cautioned, “If you rely on any of these five foods as your main protein source, losing fat will be extremely difficult, and in some cases, you may even gain weight.” Source: NDTV

Dr Saurabh Sethi, an AIIMS, Harvard, and Stanford-trained gastroenterologist, has shared three easy-to-prepare drinks that he often recommends to his patients suffering from fatty liver disease — a growing health concern linked to poor diet, lack of exercise, and excessive alcohol or processed food intake. In a short video posted on Instagram on Sunday, Dr Sethi highlighted that while medical treatment and lifestyle changes remain essential for managing fatty liver, simple dietary additions can also make a significant difference. 1. Beetroot juice Dr Sethi said beetroot juice is rich in betalains — antioxidants that protect liver cells and reduce fat buildup. He advised moderation due to its natural sugar content, suggesting one glass a few times a week to support liver health. 2. Coffee Coffee, he noted, can lower the risk of fatty liver and liver fibrosis. Dr Sethi recommended choosing organic coffee without sugar, adding that natural sweeteners like honey, monk fruit, or stevia can be used — but without erythritol additives. 3. Green tea Green tea, he said, contains catechins such as EGCG that have been shown to improve liver enzymes and reduce fat accumulation. Drinking a few cups weekly can help maintain liver function while providing a mild caffeine boost. “These drinks are backed by science and clinical experience. They can help reduce liver fat, improve digestion, and support overall liver health,” Dr Sethi wrote in his post. He added that maintaining liver health does not require complicated detox regimens or expensive supplements. “Sometimes, the simplest daily choices — like what you drink — can make the biggest impact,” he said. Source: NDTV

Strolling through a leafy park or along a forest trail is often seen as the ultimate stress reliever. The crunch of fallen leaves, the sound of a rushing stream, and the gentle rustle of trees all combine to calm the mind. But could a walk through busy city streets offer similar benefits? Researchers say yes — if you know where and how to walk. While nature walks are widely known to lower stress, improve focus, and promote mental well-being, new studies suggest that walking in urban environments can also provide meaningful psychological benefits. The key, experts say, lies in paying attention to your surroundings and finding elements that engage your senses. Whitney Fleming, an environmental psychology researcher at Bangor University in Wales, said people shouldn’t underestimate the value of urban greenery. “Look at the green,” she said. “Most cities have greenery. No matter where you are, you can find a nice tree.” Walking itself is a powerful form of moderate exercise that can help reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, dementia, depression, and certain cancers, she added. But being mindful of nature — even in small doses — can amplify those benefits. Fleming’s research found that people who noticed plants while walking felt significantly less anxious and more positive than those focused on man-made surroundings. “Having natural elements to look at in cities is really important because you can still receive benefits even when not in a purely natural setting,” she said. Other researchers argue that urban environments, too, can nurture mental well-being. Cesar San Juan Guillen, a social psychology professor at the University of the Basque Country in Spain, said earlier studies often unfairly compared peaceful nature scenes with stressful cityscapes. His research compared visitors to a green urban park with those spending time in a lively plaza featuring a historic church, playground, and cafes. Both groups reported improved focus and fewer negative emotions, but those in the busier plaza felt even more energized and relaxed. Historic city centers, cemeteries, and places with sweeping views can spark what psychologists call “soft fascination” — a gentle, restorative form of attention. “This type of involuntary attention may be more effective at helping people recover from mental fatigue caused by work or study,” San Juan Guillen said. Urban design also plays a role in how people experience city walks, said Tristan Cleveland, an urban planning consultant with Canadian firm Happy Cities. His research shows people tend to walk faster past blank walls and are less likely to stop and chat. To get the most out of a city walk, Cleveland recommends routes that evoke interest and pleasure — what he calls the “first kiss test.” “If it’s a place you’d take someone on a date, it’s probably the right kind of place for a walk,” he said. Annabel Abbs-Streets, author of The Walking Cure and 52 Ways to Walk, agreed, saying moments of joy can be found anywhere — from the historic streets of Dubrovnik to the peaceful cemeteries of London. “It’s not that green is good and gray is terrible,” she said. “They’re just different — and sometimes that difference itself can be good.” Source: AP

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. local time Sunday across most of the United States, offering people an extra hour of sleep as clocks shift back to standard time until March 8. But health experts say enjoying the bonus rest should come with a dose of early morning sunlight to help the body adjust smoothly. While many welcome the autumn switch, the sudden shift can still disrupt daily routines. Health groups including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine have long pushed for permanent standard time, saying the back-and-forth changes take a toll on our internal clocks. A new Stanford University study supports that view, finding that the twice-a-year time changes are the least healthy option. Researchers concluded that although either permanent daylight saving or permanent standard time would be healthier, standard time best matches natural sunlight patterns and the body’s circadian rhythm. Jamie Zeitzer, co-director of Stanford’s Center for Sleep and Circadian Sciences, compared the body’s internal clock to a conductor leading an orchestra, with each organ acting as a different instrument. When light exposure changes abruptly, he said, the synchronization suffers, and “each of the body’s systems just works a little less well.” Sunlight plays the key role in this rhythm. Morning light helps the brain trigger alertness, while darkness at night increases melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep. Too much evening light, whether from late sunset or screen exposure, delays that process. Disrupted circadian rhythms can influence heart rate, metabolism, blood pressure and stress hormones. The spring shift, which shortens sleep by an hour, is often harder to adjust to and has been linked to increases in traffic crashes and even heart attacks in the days that follow. People living with seasonal affective disorder may also struggle after the clocks change and daylight shortens. Although many adapt quickly, the effects can be harsher on shift workers or the sleep-deprived. Nearly one-third of American adults get less than the recommended seven hours of nightly sleep, and more than half of teenagers fall short of the recommended eight or more hours. Sleep experts recommend easing into the change by moving bedtime earlier in small increments ahead of the switch. They also emphasize getting sunlight early in the day, even by sitting near a window if going outdoors isn’t possible. Most countries do not observe daylight saving time. Within the U.S., only Arizona and Hawaii remain on standard time all year. Efforts in Washington to end the clock-changing ritual have stalled. The Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent, has yet to move forward in Congress.   Source: AP

President Vladimir Putin has spent his 25 years in power confronting Russia’s worsening demographic crisis, as the country battles a shrinking and aging population amid war, economic uncertainty and a migration exodus. The number of babies born in Russia hit a record low in 1999, just before Putin took power, and despite periodic improvements births have again fallen sharply. Speaking at a Kremlin demographic conference on Thursday, Putin called boosting births “crucial” for the nation’s future. Over the years, he has introduced policies to encourage bigger families, including free school meals for large households and reinstating Soviet-style “hero-mother” medals for women who raise at least 10 children. “Many of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers had seven, eight, and even more children,” Putin said in 2023. “Let’s preserve and revive these wonderful traditions.” Births initially rose alongside economic gains, from 1.21 million in 1999 to nearly 1.94 million in 2015. But the progress has slipped away as Russia faces declining living standards, the war in Ukraine and resistance to immigration. Russia’s population has dropped from 147.6 million in 1990 to about 146.1 million this year, including Crimea’s population since its illegal 2014 annexation. The population is also rapidly aging: 30% are now 55 or older, compared to 21.1% in 1990. Deaths exceed births, and only 1.22 million babies were born last year, barely above the 1999 low. Demographer Alexei Raksha recently reported February 2025 saw the lowest monthly birth figure in more than 200 years. Bangladesh faces a challenge in ensuring welfare of its aging population War casualties and emigration have deepened the demographic gap, particularly among young adults. “You’ve got a much-diminished pool of potential fathers in a diminished pool of potential mothers,” said analyst Jenny Mathers. Putin has long tied population strength to national security, she noted. To reverse declining births, Russia is embracing what it calls “traditional family values.” That has led to laws banning promotion of abortion and “child-free ideology,” along with a sweeping crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights. Officials view these values as a “magic wand,” said feminist scholar Sasha Talaver, arguing the state expects women to bear children “in the name of patriotism and Russian strength.” Some social benefits remain popular, such as parental cash certificates used for education or subsidized mortgages. Others spark debate, including one-time payments to pregnant teenagers in some regions. New symbolic initiatives include Family, Love and Fidelity Day and a state holiday celebrating pregnant women. Still, Russia’s fertility rate stands at just 1.4 children per woman, below the replacement rate of 2.1. Access to abortion is increasingly restricted. Private clinics have stopped offering the procedure, pills are harder to obtain, and mandatory waiting periods have lengthened. Critics warn the crackdown will drive abortion underground. “The only thing you will get from this is illegal abortions. That means more deaths,” said journalist and activist Zalina Marshenkulova. Immigration could bolster the population, but tightening controls and surging anti-migrant sentiment push away workers from Central Asia, long a source of labor. Experts say no set of incentives can overcome the uncertainty of wartime Russia. “When people lack confidence about their prospects, it's not a time for having children,” Mathers said. “An open-ended major war doesn’t really encourage people to think positively about the future.” One 29-year-old Moscow woman who has chosen to remain child-free said stability matters most. “The happiest and healthiest child will only be born in a family with healthy, happy parents,” she said. Source: AP 

Through PT Bio Farma (Persero), Indonesia has played a strategic and sustained role in the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers’ Network (DCVMN), working to ensure equitable access to safe, high-quality, and affordable vaccines. Since DCVMN’s founding in 2000, Bio Farma has been a key driver in advancing vaccine self-reliance and public health capacity in developing countries. Collaboration between Bio Farma and DCVMN has been established since the inception of the network. At the first DCVMN Annual General Meeting in Noordwijk in 2000, Bio Farma was one of ten founding members dedicated to advancing vaccine collaboration. In April 2001, Bio Farma in Bandung hosted the 2nd AGM, where the network formalized the DCVMN’s structure and governance. Chaired by then-President Director Thamrin Poeloengan, this meeting established Indonesia as a hub for vaccine collaboration and knowledge-sharing among developing countries. Shadiq Akasya, current President Director of Bio Farma, stated that the company’s participation in DCVMN reflects Indonesia’s commitment to contributing to global health beyond national interests. “Bio Farma’s involvement in DCVMN since its establishment is not merely about representation, but about making a tangible contribution toward global vaccine self-reliance. Through collaboration and innovation, we are committed to delivering equitable and sustainable health solutions for all,” said Shadiq. “We believe that the true strength of the developing countries’ vaccine industry lies in collaboration. Through our active role in DCVMN, we aim to ensure that every nation has access to safe, high-quality, and affordable vaccines, a real manifestation of Indonesia’s contribution to global health security,” he added. In 2004, Bio Farma, together with other DCVMN members, played a vital role in expanding access to the pentavalent (DPT-HepB-Hib) vaccine through a technology-transfer collaboration with the Netherlands Vaccine Institute. This achievement demonstrated that Bio Farma’s contributions within the DCVMN network are not symbolic but deeply technical and practical. Global trust in Bio Farma has continued to grow. In 2012, Indonesia once again hosted the 13th DCVMN AGM in Bali. Mahendra Suhardono, one of Bio Farma’s directors at the time, was elected President of the Executive Committee for the 2013 - 2014 term. Indonesia’s leadership was further recognized when Bio Farma was entrusted to serve as Chair of the Board of DCVMN for the 2023-2025 period, acting as a bridge between network members and global strategic priorities, while showcasing Indonesia’s capacity to lead the vaccine industry in developing countries. Bio Farma’s commitment to innovation goes far beyond collaboration. In 2020, its nOPV2 vaccine became the first to receive an Emergency Use Listing from the World Health Organization, enabling faster deployment of vaccines during global health emergencies.  This achievement reflected not only Bio Farma’s scientific and technical excellence but also effective coordination and communication among multiple international stakeholders, including funders, scientists, academic researchers, policymakers, global vaccine advocates, and vaccine manufacturers. Such collaboration enabled the rapid development, approval, and rollout of nOPV2 during a critical moment for global public health. This milestone demonstrated that a developing-country manufacturer can achieve world-class innovation, meeting the highest international standards of safety, quality, and efficacy recognized by the WHO. Beyond being a scientific breakthrough, nOPV2 represents technological self-reliance and global confidence in Indonesia’s capability to contribute meaningfully to international health security. Bio Farma’s success serves as an inspiration to all DCVMN members to continue strengthening their research, development, and production capacity in pursuit of achieving vaccine self-sufficiency and global health resilience across developing countries. With a production capacity of more than 3.5 billion doses per year, Bio Farma supplies vaccines to over 150 countries and holds WHO Prequalification certification for 12 types of vaccines. As the Center of Excellence for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in vaccine development, production, and distribution, Bio Farma continues to strengthen Indonesia’s strategic role in the global health landscape. The upcoming 26th DCVMN Annual General Meeting, to be held in Bali on 29–31 October 2025, marks an important moment for Indonesia to reaffirm its leadership in global health diplomacy. Through this forum, Bio Farma is committed to advancing innovation, collaboration, and vaccine self-reliance worldwide, toward a more resilient and equitable global health ecosystem. About DCVMN The Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN) is a global alliance of 46 vaccine manufacturers from 17 developing countries, established in 2000 to strengthen public health through equitable access to high-quality vaccines.DCVMN promotes collaboration among its members through advocacy, capacity building, professional training, and joint research initiatives, aimed at enhancing global immunization programs. Working closely with international organizations such as WHO, UNICEF, GAVI, CEPI, PATH, CHAI, and the Gates Foundation, DCVMN strives to ensure that every nation has the capability to produce and supply affordable, life-saving vaccines. For further information, please visit dcvmn.org. About Bio Farma PT Bio Farma (Persero) is Indonesia’s state-owned life science company and the largest vaccine manufacturer in Southeast Asia.Founded in 1890 and headquartered in Bandung, Bio Farma produces and supplies vaccines to more than 150 countries, while playing an active role in biotechnology research, innovation, and global health security.As a member of DCVMN, Bio Farma continues to contribute to international collaboration to ensure equitable vaccine access and improved global public health. For further information, please visit www.biofarma.co.id .

For the first time, Huntington’s disease, a hereditary, degenerative brain disorder – has been successfully treated, offering hope to thousands of patients and families affected by the devastating condition, according to UK researchers. The disease, which destroys brain cells and combines symptoms of dementia, Parkinson’s, and motor neuron disease, has now been slowed by an average of 75% in a clinical trial. Experts say this could extend the decline normally seen in a year to four years, giving patients decades of improved quality of life. The breakthrough involves an advanced gene therapy administered through 12 to 18 hours of delicate brain surgery. A harmless virus carrying specially designed DNA is infused into key brain regions using MRI-guided microcatheters. This prompts brain cells to produce microRNA, a fragment that silences the mutant huntingtin gene responsible for neuron death, lowering levels of the toxic protein in the brain, reports BBC.

Whether it’s a bad habit or the memory of something or somebody, letting go is always hard. However, with the right plan, strong determination and emotional discipline, you can make a change in a short period, like three to four weeks. If guided with definite purpose and a proper mindset, a human mind can be adaptive. Even though the attachment is deep or the habit is stubborn, it will start to lose its grip. Here’s how you can get rid of a habit or forget an individual within 21 to 30 days. Tips for Leaving a Habit or Forgetting a Person within a Month . Recognising Attachment Attachment is the common link, whether you have formed a habit over a certain period or allowed a person to play a pivotal role in your life. Usually, such attachments tend to fill a psychological or emotional void, like identity crisis, aspiration for validation, stress relief, loneliness, etc. Once you have found out the habit or person’s contribution in your life, you have reached the first step of letting go. Understanding the attachment’s underlying need, like convenience, habit, routine, security, connection, etc., you can start overpowering it. Now you can utilise this awareness to replace the habit or person with something healthier or someone better. Read more: How to Recognise Your Emotional Red Flags Disrupting Pattern  Habits and emotional connections often follow a pattern. For instance, a smoker often tends to light a cigarette after having a meal; you check social media after waking up. Each habit is formed over a neural pathway. To break this, one should disrupt the routine or ambience which helps the attachment to thrive. Cognitive distance can be created by reordering the schedule, altering surroundings, or opting for a different route. New attachments can help your brain to leave a regular behaviour. It can be done by bringing tiny but consistent changes. Though you may not be able to forget someone or doing something overnight, it will weaken the urge or inclination over time. Out of Sight Out of Mind When one is trying to quit a habit like sugar consumption, one should not store cakes in the refrigerator. Avoiding the purchase and storage of the sugary foods will help one to break the cravings. Rather than testing one’s willpower, the out-of-sight trick will take the sugary food out of mind. What’s more, it's the first step to drop an unhealthy habit. Instead of making the ambience painful, make it your ally to change a habit.  The same applies to mental attachments. Emotional detachment requires space. When one tries to forget a person, one should remove the reminding triggers like exchanged gifts, shared music playlists, couple photos, social media connections, etc. This step does not make one selfish or in denial; rather, it creates space for disconnection. Read more: How to Improve Focus by Training the ‘Attention Muscle’ Relearn to Unlearn Faster The process of relearning makes it fast to unlearn. The human brain acts like a vacuum, which needs something to focus on. Whether one is trying to leave a habit or forget a person, one should find a more interesting replacement. For instance, to avoid a sedentary lifestyle habit, one can opt for a new routine that includes mindfulness and learning, like going to the gym, learning new workouts, adopting fitness routines, etc.  Grabbing a new sustainable habit or adopting a healthier lifestyle fills the emotional vacuum. This mental space gives one a sense of personal development, improvement, and success. Thus, one can bit by bit learn to thrive without the habit or person one had an attachment with. Know the Hurdle The first two-week period is usually the hardest while you are trying to let go of a habit or a person. Your brain will react, whether you are avoiding nicotine or missing someone's phone or messages. You may experience anxiety, sadness, stress, cravings, chest pain or other physical symptoms. This is biology, not failure. You have to accept this pain and discomfort as a part of the process. To overcome this period, one can talk to an empathetic friend or maintain a journal. By tracking one’s mental status, failures, and victories, one can create self-awareness and emotional detachment from the habit or person one wishes to remove from one’s life. Besides this, to ease your journey, remember why you want to do this by writing it on a paper and repeating it like a resolution. Read more: Good Stress: What Are the Benefits of Eustress? Make a Commitment  You may pick a three-week or four-week window to reach your goal. Though this short period may not remove a habit or erase all feelings, it is a strong foundation. Research suggests that a consistent effort can help one overcome the emotional or physical pull towards something or somebody. Counting each day and setting daily intentions can keep your determination strong. For example, one can divide the time window into days instead of seeing it as a fixed period of time. By reaching tiny and attainable goals every day, one can make the struggle less stressful. Thus, success can be achieved through piecemeal victories. Visualise Your Future When one understands that letting go means regaining control over oneself rather than losing something precious. When one aims to drop a habit that is unhealthy or forget a person who no longer complies with one’s well-being, one is protecting one’s future self. Visualising the independent, focused, and progressive version of yourself, your hardship aligns with healing instead of longing. Conclusion  The process of letting go is incremental; it doesn’t act like a switch. The idea of getting rid of a habit or forgetting someone completely in three or four weeks may sound ambitious. To be honest, some emotional urges may exist beyond the 30-day period. But a four-week time window is quite reasonable to start, to weaken the hold, and to regain one's emotional control. Thus, you allow life to continue in healthier, better, freer and more peaceful ways than before. The process wants you to be patient, disciplined, and self-compassionate. On the whole, when you are fully determined to drop a habit or forget a person in 21 days or 30 days, you will discover the attachment is fading away gradually. Read more: 15 Japanese Concepts for Personal and Professional Development

The troubling surge of the free-living microbe infamously called the brain-eating amoeba is casting a shadow of deadly threat across Kerala in India. Once spotted mainly in a few districts such as Kozhikode and Malappuram, infections are now surfacing more widely. The organism heightens concern among doctors and health officials. Its characteristics, equal parts scientific fact and public dread, stem from the severe infection it can trigger once it reaches the brain. Let’s take a closer look at how this elusive brain-eating amoeba spreads and outline the key causes, symptoms, and treatments. What is Brain-eating Amoeba: How It Spreads A rare but devastating brain infection, Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), is caused by ‘Naegleria fowleri’ – a tiny organism more chillingly nicknamed the ‘brain-eating amoeba’. Though infrequent, it strikes with alarming severity, targeting the central nervous system and rapidly destroying delicate brain tissue. Victims often experience sudden swelling of the brain, and in most cases, the illness proves fatal. This amoeba thrives in warm, stagnant freshwater such as ponds, lakes, or poorly maintained pools. It typically invades the body through the nose, passing along the olfactory nerves and through the cribriform plate before advancing toward the brain tissue. Importantly, swallowing contaminated water does not lead to illness. Those swimming, diving, or bathing in untreated water are most at risk – yet the infection cannot spread between people. Read more: First Aid Tips for Snake Bite: On-field Do’s and Don’ts for Emergency Response The Alarming Prevalence So far this year, more than 70 people have fallen ill, with 61 confirmed cases of PAM and 19 deaths recorded in Kerala – several of them in just the past few weeks. The age range of patients has been strikingly broad, from a tiny three-month-old infant to a man in his nineties. In late August, a three-month-old baby and a 52-year-old woman in Kozhikode succumbed to the infection, only weeks after a nine-year-old girl’s death earlier that month. State hospitals continue to treat several active cases, stretching from small children to older adults. Root Causes of the Infection Rising global temperatures are quietly shaping the conditions in which ‘Naegleria fowleri’ thrives. As climate change warms lakes, ponds, and other freshwater bodies, the amoeba gains a wider window to multiply. The sweltering heat also drives more people to seek relief in natural water sources, unwittingly increasing the likelihood of contact. Read more: How to Stay Safe from Devil's Breath Moreover, PAM is far more common during hot months, particularly when people swim, dive, or bath in warm, often stagnant freshwater.