As per WHO, Pigs and Fruitbat being the most common hosts of the deadly virus. In fact, the natural host of the Nipah virus are fruit bats of the Pteropodidae Family, Pteropus genus.

 NiV was first identified during an outbreak of disease that took place in Kampung Sungai Nipah, Malaysia in 1998. In 2004, Bangladesh, human got infected by NiV as a result of consuming date palm sap that had been contaminated by infected fruit bats. There is no vaccine for humans or animals that can prevent Nipah from spreading.

The Kerala health department has been put on high alert in the wake of the death of three members of a family in the past fortnight due to 'Nipah' virus.

The deadly virus is associated with encephalitis i.e. inflammation of the brain. After being exposed to the virus for 5-14 days, one suffers from severe fever and headaches for at least 3 to 14 days. 

Other symptoms include drowsiness, disorientation, and mental confusion. Respiratory illness is also common during the infection.

On extreme cases, the virus can even lead to coma in 24-48 hours and severe exposure to the virus eventually causes death. The death rate among infected people is 74.5 percent.

Mostly in such patients, treatment is largely managing fever and neurological symptoms. There is no vaccination for its treatment, NiV can be cured only through intensive supportive care.

The findings showed that 31 per cent of the participants developed asthma, 42 per cent had allergic rhinitis and 76 per cent had eczema.

"Our findings show that the hazard ratios for ozone measured at birth as a single pollutant showed statistically significant higher risks for development of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema," said lead author Teresa To from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Canada.

The study also found that 82 per cent higher risk of developing asthma was associated with each 10 parts per billion (ppb), or ppb increase in exposure to ozone at birth.

For the study, 1,881 children were recruited who were followed from birth to 17 years of age, on average.

According to the researchers, children are at a higher risk because their lungs and other respiratory organs are smaller, and they spend more time in outdoor physical activities that make them breathe faster and more deeply.

The research team took annual average concentrations of pollutants from fixed monitoring stations.

Development of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema were determined based on any records of health services used for these conditions.

The researchers adjusted for variables such as parental history of asthma and early home exposure to pollutants.

Earlier, some studies have shown that ozone depletes antioxidant activity and increases indications of inflammation in the respiratory tract fluid lining and affects lung growth.

"Air pollution isn't only one or a few countries' problems, but rather a global public health concern," said To, also a professor at the University of Toronto.

"While there are individual actions one can consider to reduce exposure to air pollutants, it also requires action by public authorities at the national, regional and international levels," she noted.

Start your regime by thorough cleansing and do not forget to use a toner, suggest experts

Shankar Prasad, Founder, Plum, and Megha Sabhlok, Brand Director, Just Herbs, have given some inputs:

* Cleanse: Going to bed with makeup on is the worst thing you can do to your skin. It leads to chemical accumulation, blocked pores and reduces the ability of skin to absorb nutrients. Make sure that you use a gentle cleanser first to remove make-up and grime. If required, follow up with a foaming face wash.

While the idea of cleansing the grime on your face with castor oil might seem unappealing to you, however, it not only can draw out the dirt from your pores and purge, it also has anti-inflammatory properties. People with all skin types can benefit from this method.

The best natural cleansing technique is to use one-third castor oil mixed with two-thirds of any oil of your choice; almond, sunflower seed, virgin olive or any other natural, organic oil. Massage the oil gently onto your face with firm strokes focusing on your problem areas

Use a soft washcloth soaked in warm water to cover your face. The warmth allows the oiled pores to soften and open up in order to gently release the toxins and impurities. 

Gently wipe without scrubbing and repeat again. This should remove the oil along with the dead skin cells, bacteria, and impurities from your face leaving you with deeply cleansed glowing skin.

* Tone: This helps reduce pore size, balance skin pH and remove any leftover dirt and makeup still left. Toning will further nourish and hydrate your skin leaving it supple and refreshed.

Rose water tops the list for its fragrant refreshing appeal and its universality in suiting all skin types. 

Refrigerate a good organic brand and apply all over face and neck using a cotton ball. Green Tea with a few drops of tea tree oil makes for an antibacterial toner that especially suits oily skin types.

* Anti-ageing serums: Address your anti-aging concerns with elixir serums as they nourish and restore the natural glow and youthfulness to tired, aging and pigmented skin.

Plant polyphenols, carotenoids, and flavonoids present in these serums slow-down skin aging process. Once applied, let your skin fully absorb the serum for some time while you rest.

* Massage with night cream or gel: Begin by spreading it across the forehead, down the nose, across the cheeks, the chin, neck and towards the chest. Gently massage the cream in upward strokes and circular motions by using your fingertips. This helps in evenly distributing the moisture all over your facial skin, increases blood circulation and minimizes puffiness. 

* The facial oil: Facial oils repair and replenish the facial skin while you sleep. Apply 4-5 drops of facial oil on fingertips and gently massage it in circular motions from nose towards ears while applying horizontally, and always against the gravity while applying vertically. 

It is usually applied after the gel/cream as it helps seal in the moisture.

"I grew up in an environment which is sustainable and eco-friendly in Auroville. I grew up with basic ethic of buying products which are sustainable," Kalki told IANS in a recorded response. 

"A lot of clothes which I wear are organic. Fashion is a big way through which we can change the environment... (We can change the world) by being environmentally conscious in our fashion statements and all our products," she added. 

The actress, who was speaking on the sidelines of Blue Carpet event, hosted by Sony BBC Earth for "Blue Planet II: One Ocean and The Deep", feels that going organic is the way to go forward. 

"If we start buying more organic products even for the household which are less harmful, it makes a huge difference." 

Kalki, who has featured in "Dev.D", "Shaitan", "Shanghai" and "Margarita with a Straw", says families are like "mini-countries with mini politics". 

"If you cannot figure out stuff in your family, don't expect to figure out stuff in your country and the rest of the world," she said. 

The actress also praised "Blue Planet II: One Ocean and The Deep". Narrated by ace British broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough, "Blue Planet II" released in 48 PVR screens in 22 cities on May 18.

"Blue Planet II" is shot over 1,406 days with 125 expeditions across 39 countries and tells unique, untold stories of the ocean's most astonishing creatures that will take your breath away.

"It gives us perspective in our life... There is a lot more going on this planet than we realize. We need to be more conscious if we want to survive."

Inshorts, a news app, conducted a poll in the second week of May capturing the views of 1.4 lakh netizens - 80 per cent being in the age group of 18-35 years, read a statement. According to the survey, more than 80 per cent millennials think that live-in relationships are still considered a taboo in Indian society while more than 47 per cent Indians are of the opinion that marriage is better when choosing between marriage and lifelong live-ins.

More than 80 per cent Indians said that they do support live-ins as a way of life. Out of these, 26 per cent millennials went a step ahead and said that they would choose lifelong live-ins as an option over marriages. On the other hand, 86 per cent Indians are of the opinion that lust is not the sole reason behind live-ins and more than 45 per cent say that it is more of compatibility testing before marriage. In the report, 45 per cent respondents have also said that since Indian society constantly judges unmarried couples staying together, any move by the judiciary to support this will not have any effect on their mindset.

Azhar Iqubal, CEO and Co-founder, Inshorts said: "Live-in relationships, even after being legally recognised by the government, is a forbidden subject of discussion in Indian households. Our current survey was focused on capturing the sentiments of our Indian youth on such delicate issues."

Saikat Mitra, Creative Director of Van Heusen, Sandeep Gonsalves, Co-founder of SS HOMME, and James Doidge, Head of Menswear Design at Marks & Spencer, break down the style code for men in summer. 

* White is right for summer. Explore different silhouettes and fabric types teamed with denim and you have a great business casual look. A cotton slub white shirt and an easy bi-stretch denim or a pique knit shirt with clean raw denim with hybrid leather brogues keeps it work friendly. 

* Light coloured linen shirts with rolled sleeves put together with cotton chinos is an easy and comfortable look. Go dark on the trouser for a formal look and khakis and light colours transform the same ensemble to casual.

* Used all year around, but a saviour in the summer, the short sleeve shirt comes in many avatars. A trendy printed floral short sleeve shirt with contrast buttons along with formal cotton trousers will add fashion to the formal. Small geometric prints are a great bet too.

Large 2 / 3 coloured check short sleeve shirt with hem details go well with printed textured cotton chinos. Basic gingham checks in seasonal and trend colours are a versatile wardrobe addition too.

* T-Shirts: The ubiquitous T-Shirt has found a safe haven in the corporate wardrobe through well tailored polo T-Shirts. Small geometric printed polo in double mercerised with premium soft sheen and quick dry formal trousers will keep you neat, cool and sharp this summer. 

A navy quick dry polyester T-shirt with zipped placket put together with a formal tapered drawstring trousers is the ‘Work Active' look for summer. Add a lightweight summer knit blazer to complete the business look. 

* Summer provides more choices in colour, for both suits and accessories. Lighter colours absorb less heat than darker colours, making them perfect choices for summer. 

Light and pastel colours are a strong focus through the season, and can be seen on everything from linen suits to Oxford casual shirts, T-Shirts and shirts. These aren't just solid colours, but also in stripes and marl textures too. 

* Linen is a definite winner when it comes to summer suits. However, if you would like, you could experiment with fabrics such as poplin and seersucker. 

* Cotton suits and pure worsted wool suits are also great choices for a versatile summer look. With reference to the styles, the shades of blue and green are ideal. 

* Apart from the quintessential summer styles, material and colour - what really makes you stand out apart from the rest is the fit of the garment. The technicals of each element of a suit are what can make you look refined and unique from the rest of the crowd. 

Create a fashion statement by accessorising it with a handcrafted accessory, a printed pocket square or a textured pastel tie.

The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, showed that by inhibiting a protein called TAK1, the researchers were able to reduce lung metastasis in mice with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). TNBC is the deadliest type of breast cancer that comprises 20 per cent of breast cancer cases and is particularly difficult to treat.

"For this subtype of breast cancer, few treatment options are available to target metastasis, and typically, these treatments are associated with high toxicity," said co-author Min Yu, Assistant Professor from the University of Southern California.

"A better understanding of tumour cells and their interactions with organs and tissues could help us design targeted therapies specific for metastasis," Yu added. According to the study, TAK1 enables malignant cells from the breast to survive in the lungs and form new metastatic tumours. 

Metastasis are the most common cause of cancer-related death. There is already a potential drug, called OXO - that can inhibit TAK1-- and presumably make it much more difficult for breast cancer cells to form lung metastases. However, OXO is not stable in the blood, and therefore would not work in patients, the researcher said.

The researchers developed a nanoparticle - consisting of a tiny fatty sac - that works like a smart bomb to carry drugs through the bloodstream and deliver them directly to tumours. The scientists loaded this nanoparticle with OXO, and used it to treat mice that had been injected with human breast cancer cells. While OXO did not shrink primary tumours in the breast, it greatly reduced metastatic tumours in the lungs with minimal toxic side effects.

"For patients with triple-negative breast cancer, systemic chemotherapies are largely ineffective and highly toxic. So nanoparticles are a promising approach for delivering more targeted treatments, such as OXO, to stop the deadly process of metastasis," Yu noted.