An impromptu visit from Captain Jack Sparrow was a surprise treasure for some young cancer patients.

Actor Johnny Depp, who was in Spain for the San Sebastian Film Festival, dressed as the famous character from the popular “Pirates of the Caribbean” film series and dropped into the Osakidetza Donostia University Hospital.

Depp visited the pediatric and oncology wards, where he interacted with the delighted children and their families.

CHILDREN ONCE HELD HOSTAGE STILL WORKING THROUGH TRAUMA: ‘ARE THEY COMING FOR US AGAIN?’

A spokesperson from the hospital described the actor’s visit as “exciting, endearing and unforgettable.”

“Both the children admitted to the hospital and their families and professionals who were working at that time welcomed him with great enthusiasm and affection,” the spokesperson said. 

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“In a situation of illness, anyone, but especially children, greatly appreciates a distraction of this magnitude. It was a breath of fresh air, a magical moment in which they forgot about their illness and were transported to the magical world of pirates.”

A spokesperson from the hospital described the actor’s visit as “exciting, endearing and unforgettable.” (Osakidetza Donostia University Hospital /TMX)

The entire hospital team, the admitted children and their families are all “enormously grateful” for Depp’s visit, the spokesperson said. 

“It has been a pleasure and an honor to have Jack Sparrow with us, a great pirate.”

‘Meaningful impact’

Harpreet Pall, MD, chair of pediatrics at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, confirmed that a celebrity role model visiting a children’s hospital can have a “meaningful impact” on the patients’ emotional health.

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“Some of the psychological benefits include improved self-esteem and confidence, distraction from illness, improved optimism and a morale boost,” Pall told Fox News Digital. 

Actor Johnny Depp arrives for the world premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” in Shanghai on May 11, 2017. (Getty Images)

“A celebrity visit can create excitement and decrease some of the stress of being in the hospital.”

The visit can also increase children’s engagement with their health care team, the doctor said, leading to better adherence to the treatment plan. 

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Pall added, “In addition, having a positive outlook and social interaction promotes healing for hospitalized children.”

Forty-seven tigers, three lions and a panther have died in zoos in south Vietnam due to the bird flu, state media said.

According to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), the mammals died at the private My Quynh safari park in Long An province and the Vuon Xoai zoo in Dong Nai, near Ho Chi Minh City.

According to test results from the National Centre for Animal Health Diagnosis, the animals died “because of H5N1 type A virus,” VNA said.

The report noted that no zoo staff members were in close contact with the animals that contracted the disease.

FIRST CASE OF HUMAN BIRD FLU DIAGNOSED WITHOUT EXPOSURE TO INFECTED ANIMALS, CDC SAYS

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have said that there has been an increase in outbreaks among mammals caused by influenza viruses, including avian influenza A (H5).

In the U.S., a patient in Missouri was diagnosed with bird flu in September.

The patient, who had underlying medical conditions, was successfully treated with antiviral medications at the hospital and has since been discharged, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).

A cow is shown by an exhibitor at the state fair in West Allis, Wisconsin, U.S., August 9, 2024. Dairy farmers are taking precautions with testing for avian flu while exhibiting cattle during the fair. (Reuters/Jim Vindruska)

This marks the 14th person (in three states) to contract bird flu in the U.S. this year — and the first infection to occur without any reported exposure to sick or infected animals, the CDC alert stated.

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The prior 13 cases came after exposure to dairy cows or poultry.

Fox News’ Melissa Rudy contributed to this report.

Fox News’ Health newsletter brings you stories on the latest developments in health care, wellness, diseases, mental health and more.

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Gardening could help aging adults stay sharp later in life, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland found that tending to gardens at an older age is associated with “small but detectable cognitive benefits.”

The long-term study tracked participants who shared details of their lifestyles and completed “frequent assessments” of their thinking skills up to age 90.

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The “Lothian Birth Cohort 1921” study followed people who were born in the Edinburgh area, starting at age 11. The participants regularly took an intelligence test known as the Scottish Mental Survey of 1932. 

Hundreds of participants sat for the same exam at age 79.

Out of 467 participants, 31% had never gardened, while 43% gardened regularly.

The results revealed that the 280 who gardened frequently or occasionally showed “greater lifetime improvement in cognitive ability compared with those who never gardened or rarely did so.”

OZEMPIC PUSH FOR SENIORS? SOME DOCTORS SAY MORE PEOPLE AGE 65 AND OVER SHOULD BE ON IT

Between the ages of 79 and 90, the participants’ cognitive ability — including memory, problem-solving and word fluency — declined in general, but the researchers found that the “earlier advantage of gardeners endured.”

The results revealed that the 280 who gardened frequently or occasionally showed “greater lifetime improvement in cognitive ability compared with those who never gardened or rarely did so.” (iStock)

Study co-author Dr. Janie Corley wrote in a press release how identifying behaviors that “facilitate healthy cognitive aging are of major public interest for the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia.”

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“Gardening is a key leisure activity in late adulthood,” she said. “Engaging in gardening projects, learning about plants and general garden upkeep involve complex cognitive processes, such as memory and executive function.” 

She continued, “Consistent with the ‘use it or lose it’ framework of cognitive function, more engagement in gardening may be directly associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline.”

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Dr. Azza Halim, MD, an anti-aging specialist, noted that gardening has been studied as an anti-aging activity for seniors, providing physical, mental and emotional benefits, including for longevity and cognition.

“It is important to engage in physical and social activities to maintain youthfulness,” an expert said. (iStock)

Gardening also counts as “low-impact exercise” that is beneficial for cardiac health and circulation, the physician added.

“It provides mental stimulation to reduce cognitive decline, as well as fostering mental and emotional well-being, relaxation and decreased anxiety,” she said. 

“At any age, it is important to engage in physical and social activities to maintain youthfulness — and more so in later years to stave off high blood pressure, depression, weight gain and cognitive decline.”

“Engaging in gardening projects … involves complex cognitive processes.”

The researchers noted that their work cannot prove a direct correlation between gardening and improved cognitive ability, as factors like available greenery and social interactions could have impacted these results.

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The study is supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Executive Health Department. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.

The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has brought severe flooding to the southeast.

With excess water in the home, there’s an increased risk of mold growth, which can lead to serious health risks.

Mold in your home can look like multicolored spots and can smell musty, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

FOLLOW THESE STEPS IF YOU’VE FOUND BLACK MOLD IN YOUR HOME TO KEEP YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE

Mold can cause a variety of symptoms, such as stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing, wheezing, burning eyes and skin rash.

In an appearance on “Fox & Friends,” Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel noted that wet walls can lead to mold that might not always be visible.

Siegel called out two “very serious molds” that he’s most worried about: black mold and aspergillus.

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Black mold can appear as black or dark green splotches, Siegel detailed.

Aspergillus is invasive and can cause aspergillosis, an infection that’s usually respiratory, according to Mayo Clinic.

Aspergillus mold is invasive and can cause a respiratory infection called aspergillosis, according to experts. (iStock)

Both molds can provoke allergy symptoms and infections, as well as conditions like hypersensitivity pneumonitis, an allergic reaction that causes inflammation in the lungs, according to Siegel.

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Mold can also trigger breathing conditions like emphysema or asthma, the doctor added.

“I’m worried about people who are immunocompromised and have chronic illnesses,” he said.

For those experiencing allergy symptoms, like coughing and sneezing, the culprit could be mold, the doctor said. (iStock)

“It can be fatal if you’re immunocompromised or if you’ve had a transplant — you can get a severe case of infection from mold.”

People with conditions like chronic lung disease can develop an infection in the lungs, the CDC stated.

How to remedy mold

Mold can develop in as little as 24 hours, Cleveland Clinic experts reported in a news release.

The sooner water damage is cleared up, the less risk there is for mold to grow, according to Maeve MacMurdo, MD, a pulmonologist for Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

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“Obviously, the sooner the better, and it’s hard,” she said in the release. “People are dealing with a lot, but cleaning up the water and mold remediation is a really big part of it.”

For those who have regained power in their home, Siegel recommends plugging in a dehumidifier or air conditioner to dry out the space.

“Even if it’s cool outside, you want air-conditioning because you want to get rid of the humidity,” he said. “The humidity is where mold grows.”

Employees clean up the International Moulding frame shop in Morganton, North Carolina, which was damaged by flood water from Hurricane Helene in September 2024. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

The doctor also recommends using bleach or vinegar to wipe down mold spots on walls – or hiring a professional to detect and remove mold.

“There are professional organizations that can spot the mold that’s hiding in the nooks and crannies,” Siegel said.

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For mold prevention, the CDC recommends keeping humidity levels at no higher than 50% in the home.

Air should “flow freely,” helped by exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom, according to the same source.

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Fixing leaks in the roof, walls and plumbing will help ensure that no moisture in the home turns into mold, experts advise.

Some may choose to hire a professional service to detect and remove mold. (iStock)

The CDC also recommends not using carpet in rooms where there is more moisture, such as bathrooms and basements, and replacing carpets and upholstery that have been soaked.

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When cleaning mold spots, never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners, the agency warned, as this will produce a poisonous gas.

The CDC warned never to mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners, as this will produce a poisonous gas. (iStock)

It is best practice to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the bleach container’s label, open windows to provide fresh air, and wear rubber boots, gloves and goggles during cleanup, experts advise.

People with persistent symptoms should seek medical attention, MacMurdo urged. While the flu season will bring temporary viruses, mold symptoms will continue to linger.