Sexually transmitted disease rates have risen sharply in a certain age group – and which group it is may surprise you.

The CDC’s latest statistics on STDs in the U.S. show that chlamydia, Hepatitis C, and syphilis were among the diseases that have been infecting Americans aged 55 and older at an alarming rate. The statistics, which are as recent as 2022, show how STD rates have skyrocketed since 2000.

In 2022, there were 5,160 reported cases of primary and secondary syphilis in adults aged 55 and older – a sharp increase from 3,092 in 2020. In 2012, there were only 712 cases.

Chlamydia cases among Americans aged 55 and older in 2022 were reported to be 19,766 in total – thousands more than the 13,774 cases in 2020.

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Hepatitis C outbreaks among people aged 55 and older have also skyrocketed since 2012. There were only 125 cases in 2012, while 1,041 cases were reported in 2022 – only a slight decrease from 1,092 in 2021.

Gonorrhea cases among the age group were as high as 18,804 in 2022 – in 2012, there were only 3,874 cases.

According to charts published on the CDC’s website, the state with the highest 2021 HIV diagnoses among adults 55 and older is Florida, with 585 cases. California followed with 453 cases, and then Texas ranked third with 358.

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Some experts believe STD cases among older Americans may be higher because of the sex education, or lack thereof, they received as adolescents. (iStock)

New York, Georgia, New Jersey and Illinois were also ranked among the highest HIV diagnoses in 2021 for the same age group. Alaska, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota and Vermont had a combined total of 12 cases among the 55+ crowd, and Wyoming had zero.

In an interview with NBC News, Texas A&M professor Matthew Lee Smith claimed that STD cases in elderly people may be influenced by how they were taught about sex education in school.

Gonorrhea cases among the 55+ age group were as high as 18,804 in 2022, according to the CDC. (iStock)

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“Back in the ’30s, the ’40s, the ’50s, traditional school wasn’t really doing sexual education very formally,” he explained.

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Accelerated aging — when someone’s biological age is greater than their chronological age — could increase the risk of cancer tumors.

That’s according to new research presented this week at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in San Diego, California.

“Historically, both cancer and aging have been viewed primarily as concerns for older populations,” Ruiyi Tian, MPH, a graduate student at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and one of the study researchers, told Fox News Digital.

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“The realization that cancer, and now aging, are becoming significant issues for younger demographics over the past decades was unexpected.”

In the study, diagnoses in patients younger than 55 years old were considered early-onset cancers.

The researchers analyzed data from 148,724 people using the UK Biobank database. 

They estimated each person’s biological age using nine biomarkers in the blood — then compared that to their chronological age.

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Those with a higher biological age had a 42% increased risk of early-onset lung cancer, were 22% more prone to early-onset gastrointestinal cancer, and had a 36% higher risk for early-onset uterine cancer.

The researchers also determined that people born after 1965 were 17% more likely to experience accelerated aging than those born in earlier decades.

Diagnoses in patients younger than 55 years old were considered early-onset cancers. The hope is that the new findings will lead to interventions to slow biological aging as a “new avenue for cancer prevention,” the researchers said. (iStock)

“The principal findings highlight that accelerated aging is increasingly prevalent among successive birth cohorts, potentially serving as a crucial risk factor or mediator for various environmental and lifestyle-related risk factors leading to early-onset cancer,” Tian said in an email to Fox News Digital.

“This discovery challenges us to reconsider the underlying causes of the increasing incidence of early-onset cancers among newer generations,” he added.

“It is vital for recent generations to become more health-conscious and consider the implications of accelerated aging.”

The hope is that these findings will lead to interventions to slow biological aging as a “new avenue for cancer prevention,” the researchers noted, combined with screening efforts tailored to younger individuals.

“It is vital for recent generations to become more health-conscious and consider the implications of accelerated aging,” Tian said.

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In future studies, the research team will work to determine the factors that drive accelerated aging and early-onset cancers, which will help with the development of more personalized cancer prevention strategies, according to a press release.

One limitation of the study is that all participants were from the U.K., Tian noted.

“Therefore, our findings may not be directly generalized to populations in other countries or to racial and ethnic minority groups not represented in the cohort.”

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert, often discusses the concept of accelerated aging with his patients, he told Fox News Digital. (Dr. Brett Osborn)

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert, often discusses the concept of accelerated aging with his patients.

“Just because a person is 40 years old chronologically does not mean that they are 40 years old biochemically,” Osborn, who was not involved in the new research, told Fox News Digital. 

“In other words, there may be a difference in one’s age – meaning, how long they’ve stood on this earth – and the body’s inner biochemical health, or lack thereof.”

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In Osborn’s clinic, he measures patients’ biological age to help measure the risk of age-related disease. 

“Typically, the older someone is chronologically, the greater the chance of developing diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart attack and stroke,” he said. 

In future studies, the research team (not pictured) said it will work to determine the factors that drive accelerated aging and early-onset cancers — which will help with the development of more personalized cancer prevention strategies. (iStock)

“This is similarly the case if one’s biological age is higher than their calculated biological age — which means they are aging at an accelerated rate relative to their chronological age.”

“Their clock is, in essence, ticking faster.”

“As we reach a given biological age faster, age-related diseases will pop up earlier.”

Obesity plays a big part in accelerated aging, according to Osborn.

“Obesity rates are on the rise, and this is a primary risk factor for aging and age-related diseases,” he said. 

Obesity plays a big part in accelerated aging, according to Osborn. “It is a gateway disease to type II diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, to name a few,” he told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

“It is a gateway disease to type II diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, to name a few.”

Obesity also causes “biochemical abnormalities,” such as insulin resistance and high levels of inflammation in the body, the doctor warned.

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“As obesity rates rise for a variety of reasons, it should come as no surprise that rates of aging are going to accelerate, along with the rates of diseases such as cancer,” Osborn said. 

“More simply put, as we reach a given biological age faster, age-related diseases will pop up earlier.”

The new research was conducted at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. (Washington University)

Regarding the new Washington University study, Osborn called the findings “highly troubling.”

“This parallels the deteriorating health of the younger generations, as is evidenced – in this study – by the heightened cancer risk in the same population,” he told Fox News Digital.

Beyond cancer, Osborn predicted that a spike would also be detected for other age-related diseases.

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“Our nation’s health – let alone Britain’s – is imperiled, and unless radical measures are taken, this trend will likely worsen before it gets better,” he warned.

“The younger population will be stricken with lethal diseases at an earlier age.”

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health alert for a human bird flu case reported in Texas.

Fox News medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel sat down with “Fox and Friends” on Monday, mentioning that he spoke with CDC Director Mandy Cohen, who assured him that this bird flu case is treatable.

“This person has already gotten a lot better,” he said. “He got Tamiflu. He had mild symptoms – he had red eyes, he had some congestion [and] got better.”

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The positive bird flu diagnosis came after milk from dairy cows in Texas and Kansas tested positive for the disease. The cattle that contracted the disease have “also gotten better,” according to Siegel.

The issue with bird flu, Siegel stressed, is the potential infection of poultry.

“Poultry die of it … because they have no immune system,” he said. “There have been over 400 million cases [of poultry acquiring it or being killed to prevent spread] over the last 20 years.”

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“Over 2,000 people [around] the world have gotten infected; about half of them recover fully,” Siegel added.

The good news, according to Siegel and Cohen, is that avian flu hasn’t mutated. If it had mutated, there would’ve been a chance for the disease to spread from human to human.

Poultry is most affected by bird flu because they “have no immune system,” Dr. Siegel said. (iStock)

“It is not going to spread [from] human to human in this form,” Siegel said.

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On the topic of humans and animals, Siegel also addressed how humans should follow their pets’ cues when it comes to safe viewing of the April 8 solar eclipse.

“We should be as smart as our pets,” he said. “Your dog is not going to be looking at the sun.”

Siegel stressed the dangers of looking at the sun, noting that “it can burn a hole in your retina.”

People observe the annular solar eclipse at the Luis Enrique Erro Planetarium of the National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico City in 2017. (Luis Barron / Eyepix Group /Future Publishing)

The only way to view the eclipse safely is through special glasses that “polarize out the light,” Siegel advised.

“You cannot look directly at the sun,” he said. “I’ve seen people in the emergency room … where they lose partial vision because of this.”

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“It gets better over time, but doesn’t get completely better.”

Dr. Marc Siegel joined “Fox and Friends” on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Fox News)

Siegel explained that since the nerve endings in the eye don’t extend all the way to the retina, people cannot feel the damage being done.

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“Normally, you would feel pain like if you burned your finger,” he said. “You’re not going to feel pain if you burn your eye.”

Fox News Digital’s Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.

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Fox News Digital publishes an array of health pieces all week long to keep you in the know on a range of wellness topics: health care access, innovative surgeries, cancer research, mental health trends and much more — plus, personal stories of people and families overcoming great obstacles.

Check out some top recent stories in Health as you wind down the weekend — and prep for the week ahead.

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These are just a few of what’s new, of course. 

There are many more to see at http://www.foxnews/health. 

Can staring at the sun cause blindness?

Ahead of the solar eclipse on April 8, eye doctors are warning people not to look directly at the sun — which could lead to blindness and permanent eye damage.  

Dr. Matthew Gorski, M.D., an ophthalmologist with Northwell Health on Long Island, New York, reveals tips for viewing the eclipse safely. Click here to get the story.

Bird flu pandemic could be future concern, experts say

As avian influenza (bird flu) continues to spread among wild birds in the European Union, officials are warning of the potential for a future human pandemic. 

Get the details on the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) alert along with other experts’ insights. Click here to get the story.

As avian influenza (bird flu) continues to spread among wild birds in the European Union, officials are warning of the potential for a future human pandemic. (iStock)

Cancer in the spotlight

The White House has declared April 2024 as Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month. 

A cancer expert weighed in on the significance of the announcement and what needs to happen to improve screening rates. Click here to get the story.

“It is important for every American to know that cancer screenings are lifesaving — early detection can make all the difference in beating the disease,” the president said in the announcement. (iStock)

Husband turns tragic loss into progress

When tech entrepreneur Roy de Souza lost his wife to colon cancer, he was determined to help fight the disease and help other families avoid the same tragedy. 

Here’s how de Souza is using AI to create personalized treatments. Click here to get the story.

Roy de Souza is pictured with his wife, Aisha de Sequeira, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2017. (Roy de Souza)

‘Coolest’ new breast cancer therapy

Ice could provide an alternative treatment for breast cancer patients who aren’t candidates for surgery, a new study suggests. 

Researchers from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York discuss the benefits and limitations of cryoablation therapy. Click here to get the story.

Ice could be the next frontier in breast cancer therapy, according to new research from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. (iStock)

CDC warns of ‘rare but serious’ outbreak

An invasive bacterial infection is on the rise in the U.S., according to an alert from the CDC. Doctors chime in on the potential risk of meningococcal disease — and how to prevent it. Click here to get the story.

Meningococcal disease most commonly causes symptoms of meningitis, including fever, stiff neck, headache, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or altered mental status. (iStock)

New drug could ease menopause effects

An experimental drug, P7C3, could potentially reduce bone loss and weight gain in postmenopausal women, according to researchers at the University of Central Florida. 

Experts shared reactions to the findings. Click here to get the story.

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‘Why do I keep coughing at night?’

In our weekly Ask a Doc series, Dr. Daniel Landau, a board-certified physician in South Carolina and contributor to The Mesothelioma Center, explains the reasons and remedies for nighttime coughs. Click here to get the story.

Many different factors can contribute to the presence of night coughs, according to experts. As one told Fox News Digital, “Sometimes, the issue is as simple as gravity.” (iStock)

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More than six million people in the U.S. have an allergy to peanuts, according to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE).

Nearly 1.6 million of these sufferers are kids and teens.

“The recent news of deaths and peanut allergies reminds us that consumers are choosing avoidance over cutting-edge therapies that might have saved their lives,” said Dr. Rani Maskatia, a pediatric and adult allergist and immunologist in California.

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Maskatia, who is also medical director with Latitude Food Allergy Care, a network of clinics providing testing and treatment for food allergies, shared with Fox News Digital 10 surprising facts about peanut allergies.

1. A peanut allergy results from an immune system reaction

A peanut allergy develops when the immune system reacts to major proteins found in peanuts as if they are harmful invaders, according to Maskatia.

“The immune system fights off the proteins, resulting in a wide range of symptoms, sometimes impacting multiple systems of the body — skin, gastrointestinal, respiratory or cardiovascular,” she said.

2. It’s unclear why peanut allergies are becoming more common

Cases of peanut allergy have steadily increased in recent history, Maskatia said. 

“This may result from many variables in our society — from environmental changes to shifts in our diets over the generations and even decades of (now outdated) recommendations to avoid peanut-based foods altogether in very young children,” he said. 

3. Peanut allergy reactions are usually the result of accidental ingestion 

Despite increased awareness, accidental exposures continue to occur, Maskatia noted. 

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“Even if a certain food does not intentionally contain peanuts, cross-contact (i.e., accidental contact with peanuts) can still result in an allergic reaction,” she warned.

4. There are varied symptoms of peanut allergies

An allergic reaction to peanuts can manifest in a wide range of symptoms, from mild discomfort to severe life-threatening anaphylaxis, according to Maskatia. 

An allergic reaction to peanuts can manifest in a wide range of symptoms, from mild discomfort to severe life-threatening anaphylaxis. (iStock)

Symptoms can include hives; skin redness or swelling; itching or tingling in the throat or mouth; runny nose; red, watery eyes; swelling of the tongue and/or lips; eye swelling; nasal congestion; stomach cramps and/or abdominal pain; diarrhea; nausea or vomiting; difficulty breathing and/or wheezing.

5. Children and adults with peanut allergies are at risk for anaphylaxis

Peanut allergy is the most common allergy associated with anaphylaxis, which is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.

Signs of anaphylaxis can include pale or bluish tint on the skin, throat constriction, shortness of breath and/or wheezing, difficulty breathing, confusion and/or dizziness, and a weak and rapid pulse. 

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“Although fatalities are very rare, if anaphylaxis occurs, access to immediate medical treatment is critical,” Maskatia advised.

“Everyone with a doctor-diagnosed peanut allergy should create an emergency anaphylaxis plan to minimize response time, including carrying two epinephrine auto-injectors accessible at all times.”

6. Testing and diagnosis can begin in infancy 

Babies as young as four months old can be tested for peanut allergies, Maskatia noted. 

“Testing that includes blood work and skin testing can ensure that diagnoses are as accurate as possible,” she told Fox News Digital. 

“Testing that includes blood work and skin testing can ensure that diagnoses are as accurate as possible,” an allergist told Fox News Digital.  (iStock)

“Blood work may consist of specific IgE tests and component testing, which help distinguish which proteins in the peanut a patient might be most likely to react to.”

7. A peanut allergy diagnosis doesn’t always mean all nuts must be avoided 

Peanuts are actually legumes, which means other types of nuts — such as walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts and cashews — are often safe to eat, according to Maskatia. 

“However, since it is possible to be allergic to both peanuts and to tree nuts and seeds, a clinical evaluation with an allergist is advised,” she said.

Peanuts are actually legumes, which means other types of nuts — such as walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts and cashews — are often safe to eat, according to an expert. (iStock)

“Once the patient has clarity about which foods are allergies, they should freely eat the foods they are not allergic to, ensuring diversity of diet and reducing the risk of future sensitizations to other foods.”

8. An allergic reaction could be triggered by non-food items 

Peanut proteins can also be present in vitamins, medications, skin creams, cosmetics, sunscreen, craft materials, toy stuffing, pet food, bird feed and even ant baits or mousetraps, Maskatia warned.

9. An allergy can be outgrown over time 

If you suspect you’ve outgrown a peanut allergy, follow-up testing with an allergist is recommended, Maskatia said.

“If an allergist suspects through blood work and skin tests that you might have outgrown the allergy, an oral food challenge may be recommended,” she said.

Peanut allergy is the most common allergy associated with anaphylaxis, which is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. (iStock)

An oral food challenge is a step-by-step process in which the patient — under the supervision of a trained clinician — consumes small amounts of a suspected allergen over a period of three to four hours. 

“This is done with the expectation that you’ll be able to consume the peanuts safely,” Maskatia said. 

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“Conversely, because peanut allergies can have severe or life-threatening reactions, failing to obtain a clinical diagnosis when there is a suspected history of reaction can present significant health and safety risks,” she warned.

10. Peanut allergies can be treated

Maskatia recommends a treatment called oral immunotherapy (OIT), which she said is approximately 85% effective for single or multiple food allergies and is safe for all ages. 

“It is expected that in the next decade, there will be more treatment options for people with peanut allergies.”

“Over time, the OIT process continually exposes the patient to increasing amounts of an allergen,” she said.

“The body is gradually desensitized and learns to adapt to the allergen. This decreases dietary restrictions and increases protection against severe or life-threatening reactions due to accidental exposure.” 

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Palforzia is an FDA-approved drug for peanut allergy treatment, Maskatia pointed out, and the FDA also recently approved Xolair (omalizumab) for treating all food allergies, including peanut allergy. 

“It is expected that in the next decade, there will be more treatment options for people with peanut allergies,” she said.

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The alarming outbreak of measles and tuberculosis (TB) at migrant shelters in Chicago could easily have been avoided if the illegal migrants had been vaccinated at the border and if they weren’t living in cramped conditions, two medical experts tell Fox News Digital.

Chicago health officials said Wednesday that a “small number” of TB cases were reported at some migrant facilities, following reports of dozens of measles cases at these facilities. 

Concerns are quickly growing that these cases will multiply and spread to the general population in the Windy City. There are also fears that similar outbreaks could occur in other sanctuary cities such as New York, Boston and Denver — jurisdictions that are also packing migrants into makeshift shelters and hotels. 

Unlike most U.S.-born children who have to follow strict vaccination schedules, migrant students were, up until last month, not required to be vaccinated in order to attend school in Chicago under an exemption for children living in unstable housing, according to reports. In New York City, migrant students were also given waivers at the start of the 2023-2024 school year.

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At least two students who tested positive for measles were living at Chicago’s Pilsen migrant shelter, although it is unclear at the time of this publication if they had been vaccinated.

Amid the outbreak, Chicago moved to vaccinate all migrants at its shelters. Fox News Digital reached out to the Chicago Board of Education, the mayor’s office and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) about vaccination procedures and exemptions but did not receive a response.   

Nearly 40,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago since August 2022, according to the city’s “New Arrivals Situational Awareness Dashboard.” Migrants who are stopped at the border and then released into the general population are rarely medically screened or given vaccines. Legal migrants, like Green Card holders, are required to be vaccinated for a range of inoculations as part of their approval process.

Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a New York City-based double board-certified doctor, says the outbreaks at the Chicago migrant shelters were easily foreseen.  

“To be honest, I’m not surprised. We have open borders with all sorts of people coming in from countries from all over the world bringing in various illnesses, viruses, disease and bacterial infections,” Nesheiwat says. 

Tuberculosis under a microscope, left, and a Chicago migrant shelter, right. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images, right, NIH/NAID/IMAGE.FR/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, top left, BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, bottom left.)

Measles is a highly contagious and serious airborne disease that can lead to severe complications and even death, especially in children. It is characterized by a fever as high as 105°F and malaise, cough, coryza and conjunctivitis followed by spots and a rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Tuberculosis, meanwhile, is also transmitted in airborne particles and typically affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain.

The measles outbreak at the shelters could easily have been prevented if migrants were given the highly effective measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, Nesheiwat says. However, the tuberculosis vaccine is generally not administered in the U.S. due to its low success rate. Instead, good hygiene and preventing people from living in cramped conditions is the best way to stop tuberculosis from spreading, she explains.

“Tuberculosis is a lung infection and one of the most common lung infections worldwide, it impacts millions of people,” Nesheiwat says.

Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a New York City-based double board-certified doctor, and, Dr. Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins health policy expert and surgeon, right. (Fox News)

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Tuberculosis cases jumped by around 1,300 cases last year to more than 9,600, the highest total in a decade, according to the CDC. As of March 28, there were 97 confirmed cases of measles in the U.S., shattering last year’s 58 cases total.  

“You can catch tuberculosis if someone is coughing or sneezing or in close contact, the bacteria from those particles gets into the air and anybody nearby will breathe that in and that’s how they pick it up and that’s how they catch it,” Nesheiwat says. “It’s concerning to those who may have weak immune systems or who have underlying medical problems like asthma, lung disease, heart disease.”

Tuberculosis is not as contagious as COVID, Nesheiwat says, and you would have to be around someone for a long period of time or be in crowded areas like shelters in order to catch it.

“The good news is we have treatment for it, but the not-so-good news is the treatment is for six to 12 months of treatment of multiple antibiotics,” Nesheiwat says. “What’s scary is that there are some strains of tuberculosis that are resistant to the typical antibiotics.” 

A measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, which doctors say is very effective at preventing measles.  (iStock)

She also raised fears that migrants who are put on these medications may not follow through with the treatment, which could lead to pockets of outbreaks being replicated throughout the country, adding that it’s hard for health officials to keep tabs on their schedule.

Dr. Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins health policy expert and surgeon, says conditions at the migrant shelters are now a public health concern given that tuberculosis can convert into a chronic disease with “a constellation of health complications affecting almost every organ system in the body.”

“The reports of the crowding are that it is the worst it’s ever been in recent history. We’re seeing outbreaks in highly susceptible populations that are preventable,” Makary explains. “One of the sort of basics in public health is that when people in a crowded area become sick, they should be separated. They should not be in close contact with others when they have no choice, then that is a recipe for an outbreak.”

“However,” Makary continues, “the amount of time spent in the shelter has decreased, suggesting that people may manifest the infection after their time in the shelter.”

A migrant child running, left and an MMR vaccine, right. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images, left, Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images, right)

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He said that measles is typically not fatal, but can cause permanent health damage in the children who acquire it.

The MMR vaccine, while highly effective, does not provide instant immunity in the week in which it’s administered, he says. 

“So I think their issue in Chicago is they’re discovering cases of measles after the fact,” he explains. “I don’t think there is a significant risk to the public, because most people are vaccinated against measles while tuberculosis requires some kind of direct interaction. But a migrant who is sick not only needs help, but they also need some degree of precaution.”

Nesheiwat says a measles infection can lead to brain inflammation, blindness, deafness and pneumonia.

“You’re protecting against serious, potentially life-threatening, infections or complications,” Nesheiwat says of the MMR vaccine. “There is a high rate of effectiveness with these vaccines, so the outbreak was absolutely preventable.”

Nesheiwat also says she has been giving shots to migrants attending public schools in New York City, where around 180,000 migrants have arrived since 2022. The city’s board of education tells Fox News Digital that students in temporary housing are still not asked for immunization records or immigration status before they enroll in schools, although they are required to follow the CDC’s immunization catch-up requirements.

Migrants wait in a long line overnight hoping to receive a placement in a New York City shelter in December. (Getty Images )

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A CDC report found that about 3% of children entering kindergarten in the 2022–2023 school year were given an exemption in their state — the highest level ever recorded. 

With the recent spike in measles and tuberculosis, Nesheiwat says that people should be making sure they are getting their annual physical checkups in order to stay healthy. 

“That’s when we listen to your heart and your lungs and check your vital signs,” Nesheiwat says. “And if you’re having any symptoms like prolonged cough or fever, night sweats, chills, weight loss, see your doctor. Don’t put it off, don’t delay because the earlier we can begin treatment, the earlier we can diagnose you and the better the outcomes.”

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

A 28-year-old Dutch woman is slated to be euthanized next month because of her struggles with mental illness after her psychiatrist said her condition will never improve.

Zoraya ter Beek lives in a nice house in a small Dutch town near the German border with her boyfriend and two cats. Despite being physically healthy, she plans to end her life due to her depression, autism and borderline personality disorder, according to The Free Press.

She once had ambitions to become a psychiatrist, but she was never able to finish school or start a career due to her own mental illness. But now, she is tired of living and wishes to end her life, she told the outlet.

A tattoo on her upper left arm shows a “tree of life” but “in reverse.”

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“Where the tree of life stands for growth and new beginnings, my tree is the opposite,” ter Beek told The Free Press. “It is losing its leaves, it is dying. And once the tree died, the bird flew out of it. I don’t see it as my soul leaving, but more as myself being freed from life.”

Ter Beek’s decision came after her psychiatrist told her that they had tried everything to help her mental health.

“There’s nothing more we can do for you. It’s never gonna get any better,” she recalled her psychiatrist saying, according to The Free Press.

After declaring her decision, ter Beek told the outlet, “I was always very clear that if it doesn’t get better, I can’t do this anymore.”

As for how she plans to go out, ter Beek said she would be lying on the couch in the living room, with no music playing. But she has asked her boyfriend to be with her until the end.

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Zoraya ter Beek plans to end her life due to her depression, autism and borderline personality disorder. (Getty Images)

“The doctor really takes her time,” she told The Free Press. “It is not that they walk in and say: ‘lay down please!’ Most of the time it is first a cup of coffee to settle the nerves and create a soft atmosphere. Then she asks if I am ready. I will take my place on the couch. She will once again ask if I am sure, and she will start up the procedure and wish me a good journey. Or, in my case, a nice nap, because I hate it if people say, ‘Safe journey.’ I’m not going anywhere.”

Next, the doctor will administer a sedative and then a drug to stop ter Beek’s heart.

Following her death, a euthanasia review committee will evaluate ter Beek’s death to ensure the doctor followed “due care criteria” and the Dutch government will declare that her life was lawfully ended.

No funeral will be held following ter Beek’s death. Instead, her boyfriend will scatter her ashes in an area in the woods they chose together, as she wishes to be cremated.

“I did not want to burden my partner with having to keep the grave tidy,” ter Beek said. “We have not picked an urn yet, but that will be my new house!”

Ter Beek’s decision to end her life came after her psychiatrist told her that they had tried everything to help her mental health. (iStock)

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Ter Beek admitted that she is somewhat afraid of dying because she is unsure of what, if anything, happens after death.

“I’m a little afraid of dying, because it’s the ultimate unknown,” she said. “We don’t really know what’s next — or is there nothing? That’s the scary part.”

The Netherlands in 2001 became the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia. Now, at least eight countries have legalized it. Assisted suicide is also legal in 10 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., and all six states in Australia.

Protestant Theological University healthcare ethics professor Theo Boerin served on a euthanasia review board in the Netherlands from 2005 until 2014. During this time, he told The Free Press, he observed Dutch euthanasia “evolve from death being a last resort to death being a default option.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health alert Friday to inform clinicians, state health departments and the public of a case of avian influenza — aka bird flu — in a person who had contact with dairy cows in Texas.

A farmworker on a commercial dairy farm in Texas developed conjunctivitis last week, and subsequently tested positive for bird flu, the agency said.

The positive bird flu diagnosis came after milk from dairy cows in Texas and Kansas tested positive for the disease.

The infection follows a 2022 case in Colorado, and is the second person to test positive for the bird flu virus in the U.S.

BIRD FLU PANDEMIC IN FUTURE? EU WARNS OF POTENTIAL SPREAD TO HUMANS DUE TO ‘LACK OF IMMUNE DEFENSE’

While the CDC said that the current risk these viruses pose to the public remains low, people who are regularly around infected birds, cattle, or other animals are at higher risk of infection and should take appropriate precautions.

Since 1997, more than 900 sporadic human cases of bird flu have been reported in 23 countries. 

The CDC said that more than half of the approximately 900 cases resulted in death. 

Scientific sampling of eggs in poor condition, analysis of avian influenza in humans, conceptual image (iStock)

While the fatality rate for humans is high, there is a near 100% fatality rate for birds with the disease. 

AVIAN INFLUENZA: SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE AND HOW IT AFFECTS BIRDS AND HUMANS

Since 2015–16, bird flu cases in humans have decreased substantially, and only a few sporadic human cases have been reported worldwide since 2022.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says milk from dairy cows in Texas and Kansas has tested positive for bird flu. 

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Humans who catch avian influenza typically experience no symptoms to mild symptoms. 

Those with severe cases will experience common flu-like symptoms such as cough, headache, shortness of breath, sore throat, fever, chills, fatigue and runny nose. 

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Avian influenza is diagnosed through laboratory testing. 

People concerned about contracting bird flu can protect themselves by using protective gear, such as gloves and eye protection and washing their hands frequently. 

Qualifying people can receive the annual influenza vaccine.

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