UKHSA and MHRA have issued a reminder not to use the following four non-sterile alcohol-free wipes: ValueAid Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes Microsafe Moist Wipe Alcohol Free Steroplast Sterowipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes Reliwipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes These products were all withdrawn from sale last year. However you may still have some in your first …
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Category:Infectious Disease
Norovirus
As well as flu, there is a lot of the Winter vomiting bug, Norovirus, around. This bug is very infectious, and there is no treatment, and no vaccine, for it – so you need to be aware and take care to avoid it. The symptoms are essentially vomiting and diarrhoea. If you have the virus …
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Flu Advice
Given the current high rates of flu around, here’s advice from the NHS … If you have symptoms of flu: coughing, sneezing or fever – help stop the spread. Stay home if you can and wear a mask around other people. Look after yourself, rest, keep warm take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature …
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Early Flu Warning
The NHS is warning that the winter flu has started 6-8 weeks early this year, and this is partly down to a new mutation in the H3N1 flu virus. It could be the worst flu season for a decade or more. The bottom line is basically that if you’re eligible, or can afford to pay, …
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Measles Warning
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued another warning about measles. Infections in Europe (including UK) are at a 25-year high, so there is concern that unvaccinated holidaymakers are especially vulnerable to catching the disease (and, of course, bringing it home after a ruined holiday). There’s a BBC News report at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c706y4jr95lo.
West Nile Virus
Today, UKHSA and Animal and Plant Health Agency have confirmed the first detection of West Nile virus in mosquitoes collected in the UK. There is currently no evidence to suggest ongoing circulation of the virus in birds or mosquitos in the UK and the risk to the general public is very low. While one agrees …
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Whooping Cough
Whooping Cough is out there and case rates are (relatively) high compared with most rcenet years. So here’s an interesting critique of the UKHSA’s “keep calm” message. Whooping cough – have UKHSA got the framing right?
Whooping Cough on the Rise
Cases of Whopping Cough (Pertussis) are continuing to rise across the country – and it can be a killer, especially for the very young. BBC Report.
Measles
The UK Health Security agency (UKHSA) has declared a national health incident due to the rising number of cases of measles. The increase is brought about by the low take-up of the MMR vaccination with a country average of only 85% (and as low as 75% in London) of children starting school being fully vaccinated …
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Scabies
Apparently the UK is facing an unusually large outbreak of scabies. This is being made worse by a shortage of the drugs used to treat it. More at https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-01-uk-unusually-large-scabies-outbreaks.html