diseases

Plastic pollution in our oceans could spread fatal diseases into the food chain through seafood

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Plastic pollution in our oceans could spread fatal diseases into the food chain through farmed seafoods such as mussels and oysters, scientists warn. Microplastics – plastic particles less than 5 millimetres in diameter – can come from larger plastic products that have broken down, textile fibres, cigarette filters or even beauty products.  Microplastics that enter … Read more

Warning from UN over rise in diseases jumping from animals to humans like Covid-19

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Viruses jumping from animals to humans are becoming more common, the United Nations has warned. The UN’s environmental branch revealed that the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 — the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 — came as no surprise. In a report, they said the pandemic was ‘highly predictable’ because human behaviour, including intense farming for meat, has … Read more

Mosquitoes that can carry diseases could be common in Europe by 2030

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Mosquitoes carrying diseases such as dengue, zika and yellow fever could be common throughout parts of Europe by 2030 due to global warming, a study warns.  Changes to traditional rainfall patterns and soaring temperatures will make more parts of the world viable homes for the mosquitoes. The insect, known by the scientific name Aedes aegypti as well … Read more

Living alone makes over-50s 30% more likely to be treated in hospital for respiratory diseases

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Living alone makes over-50s 30% more likely to be treated in hospital for respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 Study of more than 4,000 Britons aged over 50 assessed their lifestyle  Compared this with their hospital records to register any hospital admissions  Found those who lived alone are 32 per cent more likely to be sent to hospital   … Read more

Sweden could have ‘herd immunity’ by next month, claims its infectious diseases chief

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Parts of Sweden could achieve ‘herd immunity’ as early as next month, the country’s leading epidemiologist has said, as the death toll rises. The Government is holding out against a total lockdown despite growing calls for ‘rapid and radical measures’ to contain the coronavirus outbreak. It has cancelled football games and closed university buildings. Restaurants, … Read more

Testing for rare diseases at birth may have spared our girl a life of suffering

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When Connie Elson was diagnosed with a rare disease at the age of five, it was already too late for doctors to stop it. By then the bright and independent little girl was losing her ability to walk, talk and eat as the degenerative brain condition known as MLD paralysed her young body. But while … Read more

As coronavirus sweeps the globe, the old adage is true: Coughs and sneezes spread diseases

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Hundreds of flights have been cancelled. Tourists are stranded, quarantined in their hotels. World stock markets are in freefall, and there are reports of desperate shoppers stockpiling crates of supplies – from nappies to medicines to toilet roll. Sales of surgical spirit have surged and Boots announced it has sold out of anti-bacterial hand gel. There’s … Read more

NHS ‘failing to test for rare diseases at birth’, experts warn 

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Thousands of UK babies are at risk of disability or death because they are not being screened for rare diseases, experts said yesterday. Britain has fallen behind countries such as Poland, Hungary and Slovakia in testing for severe conditions at birth. MPs warned this could mean British babies becoming the ‘sick children of Europe’ and … Read more

Meet the founders of Healx who plan to treat 100 rare diseases by 2025 using AI

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You’d be forgiven for thinking the creator of the drug that cured the erectile dysfunction of millions around the world would be enjoying the profits of his hard work. But you’d be wrong. Instead, the co-creator of Viagra, Dr David Brown, has set himself the ambitious challenge of finding treatments for 100 rare diseases by … Read more