Terrifying warning that deadly new China virus is already HERE... as experts warn what to watch out for: 'Very worrying'
Chikungunya virus can cause sudden, agonizing joint pain in the hands and feet, sometimes so severe that it leaves sufferers unable to move normally for months.
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The Independent
10 minutes ago
- The Independent
Drones, fines and elephant mosquitoes: How China is fighting the chikungunya virus outbreak after nearly 8,000 cases
Authorities in China are fighting to prevent the spread of a mosquito -borne viral disease after thousands of cases were reported in a few weeks. The country has seen nearly 8,000 cases of chikungunya in less than a month, mostly in the city of Foshan in Guangdong province, prompting authorities to impose measures akin to the 'zero Covid' policy that saw the Chinese government impose some of the strictest regulations in the world during the coronavirus pandemic. They have also deployed drones to identify mosquito breeding sites, and have reportedly introduced 'elephant mosquitoes' whose larvae prey on the virus -carrying species. Chikungunya patients are required to stay in 'quarantine zones' or hospitals, where their beds are protected with nets to prevent the spread of the disease. They are discharged only after testing negative for the virus. Soldiers wearing masks have been spraying insecticides in parks and in the streets, while authorities have released more than 5,000 larva-eating fish into the lakes of Foshan. The city's residents have been ordered to discard any stagnant water, and community workers have been tasked with inspecting homes, local reports said. Households and businesses that don't cooperate could risk being penalised up to 10,000 yuan or face criminal charges for 'obstructing the prevention of infectious diseases'. Foshan has mandated real-name registration for medication to treat chikungunya, while two other cities have told travellers returning from affected areas to monitor their health. Two residents who did not want to be named told The New York Times that workers had entered their homes without consent to search for stagnant water. Others alleged that their plants were taken away or destroyed in front of them. About five houses had their electricity cut for not cooperating, according to a notice issued in the district of Guicheng. Social media users criticised the pandemic-era measures, calling them unnecessary. 'What's the point of the quarantine? It's not as though an infected patient will then go around biting other people,' a user wrote on Weibo. In addition to Foshan, 12 cities in the southern Guangdong province have reported infections. In Hong Kong, a 12-year-old boy who travelled to Foshan in July has been diagnosed with chikungunya fever. China's vice-premier Liu Guozhong last week called for an all-out effort to prevent the spread of the disease within and outside the affected regions, Xinhua reported. The rise in infections has prompted the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a travel notice for China. Chikungunya is spread mainly by the Aedes mosquito and has no specific treatment. It can rapidly cause large outbreaks. As the mosquitoes bite in the daytime, prevention through the use of insect repellent and long-sleeved clothing is crucial. Chikungunya outbreaks have occurred in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. There is a risk of the virus being spread to unaffected areas by infected travellers, according to CDC guidance. The infection can cause fever and joint pain, with other symptoms including headache, muscle pain, joint swelling and rash. In serious cases, the virus can cause long-term disability. If an infected person does not experience joint pain, the symptoms will be mild and can go unrecognised. Most people will recover fully from the infection. There have been occasional instances of eye, heart, and neurological complications, while newborns and older people with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk of severe disease. Last month, the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued an urgent call for action to prevent a repeat of the 2004-05 epidemic of chikungunya as new outbreaks linked to the Indian Ocean region spread to Europe and other continents. Diana Rojas Alvarez, a medical officer at the WHO, told reporters in Geneva that an estimated 5.6 billion people live in areas across 119 countries at risk from the virus. Although the number of new locally transmitted cases of chikungunya fever has declined in Guangdong over the past week, the risk remains, according to Kang Min of the Guangdong Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. 'The recent surge has been initially contained, with a downward trend in newly reported cases across the province,' he was quoted as saying by the Global Times. The next few weeks are especially daunting for disease prevention and control, provincial authorities say, as heavy rain and flooding boost mosquito activity.
Daily Mail
12 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
I started having dizzy spells at 28 despite being fit and healthy. My GP blamed exercise... until my heart stopped. This is the terrifying condition I really had, who's most at risk - and how a cold can trigger it
At 28, Matt Ullmer couldn't have seemed fitter or healthier. A competitive amateur cyclist, he would regularly cover distances of more than 100km in a single session. He didn't smoke, drank in moderation and, to the naked eye, appeared to be in great shape.
The Sun
44 minutes ago
- The Sun
Oral sex could increase your risk of SKIN cancer – the 3 ways to protect yourself
SCIENTISTS have discovered a new cause of skin cancer - and it's linked to oral sex. Human papillomavirus (HPV), one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK, is primarily transmitted through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity, including oral sex. 3 3 It's previously been linked to increased risk of several cancers, including anal, head and neck, throat, penile cancer and cervical cancer. But now, US researchers say the virus could also cause a deadly form of skin cancer - squamous cell carcinoma. Scientists from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) discovered the link after a 34-year-old woman was referred to the clinic. She presented with 43 spots of the skin cancer on her face, hands and legs. But while she had surgery to remove them, as well as immunotherapy, the cancer returned. Doctors first suspected sun damage and a weak immune system, but later found the beta-HPV virus had inserted into her skin cells' DNA and was producing viral proteins, taking control of the cells. Dr Andrea Lisco, a virologist who led the study, said: "This discovery could completely change how we think about the development, and consequently the treatment, of [skin cancer] in people who have a health condition that compromises immune function. "It suggests that there may be more people out there with aggressive forms of [skin cancer] who have underlying immune defect and could benefit from treatments targeting the immune system." The woman in the case report was found to have a genetic condition that weakened her T-cells (a type of immune cell), leaving her unable to fight off the virus. Doctors treated her with a stem cell transplant to restore her immune system. Urgent health alert as most sexually active will get cancer causing virus at some point in life Three years later, her skin cancer hadn't returned, and other HPV-related complications, such as growths on her tongue and skin, had disappeared. The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and are preliminary, only suggesting a potential link between HPV and skin cancer. Three ways to protect yourself from HPV The most effective way to protect yourself from HPV is to get the HPV vaccine. Additionally, practising safe sex, such as using condoms, and getting regular screenings can further reduce the risk of infection and potential health problems. HPV vaccination In the UK, the vaccine is routinely offered to children aged 12 to 13, but is also available for older individuals who may have missed it, especially those at higher risk. The vaccine is most effective when administered before the first sexual contact, but it can still provide protection even after sexual activity has begun. 3 How do you know if you have HPV? HPV doesn't usually cause any symptoms, which means most people who have it don't realise and don't have any problems. But sometimes the virus can cause painless growths or lumps around your vagina, penis or anus (known as genital warts). Genital warts appear on their own or in a group (groups of warts can look like a cauliflower. They may feel soft or firm, and be white, red, skin-coloured, or darker than the surrounding skin. Source: NHS Safe sex practices Using condoms consistently and correctly during sexual activity can significantly reduce the risk of HPV transmission, though they don't offer complete protection as HPV can affect areas not covered by the condom. Dental dams can also be used to reduce the risk of transmission during oral sex. And being in a mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who also has only had sex with you can also reduce the risk. Screening and testing Regular screenings, such as Pap tests and HPV tests, can help detect HPV and abnormal cell changes early, allowing for timely intervention and prevention of cervical cancer. Guidelines recommend starting Pap test screening at age 21 and continuing until age 65 for most women. Other ways to reduce skin cancer risk Sun protection Limit sun exposure: Avoid prolonged sun exposure, especially during peak UV hours (usually between 11am and 3pm). Seek shade when outdoors, especially during these hours. Sunscreen: Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, and reapply it every two hours, or more frequently if swimming or sweating. Protective clothing: Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs, and choose a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face, neck and ears. Sunglasses that offer UV protection are also crucial. Skin self-exams and professional check ups Regular skin checks: Regularly examine your skin for any new moles, changes in existing moles, or any unusual spots. Pay attention to the ABCDEs of melanoma: Asymmetry, Border, Colour, Diameter, and Evolving. Dermatologist visits: Schedule regular skin exams with a dermatologist, especially if you have risk factors like a family history of skin cancer or a history of sunburns.
