Searches for August hay fever increase by +5,500% as ragweed season starts
Ian Budd, hay fever expert and Prescribing Pharmacist at Chemist4U, has shared his top hacks for how hay fever sufferers can combat their symptoms over this years' prolonged pollen season:
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Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Huge rise in Brits catching deadly organ-destroying virus on holiday
Chikungunya cases are at a record high in England after tripling in just a year with the majority reported travelling from Sri Lanka, India and Mauritius Cases of a deadly virus caught by Brits while abroad have tripled in the last year hitting record levels, government data shows. The latest UK Health Security Agency figures show an increase in travel-associated chikungunya cases in England. A total of 73 cases were reported between January and June 2025. The same period in 2024 saw just 27 cases. This is the highest number of cases ever recorded in England. The report which covers cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, reveals that there were also three cases of Oropouche virus in travellers arriving back in the UK. It was the first time Oropouche has been recorded here and all cases were associated with travel from Brazil. It comes after a pilot says he's found the location of Amelia Earhart's aircraft using Google Earth. Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne infection related to overseas travel, with symptoms including a sudden onset of fever usually accompanied by joint pain. Most people recover fully within two weeks, but joint pain can persist for months or even years. Up to 12% of patients still experiencing discomfort three years later. Serious complications are uncommon, but the disease can be fatal in very rare cases, especially if caught by the very young, old or those with other underlying illnesses. Of the 73 chikungunya cases, the majority reported travel to Sri Lanka, India and Mauritius, linked with ongoing local outbreaks in countries in the Indian Ocean region. All cases were reported in England, with the majority in London. There are only two species of mosquito that transmit the disease and they are not established in the UK. This is because our climate is generally not suitable for their survival and breeding. There is currently no risk of onward transmission of chikungunya in the UK, the UKHSA says. There are two vaccines recently been approved for use in the UK based on The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation(JCVI), to protect against chikungunya. Dr Philip Veal, Consultant in Public Health at UKHSA, said: "Chikungunya can be a nasty disease and we're seeing a worrying increase in cases among travellers returning to the UK. While this mosquito-borne infection is rarely fatal, it can cause severe joint and muscle pain, headaches, sensitivity to light and skin rashes. "Thankfully symptoms usually improve within a few weeks, but joint pain may last for months or longer. It is essential to take precautions against mosquito bites when travelling. Simple steps, such as using insect repellent, covering up your skin and sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets can greatly reduce the risk. "Before you travel, check the Travel Health Pro Website for the latest advice on your destination. A chikungunya vaccine may also be considered for those travelling to higher-risk regions." Oropouche virus is spread predominantly by midge bites rather than mosquito bites. The primary type of midge responsible for the outbreak in the Americas is not seen in the UK and Europe. If a person becomes unwell with symptoms such as high fever, chills, headache, joint pain and muscle aches following travel to affected areas, they should seek urgent medical advice. There has been a rise in Oropouche virus infections globally since 2024, especially in multiple countries in South America, Central America and the Caribbean, with Brazil reporting the largest outbreaks. Due to the increase in cases, and some recent concerns regarding Oropouche virus infection during pregnancy, pregnant travellers should take particular care. The report also noted a significant increase in travel-associated cholera cases in the UK, with eight cases (compared to just one case in 2024) – most cases reported travel history to India and Ethiopia – with all Ethiopia-linked cases associated with an outbreak there. There were 161 dengue cases reported in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a 67% decrease compared to the same period in 2024, which saw 490 cases Zika virus disease cases also decreased to four cases in the first half of 2025, down from 9 cases in 2024.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'Underwear I bought from TikTok melted into my skin leaving second degree burns'
Molly-May Watson had to rip the TikTok shop underwear off her body when it burned onto her skin. Despite being rushed to hospital she was only given £10 in compensation A woman has been left with second degree burns after shapewear she purchased on TikTok shop "melted" into her skin. Molly-May Watson, 27, bought the £8.57 "Spanx-like" shorts in May 2024 through a seller called MOONGIRL-UK on the social media app. She wore them for the first time under a dress while attending a baby shower, for her sister on July 27, 2024 and thought a bee had flown into her dress after she 'felt this burning' on her upper right thigh. Rushing to the bathroom to see what had happened, Molly-May was forced to rip her shorts off after she says the elastane stretchy material had "melted" into her skin. She attended A&E at St Thomas' Hospital, London, the following day where she was told she could be "scarred for life". After complaining to TikTok Shop through the help function on the app, she says she was given just a £10 coupon as compensation. Molly-May, an executive assistant, from Kennington, south London, said: "I felt this burning on my upper bum cheek and side of my leg. She said: "For some reason I thought a bee had got into my dress. I went to the toilet to see what the hell was going on. The shorts had melted into my leg. "So I've had to rip them off and I've been left with first and second degree burns. I'm unable to walk properly at the moment. The hospital where I went said I could be scarred for life at this point." Molly-May had only worn the shorts once before briefly, to try them on and make sure they fit, before her sister's baby shower. After taking them off and getting through the rest of the event in pain Molly-May attended hospital the following day to get checked over. "I thought 'I'll just leave it' but it was agonising and had gotten worse," she said. I had to go to A&E on the Monday and had to be treated in the urgent treatment centre for burns. "I've been bandaged up ever since. They confirmed it's definitely a burn and that's what happened. They said 'it's strange, we don't really know if it's a heat burn or a chemical reaction'." Molly-May added: "I now can't find the seller on Google - which makes me think it wasn't legit in the first place. I sent TikTok Shop a message with pics of all the burns and the melted shorts and said 'this is what happened'. I spoke to an agent and said they'd need to pass it on to a specialist team. I sent another chaser message. 'They came back to me and said, 'We can refund you and give you a £10 coupon.' I said 'I don't feel comfortable accepting a coupon from you to be honest'. I'll never be shopping from that shop again. It's insulting. They said, 'Unfortunately nothing we can do'.! "When I've been talking to friends and people at work and stuff, they've told me they've bought similar things and said 'we felt really irritated'. It's just made me overly aware now. You think 'that's a nice little bargain' but it could leave you like me scarred for life. 'Any sort of budget or third party sellers I won't ever order from them again. I'm starting to scar already from some bits of the burn'. Molly-May has had to work from home whilst she recovers, and has been advised to attend the doctors if she sees any changes. TikTok confirmed the listing and seller page was removed from the platform in June last year. A spokesperson said TikTok has already responded and given compensation to the buyer after the complaint.
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
‘King Kong' of fat jabs could DOUBLE in price – soaring to over £300 for the max doses
More than a million people are thought to be taking Mounjaro FAT JAB BLOW 'King Kong' of fat jabs could DOUBLE in price – soaring to over £300 for the max doses Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MOUNJARO prices in the UK could double as the manufacturer will next month hike the rate it charges pharmacies for the fat jab. US-based Eli Lilly said it is increasing charges for the blockbuster weight loss injection in Britain to 'address inconsistencies' with what it commands from other rich countries. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Mounjaro is by far the UK's most popular weight loss drug Credit: Alamy A middle-sized 5mg dose will nearly double from £92 to £180 from September 1. The maximum available dose, 15mg, will rise from £122 to £330. Lilly said it has struck a secret, cheaper deal with the NHS to ensure availability for the patients most in need. It also claimed to have negotiated with big private suppliers to ensure the whole increase is not passed on to patients. 'At launch, Lilly agreed to a UK list price that is significantly below the European average More than a million Brits are thought to be taking the weight loss injection privately and now face an increase in their monthly bill. Ministers are keen to use the drug to tackle the UK's bulging waistline and roll it out to millions more people over the next decade. A Lilly spokesperson said: 'Following a review, Lilly will increase the UK list price for Mounjaro (tirzepatide) from 1 September to address pricing inconsistencies compared to other developed countries, including in Europe. 'We have reached an agreement with the NHS to ensure continued supply and patient access. 'While Lilly does not determine the prices that private healthcare providers set, we are working with them to maintain patient access. 'The UK was one of the first countries where Lilly launched Mounjaro, and our priority was to bring it to patients as quickly as possible during a time of limited supply of GLP-1 RA treatments for type 2 diabetes. 'At launch, Lilly agreed to a UK list price that is significantly below the European average to prevent delays in NHS availability. 'With changes in the environment and new clinical evidence supporting the value of Mounjaro, we are now aligning the list price more consistently to ensure fair global contributions to the cost of innovation.'
