Significant disparities in survival rates found across cancer types
The comprehensive research, led by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and funded by Cancer Research UK, analysed long-term trends from 1971 to 2018 for millions of adults in England and Wales.
While the 10-year cancer survival index reached 49.8 per cent in 2018, the rate of improvement has declined sharply, from a 4 per cent rise between 2000 and 2005 to just 1.4 per cent between 2010 and 2015.
Significant disparities persist across cancer types, with 10-year survival for testicular cancer at 97 per cent, contrasting sharply with only 4.3 per cent for pancreatic cancer, indicating a system-wide challenge.
Experts, including Cancer Research UK, are urgently calling for a national cancer plan to address delays, improve early diagnosis, and boost screening programmes to reverse this concerning trend.
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The Sun
7 minutes ago
- The Sun
Warning as deadly ‘suitcase viruses' that destroy organs and trigger brain swelling spread across the UK and Europe
DEADLY viruses could be making their way to the UK on planes and in holidaymakers' suitcases, experts warn. They say international travel is fuelling a "concerning" rise in both chikungunya and oropouche, and the worst could be yet to come. 18 18 18 Simon Clarke, professor of cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, told The Sun: "As Brits develop more exotic tastes for travel to warmer places closer to the equator, we are increasingly likely to see unusual infections upon their return. "While oropouche is mainly found in the Amazon and chikungunya in sub-tropical regions, they are spreading. "Both have been detected in the United States and Europe, where sporadic outbreaks in France and Italy have occurred." Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, added: "There is a small risk of airport associated infections whereby infected mosquitoes arrive in the UK on board airplanes and then escape. "The spread of any infection into a previously unexposed population is always a matter for concern." Chikungunya is a virus spread by mosquito bites, the symptoms of which include a sudden fever and joint pain. Most people recover within two weeks, but the joint pain can last for months or even years, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). In some cases, it is so bad it causes sufferers to "fold in half" or "become contorted" as they double over in agony. Serious complications are not common, but in rare cases the disease can cause organ damage and be fatal, particularly in very young or older people, or those with underlying health conditions. The latest report from the UKHSA shows there were 73 cases of chikungunya reported in England, primarily in London, between January and June 2025 - the highest number ever recorded. This compares to 27 cases for the same period last year. The majority were linked to travel to Sri Lanka, India and Mauritius. There is currently no risk of onward transmission of chikungunya, as the two species of mosquito that transmit the disease are not established in the UK. But experts fear cases could continue to rise with global travel and rising temperatures. Prof Clarke said: "Chikungunya is spread by mosquitoes, one of which, the tiger mosquito, has been detected in the South East of England. "It's worth emphasising the negative impact that global warming may have on a resilience to infections like this, which we've always taken for granted in the UK. "A warmer climate may mean that we have to take greater precautions at home against infections spread by insects." 18 Prof Hunter added: "We have seen local outbreaks of both dengue and chikungunya multiple times on the Mediterranean coasts of France, Italy and Spain over the past decade, and such events seem to be becoming more frequent. "Chikungunya outbreaks are less common than dengue, but when we do see them, they tend to be big, at least in Italy. "Both chikungunya and oropouche can occasionally be fatal. And the fact that locally-acquired infections are being reported from multiple locations this year is concerning. "There will be several more weeks before the mosquito season starts to tail off [so it could get worse]. "We will almost certainly see more cases in the UK, but at least for a few decades, these are all likely to have been acquired overseas." Chikungunya can be a nasty disease and we're seeing a worrying increase in cases among travellers returning to the UK Dr Philip VealUKHSA Chikungunya mainly occurs in Africa and southern Asia, although cases have been reported in Europe and parts of North America. This year, there have been outbreaks in the Americas and Asia, with surges on the Indian Ocean islands of Reunion, Mayotte and Mauritius. More than 10,000 people have also been struck down in China since June 2025. The majority of cases have been reported in Foshan, a city in the southern Guangdong province, where officials have since rolled out Covid-style lockdowns and been spraying insecticides in a desperate bid to stop the virus from spiralling out of control. At least 12 other cities in the southern Guangdong province have also reported infections, as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan. Since early 2025, there have been 240,000 cases and 90 deaths reported in 16 countries, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). 18 18 18 18 Two chikungunya vaccines are approved for use in the UK and are available to buy after an assessment at a private travel clinic. Travellers can stay safe by using insect repellent and covering their skin, especially at dawn and dusk. 'ESSENTIAL' PRECAUTIONS 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." 18 The UKHSA has also detected the first cases of oropouche in travellers coming to the UK from Brazil. The flu-like illness can cause a fever, headaches, joint pain, muscle pain, chills, nausea and vomiting. In serious cases, it can cause brain-swelling, specifically in the form of encephalitis and meningitis. Officials are urging anyone who becomes unwell after travel to affected areas, including parts of Central and South America and the Caribbean, to seek urgent medical advice. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), before late 2023, oropouche was mostly reported near the Amazon rainforest area. It was dubbed 'sloth fever' as it circulates between primates, sloths and birds before occasionally being passed to humans by midges and mosquitoes. In 2024, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Guyana, Peru and the Dominican Republic reported locally transmitted cases of the disease. Travel-related cases are now cropping up across Europe. Francois Balloux, professor of computational systems biology and director of the UCL Genetics Institute, specialising in infectious diseases, said: "There seems to have been a marked increase of both chikungunya and oropouche cases in the parts of the world where they're endemic. "It is obviously a problem as both are unpleasant viruses. "Neither could circulate in the UK as their vectors are absent, but travellers are being infected overseas and returning home. "The number of cases in the UK could go up or down in the future." 18 18 18 18 The first imported cases of oropouche were reported in Europe in June and July 2024. There were 12 in Spain, five in Italy and two in Germany. All had a history of travel to Cuba or Brazil. Direct human-to-human transmission of the virus has not been documented so far, according to the ECDC. The prognosis for recovery is good and "fatal outcomes are extremely rare". There are no vaccines to prevent or specific medication to treat oropouche. The UKHSA report also shows a rise in travel-associated cholera cases in the UK, with eight cases in the first half of the year compared to just one in 2024. Most cases were linked with travel to India and Ethiopia. There was also a 67 per cent decrease in the number of dengue cases reported in England, Wales and Northern Ireland from January to June, and there were just four cases of zika virus during the period, down from nine in 2024. Oropouche virus: Everything you need to know Oropouche is a disease caused by Oropouche virus. It is spread through the bites of infected midges (small flies) and mosquitoes. Symptoms ARE similar to dengue and include: a headache, fever, muscle aches, stiff joints, nausea, vomiting, chills, or sensitivity to light. Severe cases may result in brain diseases such as meningitis. Symptoms typically start four to eight days after being bitten and last three to six days. Most people recover without long-term effects. There are no specific medications or vaccines available. Travellers heading to affected areas should take steps to avoid bug bites. The virus is endemic in many South American countries, in both rural and urban communities. Outbreaks are periodically reported in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Panama, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago. Wear tops with long sleeves and long trousers, apply insect repellent regularly, and sleep under a mosquito net if you are not in enclosed, air-conditioned accommodation. Source: US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention 18 18 18 18
The Independent
36 minutes ago
- The Independent
Woman died after 10-minute power cut during heart surgery
A woman died during an operation after an unexpected power outage at Scunthorpe General Hospital meant doctors were unable to complete critical heart surgery until power was restored. Jean Dye, 77, was undergoing a procedure to treat heart disease on 7 September 2020, when a "sudden and unexpected" loss of electricity to the treatment room meant surgeons were unable to use vital equipment, the coroner's report states. The power loss came as the surgeons were aiming to repair a tear in an artery caused during the operation, something the coroner recognised as "a rare but recognised complication of the procedure". The outage, which lasted for 10 minutes, meant the surgical team could not use real-time x-rays which were required to insert the stents (mesh tubes which are inserted into blood vessels to hold them open). Once an engineer arrived and restored the power, the stenting was then completed. However, the report, by Paul Smith, senior coroner for Greater Lincolnshire, states that "Mrs Dye failed to recover and her death was confirmed." "On balance of probabilities, Mrs Dye would have survived but for the loss of electrical power," Mr Smith said. "No clear cause of that loss of power was identified," he said, adding that "a fault within the circuitry was suspected but not established to the required standard". The report also warns that the investigation revealed electrical systems in the hospital may still be cause for concern. "In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken," Mr Smith said. "All staff at the scene were unaware of the cause of the loss of power, never having experienced such a situation previously, and an engineer was summoned to attend to reinstate the power, which he did." Despite this, the report found evidence for similar such outages nationally. "It is plainly something which can, and does, occur." "Had staff been aware of the exact cause of the loss of power on this occasion and had they had the opportunity to reset the circuit without the need to await the arrival of an engineer, who in turn had to attend a separate plant room, the downtime would likely have been significantly reduced." Mr Smith added: "There may well be future cases within which such fine margins are time critical." The report states that NHS England has a duty to respond to the issues raised in the report by 28 August 2025.
BBC News
37 minutes ago
- BBC News
Skeletons with Sub-saharan grandparents found in Dorset and Kent
A boy and girl who lived in medieval England likely had grandparents from Africa, according to new findings by DNA from the skeletons - which are over a thousand years old - was tested by scientists to reveal their boy was found in a medieval cemetery in Dorset, and the girl was found at cemetery in archaeologists said they were surprised to find early medieval skeletons with grandparents from so far away. What did the scientists find? The scientists originally tested the DNA of 23 bodies that were found in a medieval they studied their DNA most of the skeletons buried there had either northern European or western British and Irish scientists were amazed to find that one person at each cemetery had a recent ancestor from west fact, the team found that between 20 to 40 percent of the ancestry in the skeletons was from sub-Saharan Africa. They even revealed that the individuals had similar DNA to groups living in west Africa right now, such as the Yoruba, Mende, Mandenka and Esan groups. 'A diverse population' According to researchers, the findings suggest that medieval Britain may have been more diverse than once of the researchers, Dr Edwards, said the results suggested "a diverse population with far-flung connections who were, nonetheless, fully integrated into the fabric of daily life." Another of the team, Dr Sayer, said the finding was "fascinating" because the children were buried in very different places, but had such similar DNA.
