Warning over significant increase in community-acquired superbug cases
The number of community-onset cases has risen by 47.1 per cent compared to the same period in 2019, and patients are increasingly younger, with nearly a quarter now under 45.
The UK Health and Security Agency states it is too early to determine if this rise represents a sustained trend but is closely analysing the data.
This increase follows a warning from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention about MRSA spreading in gyms and health clubs due to shared equipment and skin-to-skin contact.
Public health officials are urging Britons to practise good general hygiene, including frequent handwashing and avoiding the sharing of personal items like towels and razors, to manage community spread.
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The Sun
6 minutes ago
- The Sun
Urgent warning as parents told to bin brand of kids' health gummies that contain prescription only drug
PARENTS have been told to bin a brand of kids' health gummies that contain a prescription-only drug. Regulators issued an alert after tests found Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies have synthetic melatonin, with too much causing headaches and nausea. Magnesium glycinate is a supplement used to combat anxiety and improve sleep. However, tests of this specific brand showed between 1.5 and 1.7mg of melatonin in each gummy. Melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle, is naturally produced in the body. However, a synthetic version is authorised for use on prescription in the UK for adults and children over six with sleep disorders such as insomnia. If prescribed, the recommended starting dose is 1mg for children. According to the MHRA, melatonin is not listed anywhere on the packaging of Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies. The packaging advises a dose of one to two gummies daily. Taking too much can cause headaches, drowsiness and nausea. Dr Alison Cave, chief safety officer at MHRA, said: "We advise any parent or caregiver to stop use of this product and safely dispose of it. "Side effects such as headache, hyperactivity, a feeling of dizziness and abdominal pain have been reported in children when melatonin is prescribed and used for its licensed indications. No serious side effects were observed in studies in children. "Anyone who suspects that their child, or a child in their care, is having a side effect from this product is advised to stop taking it and speak to a healthcare professional and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme." Viral 'Dubai-style' chocolate is pulled from UK supermarket shelves over dangerous health risk 2
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Tesco shopper who was beaten in the street after she stood up to shoplifters reveals how her ordeal has ruined her life
A Tesco shopper who was beaten in the street after she stood up to shoplifters has revealed how her ordeal has ruined her life. Emilie Martin, 39, of east London, was shopping at the chain supermarket in the capital's Hackney area in 2015 when the horrifying attack happened. The event manager spotted a gang of teenagers stealing sandwiches which, with no security guard to be seen, she reported to the store manager. The worker told her the staff were powerless to stop them, confessing the group targeted the store nearly every day. But Ms Martin did not realise the youths had overheard the encounter - and when she left the store, they surrounded her and sprayed her with a drink. After threatening to call the police, she was punched in the face. Her attackers were never caught. Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Matthew Barber last week called for the public not to stand by when they see shoplifting - but call it out. Nearly ten years on from her experience, Ms Martin, after seeing his comments, has now spoken out again, to warn the public of the risks such confrontations can carry. But Ms Martin did not realise the youths had overheard the encounter - and when she left the store, they surrounded her and sprayed her with a drink. After threatening to call the police, she was punched in the face (pictured, her injuries) She told The Telegraph the shocking ambush has left her with an array of physical health problems, including permanent scarring and breathing issues. The brave bystander has had two operations on her eye and nose, which were left swollen, bruised and bloodied by the attack. Even a decade on, she is still awaiting a procedure for the chronic sinusitis the attack left her with, having spent a whopping 18 months on an NHS waiting list. This kind of sinus swelling is common and usually goes away on its own - but Ms Martin has fought it every day since her violent ordeal. She has also been diagnosed with PTSD, leaving her hyper-vigilant and highly anxious - and dubbing substantive mental health support on the NHS a 'mirage'. Ms Martin now has to avoid Tesco, Hackney Central and any news reports about similarly violent shoplifting gangs because they set her on edge too much. In fact, going to any supermarket now makes her extremely nervous - and she also crosses the road any time she sees a group of teenage boys Ms Martin said the Metropolitan Police has 'shown little concern' about what happened and Tesco claimed CCTV footage of what happened was accidentally lost. The courageous woman also told of the trauma that came from a gruelling four-year battle to win even a small amount of compensation. She submitted a claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) in 2017 - but it was rejected, forcing her through two tribunal hearings. Only six years after she was attacked, in June 2021, was she finally awarded £3,480 by the government body, which is sponsored by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). Ms Martin felt she had been failed by the police, justice system, CICA, the NHS and Tesco. 'On the night of the attack, I wasn't even offered an ice pack, let alone an apology', she said. The whole experience has left her feeling like she would not want to challenge any shoplifters again. The remarks on shoplifting by Mr Barber which saw her speak out again were: 'If you're not even going to challenge people, you're not going to try and stop them, then people will get away with it. 'That's not just about policing. That's a bigger problem with society, people who [don't do anything] – you're part of the problem.' Ms Martin explained in an open letter to the Thames Valley PCC that she understood his point and agreed the public has a role in stopping shoplifting. But she said there needs to be more comprehensive protection and help for those who stick their head above the parapet to do the right thing. She questioned if the police chief knew what he was really asking in urging the public to confront shoplifters - as her experience had made her fully aware of the risks. Mr Barber responded, dubbing her ordeal 'horrific', saying he understood why it had stuck with her ever since. He said it highlighted society must do everything in its power to reduce crime - and showed offences like shoplifting are not as victimless as many might think. The Thames Valley PCC said Ms Martin's experience was one of those sad examples, which must be avoided, of no one stepping in to help. The police boss emphasised it was the police's job to reduce crime and catch criminals in the act. But everyone must band together, he underlined, to ensure we do not live in a society where people simply look the other way when crime occurs. Ms Martin's brave response to his comments marks only the second time she has spoken publicly about her experience. She said she knew many have done as she did - spoken out against shoplifting, faced repercussions and been left without adequate support - and wanted them to know they are not alone. The courageous woman said she wants her experience to prompt improvements to CICA's dealings with victims. She also called for rules forcing large retailers like Tesco to hang on to relevant CCTV in violent cases like this, with penalty fines to punish breaches. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'This was investigated thoroughly at the time and regrettably, we were unable to identify a suspect. 'The Met Police is working to support shopkeepers and tackle theft in the capital, this year solving 163 per cent more shoplifting cases than in the same period last year. 'If you see criminal activity taking place, please call the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.' A Government spokesperson said: 'We understand the devastating impact of shop theft on retailers. 'Since Ms Martin applied for compensation in 2017, we have improved how victims apply for compensation with a better online system and improved training for staff so the process is more straight-forward. 'Our landmark Crime and Policing Bill will also end the effective immunity for theft of goods under £200 and bring in a specific offence for assaulting retail workers, while the Tackling Retail Crime Together Strategy is gathering data to better target and respond to perpetrators.' It comes as shoplifting surges to a record high across the UK, spiralling out of control in stores throughout the nation. Rates rose by 20 per cent to hit another record, according to official figures released last month. Police recorded 530,643 offences in England and Wales in the year to March 2025 - the highest figure since records begun and up from 444,022 in the previous year. Shoplifting has become an increasing nightmare for High Street shops, with only a tiny minority of offenders ever charged. The epidemic is illustrated by sickening CCTV revealing thieves casually walking out of stores with armfuls of high-value goods. And the crisis is particularly acute in London, which has recorded a shocking 50 per cent boom in shoplifting, up from 53,202 in 2023 to 80,041 last year.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Woman who weighed 430lbs and was WEEKS away from death reveals how she turned her life around and shed 280lbs
A former sugar addict who was told she was weeks away from death because of her weight has revealed how she turned her life around and shed an incredible 280 pounds. Suzanne Evans was over 430 pounds and had been in a wheelchair for six years, unable to walk more than a few steps due to her size. It got so bad that doctors told her that her kidneys and liver were shutting down and her heart was under near-unbearable strain – and estimated she had just four weeks left to live due to imminent organ failure. The 40-year-old knew something had to change – and fast. 'I was terrified,' Suzanne, from the UK, recently told NeedToKnow. 'When you look in the doctor's eyes and see they're scared, you know you're in trouble. It was the worst feeling and I was in the worst place.' The mom-of-two was believed she'd likely die, and even recorded videos for her sons aged 10 and 13 at the time to watch if she 'wasn't there anymore.' 'Doctors said I was so ill because of my weight, but they didn't have faith in me that I would fight so hard to lose the weight,' she shared. 'They thought the damage had been done. 'But I was determined to lose weight and improve my health for [my sons].' Suzanne's weight gain first started when her father died unexpectedly in 2008. 'I comfort ate,' she recalled. 'I became addicted to sugar – I would just eat anything sweet. 'I became wheelchair bound in 2014. I'd eat all day all night. There was always something in my hand. 'I would have whatever I could get my hands on. I had drawers by my bedside full of sweets and crisps and chocolates. 'Even if I woke up in the night, I would gorge on them.' Her health seriously started to decline in 2018, with her being 'rushed into hospital every other week' for a year. 'Every single part of my body radiated pain,' she recalled. 'I could hardly breathe or move without excruciating pain.' She had tried diets in the past but had always reverted to binge eating. But the stark warning from doctors proved to be the push Suzanne needed to, once and for all, drop the weight. She followed the Slimming World plan, which puts an emphasis on whole foods. Just one week into her weight loss journey, she had dropped roughly 15 pounds, and by the end of her first month she was 35 pounds lighter. But it wasn't all easy. Suzanne said: 'I had the shakes from the sugar withdrawal. 'I'd had 11 years of overeating, but I had hope at last. I felt so proud. I really was fighting for my life.' In addition to overhauling her diet, she started incorporating walking into her daily routine. 'Just a few steps at first until I could do more,' she shared. 'Eventually I was able to take the dog for a walk and it felt great. 'My doctor cried a year later when I walked into [the office]. It was the first time they'd seen me walk in a long time.' Now, Suzanne has lost an incredible 280 pounds and weighs around 150 pounds. She is careful to maintain her svelte size, having two healthy meals a day including overnight oats with fruit, and chicken stir fry for dinner. Suzanne added: 'People have noticed my weight loss and ask me what I have done to lose so much weight. 'I tell them it is all down to determination, willpower, and Slimming World. They ask me what else I did and the answer is nothing. 'I just made the decision to change my life and live. I am so grateful to Slimming World because their food plan saved my life. 'And I am so proud of myself for making it happen.'
