Is the European Health Card still valid under the new UK/EU deal?
UK residents do have to apply for the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), but under what will be Britain's new agreement with the EU, UK residents' rights to emergency and medically necessary healthcare will still continue when travelling in the EU.
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Reuters
a day ago
- Reuters
Foot-and-mouth disease contained in Hungary, farm minister says
BUDAPEST, June 6 (Reuters) - Hungary has successfully contained an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, leading to the lifting of European Union restrictions, the country's farm minister Istvan Nagy told local news site in an interview published on Friday. Hungary reported its first case of foot-and-mouth disease for over 50 years in March, leading to infections in five farms near its border with Slovakia and Austria and triggering border closures and the mass slaughter of cattle. "There hasn't been a single new outbreak on the farms for over a month and a half. Disinfection work is ongoing, cleaning is happening at full speed, we're preparing for repopulation at all the sites ... the virus is gone," Nagy said. The farm minister also said that the European Union was lifting restrictions introduced after the outbreak. The disease, which poses no danger to humans, mostly affects cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals like swine, sheep and goats, causing fever and mouth blisters. Outbreaks often lead to trade restrictions and livestock culls. Authorities were still investigating the origins of the outbreak and testing several theories, Nagy said. He reiterated that terrorism had not been ruled out. Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff in May suggested a "biological attack" as a possible source of the outbreak, without giving further details. Restrictions have also been eased in Slovakia since May as the country has not seen any fresh outbreaks in recent months. In the Czech Republic, where no cases were reported, remaining measures to prevent the spread across its borders were due to end on Friday.
The Guardian
a day ago
- The Guardian
Food additive titanium dioxide likely has more toxic effects than thought, study finds
The controversial food additive titanium dioxide likely has more toxic effects than previously thought, new peer-reviewed research shows, adding to growing evidence that unregulated nanoparticles used throughout the food system present an underestimated danger to consumers. In nanoparticle form, titanium dioxide may throw off the body's endocrine system by disrupting hormonal response to food and dysregulating blood sugar levels, which can lead to diabetes, obesity and other health problems, the study found. Ultra-processed foods more broadly have this effect on 'food hormones', but there isn't a full understanding of why, and the new research may help point to an answer. 'Our research highlights the detrimental effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles as potential intestinal endocrine disruptors,' the authors wrote in the peer-reviewed study led by China's Jiaxing Nanhu University. Titanium dioxide in nanoparticle form is used in food to brighten whites or enhance colors, and may be in as many as 11,000 US products, especially candy and snack foods. Popular products like M&Ms, Beyond Meat plant-based chicken tenders and Chips Ahoy! cookies contain the substance. They're also heavily used in nonstick ceramic pans. The EU banned titanium dioxide for food use in 2022 because previous research has shown it to likely be a neurotoxin, be an immunotoxin, cause intestinal lesions and potentially damage genes. The particles can accumulate in organs and stay in the body for years. A 2022 lawsuit drew wide attention for alleging that Skittles are 'unfit for human consumption' because they contain titanium dioxide. On the heels of the study, Skittles announced it would stop using the substance, while the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has maintained that it is safe. The new research compared the gut health of three groups: mice that were fed titanium dioxide nanoparticles, mice that were fed larger microparticles and mice that were fed no titanium dioxide. Mice that were fed the nanoparticles showed lower levels of several types of gut hormones that signal to the body that it is full, aid in digestion and regulate glucose. The mice that were fed the nanoparticles showed much higher levels of glucose, or blood sugar, than those that were fed microparticles. The authors also noted that 'gut hormones secreted by enteroendocrine cells play a critical role regulating energy intake and maintaining glucose' levels. The titanium dioxide nanoparticles seemed to disrupt the enteroendocrine cells' differentiation, which is part of the hormone secretion process, and reduce the cells' numbers. These issues can lead to obesity, type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, the authors wrote. The findings are 'a really big deal because when you start messing with glucose levels – that's diabetes', said Tom Neltner, director of the non-profit Unleaded Kids, who, along with other public health groups, filed a formal petition with the FDA in 2023 that requested the agency ban the use of titanium dioxide in food. The agency is legally compelled to respond within 180 days, but so far has ignored the petition, Neltner said. The petition comes as Robert F Kennedy Jr has made reducing toxic food additives a priority. 'He's getting started so it's too soon to tell, but there's hope that we didn't have before,' Neltner said. But he added that the groups will sue if the petition continues to be ignored.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
10 medical conditions you must declare to travel insurer when going on holiday
Admiral Travel Insurance have listed the top 10 most common conditions declared on travel insurance policies over the last year - failing to disclose all conditions can lead to higher costs Travel insurance is an essential part of holiday planning, providing a safety net should you require medical assistance while overseas. Experts are warning holidaymakers that failing to disclose all medical conditions when securing travel insurance could lead to higher costs. With medical repatriation fees potentially exceeding £100,000, Admiral Travel Insurance advises customers to fully inform their insurer about any medical diagnoses. Despite the availability of GHIC or EHIC cards for many UK travellers, these offer only limited protection and are not substitutes for comprehensive travel insurance. Cosmin Sarbu, Admiral's head of travel insurance, said: "For peace of mind and to ensure you are covered, it's always best to declare all medical conditions when taking out a travel insurance policy, before you travel." He added that while the likelihood of filing a medical claim is low, the financial and emotional toll of illnesses or injuries abroad can be significant. Sarbu warned: "If you haven't declared all medical conditions, you won't have insurance in place to cover all of the costs, this can mean you are responsible for paying tens of thousands to be treated and returned home safely should you try to make a claim." It's important to note that a GHIC or EHIC card does not cover the cost of medical repatriation, reports the Daily Record. Cosmin said: "Generally, we need to know about all medical conditions someone currently has. "With some conditions, such as heart problems, we need to know if someone has ever been diagnosed with them, even if they've now recovered and are no longer being treated for these." He emphasised the importance of full disclosure when seeking travel insurance quotes: "At Admiral, we ask about these when someone gets a travel insurance quote. "It's always best to include all medical conditions you've had or check with your insurer before you take out cover, if you're not sure." Cosmin also highlighted the company's efforts to ensure customers don't overlook any details: "We prompt customers when they go through a quote with us to remind them what medical conditions they need to tell us about. "Travellers need to tell us about what even might seem like a minor visit to a doctor or GP for advice, treatment or prescriptions, any ongoing investigation into their health or if they're waiting for a diagnosis. "They also need to declare if they're on a waiting list for inpatient treatment. If you're not sure what condition you were seen for, check with your doctor to ensure you include an accurate description when you buy your policy." Admiral's data found that the top ten most common conditions declared on travel insurance policies between May 2024 and March 2025 were: High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol Anxiety and/or Depression Asthma Diabetes Osteoarthritis Underactive Thyroid Coronary Angioplasty Hypertension Heart Attack Cosmin added: "Although insurance costs vary depending on the type of condition, how much a medical condition affects your premium also depends on other factors, like the number of people travelling on a policy, how long you're going for and the travel destination. "While it's not possible to say specifically how particular medical conditions can impact on premiums, Admiral has provided some examples to indicate how much a premium could increase by when adding some common conditions." Currently, Admiral provides cover for over 3,100 different medical conditions. There are some conditions that can't be covered, but Admiral said it's always worth running these past your insurer first, as it does vary case-by-case. Admiral will recommend specialist travel insurance alternatives through the MoneyHelper directory if they're not able to cover a medical condition. Cosmin said: "We ask our travel insurance customers to declare all medical conditions, including any ongoing treatment, when taking out a policy. This is to ensure we can provide cover at an appropriate price for the customer based on their medical needs. Not doing so could leave someone underinsured if they make a claim or could invalidate their insurance entirely. "If a customer requires medical treatment while abroad which is related to medical conditions that haven't been declared to us, we may decline their claim. Or if someone has failed to declare medical conditions which would have resulted in a higher premium, we may pay the claim on a proportional basis. "This means we will only cover the claim up to the percentage of the premium they have paid, and the customer will be responsible for any costs over and above the proportional settlement. "We never take the decision to refuse or proportionally settle a claim lightly and we will always work with the customer to ensure they receive adequate support in these cases. "However, they could end up having to pay medical treatment fees themselves and these can run into hundreds or even thousands of pounds." Cosmin continued: "We completely understand that some travellers might be worried about declaring medical conditions because they think it will increase the cost of their insurance. Declaring a medical condition doesn't always result in a higher premium and even if it does, the additional cost will ensure they are protected should the worst happen while they are away. "Some travellers might not be aware of what they need to declare. So, the best advice is to check with your travel insurer and to let them know about any medical conditions you have. "We always want to look out for our customers and encourage you to reach out if there's anything you're unsure of in the process of buying travel insurance." And there is one thing you don't have to declare. Cosmin said: "We don't consider menopause, whether requiring HRT or not, to be a medical condition and don't require customers to declare it."
