Latest news with #Aids-related
Scottish Sun
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Freddie Mercury's secret child took DNA test to PROVE she was Queen legend's daughter – as author of book hits out
FREDDIE Mercury's secret daughter has taken a DNA test to prove the rockstar is her dad. According to a new book, a woman was born in 1976 after the singer had a fling with a close pal's wife. 3 A woman claiming to be Freddie Mercury's daughter is said to have taken a DNA test Credit: Getty 3 Freddie reportedly left his daughter his diaries Credit: Redferns And now the author of the book has insisted the shock claims can be backed up. In a message on X today, she hit back at questions, writing: 'To those 'demanding' to see proof of a DNA test, otherwise they won't believe it - please rest assured that the requisite verification was obtained, legal teams have been involved, but that such measures are private and not shared publicly.' The woman, now 48, claims she was raised by another family but always knew Freddie was her father, with the frontman visiting her often before his death in 1991, aged 45. The secret is said to have been kept strictly between Queen members, Freddie's family and long-term partner Mary Austin. The woman, known as "B", says in a handwritten letter: "Fred- die Mercury was and is my father. We had a very close and loving relationship from the moment I was born and throughout the final 15 years of his life. He adored me and was devoted to me. "The circumstances of my birth may seem, by most people's standards, unusual and even outrageous. That should come as no surprise. It never detracted from his commitment to love and look after me. He cherished me like a treasured possession." She lives in Europe working as a medical professional with children of her own. Lesley-Ann Jones, author of new book Love, Freddie, was initially sceptical. But she is convinced after working with her for several years. She said: "My instinct was to doubt everything, but I am absolutely sure she is not a fantasist. No one could have faked all this. Why would she have worked with me for three-and-a-half years, never demanding anything? "In my experience of fantasists, and I've met a few, they seek instant gratification, publicity and reward. She has never asked for money. Freddie Mercury's lost song 'Time Waits for No One' is found after decade long search "She doesn't want recognition. Both Freddie and her stepfather left her extremely wealthy. She was not provided for through Freddie's will, but by a private legal arrangement, so no one will find her mentioned there." The Radio Ga Ga star is said to have given his daughter 17 volumes of his personal journals before his death from Aids-related pneumonia. The author also hit back at claims that the diary could have been fake by AI, writing: 'To those insisting Freddie Mercury's diaries were faked with AI, that his daughter 'doesn't exist' and that I've made the whole thing up: wait and see. His true story, told in his own words, is incredible. I love him all the more for it. You will too.' Freddie, who had relationships with men and women, had no kids with Mary. She later had two sons with another partner.
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Freddie Mercury's secret daughter in bombshell DNA update
The biographer who broke the news that Freddie Mercury had a secret daughter has spoken out in a fascinating update as to the results of a DNA test to prove whether the singer is related Superstar Freddie Mercury 's secret child has done a DNA test to prove she is the rock star's off-spring. Biographer Lesley-Ann Jones says that 'requisite verification was obtained' in response to questions from fans over the validity of the revelation. She said: 'To those 'demanding' to see proof of a DNA test, otherwise they won't believe it - please rest assured that the requisite verification was obtained, legal teams have been involved, but that such measures are private and not shared publicly.' She also hit back at those questioning whether the new cache of Freddie's secret diaries were faked with AI. She added on X: 'To those insisting Freddie Mercury's diaries were faked with AI, that his daughter 'doesn't exist' and that I've made the whole thing up: wait and see. His true story, told in his own words, is incredible. I love him all the more for it. You will too.' Her new book, Love, claims the singer, who was gay, had a daughter as the result of a fling with the wife of a friend but only very close family, the band and Freddie's ex-girlfriend Mary Austin knew of her existence. His daughter is now 48, lives in Europe and is a mother. She says she always knew the musician, real name Farrokh Bulsara, was her father - and before his Aids-related death in 1991 he gave her 17 volumes of his personal journals. She contacted Jones to tell her story. The book, out in September, includes a handwritten letter from the woman, known as B: "Freddie Mercury was and is my father. We had a very close and loving relationship from the moment I was born and throughout the final 15 years of his life. "He adored me and was devoted to me. The circumstances of my birth may seem, by most people's standards, unusual and even outrageous. That should come as no surprise. It never detracted from his commitment to love and look after me. Those who have been aware of my existence kept his greatest secret out of loyalty to Freddie." According to Lesley-Ann, the singer even had a room in their family house, in order to spend as much quality time with her as possible. While the star was on tour around the world with his band Queen or penning new tracks in the recording studio, Freddie made sure he would call her everyday. The woman said that she now craved privacy. She said: "The life I live with my husband and our family in another country is intensely private. "We want things to stay that way. We cherish our peaceful and anonymous life, and we want nothing to disturb it. Nobody needs to know who I am."
North Wales Chronicle
20-05-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
The British Blood Scandal: Poisoned at School
The British Blood Scandal: Poisoned at School focuses on the stories of haemophiliac children at the Lord Mayor Treloar School in Hampshire. They were sent to the specialist boarding school with the promise of a 'normal childhood', but instead became victims of secret medical research which left many of them with Hepatitis and HIV. A summary on the Radio Times website adds: "Revealing the true stories of the students of The Lord Mayor Treloar School and Hospital, a place where young haemophiliacs were given Factor VIII, a drug they thought was a cure but was actually a death sentence. "Through deeply personal testimony, this documentary pieces together a story of secret clinical trials, medical negligence and the fight for truth at the heart of the worst medical disaster in NHS history." Of the 122 haemophiliacs who attended Treloar's in the 1970s and 1980s, only around 30 are still alive today. Jo Clinton-Davis, Controller of Factual ITV, said: 'As they continue their fight for justice, the raw truth of how thousands were affected by the 1970s and 1980s infected blood scandal is told by some of the last remaining victims themselves in this emotional documentary. "It's shocking how these men have suffered all these years from something that was covered up and could have been prevented.' Our next film 'The British Blood Scandal: Poisoned at School' is coming to ITV and ITVX at 9pm on the 20th of May! Read about it on our website here - Anna Hall, Executive Producer at Candour Productions, said: 'The British Blood Scandal: Poisoned at School shows the devastating effect first-hand of a lifetime spent unearthing what happened to our survivors when they were just children. "We are so humbled to have worked with the four men in this film who wanted to make this in honour of their school friends who died, so that the truth would finally be told.' As reported by BBC News, in the 1970s and 1980s, more than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after being given contaminated blood products. One group that was impacted by this were haemophiliacs, who had rare disorders which meant their blood didn't clot properly. Set your reminders, Tuesday 20th May ITV 9pm (Also available to stream on ITV X) The British Blood Scandal: Poisoned at School 💔💛🖤@chriswardmp @metpoliceuk @sussex_police @HaemoSocUK @UN @EHC_Haemophilia @wfhemophilia @ukhomeoffice @YvetteCooperMP @MoJGovUK @wesstreeting In the 1970s, a new treatment using donated human blood plasma was developed to replace clotting agents in haemophiliacs, but entire batches were contaminated with deadly viruses. An inquiry found that about 1,250 people in the UK with bleeding disorders went on to develop both HIV and hepatitis C, including 380 children. About two-thirds later died of Aids-related illnesses, with some unintentionally passing it onto their partners. Recommended reading: ITV to release documentary about infected blood scandal featuring victims' stories Which blood type is the rarest? How to find out your blood type The best exercise to lower your blood pressure according to new study Another 2,400 to 5,000 people developed hepatitis C on its own, which can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer. BBC News adds: "It is difficult to know the exact number of people infected with hepatitis C, partly because it can take decades for symptoms to appear." A second group of patients were given contaminated blood transfusions after childbirth, surgery or other medical treatment between 1970 and 1991. In total, it is thought around 3,000 people have died due to the infected blood scandal.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What is the infected blood scandal and how much compensation will victims get?
Government officials have been called to give evidence to a special session of the infected blood inquiry amid "grave concerns" about the speed of compensation payments. The inquiry's chair, Sir Brian Langstaff, made the unusual decision to take fresh evidence nearly a year after his final report into the scandal. More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after being given contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s. As many as 140,000 bereaved parents, children and siblings of victims may also be able to claim compensation in their own right. Who was given infected blood and how many died? Two main groups of NHS patients were affected by what has been called the biggest treatment disaster in the history of the NHS. Firstly, haemophiliacs - and those with similar disorders - who have a rare genetic condition which means their blood does not clot properly. People with haemophilia A have a shortage of a clotting agent called Factor VIII, while people with haemophilia B do not have enough Factor IX. In the 1970s, a new treatment using donated human blood plasma was developed to replace these clotting agents. But entire batches were contaminated with deadly viruses. After being given the infected treatments, about 1,250 people in the UK with bleeding disorders went on to develop both HIV and hepatitis C, including 380 children. About two-thirds later died of Aids-related illnesses. Some unintentionally gave HIV to their partners. Another 2,400 to 5,000 people developed hepatitis C on its own, which can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer. It is difficult to know the exact number of people infected with hepatitis C, partly because it can take decades for symptoms to appear. A second group of patients were given contaminated blood transfusions after childbirth, surgery or other medical treatment between 1970 and 1991. The inquiry estimates that between 80 and 100 of these people were infected with HIV, and about 27,000 with hepatitis C. In total, it is thought about 2,900 people have died. What did the infected blood inquiry say? Announcing its findings in May 2024, the inquiry said victims had been failed "not once, but repeatedly", and that the risk of viral infections in blood products had been known since 1948. Inquiry chairman Sir Brian Langstaff said there had been a lack of openness from the authorities and elements of "downright deception", including the destruction of documents. He said half-truths were also told, so people did not know about the risk of their treatment, the availability of alternatives, or even whether they were infected. "This disaster was not an accident," said Sir Brian. "The infections happened because those in authority - doctors, the blood services and successive governments - did not put patient safety first." The Inquiry report said: too little was done to stop importing blood products from abroad, which used blood from high-risk donors such as prisoners and drug addicts in the UK, blood donations were accepted from high-risk groups such as prisoners until 1986 blood products were not heat-treated to eliminate HIV until the end of 1985, although the risks were known in 1982 there was too little testing to reduce the risk of hepatitis, from the 1970s onwards How much compensation will infected blood victims get? In October 2024, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said that the government had set aside £11.8bn to pay compensation to victims. It set up an independent arms-length body called the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) to administer payments. Both those infected by contaminated blood products and those affected by the scandal - such as partners, parents, children and siblings - can claim compensation for the impact on their lives. Payments are exempt from tax, and do not affect benefits. The final amounts for individuals are assessed against five criteria: harm caused, social impact from stigma and isolation, impact on autonomy and private life, care costs and financial loss. Outlining the compensation scheme after the inquiry reported in May 2024, the then-Conservative government suggested how much people might receive: a person infected with HIV could expect to get compensation of between £2.2m and £2.6m those with a chronic hepatitis C infection, defined as lasting more than six months, could expect to receive between £665,000 and £810,000 the partner of someone infected with HIV who is still alive today could expect to receive about £110,000, while a child could get £55,000 Compensation payments will go to the estate of infected people who have died. But if a partner or relative who might be entitled to a payment has died, their estate will not receive any money. Have any compensation payments already been made? In late 2022, following advice from the inquiry, the Conservative government made interim payments of £100,000 each to about 4,000 surviving victims and bereaved partners. A second interim payment of £210,000 was paid to those infected in June 2024. In October 2024, the government said more relatives of those who died could also apply for £100,000 interim payments if the money had not already been claimed. The IBCA said, as of 6 May: 677 people have been invited to claim final compensation 160 compensation payments totalling £150.2m have been offered 106 compensation payments totalling £96.6m have been made An IBCA spokesman said its priority remained "paying as many people as soon as possible". It plans to ask an extra 100 individuals to start their claims every week from May 2025. It has also announced that it would start to prioritise payments to those who had less than 12 months left to live due to any medical condition. Victims and their relatives have criticised the time taken to make payments, and what they say is a lack of transparency about the claims process. On 9 April Sir Brian said he would re-open the inquiry on 7 and 8 May to take evidence about the speed of compensation payments. Government officials, including the cabinet office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, will give evidence under oath and the sessions will be filmed and streamed online. Sir Brian said: "The decision to hold hearings has not been taken lightly. It reflects the gravity of concerns expressed consistently and repeatedly to the inquiry. "People infected and affected do not have time on their side." How did the infected blood scandal happen? In the 1970s, the UK was struggling to meet the demand for blood-clotting treatments, so imported supplies from the US. But much of the blood was bought from high-risk donors such as prison inmates and drug-users. Factor VIII was made by pooling plasma from tens of thousands of donors. If just one was carrying a virus, the entire batch could be contaminated. UK blood donations were not routinely screened for hepatitis C until 1991, 18 months after the virus was first identified. When did authorities know about infected blood? By the mid-1970s, there were repeated warnings that imported US Factor VIII carried a greater risk of infection. However, attempts to make the UK more self-sufficient in blood products failed, so the NHS continued using foreign supplies. Campaigners say haemophiliacs could have been offered an alternative treatment called Cryoprecipitate. This was much harder to administer, but was made from the blood plasma of a single donor, lowering the infection risk. BBC News has also uncovered evidence children were infected with hepatitis C and HIV after being placed on clinical trials of new treatments - often, without their family's consent. As late as November 1983, the government insisted there was no "conclusive proof" that HIV could be transmitted in blood, a line robustly defended by former Conservative health minister Ken Clarke when he appeared before the inquiry. What happened in other countries affected by infected blood? Many other countries were affected, although some - including Finland - used older treatments until much later rather than switch to Factor VIII, which minimised HIV infections. Delivering the findings of the inquiry, Sir Brian criticised UK government claims in the 1990s that screening for hepatitis C began as soon as the technology was available. He said that 23 other countries - including Japan, Finland and Spain - introduced the screening before the UK. In the US, companies that supplied infected products have paid out millions in out-of-court settlements. Politicians and drug companies have been convicted of negligence in countries including France and Japan. In his evidence to the inquiry, former health secretary Andy Burnham suggested there may be grounds for charges of corporate manslaughter in the UK.
NZ Herald
07-05-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Burnett Foundation names Liz Gibbs as new boss to lead NZ towards HIV-free future
'I'm excited about this new role,' Gibbs told the Herald. 'I aim to ensure that we achieve the goal of making history by helping Aotearoa New Zealand become the first country in the world with no new HIV transmissions.' Backed by a strong background in charity and philanthropy, with experience working in impact-driven organisations and advising all sides across Parliament's aisle, Gibbs is set to lead the Burnett Foundation (formerly the NZ Aids Foundation) through the next phase of Aotearoa's HIV response. The Foundation has provided Kiwis with HIV prevention tools, advocacy and care for over 40 years. It was renamed after Bruce Burnett, whose successful Aids education and awareness efforts in 1980s New Zealand helped secure the first Government-issued funding for the Foundation before his own Aids-related death. 'Our work in this space on preventing HIV transmission, combating stigma and maximising the wellbeing of those most affected by HIV ... continues to be really important in Aotearoa.' The Ministry of Health published a National HIV Action Plan in 2023, targeting zero local transmissions and Aids-related deaths by 2030, along with ending stigma and strengthening support for people living with HIV. That same year, the Burnett Foundation expanded its remit to align with the plan's goals while broadening sexual health support to all rainbow and Takatāpui communities. 'We want to ensure that nobody gets left behind in our HIV response,' Gibbs said. 'There are still issues, as we're probably all aware, of stigma and discrimination.' The Burnett Foundation is therefore needed to provide 'continued support for people living with HIV' and help 'create an Aotearoa where the LGBTQIA+ community is free to live, free to love, and free from the stigma, fear and isolation of HIV'. While the number of new HIV diagnoses in New Zealand rose from 67 in 2021 to 97 in 2023, the latest numbers reflect a 30% drop from the 2016-2020 average of 138 diagnoses. It's a sign of the Foundation's progress, but also a reminder that gaps remain. New Zealand is falling behind some of its international partners, where biomedical advances have seen new treatments like long-acting injectables provide greater security for those living with HIV. Gibbs wants her leadership to accelerate Aotearoa's HIV response, and ensuring equitable access to treatment and prevention tools - particularly for rural, Pasifika and other underserved communities - will be one of her priorities. 'My approach is very much a values-driven, strategic, and collaborative approach,' Gibbs said, before highlighting the ways the Burnett Foundation could lower public health costs through prevention and generate greater outcomes for taxpayers. One example included a social impact bond piloted by the Elton John Foundation in the UK, which funded routine HIV testing for over 265,000 emergency department patients. The initiative led to 500 early diagnoses and huge public health cost savings to the tune of £90 million ($200m). It's 'money well spent' with a 'good return on investment', Gibbs says, and resulted in the UK pouring £20m ($44.5m) back into the programme to expand emergency department testing to other vulnerable areas. 'I think there's a really interesting opportunity here in New Zealand to use more of a social impact approach,' Gibbs said, noting great early detection and treatment for those affected translates into cost savings for Kiwi taxpayers too. A Burnett Foundation analysis found that for every dollar invested in its services, the New Zealand public saves just over $5 in public health costs related to avoided HIV acquisition. And while Gibbs seeks to employ fresh research, new treatments and innovation to improve equity outcomes in the new role, she remains inspired by the Foundation's legacy, the growth in HIV awareness, and the momentum building for a people-first sexual health movement in New Zealand. '[I'm excited] to be a part of an organisation that's part of New Zealand's DNA, increasingly ... promoting the equity and diversity of our communities and the richness that brings,' Gibbs said. 'We could be the first in the world to [achieve zero HIV transmission], you know, that would be incredible.'
