Latest news with #BBCNewsbeat
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
World-first gonorrhoea vaccine launched by NHS England as infections soar
England will be the first country in the world to start vaccinating people against the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea. It will not be available for everyone. The focus will mainly be on gay and bisexual men with a history of multiple sexual partners or an STI. The vaccine is 30-40% effective, but NHS England hopes it will reverse soaring numbers of infections. There were more than 85,000 cases in 2023 – the highest since records began in 1918. Gonorrhoea does not always have symptoms, but they can include pain, unusual discharge, inflammation of the genitals and infertility. How many people will chose to be immunised is uncertain. But projections by Imperial College London show that if the jab proves popular then it could prevent 100,000 cases and save the NHS nearly £8m over the next decade. Max, a sexual health campaigner, told BBC Newsbeat he would "100%" take the vaccine after being diagnosed with gonorrhoea twice within a year. "I think this is great that it's been announced", he says, adding: "It's going to take the pressure off the clinics, it's just a big win all round." Vaccination will start in August and will be offered through sexual health services. Public Health Scotland said it was also working on plans to launch its own programme for high-risk individuals. BBC Newsbeat has asked health bodies in Wales and Northern Ireland whether they intend to do the same. This vaccine wasn't designed for gonorrhoea. It's the meningitis B vaccine currently given to babies. But the bacteria that cause the two diseases are so closely related that the MenB jab appears to cut gonorrhoea cases by around a third. That will require a delicate conversation in sexual health clinics as the vaccine will not eliminate the risk of catching gonorrhoea. It is normally caught while having sex without a condom. But Prof Andrew Pollard, the chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which recommended the vaccine, said despite it only being 30% effective, it was "worth having" and could have "a huge impact" overall. The decision is not just about the record numbers of cases. Gonorrhoea is becoming increasingly difficult to treat. Most cases are treated with a single dose of antibiotics, but there is an 80-year history of the bacterium which causes gonorrhoea repeatedly evolving resistance to our antibiotics. It's happening to the current treatments too and is why some doctors are concerned gonorrhoea could one-day become untreatable. The best way to deal with a drug-resistant infection is to never catch it in the first place. Dr Amanda Doyle, from NHS England, said: "The launch of a world-first routine vaccination for gonorrhoea is a huge step forward for sexual health and will be crucial in protecting individuals, helping to prevent the spread of infection and reduce the rising rates of antibiotic resistant strains of the bacteria." The people most affected by gonorrhoea in the UK are those aged 16-to-25, gay and bisexual men, and those of black and Caribbean ancestry. The vaccine – which costs around £8 per dose – is value for money when primarily offered to gay and bisexual men, rather than all teenagers. However, clinicians do have the freedom to use their own judgement and offer the vaccine to people using sexual health services they think are of equally high risk. People will be offered mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), HPV and hepatitis vaccines at the same time. Potential new antibiotic for treating gonorrhoea Don't ditch condoms, sexual health experts say Prof Matt Phillips, president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, said: "This is excellent news and a landmark moment for sexual health in England. "Gonorrhoea diagnoses are at their highest since records began and this has the potential to help us to turn that around." It is not known how long the protection provided by the vaccine will last or how often booster jabs might be required. The decision comes almost a year and a half after a vaccination programme was recommended by the UK's JCVI. Sexual health campaigners had criticised that long wait, but have welcomed this decision. Katie Clark, head of policy and advocacy at the Terrance Higgins Trust, called it a "huge win". Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
World-first gonorrhoea vaccine launched by NHS England as infections soar
England will be the first country in the world to start vaccinating people against the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea. It will not be available for everyone. The focus will mainly be on gay and bisexual men with a history of multiple sexual partners or an STI. The vaccine is 30-40% effective, but NHS England hopes it will reverse soaring numbers of infections. There were more than 85,000 cases in 2023 – the highest since records began in 1918. Gonorrhoea does not always have symptoms, but they can include pain, unusual discharge, inflammation of the genitals and infertility. How many people will chose to be immunised is uncertain. But projections by Imperial College London show that if the jab proves popular then it could prevent 100,000 cases and save the NHS nearly £8m over the next decade. Max, a sexual health campaigner, told BBC Newsbeat he would "100%" take the vaccine after being diagnosed with gonorrhoea twice within a year. "I think this is great that it's been announced", he says, adding: "It's going to take the pressure off the clinics, it's just a big win all round." Vaccination will start in August and will be offered through sexual health services. Public Health Scotland said it was also working on plans to launch its own programme for high-risk individuals. BBC Newsbeat has asked health bodies in Wales and Northern Ireland whether they intend to do the same. This vaccine wasn't designed for gonorrhoea. It's the meningitis B vaccine currently given to babies. But the bacteria that cause the two diseases are so closely related that the MenB jab appears to cut gonorrhoea cases by around a third. That will require a delicate conversation in sexual health clinics as the vaccine will not eliminate the risk of catching gonorrhoea. It is normally caught while having sex without a condom. But Prof Andrew Pollard, the chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which recommended the vaccine, said despite it only being 30% effective, it was "worth having" and could have "a huge impact" overall. The decision is not just about the record numbers of cases. Gonorrhoea is becoming increasingly difficult to treat. Most cases are treated with a single dose of antibiotics, but there is an 80-year history of the bacterium which causes gonorrhoea repeatedly evolving resistance to our antibiotics. It's happening to the current treatments too and is why some doctors are concerned gonorrhoea could one-day become untreatable. The best way to deal with a drug-resistant infection is to never catch it in the first place. Dr Amanda Doyle, from NHS England, said: "The launch of a world-first routine vaccination for gonorrhoea is a huge step forward for sexual health and will be crucial in protecting individuals, helping to prevent the spread of infection and reduce the rising rates of antibiotic resistant strains of the bacteria." The people most affected by gonorrhoea in the UK are those aged 16-to-25, gay and bisexual men, and those of black and Caribbean ancestry. The vaccine – which costs around £8 per dose – is value for money when primarily offered to gay and bisexual men, rather than all teenagers. However, clinicians do have the freedom to use their own judgement and offer the vaccine to people using sexual health services they think are of equally high risk. People will be offered mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), HPV and hepatitis vaccines at the same time. Potential new antibiotic for treating gonorrhoea Don't ditch condoms, sexual health experts say Prof Matt Phillips, president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, said: "This is excellent news and a landmark moment for sexual health in England. "Gonorrhoea diagnoses are at their highest since records began and this has the potential to help us to turn that around." It is not known how long the protection provided by the vaccine will last or how often booster jabs might be required. The decision comes almost a year and a half after a vaccination programme was recommended by the UK's JCVI. Sexual health campaigners had criticised that long wait, but have welcomed this decision. Katie Clark, head of policy and advocacy at the Terrance Higgins Trust, called it a "huge win". Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Steer clear, drink beer': Teach teens the dangers of methanol poisoning says best friend of killed Laos tourist
The best friend of a woman who died from suspected methanol poisoning while on holiday in Laos has called for the government to do more to warn teenagers of the dangers of drinking alcohol abroad. Simone White, 28, a lawyer from London, was one of six tourists who died in November after becoming unwell whilst visiting the town of Vang Vieng, a popular stop along the backpacker route in Southeast Asia. Simone had been backpacking with two childhood friends, staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, which offered free shots thought to be tainted with methanol. Also hospitalised was Bethany Clarke, Simone's best friend, but she has since recovered. Bethany is now campaigning for a greater awareness of the risks of drinking alcohol abroad and methanol poisoning. She told BBC Newsbeat that the group did not realise anything was wrong until they were kayaking the next day. Both she and Simone were flat on the backs of the kayaks, unable to move their arms. "That was a moment where I thought I really don't understand what's happening to us. It just seemed like I was just having to accept my fate." It took them a while to get treated for methanol poisoning, as Bethany said the doctors kept blaming their sickness ion food poisoning. Methanol, which is tasteless and odourless, has been used in the manufacture of counterfeit replicas of alcohol brands or illegal local spirits, such as vodka. The chemical can rapidly lead to serious illness, with long-term effects such as blindness and permanent damage to the nervous system, as well as comas, or even death if there is substantial exposure. Bethany is now hoping that the dangers of methanol poisoning will be taught in schools, and is warning others to be mindful when drinking alcohol. "The advice is from me: 'steer clear, drink beer'. Look up the symptoms, be mindful about where you're drinking,' Bethany told the BBC. "Just don't let it be your best friend that dies from methanol poisoning." Bethany has also set up a petition calling for the dangers of methanol poisoning to be put in the school curriculum across the UK. The petition states, "children should be taught the dangers of consuming bootleg alcohol as part of the PSHE and/or Biology curriculum in school". "I think it just needs to be a five-minute talk or possibly even some kind of public health advert, just giving the case study of Laos and saying this can happen," Bethany says. "If people want to take the risk and drink it, at least they've been educated, and then they might even be able to spot some of the symptoms if they do happen to drink it." A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Laos, and we are in contact with the local authorities.' The Foreign Office has also included in its travel advice for Laos the warning to take care if alcohol is offered, particularly for free, or when buying a spirit-based drink. 'If labels, smell or taste seem wrong, then do not drink,' it states. It adds that to protect yourself from methanol poisoning, you should buy alcohol only from licensed liquor stores, at licensed bars and hotels, avoid homemade alcoholic drinks, check bottle seals are intact and check labels for poor print or incorrect spelling. The Independent has contacted the Department for Education for comment.
The Independent
25-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
‘Steer clear, drink beer': Teach kids the dangers of alcohol poisoning says best friend of killed Laos tourist
The best friend of a woman who died from suspected methanol poisoning while on holiday in Laos has called for the government to do more to warn teenagers of the dangers of drinking alcohol abroad. Simone White, 28, a lawyer from London, was one of six tourists who died in November after becoming unwell whilst visiting the town of Vang Vieng, a popular stop along the backpacker route in Southeast Asia. Simone had been backpacking with two childhood friends, staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, which offered free shots thought to be tainted with methanol. Also hospitalised was Bethany Clarke, Simone's best friend, but she has since recovered. Bethany is now campaigning for a greater awareness of the risks of drinking alcohol abroad and methanol poisoning. She told BBC Newsbeat that the group did not realise anything was wrong until they were kayaking the next day. Both she and Simone were flat on the backs of the kayaks, unable to move their arms. "That was a moment where I thought I really don't understand what's happening to us. It just seemed like I was just having to accept my fate." It took them a while to get treated for methanol poisoning, as Bethany said the doctors kept blaming their sickness ion food poisoning. Methanol, which is tasteless and odourless, has been used in the manufacture of counterfeit replicas of alcohol brands or illegal local spirits, such as vodka. The chemical can rapidly lead to serious illness, with long-term effects such as blindness and permanent damage to the nervous system, as well as comas, or even death if there is substantial exposure. Bethany is now hoping that the dangers of methanol poisoning will be taught in schools, and is warning others to be mindful when drinking alcohol. "The advice is from me: 'steer clear, drink beer'. Look up the symptoms, be mindful about where you're drinking,' Bethany told the BBC. "Just don't let it be your best friend that dies from methanol poisoning." Bethany has also set up a petition calling for the dangers of methanol poisoning to be put in the school curriculum across the UK. The petition states, "children should be taught the dangers of consuming bootleg alcohol as part of the PSHE and/or Biology curriculum in school". "I think it just needs to be a five-minute talk or possibly even some kind of public health advert, just giving the case study of Laos and saying this can happen," Bethany says. "If people want to take the risk and drink it, at least they've been educated, and then they might even be able to spot some of the symptoms if they do happen to drink it." A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Laos, and we are in contact with the local authorities.' The Foreign Office has also included in its travel advice for Laos the warning to take care if alcohol is offered, particularly for free, or when buying a spirit-based drink. 'If labels, smell or taste seem wrong, then do not drink,' it states. It adds that to protect yourself from methanol poisoning, you should buy alcohol only from licensed liquor stores, at licensed bars and hotels, avoid homemade alcoholic drinks, check bottle seals are intact and check labels for poor print or incorrect spelling.
BBC News
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Three chords and the truth: Where country's moment might go next
They say the recipe for a good country track is simple - just combine three chords and the the past year though, a growing number of artists have been adding their own sprinkles with pop stars including Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter leaning into the genre. Chappell's The Giver went straight to number two in the UK charts when it was released in March, with the self-proclaimed Midwest Princess saying she wanted to give country music a new take with "a little gay yodel".Figures from streaming platforms suggest that cooking up a country song has also been a recipe for success, with listening time up by 25% over the past year in the artists are hopeful that'll act as a giddy up to the UK scene and help them replicate some of the success of their US country cousins. "It only benefits me and other country music artists in the UK because more people listening to country music just means they're going to take an interest - hopefully - in what we're doing," 20-year-old singer Neeve Zahra tells BBC Newsbeat. Her love for country music comes from two sources: her grandad and Hannah Disney Channel school-girl-by-day-pop-star-by-night character played by Miley Cyrus "probably started me off", she says. "I can now officially say I was country before country was cool."Neeve, from Manchester, is already noticing a spike in people coming to gigs and hopes the hype could build to a point where British country acts can be recognised with a category at the Brit Awards. "That's definitely the dream." Izzie Walsh is currently recording her debut album and tells Newsbeat it's important fans support country artists "at a grassroots level" to ensure it can continue to grow in the UK. "Everyone's been sleeping on it and now it's become this big thing."There's a lot of support for the big US artists and it can be hard to compete with that budget, the press. "There's a big gap between people like me and these massive artists." In as far as a trend can ever be attributed to one person, this resurgence in the mainstream is "100%" down to Beyoncé, according to country music podcaster Matt 2024 album Cowboy Carter "very much splits opinions with country fans", Matt tells Newsbeat, but "it has introduced new country artists to a country audience and gives a different perspective".Artists and critics predicted last year Cowboy Carter could "open the floodgates" for country music fans and Spotify credits "viral tracks" from 2024 with the sudden uptick in there's actually been a gradual increase in listenership going back much further it says, with streams of the genre in the UK growing by 154% since 2019, the year Lil Nas X released Old Town Road with country singer-songwriter Billy Ray Cyrus. Apple Music says it's noticed similar trends and both streamers report its rising popularity is particularly striking in the UK, where according to Apple it's growing five times as quickly as in the US. 'It's about telling our own story' That's reflected in some of the biggest songs of the past Carpenter's country-pop hit Please, Please, Please, which she re-released with Dolly Parton, spent five weeks at number one in the UK and Shaboozey's A Bar Song was a fixture of the top 10 for country music is even set to be represented on one of the world's biggest stages next month thanks to the UK's Eurovision entry, Remember Monday. "Storytelling is so important to us and that is really rooted in country music," singer Lauren Byrne tells Newsbeat about why the trio felt drawn to the genre."We never wanted to feel like we were trying to replicate or copy, we wanted to always make it feel our own."It doesn't all have to be 'yeehaw'." Matt says the next step will be to see British country artists headlining bigger festivals as the fan base continues to as it does, he says it'll have to embrace the different points of view feeding into is often associated with being dominated by male artists, but the musicians driving it into the mainstream are mainly week Lana Del Rey joined Beyoncé, Chappell and Sabrina with her country song Henry, come on, but before them it was Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus and Shania Twain making country more popular. "We're in the year of women in general for music," says Neeve. "I think now it's time for the country women."As British country music grows, there are a few differences too with the traditional US scene that will also need embracing. "We're often seen as, 'Why are they making country music? They don't live the country lifestyle'," Matt says. "We don't all live on farms, we don't all drive tractors."But country is all about storytelling and everyone wants to write their own story."It's evolving all the time so we have to be open to different styles and different perspectives." Neeve agrees that authenticity is the key to British country. "It's about telling our own story," she says. "I can dream about Nashville and maybe write some songs about it but I'm not gonna say I'm gonna pick you up in my truck because I don't have a truck. "You've got to stay real to yourself. We try to keep it country but in our own way." Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
