Latest news with #InfluenzaA
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Avian flu fast facts: What to know about the bird flu
Avian influenza, also called avian flu or bird flu, is an illness that usually affects only birds. There are many different strains of avian flu: 16 H subtypes and 9 N subtypes. Only those labeled H5, H7 and H10 have caused deaths in humans. The most commonly seen and most deadly form of the virus is called 'Influenza A (H5N1),' or the 'H5N1 virus.'
Metro
3 days ago
- Health
- Metro
James Whale makes heartbreaking admission in terminal cancer update
James Whale has given viewers and fans a heartbreaking update after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. The radio personality and TV presenter, 73, is currently dealing with stage 4 kidney cancer, which has now spread to his brain, lungs, and spine. After saying last month that he would be 'exceptionally lucky to make it to Christmas', James has continued to bravely go to work and feature on his TalkTV show. And while appearing on that show, he has issued another sad update for his fans, explaining further about how cancer affects his daily life. While talking to a guest who had lost her husband to cancer, James was frank with viewers, saying that things had taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks. 'Until very recently, everything was quite normal for me; everything was fine, and then you do get to a stage like I am now, with things getting to be very, very difficult. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'To anybody else who is in the final stages of cancer, you have my sympathy. I know exactly what you're going through; I do know. I look basically OK, I get told, 'You look alright' – it's all makeup.' In May, on his birthday, James revealed that he doesn't have high expectations of seeing Christmas 2025, having already come to terms with his devastating prognosis. 'As people know, I'm not about to die. Well, you never know, do you? I've had all my treatment.' Insisting that he doesn't want sympathy, he added: 'I don't want anybody feeling sorry; I'm just giving you a lowdown on it. 'If I make it to Christmas, I will be exceptionally lucky. Sometimes I think it will be easier just to have a heart attack and go.' The two most recent updates have come after James revealed he's having no further treatment and that all options to reverse his cancer have now been exhausted. He did so to prioritise his 'quality of life' as he now focuses his time on 'making memories' with loved ones. James has vowed to 'make the next months as entertaining and interesting as [he] can'. 'I'm at the end of my cancer journey. I can't tell you how grateful I am to Talk [TV] to actually let me on the air and sit next to Ash, which is a real pain in the butt, but I've been doing it for 25 years!', he also said. Speaking about his plans to still work for as long as he could, he quipped: 'It might actually be helping me, you never know, so I don't let that cloud my judgement – but on the medication I am on, I'm all over the place. 'I'm hoping to go on for another few weeks, few months, but as soon as I can't do the show anymore, I won't.' Last Christmas, James' wife Nadine – whom he married in October 2021 – offered an update when he returned home from the hospital. More Trending 'After a worrying week, I am happy to report that @THEJamesWhale is out of ICU and back at home, having batted off the Grim Reaper yet again. 'This time he tried with a bout of Influenza A, but without success. Our hero is home for NYE,' she wrote in a caption. James was first diagnosed with kidney cancer in the year 2000 and was told he had just three months to live. View More » He had extensive surgery to remove a tumour, later launching the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer in 2006. If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information. You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit their site for more information. MORE: Jessie J reveals hidden pain after biopsy procedure following cancer diagnosis MORE: TV presenter, 74, shocked as he's diagnosed with skin cancer live on-air MORE: Jessie J 'going to disappear for a bit' after being diagnosed with breast cancer
Business Upturn
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
LEX Diagnostics Submits Dual Applications for FDA 510(k) Clearance and CLIA Waiver for Groundbreaking LEX VELO System
CAMBRIDGESHIRE, United Kingdom, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LEX Diagnostics, a leading innovator in molecular diagnostics, has submitted dual applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking 510(k) clearance and CLIA waived status for its VELO system, an ultra-fast point-of-care molecular diagnostics platform designed to deliver highly sensitive PCR results for key respiratory pathogens directly from a swab sample in under ten minutes.1 The FDA submission represents a pivotal step in LEX Diagnostics' strategy and underscores the company's commitment to advancing point-of-care testing with accurate, timely, and clinically actionable results. 'This milestone reflects the strength of our R&D and clinical validation programs, as well as our broader mission to make molecular diagnostics faster, simpler, and more accessible,' said Ed Farrell, Chief Executive Officer of LEX Diagnostics. 'We believe the LEX VELO system will redefine point-of-care testing by equipping healthcare providers with lab-quality results in minutes, enabling faster clinical decisions and improved patient outcomes without compromising quality while improving workflow—an achievement that will set us apart in the marketplace.' The LEX system supports multiplex testing for key respiratory pathogens, including Influenza A, Influenza B, and COVID-19, and is engineered to deliver PCR results in six to ten minutes, easily integrating into clinical workflows across primary care settings, urgent care clinics, pharmacies, physician office laboratories and decentralized acute settings. Its proprietary cartridge-based design eliminates the need for external liquid handling, promoting ease of use and reliability. LEX recently completed clinical studies in the United States with the VELO system and the Influenza/Covid assay during the 2024/2025 respiratory season. LEX Diagnostics anticipates U.S. market clearance in late 2025 or early 2026, in alignment with expected FDA review timelines. About Lex Diagnostics LEX Diagnostics, a TTP Group Company, is a molecular diagnostics company transforming point-of-care testing through its proprietary ultra-fast thermal cycling technology. Designed to deliver lab-quality PCR results directly from a swab sample in minutes, the VELO system bridges the gap between accuracy and accessibility, empowering healthcare professionals to make informed clinical decisions faster. LEX Diagnostics is headquartered in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. Learn more at and follow us on LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, statements regarding product development, regulatory timelines, market potential, and expected outcomes. These statements are based on current assumptions and expectations that are subject to risks, uncertainties, and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including regulatory decisions, market conditions, and operational challenges. LEX Diagnostics undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein, except as required by law. Media Contacts LEX Diagnostics Chris Hole [email protected] Scius Communications Katja Stout+44 778 943 5990 [email protected]
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
LEX Diagnostics Submits Dual Applications for FDA 510(k) Clearance and CLIA Waiver for Groundbreaking LEX VELO System
CAMBRIDGESHIRE, United Kingdom, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LEX Diagnostics, a leading innovator in molecular diagnostics, has submitted dual applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking 510(k) clearance and CLIA waived status for its VELO system, an ultra-fast point-of-care molecular diagnostics platform designed to deliver highly sensitive PCR results for key respiratory pathogens directly from a swab sample in under ten minutes.1 The FDA submission represents a pivotal step in LEX Diagnostics' strategy and underscores the company's commitment to advancing point-of-care testing with accurate, timely, and clinically actionable results. 'This milestone reflects the strength of our R&D and clinical validation programs, as well as our broader mission to make molecular diagnostics faster, simpler, and more accessible,' said Ed Farrell, Chief Executive Officer of LEX Diagnostics. 'We believe the LEX VELO system will redefine point-of-care testing by equipping healthcare providers with lab-quality results in minutes, enabling faster clinical decisions and improved patient outcomes without compromising quality while improving workflow—an achievement that will set us apart in the marketplace.' The LEX system supports multiplex testing for key respiratory pathogens, including Influenza A, Influenza B, and COVID-19, and is engineered to deliver PCR results in six to ten minutes, easily integrating into clinical workflows across primary care settings, urgent care clinics, pharmacies, physician office laboratories and decentralized acute settings. Its proprietary cartridge-based design eliminates the need for external liquid handling, promoting ease of use and reliability. LEX recently completed clinical studies in the United States with the VELO system and the Influenza/Covid assay during the 2024/2025 respiratory season. LEX Diagnostics anticipates U.S. market clearance in late 2025 or early 2026, in alignment with expected FDA review timelines. About Lex Diagnostics LEX Diagnostics, a TTP Group Company, is a molecular diagnostics company transforming point-of-care testing through its proprietary ultra-fast thermal cycling technology. Designed to deliver lab-quality PCR results directly from a swab sample in minutes, the VELO system bridges the gap between accuracy and accessibility, empowering healthcare professionals to make informed clinical decisions faster. LEX Diagnostics is headquartered in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. Learn more at and follow us on LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, statements regarding product development, regulatory timelines, market potential, and expected outcomes. These statements are based on current assumptions and expectations that are subject to risks, uncertainties, and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including regulatory decisions, market conditions, and operational challenges. LEX Diagnostics undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein, except as required by law. Media Contacts LEX DiagnosticsChris Holeenquires@ Scius CommunicationsKatja Stout+44 778 943 5990katja@ Daniel Gooch+44 774 787 5479daniel@ _____________________1 This LEX Diagnostics product is currently under development and has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any other regulatory authority. It is not available for sale or distribution in the U.S., the U.K. or any other jurisdiction. All product descriptions, data, or discussions are preliminary, subject to change, and do not represent final or FDA-approved claims, indications, or labeling.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
COVID surge calls for precautions, not for alarm
Even though the uptick in COVID-19 cases may not be a cause for alarm, masking in public places, especially hospitals or closed spaces, should become a norm now for the elderly, pregnant women, and those with chronic comorbidities, Health department officials have reiterated. 'We just want people to be aware that COVID is still around, alongside other respiratory viruses, and that they should take regular precautions such as masking in public places to prevent themselves from contracting the virus. Those with respiratory symptoms should strictly maintain cough etiquette and hand hygiene and stay indoors till their symptoms subside to prevent further transmission,' a senior clinician said. As of Monday, Kerala has 1,416 active cases of COVID-19. One new death , that of an 80-year-old, who had been undergoing treatment for pneumonia with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, diabetes, hypertension and coronary artery disease, was also reported. The State maintains that it wants no part in the COVID frenzy that seems to be slowly taking over the rest of the country. It is dealing with COVID just as it would manage influenza, with the focus on standard precautions as well as transmission prevention. To augment testing It has been decided to augment testing and efforts are on to get all public RT PCR testing labs active. Influenza A is also very much in circulation now, which means that testing those with respiratory symptoms would help in identifying influenza cases, who can be initiated on antivirals early. 'We are not worried about the rising case numbers and are only looking at the hospital admissions and case severity, which seems to be fine now. However, the fact that we have a sizeable proportion of elderly in the community, as well as a chunk of adults with uncontrolled chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension, are risks we cannot discount,' a senior official said. The Omicron variant JN.1 and its sublineage LF.1 currently in circulation in the State causes only mild illness lasting over two to three days. However, emergency rooms and OP clinics are beginning to be crowded with people having fever and respiratory symptoms. Fever, fatigue and lethargy seem to be the main symptoms; sometimes accompanied by sore throat which could become a dry cough. In some cases, doctors have reported secondary bacterial infections requiring antibiotics also. Circular In a circular issued by the Health department on Monday, officials directed all public and private hospitals to be watchful for the red flag signs --breathlessness, chest pain, fall in blood pressure, cyanosis, etc. -- in all persons coming to outpatient clinics with respiratory symptoms. It has also been directed that all hospitals admit COVID/influenza patients in separate wards, test family members with symptoms and to institute crowd control measures in hospitals. Hospitals have also been asked to review their preparedness measures, including oxygen availability, medicines, oxygen-supported beds, ICU beds, etc., and to conduct mock drills As influenza is also doing the rounds, for the elderly, the annual influenza vaccine is a good idea to prevent chest infections, which could worsen to pneumonia. Those who are known to have diabetes and hypertension should ensure that their blood sugar and blood pressure levels are well regulated. Public health experts point out that except for a small minority, almost everyone in the State has either been vaccinated against the older SARS CoV 2 virus variants or may have been exposed to the virus in the past, especially when the Omicron wave first swept across the State in 2022. Thus, almost everyone in the State has either vaccine-derived immunity or hybrid immunity (through the infection as well as vaccination) against the earlier variants. However, this immunity might have waned or might not be effective against Omicron and its variants because of the latter's immune evasiveness. Even so, previous vaccination is expected to protect people from severe illness. 'Our situation now is very different from 2020, when COVID first appeared. The State does not recommend that anyone vaccinate against COVID anew,' a senior official said.
