Latest news with #PhilipVeal
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Warning issued to holidaymakers over rise in cases of Victorian disease
Warning issued to holidaymakers over rise in cases of Victorian disease The UK Health Security Agency has reported an 8% rise from 2023 to 702 cases last year A warning has been issued to UK travellers going abroad (Image: PA ) UK tourists are being alerted to a surge in typhoid fever cases, with the UK Health Security Agency noting an 8% increase in incidents from 2023, with numbers reaching 702 last year. Typhoid and paratyphoid fevers, serious but preventable diseases caused by Salmonella bacteria, are typically transmitted through contaminated food or water. The UKHSA previously said: "Typhoid during the Victorian era was incredibly common and remains so in parts of the world where there is poor sanitation and limited access to clean water." The UKHSA's latest statement confirmed that typhoid is predominantly contracted overseas in areas with inadequate hygiene practices and sanitation. The Agency warned: "Previous surveillance has also highlighted a concerning rise in antibiotic-resistant typhoid in Pakistan, which reduces the effectiveness of commonly used antibiotics, impacting the response to treatment, and increasing the risk of complications." Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here The statement further adds that while some travellers can receive a complimentary typhoid vaccine from their GP, unfortunately, no vaccine exists to combat paratyphoid. Additionally, the UKHSA has observed an alarming amount of malaria diagnoses among individuals returning to the UK. The Agency pointed out: "Provisional data shows that imported malaria cases remain at concerning levels in the UK despite a slight decrease in diagnoses to 1,812 in 2024 from 2,106 in 2023. These figures significantly exceed the levels seen in recent years," reports the Liverpool Echo. "Most cases were reported during peak summer travel months between July and October. Malaria is potentially fatal but almost entirely preventable when antimalarial tablets are taken correctly." Article continues below Dr Philip Veal, Consultant in Public Health at UKHSA, has urged holidaymakers to remain vigilant, stating: "We are seeing high levels of infections such as malaria and typhoid in returning travellers. It is important that travellers remain alert and plan ahead of going abroad – even if you're visiting friends and relatives abroad or it's somewhere you visit often. "The Travel Health Pro website has information on how to keep yourself and family healthy, including what vaccines to get, any important medication such as anti-malaria tablets, and how to avoid gastrointestinal infections such as typhoid and hepatitis A. If you are pregnant or trying to conceive there are special precautions you should take, so speak to a healthcare professional before planning your trip." Dr Diana Ayoola Mabayoje, co-founder of African Diaspora Malaria Initiative (ADMI), added: "Most UK malaria cases occur in Black African people returning from travel to Africa. Community engagement of the African Diaspora in malaria prevention is crucial to reduce imported malaria in the UK. "The African Diaspora Malaria Initiative (ADMI) is leading this charge with our upcoming 'Africans Against Malaria' campaign. It will directly address the perceptions, beliefs, and behaviours that hinder malaria prevention uptake amongst the UK African diaspora and signpost where to obtain malaria chemoprophylaxis." The UKHSA has advised travellers to seek medical advice from their GP, practice nurse, pharmacist, or travel clinic at least 4 to 6 weeks before travelling for personalised advice, necessary vaccinations, and malaria prevention tablets, depending on their destination. Those who may need the dengue vaccine should consult a healthcare provider 3 to 4 months prior to their journey. Encouragingly, there has been a decrease in dengue cases reported in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland in the first quarter of 2025, with only 65 cases compared to 254 in the same period last year. The UKHSA noted that most dengue infections were associated with travel to Brazil, Indonesia, and Thailand. The agency highlighted: "Dengue cases have increased substantially globally over the past five years, with exceptionally high levels in 2023 and 2024, and the sustained transmission of dengue is an ongoing global health challenge." The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urged holidaymakers to check their destination on the Travel Health Pro website, which provides information on health risks in countries worldwide. In nations where insects spread diseases such as dengue, malaria or Zika virus infection, travellers can safeguard themselves by using insect repellent, covering exposed skin, and sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net when air conditioning is not available. The UKHSA also advised travellers to: "Ensure your routine childhood vaccines are up to date. Have any recommended travel related vaccines. "A free typhoid vaccination is available from GP surgeries for some travellers, though no vaccine exists for paratyphoid. "Stock up on necessary medications including malaria prevention tablets. Get valid travel insurance to cover your entire trip and planned activities." Article continues below
South Wales Guardian
2 days ago
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
Record number of travel-linked typhoid cases
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urged people to make sure they have done all they can to prevent infections linked to travel after seeing a rise in cases. New provisional figures from the health body show that there were 702 cases of typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2024 – an 8% rise on the previous year and the highest number ever recorded. Summer holiday planned? Whether you're off somewhere new or returning to a familiar favourite, Dr Anjali Pai shares how to stay safe while travelling, so you can prepare early and beat the summer rush. ✈🔗 Find country-specific advice and vaccine info at — UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) May 12, 2025 Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection and without prompt treatment it can cause serious complications and can be fatal. It is caused by a salmonella bacteria and usually spread through contaminated food and water. A free vaccine is available for some patients at their GP surgery before travel, with travellers urged to check the Travel Health Pro website for information before they go abroad. There is no vaccine for paratyphoid. Meanwhile the UKHSA said that imported malaria cases remain at 'concerning levels' in the UK, despite a slight decrease from the previous year. There were 1,812 cases diagnosed in 2024. The number of dengue cases also appears to have decreased. Dr Philip Veal, consultant in public health at UKHSA, said: 'We are seeing high levels of infections such as malaria and typhoid in returning travellers. 'It is important that travellers remain alert and plan ahead of going abroad – even if you're visiting friends and relatives abroad or it's somewhere you visit often. 'The Travel Health Pro website has information on how to keep yourself and family healthy, including what vaccines to get, any important medication such as anti-malaria tablets, and how to avoid gastrointestinal infections such as typhoid and hepatitis A. 'If you are pregnant or trying to conceive there are special precautions you should take, so please speak to a healthcare professional before planning your trip.'
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Health
- Leader Live
Record number of travel-linked typhoid cases
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urged people to make sure they have done all they can to prevent infections linked to travel after seeing a rise in cases. New provisional figures from the health body show that there were 702 cases of typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2024 – an 8% rise on the previous year and the highest number ever recorded. Summer holiday planned? Whether you're off somewhere new or returning to a familiar favourite, Dr Anjali Pai shares how to stay safe while travelling, so you can prepare early and beat the summer rush. ✈🔗 Find country-specific advice and vaccine info at — UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) May 12, 2025 Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection and without prompt treatment it can cause serious complications and can be fatal. It is caused by a salmonella bacteria and usually spread through contaminated food and water. A free vaccine is available for some patients at their GP surgery before travel, with travellers urged to check the Travel Health Pro website for information before they go abroad. There is no vaccine for paratyphoid. Meanwhile the UKHSA said that imported malaria cases remain at 'concerning levels' in the UK, despite a slight decrease from the previous year. There were 1,812 cases diagnosed in 2024. The number of dengue cases also appears to have decreased. Dr Philip Veal, consultant in public health at UKHSA, said: 'We are seeing high levels of infections such as malaria and typhoid in returning travellers. 'It is important that travellers remain alert and plan ahead of going abroad – even if you're visiting friends and relatives abroad or it's somewhere you visit often. 'The Travel Health Pro website has information on how to keep yourself and family healthy, including what vaccines to get, any important medication such as anti-malaria tablets, and how to avoid gastrointestinal infections such as typhoid and hepatitis A. 'If you are pregnant or trying to conceive there are special precautions you should take, so please speak to a healthcare professional before planning your trip.'
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
New 'high infection' warning issued to Brits planning on travelling abroad
The UK's health authority has issued a warning to Brits planning to travel abroad this summer and beyond, following a surge in cases of enteric fever - typhoid and paratyphoid fever - across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In 2024, there were 702 reported cases, marking an 8% increase from the previous year (645 cases). The data comes courtesy of the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA), which noted that these figures represent the highest number of annual cases recorded thus far. Typhoid and paratyphoid fever are serious illnesses caused by Salmonella bacteria, typically contracted through contaminated food or water. The UKHSA explained that most cases of enteric fever in the UK are acquired overseas, particularly in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene standards. It also highlighted a worrying rise in antibiotic-resistant typhoid in Pakistan, which diminishes the effectiveness of commonly used antibiotics, thereby complicating treatment and increasing the risk of complications. For some travellers, a free typhoid vaccination is available at GP surgeries, although no vaccine currently exists for paratyphoid. The UKHSA also shed light on the latest data concerning imported malaria cases, which it described as "remaining at concerning levels in the UK despite a slight decrease in diagnoses to 1,812 in 2024 from 2,106 in 2023". Malaria and dengue cases It added that the figures "significantly exceed the levels seen in recent years". Most cases were reported during peak summer travel months between July and October. Malaria is potentially fatal, but almost entirely preventable when antimalarial tablets are taken correctly. There were fewer imported dengue cases reported in the first quarter of 2025 compared to last year in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with 65 cases in the first three months of 2025 compared to 254 cases in 2024 – mostly linked to travel to Thailand, Brazil and Indonesia. Dengue cases have increased substantially globally over the past five years, with exceptionally high levels in 2023 and 2024, and the sustained transmission of dengue is an ongoing global health challenge, the UKHSA said. Dr Philip Veal, consultant in public health at UKHSA, said: 'We are seeing high levels of infections such as malaria and typhoid in returning travellers. It is important that travellers remain alert and plan ahead of going abroad – even if you're visiting friends and relatives abroad or it's somewhere you visit often. "The Travel Health Pro website has information on how to keep yourself and family healthy, including what vaccines to get, any important medication such as anti-malaria tablets, and how to avoid gastrointestinal infections such as typhoid and hepatitis A. If you are pregnant or trying to conceive, there are special precautions you should take, so please speak to a healthcare professional before planning your trip.'
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Record number of travel-linked typhoid cases
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urged people to make sure they have done all they can to prevent infections linked to travel after seeing a rise in cases. New provisional figures from the health body show that there were 702 cases of typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2024 – an 8% rise on the previous year and the highest number ever recorded. Summer holiday planned? Whether you're off somewhere new or returning to a familiar favourite, Dr Anjali Pai shares how to stay safe while travelling, so you can prepare early and beat the summer rush. ✈🔗 Find country-specific advice and vaccine info at — UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) May 12, 2025 Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection and without prompt treatment it can cause serious complications and can be fatal. It is caused by a salmonella bacteria and usually spread through contaminated food and water. A free vaccine is available for some patients at their GP surgery before travel, with travellers urged to check the Travel Health Pro website for information before they go abroad. There is no vaccine for paratyphoid. Meanwhile the UKHSA said that imported malaria cases remain at 'concerning levels' in the UK, despite a slight decrease from the previous year. There were 1,812 cases diagnosed in 2024. The number of dengue cases also appears to have decreased. Dr Philip Veal, consultant in public health at UKHSA, said: 'We are seeing high levels of infections such as malaria and typhoid in returning travellers. 'It is important that travellers remain alert and plan ahead of going abroad – even if you're visiting friends and relatives abroad or it's somewhere you visit often. 'The Travel Health Pro website has information on how to keep yourself and family healthy, including what vaccines to get, any important medication such as anti-malaria tablets, and how to avoid gastrointestinal infections such as typhoid and hepatitis A. 'If you are pregnant or trying to conceive there are special precautions you should take, so please speak to a healthcare professional before planning your trip.'
