Latest news with #TomSolomon
The Irish Sun
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
The 7 signs of deadly, paralysing West Nile virus that's mistaken for flu – as it's found in UK mozzies for first time
DEADLY and paralysing West Nile virus has been spotted in UK mosquitoes for the first time. The bug is spread 3 West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes in the UK for the first time Credit: Getty Many people won't get symptoms at all but some may be struck with flu-like aches and pains, The virus can cause severe, life-threatening illness in around one in 150 people who catch it, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which may lead to paralysis or even death. Scientists identified fragments of the virus in the genetic material of UK mosquitoes for first the time. While there have been other cases of West Nile virus on British soil, these have usually been a result of mozzie bites acquired in different countries, where the disease-carrying critters are abundant. Read more on West Nile virus Over the last 25 years, only seven cases have been brought into the UK by travellers - and none have caught it locally. While West Nile virus is endemic in Africa, the Middle East, West and Central Asia, the US and Australia, mosquitoes carrying the disease have gradually spread through Europe - including in the north, where temperatures are lower. Scientists from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) gathered them in July 2023 and pooled into 200 groups of 10 for testing. Most read in Health Only two out of 200 groups that were tested showed traces of the virus. UKHSA stressed that it the risk to Brits was low, as there have been no reports of the virus spreading to people. Dr Meera Chand, UKHSA deputy director for travel health and emerging infections, said: "While this is the first detection of West Nile Virus in mosquitoes in the UK so far, it is not unexpected as the virus is already widespread in Europe. "The risk to the general public is currently assessed as very low. "Vector research of this kind is designed to give us early warning of potential threats so that we can enhance our disease surveillance and control activities and ensure patients receive appropriate testing." The health watchdog said healthcare professionals should test patients with encephalitis of unknown cause as a precaution through UKHSA's Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory. 3 Prof Tom Solomon, from the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit on Emerging Infections and the Pandemic Institute in Liverpool said West Nile virus mostly causes a flu-like illness in people. But it can also "infect people with no symptoms at all". People infected with the bug may experience: Headaches Body aches and joint pain Vomiting Diarrhoea Rash Fever Swollen lymph nodes Symptoms typically take two to 14 days to appear after infection and should go away within three to six days, according to the UK Health Security Agency. Prof Solomon added: "In a small proportion of patients, the virus can cause neurological disease, which may lead to paralysis or even death. "Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment." Other mosquito-borne diseases and how to protect yourself Vector-borne diseases - illnesses transmitted to humans by organisms such as mosquitoes and ticks - are a growing threat to the UK and Europe. They account for more than 17 per cent of all infectious diseases globally, causing over 700,000 deaths annually, according to UKHSA. They include: Malaria Dengue Yellow fever Zika Chikungunya The Fit for Travel website says if you are travelling to an area affected by diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever, spread by mosquitoes, you should take action to protect yourself. Some mosquitoes are more active in the day time while others at night - so it is important to protect yourself at all times. It says: "If you develop a high temperature (fever) either during or after travelling to an affected area, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible and give details of your recent travel history." To protect yourself: Use a good quality insect repellent The higher the strength, the longer the repellent should prevent mosquitoes landing on you. An effective repellent contains at least one of; DEET (50% concentration for areas where there is malaria), Icaradin/Picardin (at least 20% concentration, Eucalyptus citriodora oil, hydrated, cyclized (at least 30% concentration), IR3535 (but not for malaria areas). Apply: On all areas of skin not covered by clothes After sun screen Regularly, particularly if you notice mosquitoes around you After swimming, washing or excessive sweating On the face, by spraying the repellent on the hands first Loose clothing Mosquitoes can bite through tight clothing, so loose-fitted clothing is ideal. Consider a high neckline, long sleeves, long trousers and socks. Remember to apply insect repellent on areas not clothed. Mosquito nets Mosquito nets can protect you at night when sleeping and are even better if treated with insecticide. Check for any holes in the net before using it. If a hole is apparent, then this should be mended. You should tuck the net under your mattress or ground sheet during the night, and either collapse it down, or keep it tucked up during the day to stop insects flying under and into the net. Fewer than 1 per cent of people infected with West Nile virus will develop disease in the brain and nervous system, according to UKHSA. This may be meningitis, encephalitis with high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation or confusion, severe muscle weakness, tremors, convulsions, paralysis and coma. People over 50 or with health conditions like cancer , diabetes , , or are at higher risk of serious illness. Meanwhile, patients aged over 70 are at highest risk of death. How is West Nile virus spread? The bug is primarily spread through the bites of infected mosquitoes. According to UKHSA, humans are considered dead-end-hosts, which means people infected with West Nile virus can't transmit the virus back to mosquitoes. This means that if someone gets overseas and travels back to the UK, this won't lead to further transmission of the illness. With the bug being spotted in UK mosquitoes for the first time, experts still aren't especially worried that this will lead to widespread transmission of West Nile virus in the UK. Dr Robert Jones, assistant professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , said: 'There is currently no evidence that these fragments of genetic material are linked to any human cases of West Nile virus infection." Professor Paul Long, a microbiologist at King's College London, added: 'Although virus-infected mosquitoes have been found in the UK there's no evidence yet that these mosquitoes will survive in the UK climate, although prolonged warm weather does increase the chances.' In Europe - where cases of West Nile virus have been identified in countries including France, Italy and Portugal - cases tend to be highest in summer and early autumn, when mosquitoes are most active. In very rare cases, the illness can passed on through blood transfusion, organ donation or vertical transmission from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding. In 2024, 1,436 locally acquired cases were reported across 19 EU countries — including France, Spain and Italy - resulting in 125 deaths. That's a sharp rise from 802 cases in the same period last year, suggesting the virus is gaining ground. 3
Scottish Sun
22-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
The 7 signs of deadly, paralysing West Nile virus that's mistaken for flu – as it's found in UK mozzies for first time
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DEADLY and paralysing West Nile virus has been spotted in UK mosquitoes for the first time. The bug is spread through the bites of infected mozzies that are common in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes in the UK for the first time Credit: Getty Many people won't get symptoms at all but some may be struck with flu-like aches and pains, headaches and fever. The virus can cause severe, life-threatening illness in around one in 150 people who catch it, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which may lead to paralysis or even death. Scientists identified fragments of the virus in the genetic material of UK mosquitoes for first the time. While there have been other cases of West Nile virus on British soil, these have usually been a result of mozzie bites acquired in different countries, where the disease-carrying critters are abundant. Over the last 25 years, only seven cases have been brought into the UK by travellers - and none have caught it locally. While West Nile virus is endemic in Africa, the Middle East, West and Central Asia, the US and Australia, mosquitoes carrying the disease have gradually spread through Europe - including in the north, where temperatures are lower. The infected mozzies were found on the banks of the River Idle, near Gamston in Nottinghamshire, where flooding and standing water encourages them to gather. Scientists from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) gathered them in July 2023 and pooled into 200 groups of 10 for testing. Only two out of 200 groups that were tested showed traces of the virus. UKHSA stressed that it the risk to Brits was low, as there have been no reports of the virus spreading to people. Dr Meera Chand, UKHSA deputy director for travel health and emerging infections, said: "While this is the first detection of West Nile Virus in mosquitoes in the UK so far, it is not unexpected as the virus is already widespread in Europe. "The risk to the general public is currently assessed as very low. "Vector research of this kind is designed to give us early warning of potential threats so that we can enhance our disease surveillance and control activities and ensure patients receive appropriate testing." The health watchdog said healthcare professionals should test patients with encephalitis of unknown cause as a precaution through UKHSA's Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory. 3 Prof Tom Solomon, from the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit on Emerging Infections and the Pandemic Institute in Liverpool said West Nile virus mostly causes a flu-like illness in people. But it can also "infect people with no symptoms at all". People infected with the bug may experience: Headaches Body aches and joint pain Vomiting Diarrhoea Rash Fever Swollen lymph nodes Symptoms typically take two to 14 days to appear after infection and should go away within three to six days, according to the UK Health Security Agency. Prof Solomon added: "In a small proportion of patients, the virus can cause neurological disease, which may lead to paralysis or even death. "Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment." Other mosquito-borne diseases and how to protect yourself Vector-borne diseases - illnesses transmitted to humans by organisms such as mosquitoes and ticks - are a growing threat to the UK and Europe. They account for more than 17 per cent of all infectious diseases globally, causing over 700,000 deaths annually, according to UKHSA. They include: Malaria Dengue Yellow fever Zika Chikungunya The Fit for Travel website says if you are travelling to an area affected by diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever, spread by mosquitoes, you should take action to protect yourself. Some mosquitoes are more active in the day time while others at night - so it is important to protect yourself at all times. It says: "If you develop a high temperature (fever) either during or after travelling to an affected area, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible and give details of your recent travel history." To protect yourself: Use a good quality insect repellent The higher the strength, the longer the repellent should prevent mosquitoes landing on you. An effective repellent contains at least one of; DEET (50% concentration for areas where there is malaria), Icaradin/Picardin (at least 20% concentration, Eucalyptus citriodora oil, hydrated, cyclized (at least 30% concentration), IR3535 (but not for malaria areas). Apply: On all areas of skin not covered by clothes After sun screen Regularly, particularly if you notice mosquitoes around you After swimming, washing or excessive sweating On the face, by spraying the repellent on the hands first Loose clothing Mosquitoes can bite through tight clothing, so loose-fitted clothing is ideal. Consider a high neckline, long sleeves, long trousers and socks. Remember to apply insect repellent on areas not clothed. Mosquito nets Mosquito nets can protect you at night when sleeping and are even better if treated with insecticide. Check for any holes in the net before using it. If a hole is apparent, then this should be mended. You should tuck the net under your mattress or ground sheet during the night, and either collapse it down, or keep it tucked up during the day to stop insects flying under and into the net. Fewer than 1 per cent of people infected with West Nile virus will develop disease in the brain and nervous system, according to UKHSA. This may be meningitis, encephalitis with high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation or confusion, severe muscle weakness, tremors, convulsions, paralysis and coma. People over 50 or with health conditions like cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, or high blood pressure are at higher risk of serious illness. Meanwhile, patients aged over 70 are at highest risk of death. How is West Nile virus spread? The bug is primarily spread through the bites of infected mosquitoes. According to UKHSA, humans are considered dead-end-hosts, which means people infected with West Nile virus can't transmit the virus back to mosquitoes. This means that if someone gets overseas and travels back to the UK, this won't lead to further transmission of the illness. With the bug being spotted in UK mosquitoes for the first time, experts still aren't especially worried that this will lead to widespread transmission of West Nile virus in the UK. Dr Robert Jones, assistant professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: 'There is currently no evidence that these fragments of genetic material are linked to any human cases of West Nile virus infection." Professor Paul Long, a microbiologist at King's College London, added: 'Although virus-infected mosquitoes have been found in the UK there's no evidence yet that these mosquitoes will survive in the UK climate, although prolonged warm weather does increase the chances.' In Europe - where cases of West Nile virus have been identified in countries including France, Italy and Portugal - cases tend to be highest in summer and early autumn, when mosquitoes are most active. In very rare cases, the illness can passed on through blood transfusion, organ donation or vertical transmission from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding. In 2024, 1,436 locally acquired cases were reported across 19 EU countries — including France, Spain and Italy - resulting in 125 deaths. That's a sharp rise from 802 cases in the same period last year, suggesting the virus is gaining ground.
Business Wire
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Wire
Rivian and Samsara Partner to Streamline Electric Fleet Management
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Samsara Inc. ("Samsara") (NYSE: IOT), the pioneer of the Connected Operations ® Platform, and Rivian (NASDAQ: RIVN), American all-electric vehicle manufacturer, today announced a collaboration designed to simplify the complexities of electric fleet management. With this new integration, Samsara customers can now access data on Rivian vehicles in their fleet on the Samsara Platform. This collaboration addresses the evolving needs of businesses managing diverse fleets, including the growing adoption of Rivian Commercial Vans. By integrating directly with Rivian's platform, the partnership gives customers immediate visibility into essential vehicle management data such as GPS location, odometer readings, and state of charge. 'Samsara is committed to providing our customers with a unified platform that simplifies their operations and empowers them to make data-driven decisions,' said Tom McNeela, Vice President of Hardware Product Management at Samsara. 'We are excited to partner with Rivian to streamline access to their vehicle data, enabling our customers to more effectively manage their electric fleets and accelerate the transition to sustainable transportation.' Key benefits of this integration include: Unified Data: Provides a single platform for viewing Rivian vehicle data alongside other fleet assets. Enhanced Visibility: Offers real-time insights into vehicle location, condition, and use. Scalable Solution: Supports the management of both small and large fleets. Simplified Operations: Enables secure data access with immediate activation. The integration provides a comprehensive view of vehicle operations, including location, speed, mileage, state of charge, and seatbelt usage. This rich data set is particularly valuable for optimizing operations in sectors such as last-mile delivery and rentals, where efficiency and sustainability are key factors for measuring profitability. By consolidating Rivian vehicle data within the Samsara platform, it eliminates the need for fleet managers to navigate multiple systems, saving time and resources. 'Rivian is focused on providing our commercial customers with solutions that make it easier to manage their fleets,' said Tom Solomon, Vice President of Business Development at Rivian. 'Our collaboration with Samsara provides a streamlined approach to securely accessing vehicle data, empowering businesses to optimize their fleet operations and improve overall efficiency.' Samsara's integration with Rivian is now available to customers in the United States. To learn more, visit the Samsara App Marketplace. About Samsara Samsara (NYSE: IOT) is the pioneer of the Connected Operations ® Platform, which enables organizations that depend on physical operations to harness Internet of Things (IoT) data to develop actionable insights and improve their operations. With tens of thousands of customers across North America and Europe, Samsara is a proud technology partner to the people who keep our global economy running, including the world's leading organizations across construction, transportation and warehousing, field services, manufacturing, retail, logistics, and the public sector. The company's mission is to increase the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the operations that power the global economy. Samsara is a registered trademark of Samsara Inc. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. About Rivian Rivian (NASDAQ: RIVN) is an American automotive manufacturer that develops and builds category-defining electric vehicles and accessories. The company creates innovative and technologically advanced products that are designed to excel at work and play with the goal of accelerating the global transition to zero-emission transportation and energy. Rivian vehicles are built in the United States and are sold directly to consumer and commercial customers. The company provides a full suite of services that address the entire lifecycle of the vehicle and stay true to its mission to keep the world adventurous forever. Whether taking families on new adventures or electrifying fleets at scale, Rivian vehicles all share a common goal — preserving the natural world for generations to come. Learn more about the company, products, and careers at
Los Angeles Times
20-04-2025
- Automotive
- Los Angeles Times
Rivian Makes Its Commercial Van Available to Fleets of All Sizes
For U.S. customers, those big EV vans are no longer just for Amazon Irvine-based Rivian Automotive recently announced that it is opening sales for the Rivian Commercial Van to fleets of all sizes in the U.S. for the first time. The Rivian Commercial Van is the platform on which Amazon's custom electric delivery van (EDV) is based and is designed from the ground up, prioritizing safety, driver comfort, total cost of ownership and sustainability. Safety features include automatic emergency braking, collision warnings and 360-degree visibility – meaning the Rivian Commercial Van is engineered to be among the safest vehicles on the road today. Since the conclusion of Rivian and Amazon's exclusivity period, Rivian has been trialing its commercial van with several large fleets in the U.S. and preparing its fleet management process for the mass market. These pilots have paved the way to enable Rivian to open sales further. The Rivian Commercial Van comes in two sizes, the 500 and the 700, providing a payload around 2,600 lbs. and a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of up to 9,500 lbs. Rivian's in-house software stack controls nearly every interaction from unlocking the vehicle and opening the door to charging and acceleration. These tools help streamline the ownership experience and minimize costs while increasing safety and productivity. 'Through existing partnerships, our commercial vans have already proved incredibly successful,' said Tom Solomon, senior director of business development for Rivian. 'Amazon currently has more than 20,000 in its fleet and delivered over a billion packages from its Electric Delivery Vans in 2024 alone. Over the last year, we have been focusing our efforts on testing with some larger fleets, and we're really pleased with how those trials have gone. As a result, we're excited to now be able to open sales to fleets of all sizes in the U.S., whether they want one van or thousands. Our vehicles are designed to not only be among the safest on the road but will also help fleet owners to reduce the cost of fleet ownership and their carbon footprint.' Rivian vehicles are built in the United States and are sold directly to consumer and commercial customers. The Orange County-based company provides a full suite of services that addresses the entire lifecycle of the vehicle and stays true to its mission to keep the world adventurous forever. Whether taking families on new adventures or electrifying fleets at scale, Rivian vehicles all share a common goal - preserving the natural world for generations to come.
BBC News
25-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
How Liverpool is helping the world prepare for future pandemics
In early 2020 Professor Tom Solomon was sitting in Geneva at a meeting of the World Health Organisation to discuss the global rise of SARS-CoV 2, the virus behind this stage it had already taken hold in China and Italy, and shocking footage of overwhelmed hospitals and body bags were being beamed around the world. The team was discussing what needed to be done to combat the virus."I remember on the one hand not being able to believe this was happening, on the other hand being frightened for my family and personally, but also thinking I have to put all those thoughts aside because we have a job to do and we have to get on with it," said Professor Solomon. Fast forward five years and he now heads Liverpool's Pandemic Institute, an organisation devoted to preparing for and protecting against the next global infection Pandemic Institute was set up in 2021 by a consortium of health, academic, civic and business organisations in the city, including the University of Liverpool, John Moore's University, Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation Trust, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the City Council and the Combined Authority."It was clear from the pandemic that it's not just about laboratory research. It's all about understanding how society's going to respond and what's happening in hospitals and bringing it all together for a unified response," said Professor Solomon. The institute monitors emerging infections while also developing tests, treatments and vaccines for those already known about, like Kris Subramaniam is an infection immunologist at the Pandemic Institute who studies the body's own immune response, specifically the production of T-cells which are used to fight infection."There's about a trillion different types of viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites that can affect a human being," she said."So it really starts with identifying it. Where is it? What is it doing? How is it transmitting? How is it affecting a human being? And then we can figure out strategies of how to prevent it." 'Not if, but when' The team is currently working on a vaccine for Zika virus. Mainly spread by mosquitos, it can cause serious birth defects and health issues and was particularly prevalent in Latin America in 2015 and 2016, most notably during the Rio vaccine has just completed early clinical trials at the Royal Liverpool Hospital and Dr Subramaniam is hopeful that it will go on to the next stage."All of the work has been done at the University of Liverpool. So we've taken a concept all the way up to a product. "And that's what we're hopefully going to get future funding to develop."For everyone at the Pandemic Institute, the question is not if another pandemic will hit but when. A growing population, international travel, increasing contact with wild animals, a warming planet – all these factors make another global outbreak more likely in the future."Because of the interconnectedness of our society, infections which start in one part of the world can easily affect us. Covid was a prime example of that," Dr Subramaniam added that the pandemic was also an example of what could be achieved when the world's resources were thrown at solving one issue. The first vaccine was up and running within nine months – normally that would take between 10 and 15 years to is a feeling of optimism here that future threats are being taken more seriously than in the past. In January the government announced that the country would be carrying out a huge pandemic resilience exercise in Autumn – the largest next month a training programme will begin for more than 4,000 people at the UK Resilience Academy, based in North announcement was made by government minister Pat McFadden to coincide with his visit to the Pandemic Institute. But along with preparation, Professor Solomon wants to see more investmentLiverpool is now bidding for funding for a new Pandemic Preparedness and Response Facility - to be based on the site of the old Royal Liverpool Hospital. It wants to create a facility for scientists to study infections which cannot easily be safely studied elsewhere, partly by using has already secured £1.8m in development funding but would need between £75m and £100m more to become reality."One thing we saw in the pandemic is that if you have a very stretched health service and a very stretched public health service there's no capacity for when things get worse," said Professor Solomon."That's why we need funding into health care and public health, and research to underpin them so that we have everything in place for the next threat." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
