Latest news with #VanessaWong
CNA
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - "To the Last Gram" - Putting Anorexia in the Spotlight using Comics
CNA938 Rewind Play In 'Culture Club', Melanie Oliveiro focuses on the local comic 'To the Last Gram', a fictional young adult coming-of-age story about living with an eating disorder (ED). Put out by publisher Difference Engine, 'To the Last Gram' is written by Shreya Davies and illustrated by Vanessa Wong. Written from the perspective of the protagonist Divya, the comic unpacks the lived experience of ED – how it impacts family members and affects those who grow up in diet-free households. Wong and Davies will also discuss Divya's emotional and mental journey via the captivating illustrations and unique writing style. CNA938 Rewind - Redefining Beachfront Retreats - the Story Behind Oshom Bali In 'Destination Anywhere', Melanie Oliveiro speaks to a luxury travel director in Europe who is now the founder of one of Bali's most buzzworthy openings of 2025. Daisy Angus, founder of Oshom Bali, talks about her brand new luxury beachfront boutique hotel located in the heart of Bali's Nuanu Creative City. Angus, who has a decade of experience in luxury hospitality, will recount the story behind Oshom: from its creative concept to fleshing-out its design-led experiences up to opening day. She'll also talk about how Nuanu Creative City is reshaping Bali's cultural and ecological landscape. 19 mins CNA938 Rewind - "To the Last Gram" - Putting Anorexia in the Spotlight using Comics In 'Culture Club', Melanie Oliveiro focuses on the local comic 'To the Last Gram', a fictional young adult coming-of-age story about living with an eating disorder (ED). Put out by publisher Difference Engine, 'To the Last Gram' is written by Shreya Davies and illustrated by Vanessa Wong. Written from the perspective of the protagonist Divya, the comic unpacks the lived experience of ED – how it impacts family members and affects those who grow up in diet-free households. Wong and Davies will also discuss Divya's emotional and mental journey via the captivating illustrations and unique writing style. 30 mins CNA938 Rewind - Teaching with a Twist - Meet Singapore's TikTok Educators In 'Made in SG', Melanie Oliveiro speaks with two local TikTok personalities - who double-up as educators - on the popular social media platform. BioGirl MJ (@justkeepthinking), co-founder and host of the science channel 'Just Keep Thinking' talks about how her lessons focus on bite-sized videos about science and wildlife. Math Tutor May (@maythematics) who is the founder of math tuition centre 'Maythematics', talks about her role as an educator and content creator who provides valuable tips and solutions to students. 32 mins
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Yahoo
Caravan dad 'blown away' by sketchy problem at Aussie campsites: 'Bogged for days'
When reflecting on Australia's iconic landscape, it's hard not to picture the distinct dusty, red dirt that stretches across the centre of the lucky country. However, that might not be the case for everyone, with a lesser-known 'sketchy' soil creating big problems at caravan parks and campsites, leaving some travellers 'bogged for days'. When Aaron Schubert, 35, his wife and their two young sons hit the road to embark on a two-year lap of Australia, the dad told Yahoo he was pretty familiar with the 'clay mud' often seen in his home state of WA. But as the family trekked further north and along the coast to Queensland, they were shocked by the stark difference in the dirt beneath their feet. 'We've done a ridiculous amount of 4WDing and black soil was fairly new to us, but it blew me away with how sketchy things can get,' Schubert, who has shared tips about caravanning and camping on his website for 15 years. Black soil, otherwise referred to as a vertosol, is Australia's most fertile soil and can be found largely across Queensland and NSW, especially in agricultural areas. While it is prime for produce, the cracking clay soil can get 'really sticky' and soft when wet, former president of Soil Science Australia Dr Vanessa Wong told Yahoo. Unsurprisingly, this has landed numerous campers in quite a pickle, with Schubert saying it's 'very easy for people to get caught out'. 'I was quite taken aback as to how slippery it was on a number of occasions in Cape York,' he added. One morning, while staying at a caravan park in Karumba, a coastal town in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Schubert told Yahoo he awoke to find some cars 'stuck at the bottom' and wandered down to see what was going on. 'I nearly stacked it in my thongs. You don't even have to sink into [black soil]. There's just zero traction,' he said. 'We went to another campsite not long after and there were cars that were bogged for five or six days. They just had to wait for it all to dry out.' In nearby Normanton, Schubert popped into the visitors centre and learned multiple campers had gotten stuck near a river after ignoring a warning to move before the rain set in. 'They'd rung up asking for recoveries, with some people saying their van started sliding towards the river at night when the rain hit. If you imagine the slipperiest stuff you can stand on, black soil is pretty similar! 'If there's black soil on the surface and it rains, that's it — you're in big trouble.' Schubert, who returned home to Perth late last year, said his family avoided getting bogged by being 'pretty cautious' and consistently keeping an eye on the weather. 'I think that applies in general to 4WDing. You don't want to be at the top or bottom of a mountain if it's gonna rain because you it doesn't have to be black soil for you to end up in a world of pain.' 🏕️ Caravan couple blast 'selfish' act creating major camping issue in Australia 🌊 Camping trip at Aussie beach ends in heartbreak after callous act 💰 Warning as major camping fee hike will 'price ordinary Aussies out' In Australia, there are several kinds of vertosols — black soil is just one of them, Dr Wong said. It shrinks and swells depending on whether it's wet or dry, with some farmers reporting losing entire fence posts in the soil's large cracks. 'Clay soils can be found all over the world but Australia has the largest variety of these shrink/swell soils — it's one of the really neat things about the Aussie landscape. They also make up a large area relative to our land mass which is probably why people keep coming across them,' Dr Wong told Yahoo. 'These soils can be quite deep so once you get stuck in them they get really, really sticky because of the clay contents. There's nothing underneath to stop you from sinking.' Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Scottish Sun
12-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Killer infection on the rise in the UK after 28 deaths – the 5 foods you must avoid
Plus, how to know if you have the infection HEALTH ALERT Killer infection on the rise in the UK after 28 deaths – the 5 foods you must avoid HEALTH officials have sounded the alarm over a life-threatening infection that appears to be on the rise. New data from the UK Health Security (UKHSA) has revealed cases of listeriosis are at the highest level in eight years - with 170 cases reported in England and Wales in 2024, including 28 deaths. Advertisement 2 Cases of listeriosis are on the rise, prompting health officials to warn of five foods that carry a greater risk 2 Listerious is caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes Credit: Getty Listeriosis is a serious food borne illness caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. While most people who get it won't have any symptoms or will have mild gastroenteritis, the infection can prove deadly for certain high-risk groups. In a post published on X, formerly Twitter, Vanessa Wong, UKHSA Consultant in gastrointestinal infections, said: "Listeriosis is a rare infection and most people only experience mild symptoms of gastroenteritis that usually pass within a few days without the need for treatment." "However, severe listeriosis is more likely to affect the elderly, very young babies, pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system. Advertisement Read more on listeria CHILLING WARNING We reveal hidden dangers in your freezer as nine die from frozen sweetcorn "The best way to prevent listeriosis is to practise good food hygiene and avoid high-risk foods if you are in a vulnerable group." The UKHSA lists five foods that carry a greater risk of listeria: Soft cheeses Pâté Smoked fish Chilled sliced meats Other chilled ready-to-eat products The NHS says other foods at higher risk of listeria include pre-prepared sandwiches and salads, pre-cut fruit, and dairy products made from unpasteurised milk. Although it does advise: "These foods do not always contain listeria. If you have eaten them recently, you do not need to do anything unless you get symptoms of the infection." Advertisement Earlier this year, officials revealed three people died in 2024 after eating desserts contaminated with listeria dished out in NHS hospitals. Three dead and two hospitalised after food poisoning outbreak linked to desserts in NHS hospitals There were seven listeriosis outbreaks investigated in England and Wales in 2024, according to the UKHSA. National outbreaks were associated with smoked fish, chocolate and strawberry mousse, garlic sausage and pre-packed sandwiches. Listeriosis can be deadly because it can cause severe complications like sepsis, meningitis, or encephalitis. Advertisement It can also lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth. As well as avoiding foods that carry a greater risk of listeria, the NHS says it's also worth doing the following: keep chilled, ready-to-eat foods cold – try to make sure your fridge is working properly and is set to 5C or below eat ready-to-eat foods within four hours of taking them out of the fridge eat, cook or freeze foods by their use-by date follow storage instructions on food labels and use opened food within two days (unless the packaging says otherwise) keep raw and ready-to-eat foods separate follow any cooking instructions on packaging, and cook or reheat (including frozen vegetables) until they're steaming hot right through wash your hands regularly with soap and water If listeriosis is mild you'll usually get better in a few days - just make sure to rest and drink plenty of fluids. If you're at a higher risk of getting seriously ill, you may need antibiotics. Advertisement
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Killer infection on the rise in the UK after 28 deaths – the 5 foods you must avoid
HEALTH officials have sounded the alarm over a life-threatening infection that appears to be on the rise. New data from the UK Health Security (UKHSA) has revealed cases of listeriosis are at the highest level in eight years - with 170 cases reported in England and Wales in 2024, including 28 deaths. 2 Listeriosis is a serious food borne illness caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. While most people who get it won't have any symptoms or will have mild gastroenteritis, the infection can prove deadly for certain high-risk groups. In a post published on X, formerly Twitter, Vanessa Wong, UKHSA Consultant in gastrointestinal infections, said: "Listeriosis is a rare infection and most people only experience mild symptoms of gastroenteritis that usually pass within a few days without the need for treatment." "However, severe listeriosis is more likely to affect the elderly, very young babies, pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system. "The best way to prevent listeriosis is to practise good food hygiene and avoid high-risk foods if you are in a vulnerable group." The UKHSA lists five foods that carry a greater risk of listeria: Soft cheeses Pâté Smoked fish Chilled sliced meats Other chilled ready-to-eat products The NHS says other foods at higher risk of listeria include pre-prepared sandwiches and salads, pre-cut fruit, and dairy products made from unpasteurised milk. Although it does advise: "These foods do not always contain listeria. If you have eaten them recently, you do not need to do anything unless you get symptoms of the infection." Earlier this year, officials revealed three people died in 2024 after eating desserts contaminated with listeria dished out in NHS hospitals. Three dead and two hospitalised after food poisoning outbreak linked to desserts in NHS hospitals There were seven listeriosis outbreaks investigated in England and Wales in 2024, according to the UKHSA. National outbreaks were associated with smoked fish, chocolate and strawberry mousse, garlic sausage and pre-packed sandwiches. Listeriosis can be deadly because it can cause severe complications like sepsis, meningitis, or encephalitis. It can also lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth. As well as avoiding foods that carry a greater risk of listeria, the NHS says it's also worth doing the following: keep chilled, ready-to-eat foods cold – try to make sure your fridge is working properly and is set to 5C or below eat ready-to-eat foods within four hours of taking them out of the fridge eat, cook or freeze foods by their use-by date follow storage instructions on food labels and use opened food within two days (unless the packaging says otherwise) keep raw and ready-to-eat foods separate follow any cooking instructions on packaging, and cook or reheat (including frozen vegetables) until they're steaming hot right through wash your hands regularly with soap and water If listeriosis is mild you'll usually get better in a few days - just make sure to rest and drink plenty of fluids. If you're at a higher risk of getting seriously ill, you may need antibiotics.
Daily Mirror
09-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Five foods identified that may carry 'risk' of rare infection
Vanessa Wong, a consultant in gastrointestinal infections at the UKHSA, outlined the risks of Listeriosis on X, formerly Twitter The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has identified five key foods with a 'greater risk' of one bacterial infection. Although this is a rare illness, Vanessa Wong, a consultant in gastrointestinal infections at the agency, explained its risk on X, formerly Twitter. "Listeriosis is a rare infection and most people only experience mild symptoms of gastroenteritis that usually pass within a few days without the need for treatment," Vanessa said in a post shared by the UKHSA. "However, severe Listeriosis is more likely to affect the elderly, very young babies, pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system." Vanessa advised anyone within this vulnerable group to practice 'good food hygiene' and avoid five 'high-risk' food types. She continued: "Foods that carry a greater risk of Listeria include: soft cheeses, pâté, smoked fish, chilled sliced meats and other chilled ready-to-eat products." Listeriosis is more common among these foods for several reasons, qalthough it usually comes down to the way they are processed, handled or stored. Listeria monocytogenes, the culprit bacteria behind this infection, can survive and grow even at typical fridge temperatures. The longer food is kept in the fridge, the greater the risk that Listeria will grow and potentially infect other products. Michigan State University reports that freezing may prevent its growth, but it typically doesn't kill the bacteria. Beyond this, the NHS recommends staying alert to several other food types, including the following: Dairy products made from unpasteurised milk Unpasteurised milk Pre-cut fruit (such as pre-packed melon slices) Pre-prepared sandwiches and salads Cooked shellfish Sushi However, its advice stresses: "These foods do not always contain Listeria. If you have eaten them recently, you do not need to do anything unless you get symptoms of the infection." Are there symptoms of Listeriosis? While Listeriosis often has no symptoms at all, many people suffer from: Nausea and/or vomiting Diarrhoea Fever Unexplained pains and aches Chills Among vulnerable groups, including infants, the infection may pose a serious threat. In come cases, Listeriosis can have life-threatening complications, including meningitis or sepsis. The NHS also warns that getting Listeriosis while pregnant may increase the risk of a stillbirth or miscarriage.
