Latest news with #WellcomeTrust
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Parasitic SNAILS carrying killer bug found spreading in EU holiday hotspots, scientists warn
A POTENTIALLY deadly parasite carried by snails is creeping into popular European holiday spots, experts have warned. The bug behind the tropical disease schistosomiasis - also known as snail fever and bilharzia - is now being found in beautiful rivers and lakes across the Mediterranean. 3 3 Experts think a combination of tourism and warmer temperatures in Europe could be to blame for the rise in infections. The disease, caused by parasitic worms that live inside freshwater snails, can silently infect people who swim, paddle or wash in contaminated water. The fork-shaped grub burrows through human skin where it lays thousands of eggs. These eggs can lodge in organs and, if left untreated, cause infertility, blindness, severe organ damage, and even bladder cancer. In children, repeated infections can even lead to stunted growth. 'It was people travelling from Africa, particularly Senegal, who imported the parasites," said Bonnie Webster, Principal Researcher at the Schistosome Snail Resource at the Natural History Museum. "When it happens, it's hard to control," she added, according to The Telegraph. "Once one snail is infected, they infect a whole population of snails which then infect a whole population of humans." The alarm was raised at the Wellcome Trust in London last week, as scientists said the disease, once mostly confined to sub-Saharan Africa, is now spreading in parts of southern Europe. More than 120 cases have been confirmed in Corsica since 2014, with evidence suggesting the worms were brought over by infected individuals from Senegal. These individuals are believed to have shed the parasite in their pee, infecting rivers where local snails then became riddled with the bug. Since then, sporadic outbreaks have cropped up in Spain and Portugal, with fears that warming weather and human activity could turn more idyllic waterways into danger zones. Schistosomiasis is estimated to affect 240 million people worldwide, with 90 per cent of cases in Africa. Every year, the disease kills between 15,000 and 20,000 people. Scientists are growing concerned that changes in weather patterns is making the problem worse. 'Climate change will cause huge changes in transmission which need to be understood,' said Bonnie. 'Some areas will become drier and other areas will become flooded creating new water bodies. 3 "This will lead to snails changing where they can be found and cause the prevalence of schistosomiasis to increase and spread leading to outbreaks in new locations.' While the threat is rising in Europe, the brunt of the disease still falls on poor, rural communities in Africa, especially among farmers, fishermen and women who wash clothes or collect water from infested rivers. Children are also at high risk due to poor hygiene and frequent water contact. The disease comes in two main forms: urogenital and intestinal. Urogenital affects the bladder and reproductive organs, while the intestinal form targets the gut, causing pain, diarrhoea and bleeding. First local case in Europe Europe's first schistosomiasis outbreak was in Portugal in the 1920s, lasting an astonishing 50 years, after travellers brought it over from Angola. More recently, the first locally acquired case in Europe was noted in 2013, when a 12-year-old German boy became infected while swimming in Corsica's scenic Cavu River, according to reports. Over 100 swimmers later tested positive. The last known case in Corsica was in 2019 - but experts warn dozens more could be infected without knowing, as symptoms may not show for years. There is a treatment, praziquantel, a drug that paralyses the worms, but access is critically limited in the countries hit hardest. The 5 'mistakes' putting you at risk of worms.. Dr Angad Dhillon, a consultant gastroenterologist, is an expert when it comes to all things worms. He highlighted five things that could be putting you at risk - one of which involves a common fruit and veg mistake. Not washing your hands properly after using the toilet or changing nappies. Scratching your anal area (common with threadworms) and then touching surfaces or food without washing hands. Walking barefoot in areas where the soil might be contaminated (a risk for hookworms, more common abroad). Eating undercooked meat or fish (a risk for tapeworms) or unwashed fruits and vegetables. Not treating everyone in the household at the same time, leading to re-infection. The main ways people get parasitic worms, said Dr Dhillon, include swallowing microscopic eggs, often through hand-to-mouth contact - for example, touching contaminated surfaces or scratching the anal area. "Also, walking barefoot on soil contaminated with worm larvae (hookworms)," he added. "You cannot easily see hookworm larvae in soil with the naked eye as they're microscopic organisms. "Inhaling dust that contains worm eggs is another way people get parasitic worms - for example, when you shake contaminated bedding." While the thought of having a worm infection is enough to make anyone's stomach churn, infections can usually be easily treated. Dr Dhillon advised: "Mild cases of threadworms may eventually clear up, but because re-infection is common, treatment is usually needed. "Dr Dhillon added: "Roundworms, tapeworms, and other parasites rarely go away without medication and can cause long-term health issues if left untreated. "It's always best to seek treatment to avoid spreading the infection and to prevent complications."
Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Rare and deadly disease carried by African snails hits Europe
A rare but potentially deadly disease carried by African snails is spreading into Europe, scientists have warned. Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection caused by worms that naturally live in freshwater snails. The worms enter the human body by burrowing through the skin during contact with water in which the snails live – typically when people swim, paddle, or bathe in rivers and lakes. Once largely confined to sub-Saharan Africa, the disease is now appearing in parts of Europe due to increased migration and tourism, according to researchers gathered at the Wellcome Trust last week. More than 120 cases have been reported in Corsica since 2014, with evidence linking the cases to individuals from Senegal who most likely swam in local rivers and shed the worms through their urine, which subsequently infected snails in the area where they survived and multiplied. Sporadic cases have also been reported in Spain and Portugal. Adult worms can live inside the body and survive for decades. They lay thousands of eggs continuously every day and some go into the organs. These eggs are released by urine and faeces into water bodies, burrow into snails, and proliferate and left untreated can lead to bladder cancer, infertility, and severe organ damage. 'The particular snails which are responsible … are widespread in the southern Mediterranean region,' said Bonnie Webster, Principal Researcher at the Schistosome Snail Resource at the Natural History Museum. 'It was people travelling from Africa, particularly Senegal who imported the parasites. When it happens it's hard to control.' 'Once one snail is infected, they infect a whole population of snails which then infect a whole population of humans,' she added. The disease is estimated to impact 240 million people, with 90 per cent of cases found in sub-Saharan Africa. There are 15,000 to 20,000 schistosomiasis-related deaths every year. The spread of schistosomiasis, which is considered a neglected tropical disease (NTD), is also being driven by climate change, said Ms Webster. 'Climate change will cause huge changes in transmission which need to be understood,' she said. 'Some areas will become drier and other areas will become flooded creating new water bodies. This will lead to snails changing where they can be found and cause the prevalence of schistosomiasis to increase and spread leading to outbreaks in new locations.' While cases are increasing in Europe, schistosomiasis mostly affects poor and rural communities in Africa – particularly agricultural and fishing communities. Women doing domestic chores in infested water, such as washing clothes, are also at higher risk and can develop female genital schistosomiasis, a condition where the worms affect the reproductive system. Inadequate hygiene and contact with infected water also make children especially vulnerable to infection. There are two types of schistosomiasis – urogenital (the most prevalent form of the disease) and intestinal. Urogenital schistosomiasis is when worms live in the veins and drain the pelvic organs. It can cause enlarged liver, blood in urine, miscarriages, kidney damage and bladder cancer, while intestinal schistosomiasis can cause abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and blood in the stool. The first outbreak of schistosomiasis identified in Europe was in Portugal during the 1920s and was thought to have lasted 50 years, and was traced back to travellers from Angola. The first person to acquire indigenous schistosomiasis in Europe was a 12-year-old German boy in Corsica in August 2013, who swam in the Cavu River on a family holiday. Since then, more than 100 people who swam in the same river became infected. The last case reported in Corsica was in 2019, although researchers suspect dozens of people may have contracted the infection undetected, given it can take years for symptoms to appear. While there is a treatment for schistosomiasis – the drug praziquantil which works by paralysing the worms – there are critical shortages in large parts of Africa. 'The snowball effect that we're already seeing following the US aid funding cuts have had downstream effects with agencies abroad,' says Amaya Bustinduy, Clinical Professor of Global Paediatrics at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. 'In Zambia, many laboratories working on diseases like HPV, NTDs and HIV have been shut down. We are just waiting to measure the impact.' Ms Webster adds, 'Some diseases we've made really great progress with like schistosomiasis will start to reverse.' The work on drug development is ongoing however there is concern that drug resistance is evolving. Bustinduy says, 'It's only a matter of time for the disease to become drug resistant as we know there are genetic targets in the schistosomiasis parasite that are less susceptible to praziquantel. We need more studies.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Rare and deadly disease carried by African snails hits Europe
A rare but potentially deadly disease carried by African snails is spreading into Europe, scientists have warned. Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection caused by worms that naturally live in freshwater snails. The worms enter the human body by burrowing through the skin during contact with water in which the snails live – typically when people swim, paddle, or bathe in rivers and lakes. Once largely confined to sub-Saharan Africa, the disease is now appearing in parts of Europe due to increased migration and tourism, according to researchers gathered at the Wellcome Trust last week. More than 120 cases have been reported in Corsica since 2014, with evidence linking the cases to individuals from Senegal who most likely swam in local rivers and shed the worms through their urine, which subsequently infected snails in the area where they survived and multiplied. Sporadic cases have also been reported in Spain and Portugal. Adult worms can live inside the body and survive for decades. They lay thousands of eggs continuously every day and some go into the organs. These eggs are released by urine and faeces into water bodies, burrow into snails, and proliferate and left untreated can lead to bladder cancer, infertility, and severe organ damage. 'The particular snails which are responsible … are widespread in the southern Mediterranean region,' said Bonnie Webster, Principal Researcher at the Schistosome Snail Resource at the Natural History Museum. 'It was people travelling from Africa, particularly Senegal who imported the parasites. When it happens it's hard to control.' 'Once one snail is infected, they infect a whole population of snails which then infect a whole population of humans,' she added. The disease is estimated to impact 240 million people, with 90 per cent of cases found in sub-Saharan Africa. There are 15,000 to 20,000 schistosomiasis-related deaths every year. The spread of schistosomiasis, which is considered a neglected tropical disease (NTD), is also being driven by climate change, said Ms Webster. 'Climate change will cause huge changes in transmission which need to be understood,' she said. 'Some areas will become drier and other areas will become flooded creating new water bodies. This will lead to snails changing where they can be found and cause the prevalence of schistosomiasis to increase and spread leading to outbreaks in new locations.' While cases are increasing in Europe, schistosomiasis mostly affects poor and rural communities in Africa – particularly agricultural and fishing communities. Women doing domestic chores in infested water, such as washing clothes, are also at higher risk and can develop female genital schistosomiasis, a condition where the worms affect the reproductive system. Inadequate hygiene and contact with infected water also make children especially vulnerable to infection. There are two types of schistosomiasis – urogenital (the most prevalent form of the disease) and intestinal. Urogenital schistosomiasis is when worms live in the veins and drain the pelvic organs. It can cause enlarged liver, blood in urine, miscarriages, kidney damage and bladder cancer, while intestinal schistosomiasis can cause abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and blood in the stool. The first outbreak of schistosomiasis identified in Europe was in Portugal during the 1920s and was thought to have lasted 50 years, and was traced back to travellers from Angola. The first person to acquire indigenous schistosomiasis in Europe was a 12-year-old German boy in Corsica in August 2013, who swam in the Cavu River on a family holiday. Since then, more than 100 people who swam in the same river became infected. The last case reported in Corsica was in 2019, although researchers suspect dozens of people may have contracted the infection undetected, given it can take years for symptoms to appear. While there is a treatment for schistosomiasis – the drug praziquantil which works by paralysing the worms – there are critical shortages in large parts of Africa. Recent funding cuts to USAID are expected to worsen the problem, experts at Wellcome warned. 'The snowball effect that we're already seeing following the US aid funding cuts have had downstream effects with agencies abroad,' says Amaya Bustinduy, Clinical Professor of Global Paediatrics at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. 'In Zambia, many laboratories working on diseases like HPV, NTDs and HIV have been shut down. We are just waiting to measure the impact.' Ms Webster adds, 'Some diseases we've made really great progress with like schistosomiasis will start to reverse.' The work on drug development is ongoing however there is concern that drug resistance is evolving. Bustinduy says, 'It's only a matter of time for the disease to become drug resistant as we know there are genetic targets in the schistosomiasis parasite that are less susceptible to praziquantel. We need more studies.' Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Zawya
08-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Kenya: Government Forms Committee to Boost Local Production of Snake Antivenom
The Principal Secretary for the State Department for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, today held a consultative meeting with Michaelene Welsh from Wellcome Trust and Dr. George Omondi, Deputy Director of the Kenya Snakebite Research and Intervention Centre (KSRI). During the meeting, Dr. Oluga announced the formation of a government-led committee to drive the local production of snake antivenom, an initiative spearheaded by KSRI. This initiative aims to improve access to timely and affordable treatment for snakebite victims across the country. Dr. Omondi attended the meeting on behalf of the Director General Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE). Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.
NDTV
07-05-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Can Aspergillus Fungus Cause The Next Deadliest Outbreak? All You Need To Know
As global temperatures rise, scientists are sounding the alarm about the increasing threat posed by fungal pathogens, particularly the Aspergillus species. Recent studies indicate that climate change is facilitating the spread of these fungi into new regions, potentially leading to a surge in infections. Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus, once confined to specific climates, are now expanding their reach, raising concerns about a potential global health crisis. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised Aspergillus fumigatus as a significant threat, emphasising the need for heightened awareness and preparedness. Understanding Aspergillus and its health implications Aspergillus is a genus of mold commonly found in the environment, including in soil, decaying vegetation, and indoor air. While many people inhale Aspergillus spores daily without adverse effects, individuals with weakened immune systems or existing lung conditions are at increased risk of developing aspergillosis, a range of diseases caused by Aspergillus infection. These conditions can range from allergic reactions to severe, invasive infections that can be fatal if not promptly treated. Climate change and the proliferation of Aspergillus Climate change is creating more favorable conditions for the growth and spread of Aspergillus species. Warmer temperatures and increased humidity levels are enabling these fungi to thrive in regions previously unsuitable for their survival. A study funded by the Wellcome Trust predicts that Aspergillus fumigatus could expand its range by up to 77% by 2100, potentially exposing millions more people to the risk of infection. Similarly, Aspergillus flavus, known for contaminating crops with aflatoxins, is expected to increase its presence by 16%, posing threats to both human health and food security. The silent pandemic: Antifungal resistance The rise in Aspergillus infections is compounded by growing antifungal resistance. Aspergillus fumigatus, in particular, has shown resistance to commonly used antifungal medications, making infections harder to treat and increasing mortality rates. This resistance is partly attributed to the widespread use of antifungal agents in agriculture, which can lead to the development of resistant strains that affect humans. The WHO has highlighted the urgent need for new antifungal treatments and better diagnostic tools to combat this emerging threat. Implications for public health and agriculture The spread of Aspergillus has significant implications beyond individual health. Aspergillus flavus produces aflatoxins, toxic compounds that contaminate crops like maize and peanuts, leading to serious health issues, including liver cancer, and economic losses in agriculture. The expansion of these fungi into new agricultural regions could exacerbate food insecurity and health problems, particularly in areas with limited resources. Preventive measures and recommendations Below mentioned are tips to mitigate the risks associated with Aspergillus. a. Enhance surveillance Implement monitoring systems to detect and track the spread of Aspergillus species in the environment and healthcare settings. b. Promote research Invest in the development of new antifungal medications and diagnostic tools to address resistance and improve treatment outcomes. c. Public awareness Educate healthcare professionals and the public about the risks of aspergillosis, especially among vulnerable populations. d. Agricultural practices Adopt farming methods that reduce the use of antifungal agents and minimise crop contamination by aflatoxins. The potential for Aspergillus fungi to cause widespread health issues is a growing concern in the face of climate change and increasing antifungal resistance. Proactive measures, including enhanced surveillance, research, and public education, are essential to prevent a possible outbreak. By addressing these challenges head-on, we can safeguard public health and food security against the looming threat posed by Aspergillus species. Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
