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Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Trio of killer viruses to hit UK 'any time now' - and there's no treatment
Experts are warning that the UK could soon be at risk of dangerous mosquito-borne viruses, with the tropical diseases set to take hold in Britain for the first time Infectious disease experts are warning that it's a matter of when, not if, climate change will see serious mosquito-borne viruses hit the UK for the first time. Rising temperatures have already created ideal conditions for the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) to spread in London and the southeast - currently the country's warmest regions. This means that diseases once limited to warmer climates - such as dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika - could soon take hold in Britain for the first time. According to the UK Health Security Agency, have already detected eggs in the UK on eight occasions, and Professor Steven Sinkins, an expert in microbiology and tropical medicine at Glasgow University, warns transmission could be right around the corner. "It could happen any time," he told the i Paper. "It is possible that over a hot summer the mosquitoes reach sufficient numbers for transmission to occur. Eggs of this mosquito have been detected in Kent and London in the last few years, and the climate in southern England is suitable for it to become established. If that happens it will both cause biting nuisance and also probably transmit viruses such as dengue and chikungunya in the summertime. "There is growing concern that it will eventually become established in the UK and cause outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya, as is being seen in France and Italy. "Dengue can be fatal and chikungunya can cause long-term joint pain and disability." Symptoms of the diseases typically include fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, and joint or muscle pain. These illnesses can prove fatal, particularly for those with pre-existing medical conditions or a compromised immune system. Chikungunya fever (CHIKV) is a viral illness transmitted by mosquitoes. It cannot be passed from human to human. Its name means "to become contorted" or "stooped walk," referring to the intense joint and muscle pain it causes. According to the Mayo Clinic, there is no treatment. The majority of people infected with CHIKV develop a sudden fever and severe pain in multiple joints. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. Symptoms typically appear 2 to 7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. These symptoms typically resolve within 7 to 10 days, and most patients make a full recovery. However, in some cases joint pain and arthritis may persist for several months or even years. Occasional cases of eye, neurological and heart complications have been reported, as well as gastrointestinal complaints. While a chikungunya vaccine has been approved in the UK, there is currently no specific treatment for the infection. The vaccine contains a form of the virus that has been weakened in the laboratory so it cannot multiply. The vaccine works by training the immune system (the body's natural defences) to recognise CHIKV and it is then able to produce specific antibodies which attack the virus. Most people recover within a few weeks, but for some, joint and muscle pain can persist for months or even years after the initial infection. The warning follows news that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recently detected West Nile virus in mosquitoes in the UK for the first time. This is believed to be linked to a rise in Aedes vexans mosquitoes - another species capable of transmitting the virus - due to warmer conditions. The UKHSA emphasized that the public risk remains 'very low,' as there is no evidence any infected mosquitoes have bitten humans. The virus was found during routine mosquito surveillance, and is thought to have come from a UK mosquito biting a migratory bird carrying the virus—not from an established local transmission. Currently, West Nile virus is not circulating in the UK. However, if it were to become established, it could spread among birds and mosquitoes, significantly increasing human infection risk. Scientists say this detection highlights the broader concern: as the UK climate warms, the threat from mosquito-borne diseases is growing - and with it, the need for ongoing vigilance and public health preparedness.
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Manchester City gossip: City plan heavy summer spend
Uncertainty around the final verdict of the 115 charges faced by Manchester City could extend into next season, but the club are still planning to spend big in the summer transfer window. (i paper), external Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport
Business Mayor
23-04-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Thousands could be affected by benefit and state pension payment changes next month
The May bank holidays will change payment dates at the beginning and end of the month (Image: GETTY) People relying on DWP payments may be in for a surprise next month as two bank holidays could disrupt benefit and state pension payments. The early May bank holiday on May 5 and the Spring bank holiday on May 26 could cause interruptions. Despite offering two long weekends, the holidays mean that the DWP won't be able to distribute payments on these days due to government offices and most banks being closed. Instead, people should receive their funds on the nearest working day prior to the holiday. If you're set to receive state pension or payments like Child Benefit on May 5, it's probable you'll receive payment on May 2 instead. Similarly, those expecting money on the 26th will likely receive it on the 23rd. This can make budgeting more challenging heading into the summer. As early benefit payments can create a longer than usual gap between payments. Universal Credit, child benefit and other common DWP payments are expected to be affected (Image: GETTY) April also saw the Easter bank holiday causing disruptions to DWP payment dates. There will be some relief in June as there are no planned bank holidays expected to interfere with their benefit payments then. Most benefits are paid every four weeks, so it's unlikely that a single person would be affected by both the April and May bank holiday disruptions. However, certain people on state pension might be hit by all the upcoming bank holidays. It can be harder to budget when payments are made on different dates (Image: GETTY) State pension is typically paid every four weeks, but people can request weekly payments instead. The day of the week you'll be paid on corresponds to the final digits of your NI number. Read More Easy TV licence tip could save you £196 before April 1 price hike Individuals with an NI number ending between 00 and 19 receive their payments on a Monday. Due to all of the bank holidays next month falling on Mondays, those receiving their state pension weekly could be impacted at the beginning and end of the month. If the bank holidays have passed and you haven't received your correct benefit or state pension payment, it may be necessary to contact the DWP or HMRC helpline. As per the i Paper, the DWP suggests checking your award notice and bank account prior to making contact.
Daily Mirror
23-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Thousands could be affected by benefit and state pension payment changes next month
The May bank holidays could cause havoc for people waiting on their cash People relying on DWP payments may be in for a surprise next month as two bank holidays could disrupt benefit and state pension payments. The early May bank holiday on May 5 and the Spring bank holiday on May 26 could cause interruptions. Despite offering two long weekends, the holidays mean that the DWP won't be able to distribute payments on these days due to government offices and most banks being closed. Instead, people should receive their funds on the nearest working day prior to the holiday. If you're set to receive state pension or payments like Child Benefit on May 5, it's probable you'll receive payment on May 2 instead. Similarly, those expecting money on the 26th will likely receive it on the 23rd. This can make budgeting more challenging heading into the summer. As early benefit payments can create a longer than usual gap between payments. April also saw the Easter bank holiday causing disruptions to DWP payment dates. There will be some relief in June as there are no planned bank holidays expected to interfere with their benefit payments then. Most benefits are paid every four weeks, so it's unlikely that a single person would be affected by both the April and May bank holiday disruptions. However, certain people on state pension might be hit by all the upcoming bank holidays. State pension is typically paid every four weeks, but people can request weekly payments instead. The day of the week you'll be paid on corresponds to the final digits of your NI number. Individuals with an NI number ending between 00 and 19 receive their payments on a Monday. Due to all of the bank holidays next month falling on Mondays, those receiving their state pension weekly could be impacted at the beginning and end of the month. If the bank holidays have passed and you haven't received your correct benefit or state pension payment, it may be necessary to contact the DWP or HMRC helpline. As per the i Paper, the DWP suggests checking your award notice and bank account prior to making contact.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘At odds with reality' – British media react to Chancellor's spring statement
Media outlets have roundly condemned Chancellor Rachel Reeves' spring statement, which cut welfare spending and squeezed Whitehall budgets. While some warned of further uncertainty, critics accused Ms Reeves of mismanaging public finances, and some warned of a return to austerity. The i Paper's editorial accuses the Chancellor of 'shackling' herself to 'restrictive rules that dictate what she can and cannot deliver'. Thursday's front page: Balancing the books on the backs of the poor — The Mirror (@DailyMirror) March 26, 2025 'We saw that at the Spring Statement yesterday: the Chancellor's intervention was driven by the need to please the Office for Budget Responsibility's forecasters, not by a vision of a more prosperous future,' the newspaper says The Daily Telegraph is even more damning in its condemnation of the spring statement, accusing Ms Reeves of being 'at odds with reality'. 'Rachel Reeves's Spring Statement exhibited the same wishful thinking that underpinned her calamitous Budget, a Micawberesque hope that 'something will turn up' to stimulate growth even though her own policies are largely responsible for thwarting it,' it says. 'Arguably, it was the most disingenuous financial presentation of recent times, making those of Gordon Brown look positively transparent.' THE TIMES: Reeves squeezed by Trump #TomorrowsPapersToday — Alfie Tobutt (@AlfieTobutt) March 26, 2025 Echoing the gloom, The Times writes Downing Street had 'little to be cheerful about'. 'Yet real optimism about the UK's prospects was sadly lacking,' it warns. 'Ms Reeves insisted the world was changing and with it the need to adapt her plans. What she failed to acknowledge was the role she herself has played in Britain's underperforming economy.' Others point to figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) warning the Chancellor may have to come back for more money in the autumn, or that fiscal headroom could be wiped out by impending US tariffs. The Independent's leading article warns Ms Reeves may have to return to parliament in the autumn with further cuts – or that parliament could become a 'constant stream of mini-Budgets' undermining public confidence. 'The danger is that the chancellor will have to return to the Commons again in the summer, for the spending review, and then in the autumn Budget,' it reads. 'Perhaps yet again, in next year's spring statement, with new proposals for tax rises and cuts to public spending plans.' Sentiments were mirrored by The Sun, which writes: 'The risk is that the UK's doom loop of low growth, stagnant productivity and high debt continues'. The Government's decision to slash welfare spending was also condemned, with the Daily Mirror labelling the move 'brutal' and issuing a plea to Ms Reeves. 'There is still time for her to swallow her pride and admit her plans would be callous,' the newspaper warns. 'That would be better than being branded the Labour Chancellor who plunged 250,000, including 50,000 children, into poverty.' An estimated 250,000 people will be left in relative poverty after housing costs by the end of the decade, according to official figures. Tightening of benefits rules will impact around three million families on incapacity benefits, while 800,000 people will have reduced personal independence payments (Pip). Finally, The Guardian accuses Ms Reeves of 'sacrificing the most vulnerable on the altar of prudence'. 'More than 20 people will be poorer for every one person her reforms push into work,' the newspaper says. 'It's hard not to conclude that Ms Reeves has repackaged austerity as 'stability.''
