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Ukhsa

All articles tagged with #ukhsa

Genetic mutation explains explosive severity of Kent meningitis B outbreak
health29 days ago

Genetic mutation explains explosive severity of Kent meningitis B outbreak

Scientists have identified why the March meningitis B outbreak in Kent was so severe: the bacteria acquired genetic material from other throat bacteria, creating a new, dangerous variant. This horizontal gene transfer allowed the strain to bypass immune defenses and spread rapidly among young people in a nightclub setting. While two people died and nine were hospitalized, experts note the outbreak was short-lived because infected individuals were too ill to act as silent carriers. The menB vaccine, currently offered to over one million university students, protects against this specific variant.

via BBC|
#health#horizontal-gene-transfer#meningitis-b
First UK Breeding of Yellow Fever Mosquito Detected in East London
health-and-science1 month ago

First UK Breeding of Yellow Fever Mosquito Detected in East London

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which transmit dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, have been found breeding in East London for the first time in the UK. While the species has been detected before, this is the first instance of reproduction. UKHSA assesses the public risk as very low, noting no human infections and the species' inability to survive UK winters long-term.

via BBC|
#aedes-aegypti#east-london#health-and-science
Glasgow patient under Ebola test as UK health authorities monitor potential case
health3 months ago

Glasgow patient under Ebola test as UK health authorities monitor potential case

A patient at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow is being tested for suspected Ebola; testing will confirm infection, which would be the first UK case since the Democratic Republic of Congo outbreak. Public Health Scotland and UKHSA are monitoring travel routes and contact tracing protocols are in place if needed; there are no confirmed cases in Scotland and the public risk remains low.

via BBC|
#ebola#glasgow#health
Measles deaths in England prompt vaccination push as cases rise
health4 months ago

Measles deaths in England prompt vaccination push as cases rise

Two children in England have died from measles this year as UKHSA reports 106 new laboratory-confirmed cases since the last update, bringing the Jan 1–Jun 8 total to 736. Most cases are among unvaccinated children aged 10 and under, prompting officials to urge parents to ensure their children are up to date with MMR/MMRV vaccines and to catch up if needed to protect the wider community.

via The Guardian|
#health#measles#mmr
Meningitis tragedy hits Reading area as family grieves teen's death
health5 months ago

Meningitis tragedy hits Reading area as family grieves teen's death

A teenage student, Lewis Waters, died after contracting meningitis; his family described him as funny and kind and said they are devastated. Two other pupils from local Reading-area schools are being treated, with UKHSA tracing a social network linking the cases and offering antibiotics to close contacts. One case has been confirmed as meningitis B, while the other two await results; officials say the broader public risk is low and urge up-to-date vaccinations (including MenACWY) for those up to age 25, along with awareness of meningitis symptoms.

via BBC|
#health#meningitis#meningococcal-disease
Six evacuees exit hospital as hantavirus cruise-ship outbreak containment continues
health5 months ago

Six evacuees exit hospital as hantavirus cruise-ship outbreak containment continues

Six people evacuated from a cruise ship after a hantavirus outbreak have completed 72 hours of isolation at Arrowe Park Hospital and are heading home or to suitable accommodation, with negative tests and ongoing UK public‑health monitoring; the rest of the 22 people isolating there remain asymptomatic, while additional passengers and crew are being repatriated or monitored under precautionary measures.

via BBC|
#arrowe-park-hospital#cruise-ship#hantavirus
Cruise-Linked Hantavirus Outbreak Triggers Global Tracing, Public Risk Low
health5 months ago

Cruise-Linked Hantavirus Outbreak Triggers Global Tracing, Public Risk Low

An outbreak of hantavirus on the cruise MV Hondius has led to evacuations and a worldwide contact-tracing effort after several deaths; health authorities say the Andes strain can spread in close contact but the overall risk to the general public remains very low, with British passengers facing 45 days of self-isolation as investigations continue.

via BBC|
#andes-strain#contact-tracing#hantavirus
Kent meningitis outbreak peak passed, but vigilance remains, UKHSA says
health7 months ago

Kent meningitis outbreak peak passed, but vigilance remains, UKHSA says

UKHSA says the peak of the Kent meningitis outbreak linked to a Canterbury nightclub has passed, with 29 confirmed or suspected cases and two deaths. Four clinics across Canterbury, Ashford and Faversham are offering vaccines and antibiotics, and more than 10,000 vaccines and about 13,000 antibiotic courses have been administered. Cases may still appear as monitoring continues; the outbreak involves MenB, and routine MenB vaccination does not fully cover late teens.

via BBC|
#antibiotics#health#kent
Kent meningitis surge prompts MenB vaccine review
health7 months ago

Kent meningitis surge prompts MenB vaccine review

UK health officials are scrambling to contain an unprecedented meningitis B outbreak linked to a Canterbury nightclub, with 29 cases and two deaths since early March; about 10,000 people have received antibiotics as investigators chase why the outbreak has accelerated and whether it will spread beyond Kent. Questions include when the outbreak will end, whether teenagers should be vaccinated with MenB given its cost, and whether factors like sharing vapes, Saharan dust, or Covid-era immunity gaps played a role; initial genetic testing suggests the strain resembles those in the UK since 2021 and should be vaccine-covered, but researchers will look for mutations that could alter spread or virulence.

via BBC|
#health#kent#menb-vaccine
Canterbury meningitis outbreak prompts vaccination push and policy review
health7 months ago

Canterbury meningitis outbreak prompts vaccination push and policy review

An explosive outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease linked to Canterbury’s Club Chemistry has reached 20 cases and two deaths as of 17 March, with the MenB strain confirmed. Health officials have launched antibiotics distribution and a targeted MenB vaccination program for University of Kent students living in halls, and JCVI may be asked to re-examine Teen MenB vaccination eligibility. UKHSA notes MenB accounts for about 80% of recent UK cases, and experts say the Canterbury outbreak’s pace and scale are unprecedented.

via The Guardian|
#canterbury#health#menb