Swine flu is back in the UK

The potentially deadly swine flu is back in the UK, following reports that 2 people have been hospitalised after contracting the virus, confirmed yesterday by health officials.

Both patients have been diagnosed has having the H1N1 strain of influenza, and are now being closely monitored at Wishaw General Hospital in North Lanarkshire, Scotland.

The virus was first identified in Mexico back in April 2009, and was first named ‘Mexican flu’. Mexico had 100s of non-lethal cases of the virus prior to the outbreak being officially discovered, with the country in the midst of a “silent epidemic”.

However, it later became labelled as swine flu due to the fact that the virus strikingly bore similarities to already known influenza viruses that cause illness in pigs.

The virus subsequently spread between countries, causing pandemonium as it was a new type of flu virus that barely anyone was immune to. According to the World Health Organization, there were 18,500 lab-confirmed deaths from swine flu in 2009 alone, and anywhere between 10-200 million people infected. Of the total deaths, 350 people died in the UK during the initial pandemic.

The flu jab covers the virus – which is free of charge on the NHS to people 65 years of age or over, pregnant women, those with certain medical conditions, people living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility, anyone receiving a carer’s allowance, or the main carer for an elderly or disabled person who could be at further risk if the carer was to become ill and Healthcare workers with direct patient contact or a social care worker.

Children over the age of six months with a long-term health condition and those aged two, three and four plus children in school years one and two are also recommended as having the flu jab.

Health experts have commented that the apparent emergence of the virus was ‘not unusual’ because it never truly went away in the first place.

Leading flu expert, virologist Professor John Oxford, spoke to the MailOnline yesterday and said that the virus has been ‘moving around the community this year.”

“Every year there is three to four influenza viruses but there’s nothing unusual,” he said.
“I’m sure there would have been cases last year in the UK and around Europe. I’m a bit surprised that they have announced it.

“If you have had the flu jab then you wouldn’t expect to get it or the other types of flu.”

Professor Oxford said he predicts more cases of swine flu to emerge in the coming weeks as we enter the peak of the flu season, adding that the virus could be treated with Tamiflu (oseltamivir), and stressed how the most at-risk groups were children and people with underlying health conditions, if they have not been immunised.

The two cases in Scotland only came to prominence after someone had commented about being diagnosed with the virus on social media.

Dr Femi Oshin, consultant in public health medicine at NHS Lanarkshire, said: “Although there are low levels of influenza overall this winter, H1N1, also known as swine flu, is reported to be the main flu virus circulating in the community.

“It is, therefore, to be expected that we will see some cases of H1N1 in Lanarkshire at this time.
“The seasonal influenza vaccination is the best way to protect yourself against flu, including H1N1.
“The annual flu vaccine is available free to pregnant women as well as other eligible groups including people over 65, those who have certain health conditions, healthy children aged two, three and four plus children in school years one and two, and people who work in healthcare.”

Shocking figures show children as young as 13 are being treated for STIs

Our nation’s schoolchildren may need much better and effective sex education, following the findings of a new study that show 1,000s of children as young as 13 are contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

According to the Daily Star Sunday a new Public Health England study has shown that in particularly, new cases of teenage chlamydia are on the rise, with 178,845 cases in youngsters under the age of 19 and 2,938 discovered in teenagers aged 13 or 14, in the last 5 years alone.

The alarming figures also show how over 2 teenagers under the legal age of consent (16-years-old) are getting STIs such as genital herpes each day.

Moreover, an estimated 18,085 people under the age of 18 have contracted gonorrhoea during the previous 5 years, in addition to 20,842 cases of herpes, whilst syphilis, which can be fatal, was contracted 442 times.

The statistics are almost certain to concern parents and doctors, and force the government to put extra effort into boosting the country’s sex education classes.

Dr Michael Brady, medical director at the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “We still have much to do to address the nation’s poor sexual health and the rates of STIs in those most at risk.

“Young people are disproportionately affected by STIs. One of the reasons for this is that we still don’t provide every young person with comprehensive and appropriate Sex and Relationships Education (SRE).

“A reduction in STIs must be a public health priority and as a fundamental part of this, the Government needs to ensure every young person has access to effective SRE that gives them the knowledge and skills to enjoy healthy and safe sex lives.”

Jules Hillier, head of the sexual health charity Brook, commented: “Too many young people aren’t getting the information they need about sex and relationships from their schools, while sexual health clinics are under threat due to cuts.

“We need to invest in education and services for young people to help them stay safe and healthy.”
It isn’t just the younger generation where STIs are on the rise though…Cases of STIs are going up across all age groups. From 2010 to 2014, the number of people being diagnosed with gonorrhoea has more than doubled, leaping from 16,843 to 34,958.

Meanwhile, syphilis cases have shot up from 2,647 in 2010 to 4,317in 2014 and herpes has increased from 29,698 to 31,777 in the same time period.

Surprisingly perhaps, chlamydia cases have dropped from 207,797 in 2012 to 206,774 by 2014.
Public Health England say that over the past 10 years the number of cases of STIs such as gonorrhoea, syphilis, genital warts and genital herpes have gone up – notably amongst males.
In England, young heterosexual people aged 16 to 24 account for:

• 63% of chlamydia cases.
• 55% of gonorrhoea cases.
• 52% of genital warts cases.
• 42% of herpes cases.

‘At risk’ healthy gay men should be given daily pill to prevent HIV, says study

If healthy gay men were given antiretroviral human immunodeficiency virus  (HIV) medication, infection rates could drop by as much as 59%, with 10,000 less new cases of HIV by 2020, according to the calculations of a new study.

The study, published in The Lancet HIV, has called for the preventative method, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), to be offered on the NHS, which could have the possibility of reversing the epidemic.

The expensive PrEP two-drug pill known as Truvada is already being used with major success overseas, such as in the US and France, although there are worries the drug may result in more people not having protected sex with condoms.

Antiretroviral drugs cannot cure the HIV disease, but can keep the virus in check and stop it spreading around the body.

According to estimates in 2014, around 103,700 people are living with HIV in the UK, with 18,100 (17%) of people being undiagnosed and unaware they have the disease. Of the 103,700, approximately 43% were men who have sex with men, which was equivalent to 4.9% of gay men in this category aged between 15 and 44.

Therefore, health experts in England are considering the prospect of offering the £5,000-a-year pill to at-risk men. The £50million scheme could be available in clinics around the country this year, The Times has reported.

Last year, a UK test on 500 men assessed the effectiveness PrEP as a measure of preventative HIV transmission. The indications were that 1 case of HIV could be prevented for every 13 men given anti-HIV drugs during the course of a year.

This led to scientists from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine mathematically modelling the impact of introducing such a treatment nationwide across the UK. They calculated that there would be around 16,955 new cases of HIV in gay men by 2020.

However, by giving PrEP to the most sexually active 25% of gay men, this would help to prevent 7,399 infections (44%).

“Current prevention efforts in the UK that focus on correct and consistent condom use and regular HIV testing have been falling short,” Dr Narat Punyacharoensin, of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and the study’s lead author, said.

“Our results show that pre-exposure prophylaxis offers a major opportunity to curb new infections and could help reverse the HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men in the UK.”

As highlighted earlier, a major concern many people have with PrEP is whether men who are taking antiretroviral medication as a prophylaxis would then be more likely to take risks, such as having unprotected sex. However, the study suggests that there would still be benefits from a pre-exposure prophylaxis programme, if this was the case.

Professor Noel Gill, head of Public Health England’s HIV and STI department, who co-authored the report, says in a statement: “The findings imply that a pre-exposure prophylaxis programme could be an important addition to current efforts to prevent HIV transmission in England. Public Health England has provided much evidence to NHS England to help inform their decision analysis process. This evidence includes studies on the cost-effectiveness, the budgetary impact, and public health impact of a possible publically funded HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis policy.”

Dr Punyacharoensin added that there would need to be a 75% rise in unprotected sex in order to make the method counterproductive.

Blueberries and red wine can boost sex life

Blueberries may only be a tiny fruit, but having a handful of this sweet and nutritious ‘superfood’ each day has long been known to potentially have huge benefits for the body, working to neutralise free radicals linked to the development of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other age-related conditions.

Blueberries are actually believed to be comprised of the largest antioxidant capacity of all commonly consumed fruits and vegetables, and if new research is anything to go off, washing them down with a glass of red wine could be nearly as effective for treating erectile dysfunction as the little blue pill Viagra!

The new study by researchers at the University of East Anglia and Harvard University claims that snacking on fruit can improve sexual function as much taking brisk walks for 5 hours per week, in particularly due to the natural compounds called flavonoids and anthycyanins. Combining both walking and a flavonoid rich diet is even better, reducing erectile dysfunction by 21%.

The compounds can be found in blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries cherries, radishes and citrus fruits contain chemicals called flavanones and flavones, which have a similar benefit. According the the findings of the study, the flavonoids contained in these fruits can help to ease male impotence by as much as 14%.

Lead researcher Professor Aedin Cassidy, from the University of East Anglia, said: “We already knew that intake of certain foods high in flavonoids may reduce the risk of conditions including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

“This is the first study to look at the association between flavonoids and erectile dysfunction, which affects up to half of all middle-aged and older men.

“Flavonoids are present in many plant-based foods and drinks including fruits, vegetables, tea, herbs and wine.”

The findings were published on Wednesday in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and involved monitoring the health of over 50,000 middle-aged men from 1986 onwards. Data on their dietary intake was taken after every 4 year period.

Factors were taken into account, such as weight, the amount of exercise participants engaged in, how much caffeine each person consumed, and if they were smokers. Only men who were otherwise in generally good health were actually tracked for the study.

Over a third of the men stated they had suffered erectile dysfunction, but it was discovered that people with a diet rich in anthocyanins, flavones and flavanones were less at risk of experiencing impotence.

Professor Cassidy said: “The top sources of anthocyanins, flavones and flavanones consumed in the U.S. are strawberries, blueberries, red wine, apples, pears, and citrus products. We also found that the benefits were strongest among younger men.”

Dr Eric Rimm, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, added: “As well as improving sexual health for middle-aged men, there is another important benefit linked to heart health.

“Erectile dysfunction is often an early barometer of poor vascular function and offers a critical opportunity to intervene and prevent cardiovascular disease, heart attack and even death.

“Men with erectile dysfunction are likely to be highly motivated to make healthier lifestyle choices, such as exercising more and eating the right foods – which would greatly benefit their long-term cardiovascular health as well.”

Overall, Citrus fruits, blueberries and red wine are all believed to have significant benefit to men under the age of 70.

Does the UK need a 50% sugary drink tax?

The common proposed 20% sugar tax is not enough according to some, with obesity experts calling for a sugar tax of 50% to be implemented instead, in order to significantly alter the nation’s eating and drinking habits.

Health professionals from the charity National Obesity Forum argue that the 20% being lobbied by Public Health England would simply be an “insufficient” deterrent for buying sugary drinks.
Therefore, if this plan came to fruition, a 330ml bottle of coke would surge from the typical price of 99p to £1.49 – a huge increase.

This recommendation comes after prime minster David Cameron seemed to suggest last week that the Government may consider bringing in a levy on fizzy drinks this year after promising a “fully worked-up programme” for combating an increasingly problematic UK obesity crisis.

Mr Cameron said the consumption of sugary drinks were also responsible for having a negative effect on NHS money through increased cases of cancer and heart disease.

At a press conference on Thursday, Mr Cameron said: “I don’t really want to put new taxes onto anything.

“But we do have to recognise that we face potentially in Britain something of an obesity crisis when we look at the effect of obesity on not just diabetes but the effect on heart disease, potentially on cancer, we look at the costs on the NHS, the life-shortening potential of these problems.

“We do need to have a fully-worked up programme to deal with this problem and address these issues in Britain and we’ll be making announcements later this year.”

Professor David Haslam, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, commented: “Anything less than a 50 per cent tax on sugary drinks will be insufficient as a disincentive to consumers.

“We don’t currently support taxing food products…but sugary drinks have no place in anyone’s diet.”
If the prime minister decides to go ahead with his own government-ordered report’s plan of introducing a 20% sugar tax, this would be a surprising U-turn by Mr Cameron, who commented only in October that he was not behind the idea of a sugar tax.

At the time, his spokeswoman added there were “more effective ways of tackling this issue than putting a tax on sugar”.

The National Obesity Forum is not the only British organisation calling for a tax on sugary drinks. Last week the Cancer Research UK and the UK Health Forum released a collaborative report urging for new measures for reducing obesity rates, such as the introduction of a tax specifically on the sale of sugar-sweetened beverages.

Obesity could cause 700,000 new cancer cases within 20 years

A new health report has warned that the growing obesity crisis in the UK could result in more than 700,000 new cancer cases associated with excess weight in the next 20 years.

The stark warning comes from a study published by Cancer Research UK and the UK Health Forum – who say immediate action is required in order to combat Britain’s “alarming” obesity levels.

If current trends continue, the report states that by 2035, obese will be the most prevalent body type for UK adults, with nearly 3 in 4 of people being overweight or obese.

Despite the fact that food and drink goods are now required to clearly display calorie, fat and sugar content, it seems the nation is fatter than ever, with cancers caused by excess weight up by 45% since 1996. A third of our children are obese and are heading towards an early grave unless something is done quickly.

Moreover, estimates are also predicting that again by the year 2035, obesity-related health problems, including diabetes and heart disease, will set the NHS back over £7.5billion per year.

The list of cancers attributed to obesity are both varied and concerning, and include: cancer of the bowel, breast in older women, gallbladder, liver, kidney, womb, pancreatic, oesophageal, and aggressive forms of ovarian and prostate cancer.

Cancer Research UK is also calling for a 20p-per-litre sugary drink tax, an idea that is being repeatedly also called for by the celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. However, thus far the government has held firm and consistently rejected any proposals for a sugar tax, in spite of similar pleas coming from health bodies and MPs.

Oliver has spoken on the urgent need to improve public health: “Being overweight or obese can cause many diseases, including some cancers. But I believe we can prevent the rising trend in obesity in the UK and across the world. Food education is key here. If governments take children’s health more seriously and use education to inspire them, we could have a huge impact on their health and wellbeing.

“We’re raising a generation of children in a society where junk food is cheap, widely advertised and packed full of sugar, so it’s difficult to teach them how to make healthy choices. We need to give these kids a chance to be healthier adults – starting with a tax on sugary drinks to tackle obesity and diet-related disease in young people.”

Next month ministers will publish a long-awaited obesity strategy after worries from health experts that their concerns are not being tackled properly.

The report is also urging the government to take far tougher action through banning junk food adverts between 6am and 9pm to limit the chances of them being seen by children.

Obesity can cause cancer by causing alterations within the body. For women, extra fat may cause the production of excess oestrogen and resulting in the multiplying of cells in the breast and womb.
Moreover, insulin and other growth factors are also at risk of increasing, meaning cells are able to divide a lot faster. The cells in fat can emit inflammatory chemicals which are responsible for cell division, including those with cancer.

Alison Cox, director of cancer prevention at Cancer Research UK, said: “Obesity will be a huge burden to society and the NHS in the near future.

“We must act now to combat this threat and we need the Government to restrict the marketing of sugary food to children.

“Kids are bombarded with advertisements for unhealthy food.

“It’s vital the Government restricts this kind of advertising if we are to give our children the chance for better and healthier lives.”

National STI Awareness Day brings the nation’s Sexual Health under the microscope

In little over a week’s time will see the annual National STI Awareness Day take place, held every January 14th – exactly two weeks after New Year.

Two weeks is the timeframe after which the common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, can be detected with a simple STI test kit. One popular example of such a test kit is the Clamelle chlamydia one, available from Medical Specialists® Pharmacy and can be used in the comfort of one’s own home.

Sexually active people should be both knowledgeable and careful when it comes to sexual health throughout the whole year however. Failure to use condoms – especially with new sexual partners – can lead to an unwanted pregnancy or one of a number of serious STIs.

The awareness day was launched back in 2010 as a method of getting people to think more about their sexual health – it is a day to ask questions about sexual health, and for people to begin to question their own sexual health.

Right now, many reading this could be thinking ‘I’m perfectly healthy!’ This may indeed be the case, but is worth remembering that some STIs often don’t display any external symptoms initially for some length of time. Therefore, getting a STI assessment is the only way of finding out.

This is particularly crucial in regards to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Unfortunately, HIV does not have a cure. The majority of those infected with HIV will experience a short, flu-like illness which will begin 2 to 6 weeks after infection. There are usually no further symptoms for several years.

The next period is known as the asymptomatic HIV infection, an approximate 10 year process where the virus continues to be active and will cause progressive damage to the immune system. Once the immune system is severely damaged, common symptoms include: night sweats, skin problems, chronic diarrhoea, life-threatening illnesses, and more.

However, an earlier HIV diagnosis and subsequent treatment is imperative to stopping the serious symptoms from beginning after the virus reaches an advanced stage. It is important that anybody who has put themselves at risk in the past should have a HIV test, even if there are no symptoms of the virus evident.

Moreover, it is debatable how many sexually active people are aware that around 70% of women and 50% of men will display absolutely no symptoms at all after contracting chlamydia. Chlamydia remains the most common STI condition in the UK, with the prevalence of infection being the highest in young sexually active adults aged between 15 and 24. Without sufficient chlamydia treatment, the sufferer is at risk of becoming infertile or developing pelvic inflammatory disease.
There are other conditions – hepatitis being one – that may be life-threatening in the long-term. So why delay getting an STI assessment…is it really worth leaving it up to chance?

It could be easy to adopt a flippant attitude to historical sexual activities…After all nobody wants to imagine that they may have a contracted a STI, but the fact remains that anyone who has previously engaged in unprotected sexual contact (including oral sex) could be at risk.

In fact, approximately 1-in-12 who get tested discover they are infected. Although this sounds an alarming statistic, as mentioned previously, many common STIs (i.e. chlamydia) often don’t show any signs or symptoms.

Over 95% of people with chlamydia can be cured providing they take antibiotics correctly. There are two antibiotics commonly prescribed for chlamydia treatment, these being a single dose of the azithromycin or doxycycline, taken for one week.

If STIs are left untreated, they can become extremely painful or uncomfortable, and even lead to long-term problems such as infertility.

If you show signs of any of the following symptoms, then you should seek help:

. Unusual vaginal discharge.
. Discharge from the penis.
. Pain and/or bleeding during sexual intercourse.
. Bleeding following sex.
. Bleeding between periods.
. Blisters, itches, lumps or rashes around the genitals or anus.
. Pain in the testicles.

Medical Specialists® Pharmacy provide treatments for many of the more common STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and genital herpes.

In addition, Medical Specialists® can provide almost 100% accurate pregnancy tests to be used in the privacy and comfort of a woman’s own home, a wide variety of condoms to suit different preferences, emergency hormonal contraception (morning after pill), other contraceptive pills, and the previously mentioned chlamydia test to be taken at home and posted off for a quick analysis and result, avoiding the time and embarrassment of having to personally attend a clinic for a check-up.

To obtain any prescription or antibiotic or contraceptive treatment, all patients must first undergo an online consultation with one of the GMC-registered doctors at Medical Specialists®, or send in a private prescription by post, obtained from the patient’s own doctor.