Author: Dominic Hughes

14 minutes agoShareSaveDominic HughesHealth CorrespondentShareSaveGetty ImagesFamilies travelling abroad this summer on holiday or to visit relatives are being warned about the rise in measles cases in Europe and other regions.Measles infections in Europe are at a 25-year high, while cases are also surging in countries such as Pakistan and Nigeria.Childhood vaccination rates in the UK that offer protection against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) are still a long way below the recommended 95% uptake, with the lowest regional rates found in London at just over 73% vaccinated.The UK Health Security Agency is warning holidaymakers to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations and stress that it is never too late to get vaccinated.The UKHSA’s latest data on measles infections shows that an outbreak is continuing in England.Some 109 cases were confirmed in April and 86 so far in May. These cases have mostly been in unvaccinated children aged 10 years and under. London has reported almost half of all cases in the past four weeks.Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, says the rise in cases in England reflects what is happening abroad – and that’s a concern as the summer holiday season gets going. “It’s essential that everyone, particularly parents of young children, check all family members are up to date with two MMR doses, especially if you are travelling this summer for holidays or visiting family,” Dr Saliba said.”Measles cases are picking up again in England and outbreaks are happening in Europe and many countries with close links to the UK.”Measles spreads very easily and can be a nasty disease, leading to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain with some children tragically ending up in hospital and suffering life-long consequences, Dr Saliba added.”Nobody wants this for their child and it’s not something you want to experience when away on holiday.”European cases hit a 25-year highThe decline in vaccination rates in the UK – particularly since the Covid pandemic – has been mirrored in other countries, especially in Europe. The World Health Organization and UNICEF reported 127,350 measles cases in the European Region in 2024 – double the number of cases reported during the previous year and the highest number since 1997.This year has seen outbreaks in several other European countries popular with UK holidaymakers, including France, Italy, Spain and Germany.The WHO has also reported that Romania, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Nigeria currently have among the largest number of measles cases worldwide.Never too lateThere has been a big push to improve MMR vaccination rates across the UK, but Dr Amanda Doyle, national director for primary care and community services at NHS England, says there is still a lot of work to do.”Too many babies and young children are still not protected against the diseases, which are contagious infections that spread very easily and can cause serious health problems. “MMR jabs are provided free as part of the NHS routine immunisation programme – and I would encourage all parents to act on invites or check vaccination records if they think they may have missed their child’s vaccination.”Health experts say that anyone, whatever their age, who has not had two doses of the MMR vaccine can contact their GP surgery to book an appointment and that it is never too late to catch up.What is measles and what are the symptoms?Measles is a highly contagious disease which is spread by coughs and sneezes.Common symptoms include:high feversore, red and watery eyesrunny nosecoughingsneezingSmall white spots may appear inside the mouth.A blotchy red or brown rash usually appears after a few days, typically on the face and behind the ears, before spreading to the rest of the body.It can be harder to see on brown and black skin.Measles normally clears up within seven to 10 days. However, it can lead to pneumonia, meningitis, blindness and seizures.Babies and young children, pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system are at increased risk. Getting it while pregnant can lead to stillbirth, miscarriage or babies being born small.Measles can be fatal, but this is rare.

1 day agoShareSaveDominic HughesHealth CorrespondentAnnabel RackhamHealth ReporterShareSaveGetty ImagesNew cases of the sexually transmitted infection syphilis have risen again in England, continuing a trend dating back to the early 2000s.While the overall number of people diagnosed with gonorrhoea has fallen, there has been a significant increase in the number of cases where the infection is drug resistant, new UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data shows. Health experts say this is a real concern, although the actual number of drug-resistant cases remains very low. The NHS recently announced the rollout of the world’s first vaccine programme to protect against gonorrhoea, aimed principally at gay and bisexual men.Overall, there were 9,535 diagnoses of what is described as early-stage syphilis in England in 2024, up 2% on 2023.But the overall figure for syphilis, including what is called late-stage syphilis, or complications from the infection, rose 5% to 13,030.The figures for gonorrhoea show a more complicated picture.Overall, 2024 saw a 16% fall in gonorrhoea cases, with 71,802 diagnoses compared to 85,370 in 2023, with the greatest fall among 15- to 24-year-olds. Giulia Habib Meriggi, a surveillance and prevention scientist for sexually transmitted infections at UKHSA, urged caution over the decline.”This is the first year in the last couple of years where [the numbers] have actually gone down,” she said.”It’s still the third highest number of cases we’ve had in a year in recorded history, so it is sort of good news but it doesn’t mean it will stay that way. “It is obviously really important for people to still get tested regularly and use condoms with new partners.”By contrast, there has been an acceleration in diagnoses of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea. Some strains of the bacteria which causes the disease no longer respond to the first-line treatment, the antibiotic ceftriaxone.The numbers themselves remain low, with 14 cases reported in the first five months of 2025, compared with 13 cases for the whole of 2024. But six of those 14 cases so far this year have been extensively drug-resistant, meaning they were resistant not just to ceftriaxone but also to second-line treatment options.Most of the ceftriaxone resistant cases were linked with travel to or from the Asia-Pacific region, where levels of ceftriaxone resistance are high.UKHSA scientist Prarthana Narayanan describes the trend as “worrying”.”The numbers are still small but the reason this is worrying is because, once resistance in gonorrhoea becomes endemic, then it becomes extremely hard to treat, because ceftriaxone is the last first-line therapy we have for it. “We want to make sure that the spread of resistant strains is reduced as much as possible to try and prolong how long we can use ceftriaxone to treat it for,” she said. What are the symptoms of syphilis and gonorrhoea?Syphilis can present as small sores or ulcers on and around the genitals, as well as white or grey warty growthsSores in other areas, including in your mouth or on your lips, hands or bottomA rash on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet that can sometimes spread all over your bodyWhite patches in your mouthFlu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, headaches, tiredness and swollen glandsPatchy hair loss on the head, beard and eyebrowsGonorrhoea can cause fluid or discharge from the penis or vaginaA burning pain when you urinatePain in the lower abdomen (for women) or sore testiclesNumbers of sexually transmitted infections remain high, warns UKHSA, with the impact felt felt mainly in 15- to 24-year-olds, gay and bisexual men and some minority ethnic groups. But the increase in drug resistant cases of gonorrhoea is a real concern, amid wider worries around the growth in antimicrobial resistance.The World Health Organisation describes antimicrobial resistance as an issue of global concern and one of the biggest threats to global health. It threatens our ability to treat common infections and to perform life-saving procedures, including chemotherapy for cancer, caesarean sections, hip replacements, organ transplants and other operations.This is why, even though only 14 cases of drug-resistant gonorrhoea were identified this year, health experts urge anyone having sex with new or casual partners to use a condom and get tested regularly, whatever their age or sexual orientation.