Health agency issues vaccine catch-up reminder to parents
A total of 47 cases were found in Bristol but there have been no new cases in the city since May, according to the figures.A child died at Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital in July after contracting measles. The hospital said the highly contagious virus was on the rise among young people in the region.The child is believed to be the second child in England to die in the past five years after contracting measles.
'Don't put it off'
Prof Mellon said: "The summer months offer parents an important opportunity to ensure their children's vaccinations are up to date, giving them the best possible protection when the new school term begins. "It is never too late to catch up. Don't put it off and regret it later."Speaking as a health professional and a father, I strongly encourage all parents to ensure their children have the best possible protection by ensuring vaccinations are up to date."
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South Wales Guardian
14 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Infections linked to wipes which may have been used to clean cuts
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The Independent
14 minutes ago
- The Independent
Avoiding these simple foods could help people lose twice as much weight, study finds
Cooking from scratch and avoiding ultra-processed foods like pre-packaged sandwiches and protein bars could help people lose twice as much weight, a study has found. Ultra-processed food (UPF) is typically high in saturated fat, salt and sugar, contains ingredients you would not find in your kitchen cupboard like emulsifiers and preservatives, and is ready-to-eat or heat. The study published in the journal Nature compared a UPF diet to a minimally processed one, and found avoiding UPFs helped curb food cravings, increased weight loss and improved fat loss. The trial, led by experts at University College London (UCL) and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), involved 55 people who were overweight but otherwise healthy. Half of the participants were given an eight-week diet plan comprising minimally processed foods such as overnight oats, cottage pie and chicken salad cooked from scratch. The other half were given a diet of ready-to-eat protein bars, shop-bought sandwiches and microwave lasagne. Both diets were matched nutritionally and contained the recommended levels of fat, saturated fat, protein, carbohydrates, salt and fibre. After completing one diet for eight weeks, the groups switched. Dr Samuel Dicken, of the UCL centre for obesity research and UCL department of behavioural science and health, said: 'Previous research has linked ultra-processed foods with poor health outcomes. 'But not all ultra-processed foods are inherently unhealthy based on their nutritional profile.' Researchers aimed to find out whether eating more processed foods impacts weight, blood pressure, body composition and food cravings. Results showed those on the minimally processed diet lost twice as much weight (2.06 per cent) compared to the UPF diet (1.05 per cent loss). Those on the UPF diet also did not lose as much fat, researchers said. Dr Dicken explained that although a 2 per cent reduction may not seem like much weight loss, it is a significant amount for eight weeks. 'If we scaled these results up over the course of a year, we'd expect to see a 13 per cent weight reduction in men and a 9 per cent reduction in women on the minimally processed diet, but only a 4 per cent weight reduction in men and 5 per cent in women after the ultra-processed diet,' Dr Dicken said. However, researchers measured other markers like blood pressure, heart rate, liver function, glucose levels and cholesterol but found no significant negative impacts of the UPF diet. Gunter Kuhnle, professor of food science and nutrition at Reading University, who was not involved in the study, told The Independent: 'I think it confirms it is not processing that is important but rather food composition.' He suggests consumers should focus more on composition, such as carbohydrates and fats, rather than on processing. However, those on the UPF diet ate more calories than those on the minimally processed diet. The NHS recommends the average woman should consume around 2,000 calories a day, while the average man should consume 2,500. Participants were given more food than they needed, but those on a minimally processed diet spontaneously had 230 calories less than is recommended and those on the UPF diet had 120 calories less. A questionnaire also revealed those on the minimally processed diet had fewer cravings than people on the diet of ready meals and packaged snacks. Rob Hobson, registered nutritionist and author of Unprocess Your Family Life, who was also not involved in the study, told The Independent: 'The findings support the idea that cutting back on UPFs may help with appetite control and weight regulation and not because UPFs are inherently toxic, but because of how they affect eating behaviour. 'Many are designed to be hyper-palatable, easy to eat quickly, and less satisfying. They don't give us the same satiety signals as minimally processed foods.' Professor Rachel Batterham, senior author of the study, said: 'The best advice to people would be to stick as closely to nutritional guidelines as they can by moderating overall energy intake, limiting intake of salt, sugar and saturated fat, and prioritising high-fibre foods such as fruits, vegetables, pulses and nuts. 'Choosing less processed options such as whole foods and cooking from scratch, rather than ultra-processed, packaged foods or ready meals, is likely to offer additional benefits in terms of body weight, body composition and overall health.'
Daily Record
14 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Brits told to bin three brands of wet wipes now in urgent bacteria warning
These non-sterile alcohol-free wipes may risk infection to the user. Three brands of wet wipe have been flagged as risks to the public. The UK Health Security Agency issued a warning that they have been contaminated with bacteria. The health agency is urging the public to avoid using the non-sterile alcohol-free wipes due to the risk of infection, and to dispose of them as soon as possible. While overall risk to the public is low, households should check their cupboards for the wipes, which should be binned and not used. The infected wipes included products from ValueAid, Microsafe and Steroplast. UKHSA said: "These products which may have been used for 'skin cleansing' and cleaning in or around wounds have been withdrawn from sale but may still be found in some first aid kits and in people's homes. These products are not routinely used in the NHS. "If you have these products [listed below], you are advised not to use them and to dispose of them in your household waste as a precautionary measure given the potential for contamination." The Mirror reports that the following products have been found to be affected: ValueAid Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes Microsafe Moist Wipe Alcohol Free Steroplast Sterowipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes The wipes have been infected with Burkholderia stabilis, a type of bacteria which usually doesn't affect those with healthy immune systems, but can pose risks to those who are immunocompromised or have weaker immune systems. Dr James Elston, Consultant in Epidemiology and Public Health at UKHSA, said: "While the overall risk to the public remains very low, a number of non-sterile alcohol-free wipe products have been linked to an outbreak of Burkholderia stabilis. "It is important these types of wipes are not used for the treatment of injuries, wounds, or broken skin, and that they are not used to clean intravenous lines. "UKHSA uncovered the link to this outbreak through testing of wipes used by patients and worked quickly to notify health professionals through a patient safety alert, reinforcing existing infection prevention and control guidance. When treating cuts and grazes, it is important to follow NHS advice." The public are also being reminded that "non-sterile alcohol-free wipes should not be used for the treatment of injuries, wounds or on broken skin, nor should they be used for cleaning intravenous lines, as they are not appropriate for these purposes and their safety cannot be guaranteed." Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer, said: "We consider wipes which are intended for a medical purpose to be medicines. "These products do not have a medicines authorisation, and we are taking appropriate action to ensure compliance with the requirements of the applicable legislation governed by MHRA. "If you have these wipes at home or in a first aid kit, please check the label and only use wipes marked as 'sterile' on broken skin. Healthcare professionals are advised to follow instructions and information provided in the national patient safety alert from UKHSA. "Anyone who has used alcohol-free wipes and has concerns about potential infection is advised to speak with a healthcare professional." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
