Scientists raise red flag after discovering traces of dangerous mosquito-borne disease in new location: 'Already widespread'
As reported by the Guardian, genetic material from the virus was identified in two samples of Aedes vexans mosquitoes collected from wetlands near Nottinghamshire in July 2023.
The discovery came from the Vector-Borne Radar program, a joint initiative of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
"While this is the first detection of West Nile virus in mosquitoes in the UK so far, it is not unexpected as the virus is already widespread in Europe," Dr. Meera Chand, the UKHSA deputy director for travel health, explained.
The virus is a glimpse into how increasing global temperatures are expanding where insects like mosquitoes can thrive and spread disease.
Aedes vexans mosquitoes are already native to the UK, but they haven't typically been hosts for West Nile virus because the temperature hasn't allowed it, although that's starting to change.
At around 86 degrees Fahrenheit, the virus can become infectious inside a mosquito within two to three weeks.
That means hotter weather gives viruses more time to develop and fewer obstacles to transmission.
Although most people infected with West Nile virus don't experience symptoms, about one in five may suffer flu-like effects, and a small percentage may develop serious complications involving the brain or spinal cord.
This discovery follows a growing number of similar health stories. Earlier this year, a mysterious fungal infection affecting dogs was linked to prolonged exposure to heat.
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There have also been reports on how viruses like dengue, once considered rare in Europe or parts of the southern U.S., are now creeping into those regions.
In response, the UK Health Security Agency has strengthened surveillance efforts and issued updated guidance to health care providers.
Health professionals are being urged to test for West Nile virus in unexplained cases of brain inflammation.
Fortunately, there are some easy ways to stay proactive. Planting mosquito-repelling herbs like citronella or lavender can make outdoor spaces more comfortable.
On a bigger scale, reducing air pollution by walking or biking more, switching to electric tools, or unplugging devices when they're not in use can help slow the overheating that allows these viruses to thrive.
In some regions, local leaders are launching targeted mosquito control programs, while researchers are using climate data to better predict and prepare for outbreaks.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
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Newsweek
11 minutes ago
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Horror as Woman Returns to 100F Car After Hours, Realizes Who Was Inside
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. A heartbreaking scare involving a cat sneaking into a car and being left in there for hours when it was 100 degrees outside is serving as a reminder for pet parents to take extra precautions in extreme heat. Kadyn Shelby said they received a worried call from their mother who lives about an hour away, about one of the cats, Ditto. This cat follows Shelby's mom everywhere. However, that habit led the feline into the car without Shelby's mother realizing. "She had went to get her laptop from her truck earlier in the day, and didn't realize Ditto had jumped in," Shelby told Newsweek via Reddit. "...My mom said Ditto had been in there for seven or eight hours, and when she went to the truck to grab something else, she found Ditto panting heavily and limp on the floor next to the pedals with vomit and feces around her." Temperatures hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit that entire week in Arkansas, Shelby said. Car interiors can reach dangerously hot temperatures as they can trap superheated air, endangering people and pets if left inside for too long. Panic overcame Shelby's mother about what to do, especially as all the local veterinarian clinics were closed by 7 p.m. Shelby then posted a video of Ditto's condition last week to the subreddit channel r/CATHELP, asking for advice on how to help cool down the cat until the feline could see a vet. The family got in contact with a local vet they have become well-acquainted with who suggested they give Ditto small amounts of water manually every other minute. To increase her energy levels, give her a bit of honey. "I told my mom to put cool, not cold, water on Ditto's paws, and put a cool rag underneath her, too," Shelby said. Shelby, their brother and mother stayed with Ditto throughout the night, manually giving her water through a pipette. Eventually, she cooled down, but she became a bit too cold, which is when Shelby sought advice from Reddit. The family kept doing what they were doing, with the doctor offering to see her as soon as she could in the morning if Ditto made it through the night. "Somehow, Ditto started to slowly inch herself more and more upwards and even drank on her own!" Shelby said. "I made update posts since, showing her slow improvements over the next 24 hours. We were genuinely so hopeful when she started drinking on her own, but we still were clenched in case the worst happened." But the worst was over. She turned a corner and began walking throughout the night. She jumped from the bathroom counter and used the litter box. Ditto even ate again. Ditto received IV fluids and antibiotics first thing in the morning when the vet clinic opened. The doctor recommended keeping her hydrated and inside. Thankfully, every day since the accident, Ditto has gotten stronger. She now plays, purrs, rolls over and suckles on blankets, Shelby said. The only thing she hates is that she is still not allowed outside. Shelby and their mother are thinking of giving her a "catio," which will help regulate Ditto's time outside, especially as the state's weather fluctuates. Screenshot from a Reddit video of a cat's condition after being accidentally left in a car for about seven to eight hours in 100 degree weather. Screenshot from a Reddit video of a cat's condition after being accidentally left in a car for about seven to eight hours in 100 degree weather. crunchiestmilk/Reddit Reddit Users React Shelby said Reddit users first flooded their posts with negative feedback, claiming they were animal abusers. But they discovered many pet parents have gone through similar situations. "...Overall, it's been a generously kind and heartwarming moment in the community," Shelby said. "Lots have been hoping for Ditto to make a quick recovery, and she is. I've been showing my mom all the love and support that she's been getting, and my grandma calls Ditto the superstar of the family now." One Reddit user commented: "Sweetheart, I'd like to give you a hug and remind you to breathe. You're doing the absolute best you can. No one could do more. Just get that baby to 7 a.m. if you can." Another user added: "I'm so sorry this happened. Years ago, I made a mistake that ended up with one of my babies not making it and it haunts me to this day. I pray that things will go better for y'all. But even if they don't, please let your mother know that accidents happen."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
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All the benefits of having a G&T over a glass of wine
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The majority of people in Britain now prefer to drink gin and tonic with friends rather than cups of builders' tea, according to spirit brand Bacardi's cocktail trend report, and the UK constitutes the world's biggest market for gin. So what are the benefits of swapping your regular pint or glass of wine for a G&T? The health benefits of a G&T 1. Fewer calories than beer and wine One shot of gin will provide you with around 50 calories, compared with about 130 calories in a medium glass of red or white wine or the 200-300 calories in a pint of beer. A 200ml serving of light tonic to mix your drink will come in at around 30 calories, keeping a health-conscious G&T under 100 calories to a glass. The average British man drinks 17.6 units of alcohol every week, according to NHS data, the equivalent of eight to nine pints of lager (with beer still being the drink consumed most frequently by men in the UK). Drinking the same number of single-measure G&Ts each week – though it is not recommended that any adult consumes more than 14 units of alcohol in this timeframe – would mean cutting around 900 'empty' calories from your diet and losing a stone within a year. Meanwhile, women who switch from the average nine units or four medium glasses of wine per week to single G&Ts would drink 120 fewer calories. This might not sound like much, but tweaks like this can make all the difference in limiting your party-season weight gain. At this time of year when the units we consume will likely outpace our average for the year, 'a gin and tonic is definitely a better option to manage your weight,' Trotman says. 2. Less sugar and carbs than other contenders A single shot of gin contains zero grams of sugar, as well as no carbohydrates. This is one of the reasons that gin is often the drink of those on a ketogenic diet, as it is less likely to knock your body out of its fat-burning state (though all alcohol will make it harder for your liver to process food). Aside from leading to weight gain, drinking any beverage that has a high carbohydrate content – like lager, with 10-15 grams of carbs to a pint, or cider which has as much as 40 grams a glass – can cause uncomfortable bloating and an upset stomach. A no-carb drink such as gin 'will have less of an impact on your blood sugar levels too,' Trotman says, another factor that makes it a better option for keeping your waistline static (and making sure that you've still got some energy the morning after). And while vodkas and rums typically come mixed in fizzy, sugary drinks, the sugar in a slimline tonic typically comes in at around 7.6 grams per 200ml glass, compared with the 21.2g in 200ml of full-fat Coca Cola. Light rather than diet tonic is ideal with your gin as 'diet tonic will be full of artificial sweeteners that can worsen your health in the long term,' Trotman says. 'So if you're having a few, always opt for a light version and a single shot.' 3. A boost from juniper berries and garnishes Gin is made by brewing a neutral-tasting grain with juniper berries and other botanicals such as lemon peel, coriander seeds, cardamom or thyme. Juniper berries contain flavonoids as well as large amounts of vitamin C, which can improve circulation and help ward off colds, and antioxidants which promote skin regeneration. These berries can also speed up your digestive system and soothe inflammation. While the amount of these goodies left over in a single serving of gin is likely 'negligible', Trotman says, gin can also be infused with ingredients that up its health benefits: some kinds on the market have been paired with large volumes of fruit juice for added vitamin C, while some have been specifically blended to provide micronutrients as well as collagen. Others are brewed with extra juniper berries. G&Ts are also easy to make and serve creatively. A quick health tip is just to 'eat the slice of orange that comes with your drink, because every little does help,' Trotman says, or at home 'you could mix in some cranberry juice for antioxidants or add some blueberries for helpful polyphenols'. 4. Easier to drink in moderation The versatility of a gin and tonic is a major reason why Sophie Trotman recommends it to her clients. Along with a light tonic, 'you can add a lot of ice to make it a long drink that you're able to keep sipping over a longer period,' reducing the total amount of alcohol you drink in the course of an evening. The reduced sugar and artificial sweeteners involved meanwhile will make it easier to stop at just a few, turning down the dial on your cravings and helping you to call it a night earlier. Unlike wine, the leftover bottle of which can call from the fridge on a Monday evening, a G&T takes more effort to make and so it becomes 'easier to have days off,' Trotman says. 'It's also very easy to alternate your G&Ts with glasses of water, which you'll thank yourself for the next day,' Trotman says. For those looking to cut down there are other benefits too. 'It shouldn't be a concern, but if you start on G&Ts and switch to a non-alcoholic version later in the night, there will be no label on your glass and so no peer pressure from anyone else to keep going.' 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Newsweek
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Russian Nuclear Submarine Base Damaged By Tsunami: Satellite Images
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A tsunami that hit Russia's Pacific coast on Wednesday damaged the country's Rybachiy nuclear submarine base on the Kamchatka Peninsula, satellite imagery suggests. The images were taken by the U.S. space technology company Umbra Space and posted by engineer Logan Garbarini who compared them to Google/Maxar images from earlier this year to show what the base looked like before and after the tsunami hit. Why it Matters The Rybachiy base is the primary housing facility for Russia's Pacific Fleet nuclear submarines and serves as one of the closest Russian military outposts to the United States. The base's role in Russian naval strategy makes any threat to its operational capabilities significant, not only for Russia but also for U.S.-Russia security dynamics. What To Know The tsunami followed a 8.8 magnitude offshore earthquake centered roughly 75 miles from the base, impacting the country's Pacific coastline in the early hours of Wednesday. The Rybachiy nuclear submarine base, located inside Avacha Bay, is believed to have endured a direct hit from the waves within 15 minutes of the initial quake, according to analysis by the British newspaper The Telegraph. Images show that a pier section at the base was visibly bent and appeared detached from its moorings. Got the images back from Rybachiy Submarine Base (52.9112°, 158.49244°). Acquired 2025-07-30 10:18Z. Some notable changes: looks like a pier snapped in half from the wave. First image is Google/Maxar from earlier this year, second image is Umbra SAR post-event. — Logan Garbarini (@LoganGarbarini) July 31, 2025 Although two Yasen-class nuclear-powered submarines were docked at the facility before the incident, there was no evidence they sustained damage, Dr. Sidharth Kaushal, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told The Telegraph. Outside the base, other coastal areas, including the port of Severo-Kurilsk, experienced significant flooding and infrastructure destruction, with local footage showing waves up to five meters high. Russia's emergency alert systems and construction standards for critical infrastructure, which account for seismic threats, were credited with avoiding casualties at Rybachiy. Newsweek has contacted Russia's Defense Ministry, via email, for comment. In this image taken from a video released by Russian Emergency Ministry Press Service, rescuers inspect a kindergarten damaged by an earthquake in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. In this image taken from a video released by Russian Emergency Ministry Press Service, rescuers inspect a kindergarten damaged by an earthquake in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. AP What People Are Saying Retired Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe said: "If the base assumption is that a wave got in there and bent that jetty then yes, what else did it do?" The Kremlin said that regional authorities on Kamchatka were well prepared for the quake. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that the warnings were issued in time, and people were quickly evacuated from dangerous areas. He added that the buildings proved resilient to shocks. What Happens Next Repair efforts appeared to be underway, as satellite images identified a tugboat operating near the damaged pier. Analysts predicted that the Russian navy would assess the current construction standards for piers at Rybachiy, and possibly update them, to mitigate future vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, there has been no official indication of any impact on Russian military operations, and global monitoring continues for further aftershocks or related events in the region. The Pacific seismic activity, which also triggered evacuations as far as Japan, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Pacific coast of South America, remains of concern for both regional stability and critical infrastructure readiness.
