May 22, 2024
Doug Jenkinson was a Midlands GP for 37 years, during which time he made a special study of whooping cough and documented over 700 cases. The thing about whooping cough is that anyone can diagnose it once they have heard the typical cough. The ‘whooping’ noise happens...
May 17, 2024
Cryptosporidium parvum protozoa positive (red sphere shape) in human poo smear Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that can cause an unpleasant – and sometimes dangerous – illness called cryptosporidiosis. This nasty bug lives in the intestines of infected...
May 10, 2024
Credit: Catherine Hughes Cases of whooping cough have been rising across England, increasing from 556 cases in January, 918 in February to 1,319 cases confirmed in March – bringing the total number of cases in 2024 to 2,793. Sadly, between January – March 2024,...
May 8, 2024
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when medicines used to fight infections lose their effectiveness because the organisms they target – whether bacteria, fungi, viruses or parasites – have evolved or acquired adaptations to survive. In 2019, AMR was directly...
May 2, 2024
Visiting a farm is an enjoyable and educational experience for the whole family, but it carries a risk of infection from animals or the environment. Farm animals may carry germs that can be passed from animals to humans and cause illness, with symptoms including...