Published1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, BBC NewsBy Michelle RobertsDigital health editorA UK girl born deaf can now hear unaided, after a groundbreaking gene-therapy treatment.Opal Sandy was treated shortly before her first birthday – and six months on, can hear sounds as soft as a whisper and is starting to talk, saying words such as “Mama”, “Dada” and “uh-oh”.Given as an infusion into the ear, the therapy replaces faulty DNA causing her type of inherited deafness. Opal is part of a trial recruiting patients in the UK, US and Spain.Doctors in other countries, including China, are also exploring very similar treatments for the Otof gene mutation Opal has. Her parents, Jo and James, say the results have been mind-blowing – but allowing Opal to be the first to test this treatment, made by Regeneron, was extremely tough. Her sister, Nora, five, has the same type of deafness and manages well wearing an electrical cochlear implant.Rather than making sound louder, like a hearing aid, it gives the “sensation” of hearing, by directly stimulating the auditory nerve that communicates with the brain, bypassing the damaged sound-sensing hair cells in a part of the inner ear known as the cochlea.What noise sounds like with a cochlear implantIn contrast, the therapy uses a modified, harmless virus to deliver a working copy of the Otof gene into these cells. Opal had the therapy in her right ear, under general anaesthetic, and a cochlear implant put into her left.Just a few weeks later, she could hear loud sounds, such as clapping, in her right ear.And after six months, her doctors, at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, confirmed that ear had almost normal hearing for soft sounds – even very quiet whispers. Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri: Life with a cochlear implantSign language course for NHS staff ‘may save lives’Image source, BBC News”It’s wonderful seeing her respond to sound,” chief investigator and ear surgeon Prof Manohar Bance told BBC News. “It’s a very joyful time.”Experts hope the therapy could also work for other types of profound hearing loss. More than half of hearing-loss cases in children have a genetic cause.And Prof Bance hopes the trial can lead to gene therapy being used for more common types of hearing loss. “What I am hoping is that we can start to use gene therapy in young children… where we actually restore the hearing and they don’t have to have cochlear implants and other technologies that have to be replaced,” he said.Image source, Jo and James SandyHearing loss caused by a variation in the Otof gene is not commonly detected until children are two or three years old, when a delay in speech is likely.But genetic testing for at risk families is available on the NHS. Prof Bance said: “The younger we can restore hearing, the better for all children because the brain starts to shut down its plasticity [adaptability] after the age of about three or so.”Opal’s experience, alongside other scientific data from the trial, is being presented at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy in Baltimore, in the US. Martin McLean, from the National Deaf Children’s Society, said more options were to be welcomed.”With the right support from the start, deafness should never be a barrier to happiness or fulfilment,” he said.”As a charity, we support families to make informed choices about medical technologies, so that they can give their deaf child the best possible start in life.”Additional reporting by Nicki Stiastny and James Anderson. More on this storyGene therapy: Deaf to hearing a whisperPublished7 February 2017Love Islander Tasha wants you to hear deaf accentsPublished6 February’I don’t mind people seeing that I’m deaf’Published27 AprilNHS to use test that prevents babies going deafPublished9 February 2023Related Internet LinksRNID – National hearing loss charityCambridge University HospitalThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published6 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, PA MediaBy Michelle RobertsDigital health editorAn important trial of the world’s first “personalised” mRNA vaccine against the deadliest form of skin cancer – melanoma – is now under way in the UK. Steve Young, 52, from Stevenage, Herts, who had a melanoma growth cut out of his scalp last August, is one of the first patients to try the shot. It is designed to help his immune system recognise and wipe out any remaining cancerous cells. And hopefully, that means his cancer will not return. The jab, mRNA-4157 (V940), uses the same technology as current Covid vaccines and is being tested in final-stage Phase III trials. University College London Hospitals doctors are giving it alongside another drug, pembrolizumab or Keytruda, that also helps the immune system kill cancer cells.Genetic signatureThe combined treatment, made by Moderna and Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD), is not yet available routinely on the NHS, outside of clinical trials. Experts in some other countries, including Australia, are also trying it on patients, to gather more evidence and see whether it should be rolled out more widely. The vaccine is personalised – meaning the make-up of it is changed to suit the individual patient. It is created to match the unique genetic signature of the patient’s own tumour and works by instructing the body to make proteins or antibodies that attack markers or antigens found only on those cancer cells.’Custom built’UCLH investigator Dr Heather Shaw said the jab had the potential to cure people with melanoma and was being tested in other cancers – lung, bladder and kidney tumours.”This is one of the most exciting things we’ve seen in a really long time,” she said.”It is absolutely custom built for the patient – you couldn’t give this to the next patient in the line because you wouldn’t expect it to work.”It’s truly personalised.”These things are hugely technical and finely generated for the patient.”‘Really excited’The UK part of the international trial aims to recruit at least 60-70 patients across eight centres, including in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Leeds.Mr Young is having his treatment in London. He said: “I’m really, really excited.”This is my best chance at stopping the cancer in its tracks.”Common signs of melanoma include:a new abnormal molean existing mole that seems to be growing or changinga change to a previous patch of normal skinMr Young had a lump on his scalp for many years before realising the growth was cancer. The earlier a melanoma is picked up, the easier it is to treat and the more likely treatment is to be successful. More on this storyDuchess of York ‘shock’ at skin cancer diagnosisPublished22 JanuaryTop streamer Ninja diagnosed with cancer at 32Published27 MarchRelated Internet LinksUCLHThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published24 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, BBC NewsBy Michelle RobertsDigital health editorDestiny-Rae, who is five, is a record breaker. Her kidneys stopped working properly when she was 10 months old, making her the youngest patient to go on dialysis at Great Ormond Street Hospital.  She’s had to visit there three times a week for five-hour sessions of the treatment.  That adds up to nearly six months of her life rigged up to the machine – another hospital record as the longest time yet for someone so young.  Despite being on the transplant waiting list for years, the odds were stacked against her getting a new kidney.People from the same background are more likely to be a good blood and tissue match.But none of her family can donate and there is a national shortage of organs, particularly from donors belonging to ethnic minorities. In desperation, her mum, Maria sought friendship and support in a chat room.Image source, BBC NewsAnd by sharing her story, she met “guardian angel” Liffy, who was willing to donate a kidney to a special organ-swap scheme. Liffy is not a match for Destiny either – but her generosity resulted in Destiny receiving a kidney from another kind stranger who is. Become a living donorMaria, Destiny and Liffy invited BBC News to film as they found out if the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme, run by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), had managed to match them up with someone else – perhaps another parent who cannot donate a kidney to their own child who needs one. This was their third attempt, or matching round.Maria told me: “You can never force someone to willingly give you a kidney, because it’s literally an operation they don’t need. So I’m very understanding. “It’s a lot. It’s not an easy choice.”‘My inspiration’Without a transplant, Destiny’s future would be uncertain, other than lots more dialysis. “It’s sad because that’s her life,” Maria says.”Whereas other kids, maybe they get to go to do ballet or gymnastics… she doesn’t.”But she’s strong. She’s fierce. She’s intelligent. She’s my inspiration.”Massive decisionWhen Liffy heard about Destiny, she immediately wanted to help.”What really stuck out to me was that Destiny was actually the same age as my own daughter,” she says.”And I couldn’t imagine being in the same situation as Maria and Destiny and someone not wanting to help.”A healthy donor, like Liffy, can lead a normal life on one remaining kidney – but it is a massive decision.”It’s quite hard for people to get their heads round why I would donate my kidney to someone I’m not related to, to someone that I’ve not known for a huge amount of time and also someone that I’ve met online,” she says.”If I was ever in the same situation, I’m 100% sure someone out there would do what I’m doing.”You know, it’s not even something for me. I think it would mean the most to be being able to see Destiny grow up a healthier, happier little girl. “That’s enough for me.”Meanwhile, Maria says about Liffy: “She’s literally sent from heaven. “She’s my guardian angel.”Matching runsThe UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme uses algorithms to match the 300 recipients registered at any one time. And four times a year, NHSBT carries out matching runs to find the best combinations of recipients and patients. The scheme is anonymous and confidential – people do not know who their donor or recipient is.And swaps go ahead only if every pair – up to three in total – can be matched. No patient misses out.Image source, BBC NewsIn the UK, about 5,700 people need a kidney transplant – 121 are childrenBlack patients wait an average of 10 months longer for a kidney than white, NHSBT figures show The number of registered organ donors belonging to ethnic minorities has risen in the UK since the introduction of the optout system, in recent yearsUnder that system, all adults are considered to have agreed to donate when they die, unless they have said otherwise – although, the bereaved family is still consulted About a third of all kidney transplants in the UK are from living donors – some 1,000 each year.They offer the best chance of success, because the kidney comes from a healthy person.Doctors never remove a kidney unless satisfied the risks are as low as possible.The donor may stay in hospital for two to four days, depending on their recovery, and then need up to three months off work to recuperate, depending on their occupation. They may be paid for expenses and loss of earnings but not for the kidney – it is a gift. While I was there, Liffy told Maria she had received a phone call from the hospital, that morning, with the best news possible. They had found a match.Image source, BBC NewsAnd, a few weeks on, I can report (without breaking donor anonymity guidelines) that the operations have successfully gone ahead and Destiny is now recovering at home.She cannot wait to start swimming lessons and wants to go to Disneyland – the first real holiday she will have had, because the dialysis routine has been so restrictive.Liffy may never meet the person who received her kidney – but, to her, it does not matter.”It would be lovely to see the face and see the person you have helped – but that aside, I know I’m going to see the face and see the person that I helped, because I see Destiny all the time,” she told me.”She calls me Auntie Liffy and I love it. “I’ve met like all of Maria and Destiny’s family. “They’ve also met mine. And my two children adore Destiny. “They know that what Mummy is doing is going to help Destiny. They’re super-happy with it.”About 60,400 people in the UK today are alive thanks to an organ transplant.Additional reporting by Nicki Stiastny and Philip ColdreyMore on this storyGirl receives UK’s first rejection-free kidneyPublished22 September 2023’We need parents to think the unthinkable’Published2 October 2022Related Internet LinksUK Living Kidney Sharing SchemeThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published7 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, NHSBTBy Michelle RobertsDigital health editorSome people having a lung transplant on the NHS will receive a skin patch graft from their donor too as a way of spotting organ rejection sooner. Rejection could show as a rash on the donated skin patch, say experts, allowing early treatment to stop problems escalating.The trial, by University of Oxford and NHS Blood and Transplant, will enrol 152 patients in England. It follows earlier success with some other transplant patients. Image source, NHSBTThat includes Adam Alderson, 44, from Wensleydale, who received a donor skin graft on his abdomen in 2015 when he had eight organs replaced – including a pancreas, stomach and spleen – after treatment for a rare cancer.He says the graft has already helped guide his treatment a few times to prevent his body rejecting his many new organs.He said: “It’s a really comforting thing to have – I feel safer knowing that I have a tool available to tell if something is going wrong before it becomes too serious. It’s almost like an oil warning light on your car. Plus, having that visible reminder of how lucky I am is really special.”Helen Roeper, 43, from Oxford, has a lung condition called cystic fibrosis that means she may need a lung transplant in the future. Image source, NHSBTShe said she welcomes the idea of having a donor skin graft at the same time. “The idea that I could potentially be able to identify any rejection early, just by looking at a patch of skin on my arm, is extremely encouraging and helps to alleviate some fears,” she said. The chance of rejection after a lung transplant is unfortunately quite high. Blood tests, lung samples and X-rays can offer clues, but the problem might be quite advanced by then. That is why researchers are keen to find a simple, visible early warning sign. Henk Giele, associate professor of plastic, reconstructive, transplant and hand surgery at University of Oxford, was the chief investigator of the trial. He said: “Lungs are prone to rejection due to their exposure to outside air and high propensity to infection. “It is often difficult to know if a reaction is caused by infection or rejection as they look the same at the early stages, but the treatments for each are completely opposite.”If a rash is seen in the skin graft on the arm, a tiny biopsy or sample will be taken to confirm if early rejection is happening, and a big dose of anti-rejection medicine can be given.More on this storyEight organ transplant survivor wedsPublished26 May 2017Girl receives UK’s first rejection-free kidneyPublished22 September 2023Man ‘recovering well’ after pig kidney transplantPublished21 MarchRelated Internet LinksSentinel Trial – Oxford UniversityNHS Blood and TransplantThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published24 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Michelle RobertsDigital health editorFrom Monday, the NHS will take bookings from people in England wanting a free spring Covid booster vaccine. Those eligible, including everyone aged 75 or older or with a weak immune system, can book via the NHS website, app or by calling 119.Covid is now a relatively mild disease for the vast majority but can still be very dangerous and even life-threatening for some. Vaccines lower the risk but protection fades, so top-up jabs are offered. Who can have a free booster job?Those eligible for a top-up shot at pharmacies and GP practices include:everyone aged 75 or older by 30 June 2024people in care homes for older adultsanyone immunosuppressed who is aged six months or olderSome walk-in centres are also offering it.The NHS is sending texts, emails, app messages or letters to those eligible – but they do not need to wait for the invitation to book.Covid booster: Who can get another jab?Covid vaccines: safety and side effectsCovid inquiry postpones vaccine investigationUK Health Security Agency immunisations director Dr Mary Ramsay said: “With Covid-19 still circulating, it’s important those at highest risk who are eligible for the spring vaccine get their jab to help top up their immunity.”We are still seeing Covid-19 causing hospitalisations and severe illness, particularly among older people and those with weakened immune systems.”And the vaccine provides the best protection – so don’t put it off.”If you’re eligible, book your appointment as soon as you’re invited by the NHS.”Which Covid vaccine is being used?Several different vaccines are in use in the UK. The boosters are Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines updated against more recent Covid variants. Can people buy a Covid booster? Some high street chemists and private clinics have started selling and administering Covid vaccines to people aged 12 and over, for about £45-£99. A health professional speaks to each customer to check the booster is suitable. The BBC spoke with Pharmadoctor, which assists the bookings with some pharmacies that offer the service.Chief executive Graham Thomas told BBC News there had been big demand in the few weeks since the Pfizer vaccine went on sale, with more than 1,500 customers buying it at pharmacies his company works with. Of them, 84% had no underlying medical conditions.Many of the rest had conditions such as chronic lung or heart disease. And 45 classed themselves as carers, looking after someone vulnerable. A protein-based booster vaccine made by Novavax, which works in a more traditional way than the mRNA ones, should also be available to buy soon. Moderna hopes to launch a combined flu and Covid vaccine in 2025.More on this storyCovid jab could be available privately from 2024Published5 October 2023German patient vaccinated against Covid 217 timesPublished5 MarchCovid jab skipped by 44%, entire UK study findsPublished16 January

Published49 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, PA MediaBy Michelle RobertsDigital health editorPeople using cannabis THC vapes risk inhaling a very dangerous substance called xylazine, UK experts warn after discovering some confiscated products contained the “zombie” drug. The sedative, designed to put big animals such as cows and horses to sleep, can be lethal for humans. It is “alarming” to find it in “even a few” illicit e-cigarettes that many think are pretty harmless, experts say.It puts people, as well as those who inject or take strong drugs, at risk. The illegal global xylazine market has so far mostly seen it mixed with strong opioid drugs, such as heroin or fentanyl. There has been at least one xylazine-related UK death already – and there are fears misuse could grow, as it has in the US. BBC Inside Health: On the trail of a new street drugDr Caroline Copeland and colleagues from King’s College London say new types of illicit xylazine products are now entering the UK market. As well as risky vapes, they found tablets being sold as codeine and diazepam, or Valium, that contained xylazine. The researchers contacted all toxicology laboratories in the UK last year to gather evidence. They also looked at drug-testing results from hauls seized by law enforcement. The findings are published in the journal Addiction.Although the numbers found were small – only two THC vapes and a small number of illegally sold pills out of tens of thousands of products – the experts say it is still extremely concerning.What are cannabis vapes?tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis – and THC vapes are illegal in the UKcannabidiol (CBD) is also a component of the cannabis plant but does not give a high – and CBD oil, including in vapes, is legal to sell in the UK Dr Copeland told BBC News: “People may not realise what they are actually buying. “They think they are getting a THC vape – but it could contain much more than they expect. “It’s really alarming.”The UK’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs recently recommended to the government xylazine be listed as a Class C drug, putting it in the same category as laughing gas, anabolic steroids and benzodiazepines, which would mean people possessing it could be jailed for two years and those dealing it 14 years.The health risks are amplified when it is taken with other strong sedatives. It can cause:difficulty breathingdangerously low blood pressureslowed heart ratewounds that can become infectedaddiction and severe withdrawal symptomsdeathIt is not clear what level of harm inhaling it might do.Some children and teenagers in the UK have needed hospital treatment after they were thought to have used a vape spiked with another illegal drug, Spice. King’s College London Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience addictions head Prof Sir John Strang, who was not involved in the study, said: “We need to be constantly alert to changes in the nature of the illicit drug market, especially as these changes sometimes bring new health complications or challenges.”A government spokesperson said: “We are aware of the threat from xylazine and are determined to protect people from the threat posed by this drug and other illicit synthetic drugs.”We will not hesitate to act to keep the public safe. Following advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), we intend to make xylazine a Class C drug.”More on this storyFirst UK death linked to ‘zombie’ drug xylazinePublished24 May 2023Teens treated in hospital after using spiked vapePublished12 FebruaryWarning a child could die due to drugs in vapesPublished12 November 2023Warning after vapes containing Spice drug seizedPublished25 October 2023Related Internet LinksAddiction journalThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Science Photo LibraryBy Michelle RobertsDigital health editorUK scientists say they have found a new cause behind much of the damage asthma causes. Cells lining the airways are squeezed to destruction during an attack, their research shows.And drugs to prevent this, rather than manage its aftermath, might break the cycle of harm, the Kings College London researchers told the Science journal. The airways of people with asthma are sensitive to triggers such as pollen, pets and exercise.They become inflamed or swollen, causing symptoms including coughing, wheezing and breathlessness. Existing drugs or inhalers can reduce this inflammation and help keep the airways open. But repeated attacks can cause permanent scarring and narrowing of the airways. Mum makes plea to parents after son’s asthma death’For asthma to take her life was unbelievable’During an attack, the smooth muscle surrounding the airways starts to squeeze and tighten, known as bronchoconstriction. The Kings College London team studied this process in detail, using mice and human lung-tissue samples. Lead researcher Prof Jody Rosenblatt said bronchoconstriction damaged the airway lining, resulting in long-term inflammation, wound healing, and infections that cause more attacks. Until now, this lining damage had been overlooked, she told BBC News.”This epithelial lining is the body’s first line of defence against things like infections and yet it is getting damaged during asthma attacks,” Prof Rosenblatt said.”There’s this constant wounding going on – it’s a vicious cycle.”If we can block the damage, we are hoping that might stop attacks from happening at all.” ‘Desperately needed’One possible preventive treatment the researchers are exploring is a compound called gadolinium, which appears to help – at least in mice. But much more work is needed to see if it might be safe and effective enough to try in people – and that will take years. Asthma and Lung UK research and innovation director Dr Samantha Walker said: “This discovery opens important new doors to explore possible new treatment options desperately needed for people with asthma.”The charity says it’s essential that people with asthma continue to use their prescribed medications correctly – many should be able to get on with their lives without symptoms getting in the way, and for those who are still having symptoms it is important that they talk to their healthcare professional. “We know that there are many people for whom existing asthma treatments don’t work as well, so it’s vital we continue to fund research to find new treatments that better tackle the causes of asthma.”In the UK, more than five million people have asthma, about one in every 12 adults and one in every 11 children.Most people with asthma have two inhalers:a preventer to use regularly, to reduce inflammation and prevent symptomsa reliever, to quickly open the airwaysThose having an attack should not delay seeking help and call 999 if:their reliever is not helpingthe attack lasts four hoursthey are worried at any timeMore on this storyBoy’s asthma death prompts records sharing reviewPublished26 March’Asthma can kill if you don’t look after yourself’Published2 May 2023Related Internet LinksScience journalManaging asthma attacks – Asthma and Lung UKThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published27 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Michelle RobertsDigital health editorA 62-year-old man is said to be recovering well and should leave hospital soon, after getting a new kidney from a pig that was genetically modified to reduce the risk of the organ being rejected.US surgeons say Rick Slayman is a “real hero” for trying the pioneering operation. The ultimate hope is to use animal organs for more transplants.Pig kidneys have been put into brain-dead people before as a test. The four-hour surgery, performed on 16 March, “marks a major milestone in the quest to provide more readily available organs to patients”, Massachusetts General Hospital said in a statement.Mr Slayman had a human kidney transplant at the same hospital in 2018 after being on dialysis for seven years before that, because his own kidneys were not working properly. Five years later, the transplant failed and he had to go back on dialysis in May 2023. His prospects were not looking good, say his doctors – getting the dialysis to work was difficult since his blood vessels had been repeatedly used for it many times. He encountered recurrent dialysis vascular access complications, requiring visits to the hospital every two weeks for de-clotting and surgical revisions, significantly affecting his quality of life, his doctors explained. Mr Slayman said he weighed up the pros and cons and decided to go ahead with the pig kidney transplant: “I saw it not only as a way to help me, but a way to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive.”There is a chronic shortage of human donor organs for people who need them. Animal donors might help solve that. Heart transplants from pigs to humans have been tried recently too. The special pig kidney was provided by eGenesis of Cambridge, Massachusetts. The animal had been genetically edited to remove genes that could be harmful to a human recipient and to add certain human genes to improve compatibility.Mr Slayman is still taking anti-rejection drugs though, and it is not clear for how long his new kidney will function. This is unchartered territory. One of the transplant team, Dr Tatsuo Kawai, said: “Our hope is that this transplant approach will offer a lifeline to millions of patients worldwide who are suffering from kidney failure.”More on this storyPig kidney transplanted into brain-dead personPublished21 October 2021US man gets pig heart in world-first transplantPublished11 January 2022Related Internet LinksMassachusetts General HospitalThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published10 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Michelle RobertsDigital health editorScientists say they have successfully eliminated HIV from infected cells, using Nobel Prize-winning Crispr gene-editing technology. Working like scissors, but at the molecular level, it cuts DNA so “bad” bits can be removed or inactivated.The hope is to ultimately be able to rid the body entirely of the virus, although much more work is needed to check it would be safe and effective. Existing HIV medicines can stop the virus but not eliminate it. The University of Amsterdam team, presenting a synopsis, or abstract, of their early findings at a medical conference this week, stress their work remains merely “proof of concept” and will not become a cure for HIV any time soon.And Dr James Dixon, stem-cell and gene-therapy technologies associate professor at the University of Nottingham, agrees, saying the full findings still require scrutiny.”Much more work will be needed to demonstrate results in these cell assays can happen in an entire body for a future therapy,” he said.”There will be much more development needed before this could have impact on those with HIV.”‘Extremely challenging’Other scientists are also trying to use Crispr against HIV. And Excision BioTherapeutics says after 48 weeks, three volunteers with HIV have no serious side effects.But Dr Jonathan Stoye, a virus expert at the Francis Crick Institute, in London, said removing HIV from all the cells that might harbour it in the body was “extremely challenging”. “Off-target effects of the treatment, with possible long-term side effects, remain a concern,” he said.”It therefore seems likely that many years will elapse before any such Crispr-based therapy becomes routine – even assuming that it can be shown to be effective.” HIV infects and attacks immune-system cells, using their own machinery to make copies of itself.Even with effective treatment, some go into a resting, or latent, state – so they still contain the DNA, or genetic material, of HIV, even if not actively producing new virus.Most people with HIV need life-long antiretroviral therapy. If they stop taking these drugs, the dormant virus can reawaken and cause problems again.A rare few have been apparently “cured”, after aggressive cancer therapy wiped out some of their infected cells, but this would never be recommended purely to treat HIV. More on this storyRare case of woman’s body ridding itself of HIVPublished16 November 2021Second patient cured of HIV, say doctorsPublished10 March 2020

Published14 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Michelle RobertsDigital health editorThere is a worrying rise in whooping cough, officials warn, with 553 cases in England recorded in January alone and high numbers in Wales.They fear it could be a bumper year for the bacterial infection. The last peak year, 2016, saw 5,949 cases in England.Known as pertussis or “100-day cough”, the infection can be particularly serious for babies and infants. And The UK Health Security Agency warns of a steady decline in uptake of the vaccine in pregnant women and children.In September 2023, the number of two-year-olds who completed their routine six-in-one vaccinations, which includes protection against pertussis, was 92.9%, compared with 96.3% in March 2014. Uptake of the maternal pertussis vaccine, offered to women in every pregnancy, also dropped – from over 70% in September 2017 to about 58% in September 2023.Check if your child has whooping coughThe first signs of whooping cough are similar to a cold, with a runny nose and sore throat. But after about a week, the infection can develop into coughing bouts that last a few minutes and are typically worse at night. Young babies may also make a distinctive “whoop” or have difficulty breathing after a bout of coughing.The bacteria spread through coughs and sneezes, so experts advise members of a family in which it has been diagnosed to stay at home until three weeks after the symptoms began or 48 hours after the patient started taking antibiotics.NHS England national director for vaccinations and screening Steve Russell said: “With whooping cough on the rise, it is important that families come forward to get the protection they need. “If you are pregnant and have not been vaccinated yet or your child is not up-to-date with whooping cough or other routine vaccinations, please contact your GP as soon as possible.”And if you or your child have symptoms ask, for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111.”More on this storyWhooping cough cases show sharp risePublished23 JanuaryRelated Internet LinksNHS Whooping CoughThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.