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Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A doctor has warned that the mysteriously named Disease X could become the next huge pandemic, adding that the world is not prepared for a sudden boom in cases. Disease X - which is the name given to a as-yet-uknown infection - is among 11 diseases which have been described as dangerous by doctors , reports the Mirror. Measles, cholera, scabies, bird flu, and even another Covid outbreak were also named in the list of scientists' most feared infections for 2025. The World Health Organization (WHO) had previously classed the unknown pathogens as Disease X, and it was included in its own priority list of diseases that needed researched urgently. Recently, the disease killed at least 31 people - mainly children - in the Panzi region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The WHO revealed that there were more than 400 recorded cases of an undiagnosed disease in the DRC between October 24 and December 5. The most common symptoms included fever, headache, body aches, and a bad cough. However, the most severe cases were linked to severe malnutrition, they added. Disease X is one of the infections that's is likely to lead to severe outbreaks, and potentially a pandemic, according to Dr Michael Head; Senior Research Fellow in Global Health at the University of Southampton. If an outbreak was to happen immediately, the world is likely to be severely unprepared, similar to the global shock of coronavirus. Disease X does not refer to one infection but a name given to any disease that has not yet been identified. However, the idea of an unknown virus or bacterial infection is very real, and scientists have urged governments to be prepared for anything Mother Nature might throw at us. "Disease X is the name given to an as-yet-unknown bug, that has the potential to cause large outbreaks or even a pandemic," Dr Head told the Mirror. "This bug would have the potential to spread quickly and have a high mortality rate; for example like COVID-19. "The world was poorly prepared for the most recent pandemic, and though we have significant advances in technology, such as the use of mRNA platforms for vaccines and other medicines, we would likely fall short again should Disease X emerge tomorrow." Dengue fever is the world's most commonly transmitted virus, spread by mosquitoes. Tens of millions of cases are contracted per year, and up to 25,000 people die annually. Commonly found in South America and Southeast Asia, more cases are popping up in southern Europe - mainly due to climate change. France, Italy and Spain are most likely to see outbreaks of dengue - which is also referred to as the 'bone breaker' disease. The mosquito that carries the virus is eventually expected to gain a foothold in the UK. However, it's still unknown when that might be. Medicine professor at the University of East Anglia, Paul Hunter, expected to see more cases of dengue fever in 2025 - specifically in southern Europe. This year, there was only one confirmed case of chikungunya in Europe, although it could potentially be on the rise in the coming year, warned Professor Hunter. It's another mosquito-driven viral infection, and is similar to the mayaro virus and the ross river virus. Nearly all cases of the virus are found in South America; particularly in Brazil, which had more than 400,000 between August and October in 2024. Yet, as European climates are becoming more favourable for mosquitoes, and scientists fear chikungunya could be on the rise. Professor Hunter said: "I think we will likely see more mosquito-borne diseases in southern Europe; mainly dengue but also probably chikungunya. I also worry about West Nile fever." The West Nile virus is not often noticed in about 80% of human patients. However, for those remaining 20%, it can lead to deadly West Nile fever. The virus is transmitted by mosquito bite, although it could also be spread by blood transfusions and organ transplants. It's still to be reported by local transmission in the UK, but there have been cases of travellers returning with the infection. Human infections have been reported in Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and Germany since the start of November 2024. At its worst, West Nile fever can develop into West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND). WNND describes when the nervous system is directly affected by the virus, and it can include developing meningitis, encephalitis, and acute flaccid myelitis. Measles is an extremely serious airborne infection that mainly affects young children. Over 107,000 people died from measles globally in 2023, a majority of whom were under fives years old. It's spread by coughing or sneezing, moving in air droplets, and can live in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours. That makes it highly infectious, and infects about 90% of all unvaccinated people within close contact. Measles has been on the rise in the western world over the past few years, largely driven by a fall in vaccination rates. The proportion of kids receiving their first dose of the measles vaccine in 2019 was 86%. But that fell to 83% in 2023. Dr Head said: "Measles is vaccine-preventable. With two doses of the MMR vaccine, that stops measles in its tracks. With a high uptake, we could literally eradicate it from the planet, like smallpox. A lower uptake, partly due to too much covid interrupting health service delivery in the pandemic, means children in the UK and globally are being affected. It is a nasty infection in unvaccinated children, and it can and does kill." Coronavirus has been around since the beginning of the pandemic, and has never left. It's also still mutating and changing, with new strains harbouring the potential to become more infections and potentially vaccine-resistant. In October 2024, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed a new variant appeared to be more infectious than previous strains. The XEC variant, which combined strains of KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 suddenly sparked a big rise in Covid cases across the country. Admission rates for people testing positive for Covid rose from 3.7 per 100,000 to 4.5 per 100,000 in just one week. Dr Head said: "The vaccines, along with use of medicines and diagnostics etc., have massively blunted the public health impact of COVID -19. But, it’s still here, very much hasn’t gone away, and will continue to pose a problem to health services and populations everywhere around the world. Do get vaccinated if another dose if offered to you!" The WHO has warned that cholera is a global public health threat. Caused by consuming food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae bacteria, it's a severe diarrhoeal disease. In the most extreme cases, the infection can develop extremely fast, leading to death within a few hours if not treated. Up to 143,000 people die from cholera each year worldwide. There have been seven cholera pandemics since in the 19th century, with the most recent in 1961 largely affecting south Asia. But forced migration, sparked by climate change, could mean that 2025 sees another big surge in cholera cases, warned Professor Hunter. Still, cholera cases are incredibly rare in Europe, and most confirmed cases are found in Africa and Asia. In 2022, for example, 29 cases were reported by nine EU countries; all of which included a history of travel to a cholera hotspot. Avian flu, or bird flu as it's known, is widely accepted as the most likely known cause of the next pandemic. It's a form of flu virus that commonly spreads among birds, but has been known to move across to humans. The virus isn't easily passed to humans, although it can mutate rapidly, leaving scientists fearing a mass outbreak. As it stands, almost all cases of H5N1 - the most common bird flu strain in humans - have been reported in those that work closely with animals. "A permanent member of any ‘possible infectious disease threat’ list, avian influenza evolves its shape and style a little like the Covid variants, and has the potential to cause a pandemic," said Dr Head. "We haven’t yet seen widespread human-to-human transmission - but we could do." Bird flu is spread to humans by touching infected animals, their droppings or bedding, or by preparing infected poultry for cooking. There isn't a seasonal bird flu vaccine, but a universal jab to protect against all types of flu, including avian flu, would be the "holy grail", added Dr Head. Antibiotic-resistant infections continue to rise in the UK, the UKHSA has warned. With the WHO stating that antimicrobial resistance is a top global health threat. Antimicrobials are medicines commonly used to treat infectious diseases, including antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals. Scientists have warned that these infections are taking increasingly longer to react to the medications, as they're evolving and developing to protect against them. Individuals who catch a bacterial infection that's resistant to antibiotics are more likely to die within 30 days, according to the UKHSA. Professor Hunter added that antimicrobial-resistant bacteria posed a "significant concern" going into 2025. E.coli is by far the most common type of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the UK, which commonly causes diarrhoea, vomiting, and urinary tract infections. By the middle of 2024, the UK reported more than 600 cases of the bacteria, which was markedly more than seen in previous years. UKHSA Chief Executive, Professor Dame Jenny Harries, said in November: "Increasingly the first antibiotics that patients receive aren’t effective at tackling their infections. That’s not just an inconvenience – it means they are at greater risk of developing a severe infection and sepsis. Our declining ability to treat and prevent infections is having an increasing impact, particularly on our poorest communities. "Only take antibiotics if you have been told to do so by a healthcare professional. Do not save some for later or share them with friends and family. This isn’t just for your own health - it’s about protecting everyone in our communities and future generations." Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a bacterial infection that affects the lungs, and can be deadly if left untreated. It often affects young children and babies, but any can develop symptoms if they become infected. The infection is named after the characteristic 'whoop' sound made by infected young babies between deep breaths. Yet, not all babies make the noise, which means it can go untreated for some time. The UK is in the middle of a major whooping cough outbreak, and annual confirmed cases topped 10,000 in August. The second quarter of the year saw higher confirmed cases than any of the quarters in 2012, which was the last major outbreak year. Professor Hunter said it remained unclear whether there would be more cases of whooping cough in 2025 than 2024, but it remained a "big concern". At least 10 infants have died in the UK since the start of the current outbreak, which dates back to November 2023. UKHSA's Director of Immunisation, Dr Mary Ramsay, said earlier this year: "Vaccination is the best defence against whooping cough and it is vital that pregnant women and young infants receive their vaccines at the right time. Pregnant women are offered a whooping cough vaccine in every pregnancy, ideally between 20 and 32 weeks. "This passes protection to their baby in the womb so that they are protected from birth in the first months of their life when they are most vulnerable and before they can receive their own vaccines." Recently, doctors have urged Brits to avoid ignoring the signs of scabies infestation, after a spike in cases. The condition is caused by tiny mites burrowing into the skin to lay their eggs, sparking a really unpleasant itchy rash. Scabies doesn't cause death in many people, but it can really affect your quality of life, according to Dr Head. It's particularly common in the UK, and is mainly seen in institutional settings, including schools, care homes, and prisons. The number of confirmed scabies cases in England increased by 58% in the first half of 2024, compared with 2023. GP diagnoses were also well above the five-year average, with the north of England seeing the largest proportion of cases. "The mites burrow under the skin, causing an immune response that triggers inflammation and itching," said Dr Head. "You can catch it by prolonged skin-to-skin contact, or via clothes, furniture or bedding that an infected person may have used previously." Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
Twitchy has told you about Jaguar, the car company, that looked at the way Bud Light blew up its brand and said, 'No, hold our beer' before releasing an ad that looked like something out of a theater major's fever dream . It also didn't help that after the fact, the PR geniuses behind the Jaguar X account got snobby with critics and said we'd soon see things their way. LOL, not a chance. These decisions have an impact on their business, and Jaguar stocks are reflecting the fact this rebranding isn't going the way Jaguar hoped. Not at all: Jaguar stock price tumbles amid 'woke' ad ‘backlash’ https://t.co/r21TFYG2jR More from Finbold: The famed British – though Indian-owned – luxury car company, Jaguar, recently caused a social media storm on X as it unveiled its latest ‘Copy nothing’ commercial. Many commentators, including billionaire Elon Musk, quickly mocked the firm over the ad’s strange and apparently disconnected nature. Musk, for example, simply asked if the company even sells cars in his comment. Furthermore, due to the advertisement featuring vivid colors, flamboyantly dressed actors, and gender non-conforming individuals, some have seemingly taken it to be part of the ‘culture war’ and threatened to will the ‘go woke, go broke’ slogan into existence by threatening a boycott. The notion that the new direction would lead to Jaguar’s downfall was seemingly confirmed by the fact the car maker’s parent company, Tata Motors (NSE: TATAMOTORS), experienced a price drop in the 24-hour charts in the Indian national stock exchange and the BSE. Oh well. Jaguar: “We got people talking about our brand!” Normal people: “What did it cost?” Jaguar: pic.twitter.com/1WmXZkVFo6 Perfect use of the Thanos meme. I chose the best-looking model from their commercial. I would have included a Jaguar, but it seems they forgot it was a car ad. pic.twitter.com/RY71ZFHUSO If you showed that ad to someone not on X, there's no chance they'd now it was for a car. These brands are out of touch with reality and it’s catching up with them Five years ago, this would've been a blip on the radar. But the cultural winds have shifted. This is an excellent point. They made Bud Light cheap enough to where people had to start buying it again. I don't think that would work for a luxury car brand like Jaguar. pic.twitter.com/XmE5r2hdQw Hard to do that with a luxury car. I've never been threatened by a car company before.🤣 pic.twitter.com/3qYbYs0PDr Neither have we. Well deserved response https://t.co/BTlfYiEe2s They deserve all the backlash they get. I am going to say it.....I TOLD YOU SO. #BoycottJaguar https://t.co/WTwLZzkmzx We all knew this would happen. Well, everyone except Jaguar's marketing department. Can't imagine why. https://t.co/3IS5bPdpxz pic.twitter.com/JNvVYchyxg Total mystery. The overton window is shifted. Reject the woke mind virus. Now is the time to PUSH. Everyone fights, nobody quits https://t.co/CBj8PAtus1 Reject the woke mind virus soundly.Premier David Eby made his annual visit to the B.C. business community this week, but if you were looking for specifics and good news, you were left grasping at straws. Paper straws, which fall apart pretty much right away. As evidence that he’s turned a page with the business community, Eby cited fast-tracking nine wind energy projects. There will be more examples, he promised vaguely, with no hint of what industries or projects he may be favouring. Or why. Or how. Or when. So it’s fair to say Eby is not exactly throwing caution to the wind to attract more investment into B.C. – which is seeing the conclusion of a $100 billion burst in energy infrastructure construction , and virtually nothing in line to replace it. B.C. Chamber of Commerce president Fiona Famulak tried her best to coax a commitment to natural resources out of Eby, asking a question that cited the Mining Association of B.C.’s analysis that it takes 12-15 years to permit a mine in this province. Pushing back, Eby claimed his government had reduced the timeline for mining permits by 40 per cent, but offered no corroborating evidence. Even if we take the premier at his word, that means the 12-15-year review period has been cut to seven to nine years. That’s some thin gruel. And even thinner when one considers it came just minutes after U.S. president-elect Donald Trump put this out on his Truth Social: “Any person or company investing ONE BILLION DOLLARS, OR MORE, in the United States of America, will receive fully expedited approvals and permits, including, but in no way limited to, all Environmental approvals. GET READY TO ROCK!!!” Or, put another way: “Drill, baby, drill!” How does that affect Canada? It’s better understood that Trump’s proposed 25 per cent tariffs would be incredibly harmful. For example, the softwood lumber tariff has resulted in $9 billion paid by Canadian producers since 2017. That’s by one industry on one product, at a rate less than half of what Trump is threatening. And yet this policy of “fully expedited approvals” could be even more damaging to the B.C. economy. If you’re an investor in oil, natural gas, tech, automobile manufacturing, mining, battery plants, pipelines, large development projects or other big-ticket items, why would you ever come to B.C., when you could get to work in any American state far faster and cheaper? Where your jobs and investment would be welcomed with open arms and the removal of regulatory barriers? By contrast, the BC NDP government has slathered cost and red tape on to business since 2017: multiple tax hikes, anti-employer rhetoric, WorkSafe regulations skewed completely to labour. And their soft-on-crime and drug-friendly policies have ramped up petty crime, again harming business. “When you have a near-death experience as a politician, it focuses the mind,” Eby said at the end of his speech, turning the focus back to himself. That’s all well and good. But it’s our provincial economy and our businesses that are having a near-death experience right now, as the provincial deficit and debt rush out of control, government hiring and costs far outpace the corporate sector that has to pay for them, and both private sector payroll and hiring are falling . America’s arms are wide open. But despite his political near-death experience, B.C.’s premier seems as unfocused and as unhelpful as ever. Jordan Bateman is vice-president of communication at the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association.With nearly all of the votes counted, left-leaning Mr Milanovic won 49% while his main challenger Dragan Primorac, a candidate of the ruling conservative HDZ party, trailed far behind with 19%. Pre-election polls had predicted that the two would face off in the second round on January 12, as none of the eight presidential election contenders were projected to get more than 50% of the vote. Mr Milanovic thanked his supporters but warned that “this was just a first run”. “Let’s not be triumphant, let’s be realistic, firmly on the ground,” he said. “We must fight all over again. It’s not over till it’s over.” Mr Milanovic, the most popular politician in Croatia, has served as prime minister in the past. Populist in style, the 58-year-old has been a fierce critic of current Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and continuous sparring between the two has been a recent hallmark of Croatia’s political scene. Mr Plenkovic has sought to portray the vote as one about Croatia’s future in the EU and Nato. He has labelled Mr Milanovic “pro-Russian” and a threat to Croatia’s international standing. “The difference between him (Mr Primorac) and Milanovic is quite simple: Milanovic is leading us East, Primorac is leading us West,” he said. Though the presidency is largely ceremonial in Croatia, an elected president holds political authority and acts as the supreme commander of the military. Mr Milanovic has criticised the Nato and European Union support for Ukraine and has often insisted that Croatia should not take sides. He has said Croatia should stay away from global disputes, thought it is a member of both Nato and the EU. Mr Milanovic has also blocked Croatia’s participation in a Nato-led training mission for Ukraine, declaring that “no Croatian soldier will take part in somebody else’s war”. His main rival in the election, Mr Primorac, has stated that “Croatia’s place is in the West, not the East”. However, his bid for the presidency has been marred by a high-level corruption case that landed Croatia’s health minister in jail last month and which featured prominently in pre-election debates. Trailing a distant third in the pre-election polls is Marija Selak Raspudic, a conservative independent candidate. She has focused her election campaign on the economic troubles of ordinary citizens, corruption and issues such as population decline in the country of some 3.8 million. Sunday’s presidential election is Croatia’s third vote this year, following a snap parliamentary election in April and the European Parliament balloting in June.
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