Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
23 January 2012 08:34
Whooping cough is caused by a bacterium, and is highly infectious
A suspected outbreak of whooping cough in the US was a false alarm, according to experts.
An investigation into the events, which took place in mid 2009, was carried out by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC found that rather than being an outbreak of the highly contagious bacterial infection, the numerous cases reported were more likely to have been a "pseudo-outbreak", experts having been misled by contaminated samples.
Despite the conclusions, it is vital for travellers planning to visit areas where the disease has been reported to arrange appropriate medical travel insurance.
However, the investigation also concluded that an outbreak the previous winter was likely to have been a genuine threat.
Lead researcher at the CDC Sema Mandal told Reuters Health that her team had found "strong evidence of other outbreaks".
Whooping cough causes uncontrollable coughing in victims, and infects up to 50 million people each year. If untreated, the disease can be fatal.
14 November 2018
Leukaemia patients are now a step closer to personalised treatments after a British study looked at the role gene mutations play in blood cancers.
[more...]
13 November 2018
A quick scan of the blood vessels in a patient's neck could soon be a critical part of future dementia screening, new research has suggested.
10 November 2018
The NHS spends more than £1 billion a year on prescriptions for people with diabetes, new figures show.
09 November 2018
Woman who smoke, have diabetes, or high blood pressure are more likely to suffer a heart attack than men with the same risk factors, a new study claims.
08 November 2018
Millions of UK pensioners feel they don't have anyone they can turn to for help, a leading charity has warned.
07 November 2018
Over a quarter of medical workers are still reluctant to recommend e-cigarettes to smokers despite being told to do so by health authorities, a new survey has revealed.
06 November 2018
A new direct flight between Manchester and Mumbai could boost the economy of northern England to the tune of £400 million, a new report suggests.
02 November 2018
Air travellers could soon face restrictions on the amount of alcohol they can drink before flying, under plans currently being considered by the government.
01 November 2018
A vegan diet could help people living with diabetes to better manage their condition, a new review suggests.
31 October 2018
Electric planes could soon be flying on short-haul routes in Europe, according to the boss of EasyJet.
30 October 2018
UK air travellers waste up to £175 million every year on seat allocations that they don't need, a new study has revealed.
27 October 2018
Nearly a third of pregnant women had their labour induced last year, leading experts to link the figure with rising maternal age and obesity.