Japanese encephalitis is a serious viral brain infection spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes. It is the leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia, and while the overall risk to short-term travellers is low, the consequences of infection can be devastating. There is no specific antiviral treatment, and up
Teachers, teaching assistants, childcare workers, nursery staff, and others who spend their working days alongside young children face a higher risk of chickenpox exposure than most adults. Children are the primary source of varicella-zoster virus in the community, and adults who have never had chickenpox and have not been vaccinated
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are both liver infections, and both are preventable through vaccination. Yet they are caused by entirely different viruses, spread through different routes, and carry different implications depending on your lifestyle, travel plans, and occupation. The question of hepatitis A vs hepatitis B is not a
Typhoid fever is a serious bacterial infection that remains a real risk for travellers visiting parts of South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Central and South America. Vaccination is one of the most important steps you can take before travelling to affected regions. What often catches people out is not knowing
The HPV vaccine was introduced into the UK school immunisation programme in 2008, initially for girls and extended to boys in 2019. That means a significant number of adults in the UK, particularly those who were already past school age when it launched or who missed their dose at the
Most people in the UK had chickenpox as a child and remember it as an uncomfortable but manageable illness. What fewer people appreciate is how much more serious chickenpox in adults can be, and that a private chickenpox vaccine is readily available for those who have missed natural immunity. This
Meningitis is a serious infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can progress rapidly and, in its most severe forms, can be life-threatening within hours. Vaccination remains the most effective way to reduce the risk of meningococcal disease, but the UK schedule involves several different vaccines
Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral illness that causes sudden high fever and debilitating joint pain. For many years, prevention relied solely on avoiding mosquito bites. That has begun to change. A chikungunya vaccine is now available in the UK, giving eligible travellers an additional layer of protection before heading to
Chikungunya fever is a viral illness that has become an increasingly recognised risk for travellers visiting tropical and subtropical regions. The name, derived from a word in the Makonde language of East Africa meaning ‘to become contorted’, reflects the severe joint pain that is the hallmark of the disease. If
If you are starting Mounjaro (tirzepatide) for weight management, one of the first things your prescriber will explain is that treatment does not begin at full strength. Mounjaro follows a structured dosage schedule that gradually increases over several months, giving your body time to adjust and helping to keep side
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