What is E.coli? Symptoms, signs of infection, causes and how to avoid

Health reporter(wp/es):

E. coli is a common form of bacteria we normally associate with food poisoning and upset stomachs.

Certain strands of the bacteria can also be deadly however.

Food and hygiene tests found high levels of E.coli at the Egyptian hotel where two British tourists died.

Whilst experts don't believe E.coli was responsible for the death of John and Susan Cooper on 21 August, Thomas Cook said it's likely that its presence would explain the raised level of illness reported among other guests.

So what is E.coli, what are the symptoms and can it be deadly? Here's what you should know:

What is E.coli?

E.coli is a common bacteria found in the human and animal intestines.

Although most strains of E.coli are harmless, some can make you sick.

A common cause of infection is eating contaminated food.

E.coli can survive outside of the body, so its levels serve as a measure of general hygiene and faecal contamination of the environment.

E.coli bacteria are a common cause of cystitis, an infection of the bladder that occurs when there is a spread of the bacteria from the gut to the urinary system.

Some types of E.coli can also cause gastrointestinal infections or toxins that can cause severe illness.

What are the signs of infection?

Possible symptoms will depend on the type of E.coli strain.

Symptoms of intestinal infection generally begin between 1 and 10 days after you've been infected.

Common symptoms include:

• abdominal cramping
• diarrhoea
• gas
• loss of appetite
• vomiting
• fatigue
• fever

Can E.coli be deadly?

Some infections can be severe and may be life-threatening.

One complication as a result of E.coli infection is called haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and may develop in 5-10% of people infected with a toxin-producing form of E.coli.

This is a severe kidney-related complication that may, in extreme cases, lead to renal failure and the need for renal replacement therapy.

How is E.coli treated?

Again, the treatment will depend on the type of infection.

Cystitis infections usually go away by themselves after two to four days. In some cases, a short course of antibiotics may be administered.

Rehydration is the main source of treatment. Oral rehydration solutions are particularly helpful in children with diarrhoea as they also replace any sodium, potassium and glucose lost from the body.

How can E.coli be prevented?

Practising good hygiene is key to preventing the spread of E.coli, such as washing your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and before and after preparing food.

Other tips for preventing the spread of E.coli include:

• Wash fruits and vegetables under running water
• cook meats thoroughly, always using a food thermometer to check that the meat has reached a safe internal temperature
• don't cause cross contamination in food preparation areas
• avoid raw milk, unpasteurised dairy products and juices
• don't swallow water when swimming in lakes, ponds, streams and swimming pools

Arson probe launched as woman in her 40s dies during blaze in south east London

Pic:Sixty firefighters were called to the blaze in the early hours of Thursday ( PA )
Crime reporter,London(wp/es):

A fatal fire in south east London is now being treated by police a suspected arson.

A woman, in her late 40s, died in the blaze in Centurion Square, Woolwich, in the early hours of Thursday, Scotland Yard said.

The woman was found dead inside the property and officers later said they are treating the circumstances of the blaze are suspicious.

A spokesman said: "Detectives are keen to hear from anyone in the area - including local residents - who heard or saw anything suspicious before or after the fire started."

The force added that its murder cops "have been made aware of the incident".

The woman's next-of-kin have been informed.

Two other people inside the property, a man in his 60s and woman in her 50s, were taken to hospital for treatment. Their conditions are not believed to be serious, police added.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting CAD 380/06SEP, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

British scientist's wife and son fighting for life

Pic:Dr Katy Williams, who was injured in the attack, pictured with husband is Dr Sam Williams. Their son was also seriously hurt (wp )
Staff reporter(wp):

The wife and young son of a British scientist are fighting for their lives in hospital after being attacked by a giraffe at a wildlife reserve in South Africa.

US-born Dr Katy Williams, 35, and son Finn, three, were set upon near their home on the Blyde Wildlife Estate in Hoedspruit.

They were saved when Dr Williams’ husband, Sam, returned home from work and managed to chase off the animal on Monday evening.

He said it was a “very difficult time” but that he regarded the attack as an “unfortunate act of nature”.

It is thought the giraffe had attacked because it was protecting its young calf and had felt under threat when they surprised her.

Both husband and wife are scientists with post PhD experience in animal-related fields.

Dr Williams and her son were so badly hurt they were transferred to a local airfield to await two helicopter air ambulances from Johannesburg.

They underwent operations and are said to be in a stable but critical condition.

Riaan Cilliers, manager of Blyde Wildlife Estate, said: “We are all in shock about this very sad incident and we ensure the family that they are in our prayers.”

The attack was just 150 yards from the home where the two scientists live.

Dr Williams and her son were waiting for her husband to return from his evening trail run in the hills around the nature reserve.

A lawyer who represents the family Marina Botha said: “Sam confirms that he understands nature and with the information available at the moment he regards the incident as an unfortunate act of nature.

“He understands the giraffe saw his wife as a threat to her young one” .

A spokesman for ER24 who sent out two air ambulance helicopters confirmed both Katy and Finn had suffered “numerous serious injuries” and were taken to hospital in critical condition.

The attack comes after a cameraman on British TV show Wild at Heart was killed by a giraffe as he filmed at the Glen Africa game reserve in Broederstroom, in North West Province, earlier this year.

South African film maker Carlos Carvalho, 47, was knocked 16 feet through the air when the giraffe slammed into him with his neck and died of his injuries later in hospital.

Giraffes grow up to 19 feet tall and can weigh over a tonne. Males become aggressive in mating season and females when protecting their young.

How to check your heart age, prevent the risk of stroke or heart attack and stay healthy

Health reporter(wp/es):

Do you know how old your heart is? To combat the risk of heart attack and stroke, Public Health England are urging people to take an online test to find out.

The test, which has been taken by almost two million people, looks at diet and lifestyle choices to assess the risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke.

PHE estimate that around 80 per cent of heart attacks and strokes in people under 75 could be prevented if their heart health was improved.

Here's everything you need to know about taking the online test, plus tips on how to keep your heart in tip-top condition:

How do I take the heart age test?

You can take the test by visiting the NHS on their website.

The test asks 16 physical and lifestyle questions and gives you an estimation of your heart age and a prediction of the risk of having a heart attack or stroke by a certain age.

How can I keep my heart healthy?

The NHS advises the following steps on making your heart healthier:

• Give up smoking: smoking is one of the main causes of coronary heart disease. A year after giving up, your risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker.
• Get active: Do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week.
• Manage your weight: stick to a healthy, balanced diet low in fat and sugar, with plenty of fruit and vegetables.
• Eat more fibre: aim for at least 30g a day. High fibre foods include wholemeal bread, bran, oats, wholegrain cereals, potatoes with skins on and fruit and veg.
• Cut down on saturated fat: eating foods high in saturated fat can increase the level of cholesterol in your blood, increasing your risk of heart disease.
• Get your 5 a day: fruit and veg are a good source of fibre, vitamins and minerals.
• Cut down on salt: avoiding eating foods high in salt to maintain a healthy blood pressure.
• Eat fish: eat fish at least twice a week, including a portion of oily fish. Fish such as mackerel, sardines, fresh tuna and salmon are a source of omega-3 fats, which can help protect against heart disease. 
• Drink less alcohol: Although it may not feel like it, alcohol still contains calories. Try to keep to the recommended daily alcohol limits to reduce the risk of health problems.
• Read the food label: when shopping, pay attention to the food labels for things like fat, salt and sugar content.

Hospitals could begin administering the cancer treatment to children within a matter of weeks

Health reporter(wp/es):

The head of the NHS England has hailed a new cancer treatment they will offer to children "game-changing."

The new ground-breaking treatment, called CAR-T, helps patients battling aggressive leukaemia where other drugs may have failed.

NHS England head Simon Stevens said an affordable price had been agreed with Novartis, the treatment's manufacturer and the NHS.

CAR-T currently has a list price of £282,000 per patient.

Hospitals could begin administering the drug to children within a matter of weeks.

But what exactly is CAR-T and how will the NHS be funding it? Here's everything you need to know:

How does CAR-T work?

CAR-T works by taking the patient's own white blood cells, re-engineering them in a lab to create ones that are able to fight cancer cells.

These new cells are then injected into the body, where they multiply.

As well as being used to treat leukaemia, there are also trials looking at CAR-T for myeloma and neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that affects particular nerve cells.

Can CAR-T cure leukaemia?

Leukaemia is an aggressive form of blood cancer caused by a rise in the number of white blood cells in your body.

CAR-T has been known to cure some patients, but it's a relatively new drug so there's no guarantee.

Will CAR-T cause side effects?

Again, because it's a new treatment, the side effects haven't been well documented.

However, according to Cancer Research UK, two possible known side effects include: cytokine release syndrome (fever, dizziness, difficulty breathing) and having no B cells or fewer B cells after treatment with CAR-T cells that target CD19.

How will the NHS fund the treatment?

The NHS has struck a deal with Novartis that means a CAR-T treatment called Kymriah for patients up to 25 years old who have advanced B-cell lymphoblastic leukaemia and has not been helped by other drugs.

This doesn't mean everyone under these circumstances will receive treatment, though.

Only about 15 of the estimated 400 children that are diagnosed with leukaemia every year in the UK could be suitable for the CAR-T treatment.

Berkeley says London housing market is lacking ‘urgency’

Business reporter(wp/es):

London's housing market lacks “urgency” as a cluster of headwinds dulls the market, housebuilder Berkeley warned on Wednesday.

The company, founded by housing market sage Tony Pidgley, is seeing subdued conditions in the capital although it stuck to its most recent profit guidance in its latest trading update. 

Berkeley blamed a combination of factors, exacerbated by Brexit and high stamp duty costs, for the malaise, hampering a “functioning” housing market.

The firm said: “In essence, this is a market that lacks urgency and London remains constrained by high transaction costs, restrictive income multiple limits on mortgage borrowing and prevailing economic uncertainty, accentuated by Brexit. 

“These headwinds affect all segments of the market from home movers to downsizers and investors alike. A functioning housing market, where good new development can deliver much-needed additionality across all tenures, requires conditions for growth and low barriers to entry which are currently absent from the housing market in London and the South-east.”

Its comments came as rival Barratt Developments posted a 9% rise in pre-tax profits to £835.5 million for the year to June, despite “continued headwinds” in the high-end central London market. 

Although Barratt has not bought any sites in central London since 2014, chief executive David Thomas said parts of the market, such as Nine Elms, were still struggling with oversupply. 

Barratt instead concentrated on more-buoyant markets on the outskirts of the capital.

It sold 17,579 homes last year, the highest for a decade.

Teenager fighting for life after being knifed repeatedly in York Way, north London

Crime reporter,London(wp/es):

A teenager has been left in a critical condition in hospital after he was stabbed in north London.

The male victim, believed to be 18, was found with stab wounds after an altercation in York Way, near Kings Cross, on Tuesday night.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to the scene at 10pm, although a group of suspects had fled.

The victim was rushed to hospital where he remained in a critical condition on Wednesday morning, a Scotland Yard spokesman said.

The incident comes amid a rise in violent crime in London and parts of the UK.

There have been nearly 100 homicides in the capital alone so far this year.