Oxford News
Hantavirus risk explained by Oxford University expert
A British crew member, diagnosed with the hantavirus, is being prepared for medical evacuation from the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius.
Meanwhile, a British passenger was medically evacuated from the ship on April 27 and remains in isolation in hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.
A total of seven suspected cases have been identified, with three deaths so far, on the ship anchored off Cape Verde.
Sir Andrew, director of the Oxford vaccine group, said: “The Andes virus, which has been identified as the variant behind the outbreak, is known very rarely to spread between people with close contact.
“It means it is very easy to isolate people who are unwell and to follow quarantine and so on to avoid spread to other people.”
READ MORE: New cycle lane in Oxfordshire town brandished ‘laughable’ by residents
Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group at the University of Oxford, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The Andes strain of this virus is common amongst rodents in countries like Argentina in South America.
“With this particular hantavirus, the Andes virus, it is known very rarely to spread between people with close contact, usually symptomatic individuals who are in close contact with each other.
“And that’s important because it means it is very easy to isolate people who are unwell and to follow sort of quarantine and so on to avoid spread to other people.
“It’s not like the situation we had with Covid-19 in the pandemic where people could spread even without symptoms, and therefore it was able to spread very easily in the population.”
READ MORE: Botley West solar farm decision sparks controversy
The ship, which was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde, has already had three deaths linked to hantavirus, with two Dutch passengers and one German passengers suspected to have passed from the disease.
Once the crew member, a Dutch colleague and another passenger had been evacuated the ship will start the three-day journey to the Canary Islands, docking in either Gran Canaria or Tenerife.
Dr Jacqueline Weyer, acting deputy executive director for National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa, said that Andes virus is a “slow burner” and “moves really slowly” which “allows a window of opportunity to contain the outbreak”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said plans are being made for the “safe onward travel” of Britons on the ship.
Hantavirus infections, which are usually spread by infected rodents’ urine or faeces, can lead to severe respiratory illness and can sometimes be fatal.
While it is rare, hantavirus infections can spread between people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Horse-bedding specialist Unibed, based in South Milford near Selby, is the headline sponsor for the World of Horses arena at Farm Fest.
Farm Fest, which is being held in Warwickshire from May 22 to May 24, is the UK’s biggest country fair and music festival.
It has been described by Mr Clarkson as “rock and roll farming”. Stars include all the main characters from the Amazon Prime show Clarkson’s Farm, together with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, 10CC, Hothouse Flowers and DJ Chris Moyles.
Jessica Vickers, commercial and operations director of UNIBED, said it is “tremendously proud to be playing a major role in such a high-profile and prestigious national farming event”.
“Our appearance at Farm Fest is a recognition of how far we have come, while also giving us a chance to say thank you to customers old and new,” she said.
A Farm Fest spokesperson added: “We are working with Unibed to bring you a high energy celebration of horsepower in every shape and size.
“From thundering hooves to lightning-fast turns, this is where tradition meets adrenaline.
“Power. Precision. Pony-sized chaos. And pure countryside theatre.”
Attending the event yesterday (Monday, May 4) in New York City, the popstar wore a white Stella McCartney gown with a metallic mask covering her entire face.
This unconventional outfit choice grabbed attention and led to a wave of reaction online across social media.
One X user said: “A five-minute trip to space and Katy Perry came back thinking she’s from another planet.”
READ MORE: Cotswolds hotel stay worth over £700 ‘ruined by rowdy hen party’
Another added: “Katy Perry went into space ONE time and comes back looking like a Quarian.”
Elsewhere, Kim Kardashian, who stayed in Oxfordshire earlier this year, turned heads in a tangerine fibreglass breastplate by British sculptor Allen Jones.
The reality star’s armoured look, repurposed from a cast Jones made in the 1960s, was paired with a leather skirt by London-based studio Whitaker Malem.
Often dubbed fashion’s biggest night, the gala raises money for New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.
READ MORE: Riverside pub back from the dead years after closing
Ms Perry’s appearance at the Met Gala is ahead of her headline show at Woodstock’s Blenheim Palace this summer.
The 41-year-old is set to play a gig on Wednesday, July 1, to massive crowds in the picturesque town at the edge of the Cotswolds.
She will be joined by a Brit Award-nominated singer-songwriter as Mimi Webb supports her on the night.
Ms Perry is one of the best‑selling music artists of all time, with more than 150 million records sold worldwide and at least six singles and one album certified Diamond in the US alone.
The presenter is well known to audiences for working with Richard Hammond and James May on both the BBC’s Top Gear and Prime Video’s The Grand Tour.
Having spent over two decades as part of the iconic trio, Mr Clarkson also has presented Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? on ITV since 2018.
This came after he replaced former host Chris Tarrant, who had been on the programme since its inception.
READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson invites girl, 4, to farm after yobs destroy her egg stall
Only six UK contestants had ever won the £1 million prize on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? until last month.
Retired IT analyst Roman Dubowski became the seventh, winning the £1 million jackpot during this current series of the show.
In the wake of the win, The Express has claimed that there is a “glaring issue” with the show that ITV “can’t hide”.
Deputy showbiz editor Rebecca Jones went on to write that the prize money is no longer what it once was when the programme first aired 28 years ago.
READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson reveals he’s on TikTok and this is what he watches
“When the ITV programme launched in 1998, hosted by Chris Tarrant, the prize money was astounding,” she wrote.
“While nobody can deny that £1 million is still a life-changing amount of money all these years later, the figure has certainly not kept up with UK inflation
“According to the latest data, £1 million in 1998 had the same purchasing power as around £2.5 million today.
“So why haven’t ITV bosses boosted the figure to at least £2 million? The show’s title wouldn’t need to be changed, as it would still apply with the higher number offered.”
Three evacuated from hantavirus cruise ship as Canary Islands rejects plans for it to dock there – Europe live | Spain
4 Oxfordshire restaurants at risk of closure with jobs at risk
Plans for new Oxford graduate college approved
-
Crime & Safety2 weeks agoBicester man denies sexually assaulting two young girls
-
Oxford News2 weeks agoBanbury cake company with 400 year history shut down
-
UK News2 weeks agoStarmer says it ‘beggars belief’ he wasn’t told about Mandelson vetting failure as he faces Commons – UK politics live | Politics
-
UK News2 weeks agoTV tonight: Shetland meets CSI in a new drama about a disgraced cop | Television
-
Crime & Safety3 weeks agoLorry overturns on Oxfordshire A43 roundabout with driver trapped
-
Crime & Safety2 weeks agoBicester crash: Motorcyclist ‘seriously injured’ in hospital
-
UK News3 weeks agoFears over rogue parking by sunrise-chasers at national park after overnight ban
-
Crime & Safety3 weeks ago‘A red kite stole my mother-in-law’s sausage rolls’