News

��app Comment: Loneliness impacting 1 in 6 people, WHO report finds

lshkb29 — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 14:37:59 +0000

��app Comment: Loneliness impacting 1 in 6 people, WHO report finds by lshkb29 Mon, 06/30/2025 - 15:37

Loneliness is impacting one in six people worldwide, with significant impacts on health and wellbeing, according to a new report from the World Health Organization.

The Commission on Social Connection report found that loneliness and isolation was connected to an estimated 100 deaths every hour and more than 871,000 deaths each year. In comparison, those who described themselves as having a strong social connection were more likely to have improved health and live a longer life.

The findings suggest that loneliness is affecting people of all ages, especially adolescents and people living in low- and middle-income countries. Between 17–21% of individuals aged 13 to 29 reported feeling lonely, with the highest rates among teenagers. About 24% of people in low-income countries reported feeling lonely, which is twice the rate reported in high-income countries (around 11%).

Data on social isolation was found to be more limited, but it may affect up to 1 in 3 older adults and 1 in 4 adolescents.

Social connection was found to improve long-term health, and was linked to a reduction in inflammation and a lower risk of serious health problems. In contrast, loneliness and social isolation was found to correlate with an increase in disease risk, including stroke and cognitive decline, and also negatively impacted mental health.

The WHO report says that loneliness and social isolation may be influenced by numerous factors including poor health, low income and education, living alone, and the use of digital technologies. It also calls for vigilance around the effects of excessive screen time or negative online interactions on the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

Professor Shereen Hussein, Professor of Health and Social Care Policy at the ��app of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), contributed to the report as a member of the WHO Commission’s technical advisory group. As part of the Centre for Care Research and Policy at LSHTM, Professor Hussein is a leading expert on ageing and long-term care, and helps to develop inclusive social care policies.

Commenting on the report, Professor Hussein said: “I’m proud to have contributed to this flagship report from the WHO Commission on Social Connection, which highlights social connection as a vital determinant of health and wellbeing.

“As someone deeply engaged in research on ageing and long-term care, it’s especially concerning to see such clear evidence that older people and their families, who often have fewer social connections, are disproportionately affected by loneliness and isolation worldwide.

“The impact of social disconnection extends beyond individual health, with research estimating that loneliness costs employers around US$ 3.2 billion annually, due to reduced productivity and staff turnover.

“Emerging UK evidence also suggests that loneliness may be causally linked to at least six diseases, including hypothyroidism, asthma, depression, psychoactive substance misuse, sleep apnoea, and hearing loss. The UK stands out as one of the few high-income countries to have already embedded actions against loneliness and social isolation into national policy, and we hope that its continued impacts can be used as positive examples for other countries to implement their own.

“This report serves as a critical call to action. It underscores the urgent need for evidence-based policies and interventions that foster meaningful social connections across the life course. Social connection is not a luxury—it is a health imperative that must be embedded in all levels of policy, care, and community life.”

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Introduction

LSHTM expert comments on the World Health Organization’s first Social Connection report

Nearly 600 heat-related deaths expected in UK heatwave, researchers estimate

lshpw5 — Sat, 21 Jun 2025 09:08:20 +0000

Nearly 600 heat-related deaths expected in UK heatwave, researchers estimate by lshpw5 Sat, 06/21/2025 - 10:08

About 570 people in England and Wales are expected to die as a result of high temperatures from Thursday 19 June 2025 to Sunday 22 June 2025, a rapid study has estimated.

It is the first real-time analysis in 2025 on excess heat deaths by researchers at the ��app of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Imperial College London.

Read the full analysis.

The study uses decades of UK data to understand risk relationships in 34,753 areas across England and Wales to predict the excess mortality during this heatwave.

Overall, about 570 excess deaths are expected to occur during the heatwave, the researchers estimate, with 114 on Thursday, 152 on Friday, 266 on Saturday when temperatures peak above 32°C and 37 excess deaths on Sunday when they fall to the mid-twenties.

Older people above 65 are expected to be hardest hit, with 488 of the estimated excess deaths. Of these, 314 are expected to be among people aged 85 and over, the researchers found. The result shows how heatwaves can be deadly for people with underlying health conditions such as heart problems, diabetes, and respiratory issues, as high temperatures put extra stress on their already compromised immune systems, the researchers say. However, they warn that heat can become life-threatening for all ages, as 82 deaths are estimated for people in the 0-64 age bracket.

The analysis also revealed London is expected to have the greatest number of excess deaths with 129, followed by the West Midlands with 106 deaths and the Southeast with 81. The difference is mostly due to where the heat is most extreme. However, the researchers say people living in deprived areas can experience higher rates of heat-related deaths because they have poorer health, housing and healthcare.

Professor Antonio Gasparrini, lead of the EHM-Lab at LSHTM, said:

“Increases of just a degree or two can be the difference between life and death. When temperatures push past the limits populations are acclimatised to, excess deaths can increase very rapidly.

“A large number of the excess deaths wouldn’t have likely happened without climate change. To give an estimate, more research will be required.

“Clearly, a hotter climate is a more dangerous climate. Every fraction of a degree of warming will cause more hospital admissions and heat deaths, putting more strain on the NHS.”

Dr Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, Lecturer at the Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London said:

“Heatwaves are silent killers – people who lose their lives in them typically have pre-existing health conditions and rarely have heat listed as a contributing cause of death.”

“This real-time analysis reveals the hidden toll of heatwaves and we want it to help raise the alarm.”

“Heatwaves are an underappreciated threat in the UK and they’re becoming more dangerous with climate change. This weekend, people need to follow heat-health advice and check on older people, particularly those living alone.”

Dr Malcolm Mistry, Assistant Professor at LSHTM, said:

“Our study should be taken as a warning. Exposure to temperatures in the high 20s or low 30s may not seem dangerous, but they can be fatal, particularly for people aged over 65, infants, pregnant people, and those with pre-existing health conditions.

“Unless effective mitigation and adaptive measures are put in place in the coming years, the risk of large heat-related death events is set to increase in the UK – we have a large ageing population and warming is expected to increase to 2°C by 2050 and as high as 3°C this century.”

This assessment highlights how extreme heat poses a growing threat to public health in the UK and follows a study published on Friday that found the heatwave about 10 times more likely and 2-4°C hotter due to climate change.

This week, the UK has experienced intense and sustained heat. On Tuesday, the UK Health Security Agency issued a yellow heat-health alert to warn vulnerable populations of the health risks posed by rising temperatures. By noon on Thursday, the situation escalated with a more serious amber alert covering all of England, warning of “a rise in deaths”. Soon after, dozens of people required treatment for heat-related illness at the Royal Ascot races as temperatures pushed above 29°C.

To estimate how many additional deaths could occur during the hot temperatures from Thursday to Sunday, the researchers used findings from published research on the relationship between heat and the number of daily deaths, regardless of the cause, in 34,753 small areas in England and Wales. They combined these mortality risk functions with high-resolution weather forecasts from Copernicus to estimate how many heat-related deaths will occur for four days in June.

An estimate of 570 deaths is in line with a previous study estimating nearly 1,100 deaths during the extreme heatwave from 17–19 July, 2022 when temperatures reached 40C in the UK for the first time, the researchers say. They also note that the analysis doesn’t account for the effect of the heatwave occurring early in summer before people are acclimatised to hot temperatures, meaning the heat deaths could be underestimated.

Climate change, caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels, has already been shown to drive large increases in heat-related deaths. For example, about 56% of the 68,000 heat-related deaths during the 2022 European summer were caused by climate change, according to research. The findings reflect how small increases in heat can cause huge increases in deaths when hot temperatures push people to their physiological limit, the researchers say.

The researchers say that a large number of the UK's excess deaths wouldn’t happen without the heat boosted by climate change – temperatures are about 2-4°C hotter due to it, World Weather Attribution reported on Friday. However, they say it is unlikely the number of deaths linked to climate change would be higher than 50%, as reported in Europe where populations are vulnerable and the intensity of heatwaves is rising faster than the UK.

A recent report by the UK Climate Change Commission has estimated that heat-related deaths could rise to over 10,000 in an average year by 2050 if ongoing fossil fuel burning causes warming to reach 2°C.

This story is based on an original press release by the Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London.

Publication

The analysis was conducted by Professor Antonio Gasparrini, Dr Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, and Dr Malcolm Mistry. The full analysis is available here.

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Introduction

Real-time rapid analysis reveals impact of rising UK temperatures as researchers warn risk of large heat-related death events set to increase

LSHTM's Director writes to UK Government about Gaza public health catastrophe

lshpw5 — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 09:49:48 +0000

LSHTM's Director writes to UK Government about Gaza public health catastrophe by lshpw5 Fri, 06/20/2025 - 10:49

To: Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer and Rt Hon Mr David Lammy MP

Dear Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary,

As Director of the ��app of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) I feel it is my duty to write to you about the public health catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.

As a university dedicated to improving public health, LSHTM researchers study the health of populations around the world, including in conflict zones such as Gaza. Their work has shed new light on this devastating conflict, estimating in January this year that there were 64,260 traumatic injury deaths in Gaza between 7 October 2023 and 30 June 2024 (compared to the 37,877 reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health). More than half (59%) of these deaths were women, children, and the elderly.

The total death toll due to the war is almost certain to be higher as this analysis does not account for non-trauma related deaths caused by disruption to healthcare, food insecurity, inadequate water and sanitation, and disease outbreaks.

While our community holds a wide range of personal and political views, including relating to this conflict, as public health professionals we’re united in our commitment to basic humanitarian principles. These include protecting civilian lives and the lives of health workers under international law. These are protections that should apply universally and without exception, and yet we have seen civilians targeted, health infrastructure systematically destroyed, and many health workers killed, including Palestinian orthopaedic surgeon Dr Adnan al-Bursh who died in an Israeli prison. These are red lines that should never be crossed.

Since March 2025, humanitarian aid, including food, has been deliberately withheld from the population of Gaza. This blockade, ordered by the Israeli government has, according to the WHO, left three quarters of Gaza’s population at “Emergency” or “Catastrophic” food deprivation levels, on the brink of starvation, and highly vulnerable to outbreaks of infectious disease. As an open letter to the Prime Minister from more than 800 UK lawyers stated, “genocide is being perpetrated in Gaza or, at a minimum, there is a serious risk of genocide occurring”.

I am sure you will have been profoundly affected by the suffering in Gaza and have taken diplomatic steps to signal to Israel that its violations of international law are unacceptable. But we have reached a critical moment when action must be taken to prevent an even greater public health disaster. I, along with many of our concerned staff and students, am urging you and the UK Government to go further by:

Increasing the UK’s diplomatic efforts to secure an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages;
Calling on Israel to fulfil its obligations under international law and ensure the urgent, unconditional and unimpeded resumption of aid, at scale, to the population of Gaza;
Suspending all arms sales to Israel. The legal basis for such a suspension was presented in detail in a previous open letter from UK lawyers (link here);
Committing to playing a major role in supporting efforts to reconstruct the health care and public health infrastructure in Gaza, including the training and education of the health workforce as well as securing the release of health workers from prisons.

I fully recognise and deplore the horrific Hamas attack of 7 October 2023 that killed well over 1,000 people with hundreds more taken hostage. But this does not alter the urgent need to take action to end the devastating public health and humanitarian impact of Israeli military action on the civilian population of Gaza. This is a call to recognise, protect and be guided by common humanitarian values that transcend all divisions and borders. It’s these values that see health professionals go wherever they are needed to save lives, whether it’s in conflict zones or disease outbreaks, in the belief that we all have a duty to do everything we can to protect our shared health.

We cannot change what has already happened in this war, but the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to unfold right now as the world watches. Urgent action is needed to end this appalling situation.

We may one day look back at this catastrophe as a pivotal moment, while key elements of the UN-led humanitarian response architecture were impeded and bypassed, and while apparent war crimes occurred in plain sight. This could encourage others around the world to undertake a similar path to pursue their war aims. We need to do what we can to avert such a precedent.

Yours sincerely,

Liam Smeeth

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Introduction

Professor Liam Smeeth has written a letter to the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary urging action to prevent a greater public health disaster

Largest study to assess long-term impact of COVID-19 on kidneys

lshpf1 — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 11:56:18 +0000

Largest study to assess long-term impact of COVID-19 on kidneys by lshpf1 Thu, 06/19/2025 - 12:56

A new study of over 13 million people in England has found no evidence to suggest mild COVID-19 infection may cause long-term kidney damage. However, patients hospitalised with severe COVID-19 infections are at a high risk of long-term kidney damage, the analysis suggests.

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, severe infections requiring hospitalisation were often accompanied by a decline in kidney function. While research studies continue to support this association, until now it has remained unclear whether milder COVID-19 infections, which do not require treatment in hospital, may also affect kidney function long-term.

The new study, led by researchers at the ��app of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) as part of the OpenSAFELY collaboration with the University of Oxford, analysed electronic health data from over 13 million GP and hospital records in England between 1 February 2020 and 31 December 2022.

The OpenSAFELY platform acts as a gateway between electronic patient records and important medical research. Developed over the COVID-19 pandemic, the platform allows information from GP records to be anonymised, grouped with other sources of data such as hospital records, and used in scientific studies, without researchers having direct access to the records or identifiable information.

Of the data analysed in the study, over 3.5 million people were recorded as having had a COVID-19 infection and 10 million people did not have a record of infection. Records from people who were already on dialysis, a treatment used to filter blood when a patient’s kidneys are unable to do so, or living with a kidney transplant, were excluded from the sample.

The findings are published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe.

Across the study period, people who needed hospitalisation for COVID-19 had over seven times greater risk of kidney failure than people without COVID-19. These risks were highest amongst those who required intensive care and in those recorded as having acute kidney injury during their illness. Amongst people with COVID-19 which was not severe enough to require hospitalisation, there was no increased risk of kidney failure.

Dr Viyaasan Mahalingasivam, a research fellow at LSHTM and a specialist kidney doctor at Barts Health NHS Trust, and lead author of the study, said: “Our study is the largest of its kind to look at the long-term effects of COVID-19 infections on our kidneys. During the heights of the pandemic, we were overwhelmed by the volume of patients who were sick with COVID-19 who needed dialysis for severe kidney injury. Because of this, there were concerns that milder COVID-19 illness might lead to more gradual kidney damage over the longer term.

“It’s reassuring that we did not find evidence to suggest that mild COVID-19 infection causes long-term damage to kidney function. But we can’t ignore that those who experience severe illness with COVID-19 and end up in hospital, do have a high risk of kidney failure or worsening kidney function.

“Our work builds on previous studies which have suggested that kidney complications may be a bigger problem after COVID-19 than other types of infection. However, we’re not able to say whether the main mechanism behind this is the COVID-19 virus attacking the kidney directly or if it is a consequence of the body’s inflammatory response to severe infection.”

The study also found that the increased risk of kidney damage for patients hospitalised with COVID-19 infections differed across ethnicities and was highest for black ethnic groups.

Dr Laurie Tomlinson, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at LSHTM and a senior author of the study, said: “Our results show that having a mild COVID-19 infection does not increase your risk of getting long-term kidney damage, and that is particularly reassuring for patients who are already living with kidney disease. However, there were still a substantial number of people who were admitted to hospital for COVID-19 infections, who then went on to develop kidney failure and it’s important that we try to establish how we can minimise this in future.

“Our findings all add to growing calls for more studies into health inequalities and what could be driving them, such as delayed access to treatment, differing susceptibility to infections and broader structural and social determinants of health.”

The authors say that healthcare providers should prioritise interventions which minimise the chances of at-risk groups needing hospitalisation. This includes ensuring vaccinations can be accessed by patients who are most vulnerable to severe illness. They say that patients discharged from hospital after being treated for COVID-19 infection should also be carefully monitored.

The research was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Publication

Mahalingasivam V, Zheng B, Wing K et al. Long-term kidney outcomes after COVID-19: a matched cohort study using the OpenSAFELY platform. Lancet Regional Health Europe. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101338

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Introduction

Analysis of over 13 million health records finds increased risk to kidneys in only severe COVID-19 infections

LSHTM Director Liam Smeeth awarded CBE in King’s Birthday Honours

lshpf1 — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 06:49:24 +0000

LSHTM Director Liam Smeeth awarded CBE in King’s Birthday Honours by lshpf1 Sat, 06/14/2025 - 07:49

Professor Liam Smeeth, the Director of the ��app of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), has been made a CBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for his services to public health and education.

From debunking the myth that MMR vaccine causes autism to using ‘big data’ in innovative ways to reveal the disproportionate impact of COVID-19, his clinical and academic career has made a significant impact on patient care and policy.

Professor Smeeth published a seminal paper in 2004 which refuted claims of links between MMR vaccine and autism, and led to a crucial recovery in vaccine uptake.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he co-led the creation of a groundbreaking secure analytics platform known as OpenSAFELY. This collaboration with the Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science at Oxford University allowed NHS electronic records to be analysed to answer urgent questions on factors such as age, ethnicity and disability in determining risk of severe illness and uncover vital evidence about the virus, and is still widely used by researchers for a host of diseases today.

Other research and academic contributions include investigating side effects of statins, as well as providing expertise to a number of key academic and health bodies.

Over the last 20 years at LSHTM, Professor Smeeth has taught and mentored hundreds of postgraduate students in public health and epidemiology, many of whom are now leaders in their fields around the world.

In 2021 he became Director of LSHTM, with a strong focus on creating a supportive and inclusive environment for staff and students in the face of numerous global challenges.

He has spoken about issues including LSHTM’s decolonising work, called for more action on climate and health, and warned of the risk of measures to strengthen pandemic preparedness being undermined by misinformation.

Professor Smeeth said: “This is truly an honour for the whole of LSHTM, reflecting the great work done by the people here over many years. In these difficult times for public and global health, it is great the field gets this recognition.”

Don Robert, Chair of Council at LSHTM, said: “Liam has made a huge impact on public health, with wide-ranging research and policy work leading to improved care, treatment and outcomes for people all over the world. This deserves recognition so I’m delighted that he has been honoured in this way.

“There is no doubt that he lives and breathes the LSHTM mission of improving health worldwide. We are fortunate to have his leadership at this critical time for public and global health.”

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Introduction

Professor Smeeth honoured for his leadership and dedication to improving health and health equity

��app Comment: UK sees 20% drop in cancer mortality but diagnoses still rising

lshkb29 — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 15:58:28 +0000

��app Comment: UK sees 20% drop in cancer mortality but diagnoses still rising by lshkb29 Wed, 06/04/2025 - 16:58

Cancer death rates across the UK have dropped by 22% since the 1970s, according to the latest Cancer in the UK Report 2025 published by Cancer Research UK.

The report provides the most up-to-date analysis of long-term trends in cancer incidence and mortality across the UK, and shows that while deaths from cancer have dropped, the number of diagnoses have increased by almost 50%. 

The findings suggest that people in the UK are now more likely to develop cancer than ever before and that the 47% rise in cancer incidence may have been driven largely by population ageing, smoking and rising obesity levels. Nearly 1,100 people are diagnosed with cancer every day. 

Although cancer survival has improved, there are still significant challenges across cancer care. The report found that the proportion of cancers diagnosed early in England has remained at 54% for nearly a decade and while bowel screening rates improved with the rollout of the faecal immunochemical test (FIT), uptake of breast and cervical screening continues to decline in many parts of the UK. It estimates that screening programmes may have saved around 5,000 lives a year, but participation remains uneven. 

Smoking was found to have caused around one in five cancer deaths annually, and obesity, which is now at its highest level, was linked to approximately 5% of cancer deaths in the UK. 

Cancer Research UK has supported research on cancer inequalities at the ��app of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine for the past 20 years, including through funding for the Inequalities in Cancer Outcomes Network (ICON). Numerous studies conducted by the ICON group and others have consistently shown that systemic factors, such as the organisation and delivery of healthcare services, play a dominant role in driving and sustaining cancer inequalities, far more than individual-level factors like personal behaviours or genetics.  

These inequalities are not limited to the point of diagnosis but occur across the entire cancer care pathway including during treatment, highlighting the need for a comprehensive and equitable approach in any new national cancer strategy. 

Commenting on the report, Professor Bernard Rachet, Principal Investigator of ICON at LSHTM, said the data highlights the importance of addressing deep-rooted inequalities and system-level failings.

Professor Rachet said: “This report is welcome, and Cancer Research UK is right to highlight the dramatic progress made, particularly in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment, over recent decades. Despite these advances, cancer remains a major public health challenge. 

"The UK faces two persistent and deeply interconnected issues: survival remains lower than in other similarly wealthy countries, and there are enduring socio-demographic inequalities in who benefits from improvements in care. Gaps in cancer care reflect a wider failure of the health system to convert innovation into widespread and equitable impact. 

Dr Manuela Quaresma, an Assistant Professor of ICON at LSHTM, said: “We fully support Cancer Research UK’s call for the upcoming National Cancer Plan for England to address these systemic challenges.

"The UK has played a central role in global cancer research breakthroughs, but advanced technologies alone will not close these gaps. The benefits of progress have not been equitably distributed, and the next Cancer Plan must be developed in close dialogue with the communities most affected by inequality."

LSHTM’s ICON programme works in close partnership with Cancer Research UK to provide rigorous, patient-centred evidence that supports policy change and improves the quality and equity of cancer care. This shared vision is grounded in collaboration with patients, the public, and policymakers to ensure that innovations in cancer care translate into better outcomes for all. 

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Introduction

LSHTM experts say survival gaps and inequalities must be addressed to improve UK cancer outcomes 

New study finds interactions between genetic risk of eczema and household environment

lshkb29 — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 13:34:35 +0000

New study finds interactions between genetic risk of eczema and household environment by lshkb29 Wed, 06/04/2025 - 14:34

Household environments, including owning a dog, may affect the likelihood of children developing eczema, according to an analysis of almost 300,000 people from across Europe.

The prevalence of eczema has rapidly risen in industrialised areas over the past 30 years, now affecting approximately 20% of children and 10% of adults in high-income countries.

The new study, published in Allergy, examined data from 16 European studies, to investigate whether those who are prone to developing eczema might respond differently to environmental factors.

The researchers investigated interactions between the 24 most significant eczema-associated genetic variants and 18 early life environmental factors during the mother’s pregnancy and the child’s first year of life. Representing the largest and most comprehensive analysis of gene-environments interactions to date, the findings provide new insights into what could cause eczema in children and how environmental factors may influence genetic risk.

The international study team was led by researchers from the ��app of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), University of Edinburgh, University of Bristol and Helmholtz Munich.

An initial analysis of more than 25,000 individuals suggested there may be a relationship between seven environmental factors – dog ownership, having an older sibling, cat ownership, breastfeeding, smoking, antibiotic use and washing practices – and at least one established genetic variant that predisposes a child to eczema. In the further analysis of a larger group of almost 255,000 people, the only strong interaction found was between dog ownership and just one of the 24 eczema-associated genetic variations. Children or babies with that gene whose families owned a pet dog had a lower risk of developing eczema.

This genetic mutation is located near DNA that codes for interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) – a protein involved in immune cell function and inflammation. Lab tests confirmed that in human skin cells with the genetic variant, molecular signals from a dog can suppress skin inflammation instead of causing allergy.

These results are preliminary; however, they point to the IL-7R protein as a potential area of focus to inform prevention of eczema in some individuals. The study also found a similar effect among young children with older siblings, but further studies are needed to confirm the link. The researchers speculated that more microbial exposure at an early age, through contact with dogs and other children, could be behind the protective effect.

The authors stressed that the study did not look at the effect of dog exposure in the treatment of existing eczema, cautioning that introducing a dog may make symptoms worse in some children.

Despite the large number of people studied, the researchers did not have enough participants to draw meaningful conclusions on many gene-environment interactions, suggesting that only weak interactions are likely to exist. Further research involving a larger population, as well as greater diversity of ethnic background, is needed to better understand interactions between genetic and environmental factors linked to eczema.

Professor Sinéad Langan, a lead author on the study and Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at LSHTM, said: "These results are an important step in understanding how environmental risks affect childhood eczema and how we might develop ways to prevent it.

"While exposure to dogs stands out as a factor worth exploring further, the results do not support exposure to a dog as an effective strategy to prevent eczema now. The study also helps rule out strong genetic interactions for many other environmental factors, which will help focus future research efforts.”

Publication

Standl M, Budu-Aggrey A, Johnston LJ et al. Gene–Environment Interaction Affects Risk of Atopic Eczema: Population and In Vitro Studies. Allergy. DOI: 10.1111/all.16605

This article is adapted from an original press release from the University of Edinburgh.

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Introduction

Largest analysis to date suggests exposure to pets may influence risk of eczema

One in six children under six months old clinically underweight across LMICs

lshkb29 — Fri, 30 May 2025 08:00:00 +0000

One in six children under six months old clinically underweight across LMICs by lshkb29 Fri, 05/30/2025 - 09:00

Over 10 million infants under six month old may currently be underweight, according to a new analysis of data collected across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The study, published in BMJ Global Health and led by researchers at the ��app of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN), estimated the burden of malnutrition among infants using survey data collected across 56 countries.

The study analysed data on over 50,000 children under six months gathered through Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) collected across West & Central Africa, Eastern & Central Africa, Latin America & the Caribbean, East Asia & the Pacific, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and South Asia.

The DHS are nationally-representative household surveys conducted across LMICs every five years or so, and include data on the current weight, height (or length), age and weight at birth for infants. Once collected, the data is made available for researchers worldwide to analyse.

In the study, infants with a low weight-for-age score (WAZ) were classed as underweight, infants with a low weight-for-length score (WLZ) were classed as too thin, showing signs of wasting, and infants with a low length-for-age score (LAZ) were classed as too small in length for their age. These are all globally-recognised indicators of malnutrition.

Across all of the countries measured, 17.4% of infants under the age of six months were clinically underweight, 15.5% showed signs of wasting, 19.9% were small in length for their age (stunted) and 15% were underweight at birth.

When applied to the current population across all LMICs globally, these estimates suggest that approximately 10.3 million infants are underweight, 9.2 million are wasted, 11.8 million are stunted and 8.9 million have been born with a low birth weight.

Marko Kerac, Clinical Associate Professor at LSHTM and lead author of the study, said: “Malnutrition is responsible for around 45% of child deaths globally. In 2022, undernutrition accounted for a total of 2.3 million child deaths, which equates to over 6000 deaths each and every day. For context, these are the numbers who would die if 18 commercial airliners were to crash every day. It’s wrong that some tragedies, such as infant and child malnutrition, continue to be largely silent, forgotten and ignored.

"Our study also shows how crucial national datasets like the DHS are for global health research. The DHS, which provide openly accessible data for researchers like ourselves to analyse, has currently been paused and if not restarted soon, future numbers will not be tracked. DHS surveys help to see a hidden problem. Without them, we cannot track the problem and progress and hold each other to account.

"Our findings show that malnutrition in infants under six months old is a far bigger problem than previously recognised. We hence strongly support organizations like WHO and UNICEF as well as many governments worldwide seeking to improve treatments for this vulnerable group."

Malnutrition in infants under six months is a major global health problem, and can be devastating for families and communities. These infants are at high risk of death, illness and poor development in the short term, and have a higher risk of non-communicable disease (including heart disease) in later life. Some studies have also shown that the long-term effects of malnutrition can be intergenerational.

Marie McGrath, Technical Director at the Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN) and PhD student at LSHTM, and co-author of the study, said: “Big numbers sometimes dehumanise. Behind every one of the surveys we analysed is a personal tragedy. There is a baby suffering and devastated families experiencing daily worry and loss. As a society, how can we be complacent and shy away from babies facing increased risk of death in their first months of life?

“The good news is that health services are primed to act. Growth monitoring - that helps identify underweight babies - is recommended in national health services worldwide. Babies born too early or too small need close follow-up and first vaccination at 6 weeks is a critical time to measure.

"National health services need direct investment in equipment, training and mentoring on identifying and managing these cases. Let’s reinvest, not reinvent. Using one indicator - underweight – is consistent across newborn, malnutrition and health communities and simpler for health workers. Let’s work together to assess, appraise and act."

As this is an observational study using survey data, it only looks at a snapshot of the situation in each country. The team believe that the true number of infants experiencing malnutrition may be greater, as data on other indicators of malnutrition such as mid upper arm circumference or swelling were not available and some surveys were up to 10 years old.

They also suggest that underweight scores (low weight-for-age) may be a better indicator of malnutrition compared to typically used low weight-for-length, due to higher data quality and stronger links to health risks. This supports the recently updated World Health Organization malnutrition guidelines, which now include underweight as a criteria for enrolment in supportive nutrition and health care for infants under six months.

Publication

Kerac M, James PT, McGrath M et al. Malnutrition in infants aged under 6 months: prevalence and anthropometric assessment – analysis of 56 low- and middle-income country DHS datasets. BMJ Global Health. DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2024-016121.

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Introduction

Researchers concerned malnutrition in infants 'far bigger problem than previously recognised', amid ongoing cuts to global funding

��app Comment: West Nile Virus detected in UK mosquitoes for first time

lshkb29 — Fri, 23 May 2025 10:50:06 +0000

��app Comment: West Nile Virus detected in UK mosquitoes for first time by lshkb29 Fri, 05/23/2025 - 11:50

Fragments of West Nile Virus have been identified in mosquitoes collected in the UK for the first time, according to a UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) monitoring programme designed to understand the emergence and transmission of vector-borne disease in the UK.

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a vector-borne disease belonging to the Flaviviridae family, and is typically found in birds and bird-biting mosquitoes. In rare cases, mosquitoes can transmit the virus to humans or horses. Other viruses belonging to the Flaviviridae family include those that cause dengue, Zika and yellow fever.

West Nile virus (WNV) is endemic in various regions across the globe, including Europe, Africa, the Middle East, West and Central Asia, and North America, as well as South America, USA and Australia. In most people, it causes mild, flu-like symptoms or no symptoms at all but in rare cases, around 1 in 150, illness can progress to serious neurological illness, including encephalitis or meningitis. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for humans.

The virus fragments were detected in two samples of Aedes vexans mosquitoes collected by the UKHSA from wetlands on the River Idle near Gamston, Nottinghamshire in the UK.

Roger Hewson, Professor of Virology at the ��app of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) said: “The recent detection of West Nile virus (WNV) genomic material in UK mosquito populations is a significant finding, although not wholly unexpected given the virus’s steady northward expansion across Europe.

“Climate change, migratory bird movements, and increasingly favourable conditions for mosquito vectors all contribute to the changing landscape of vector-borne disease risk in the UK.

“Our teams at the ��app of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine are driving forward research on Aedes vexans mosquitoes, which are native to the UK. The school’s expertise in vector biology and the ecology of viruses transmitted to humans by mosquitoes is helping us understand the risk of viruses like West Nile and dengue establishing in the region, and how we may be able to detect them as quickly as possible.”

Robert Jones, Assistant Professor at LSHTM, said: “There is currently no evidence that these fragments of genetic material are linked to any human cases of West Nile virus infection. However, this remains a significant finding by the Vector-Borne RADAR team and highlights the importance of continued mosquito surveillance across the country.

“The mosquito could have acquired the virus by feeding on an infected bird. It is possible that a bird became infected in another part of the world and then returned to the UK carrying the virus. While some birds show signs of infection, many species can carry West Nile Virus without appearing to have an illness.

“Similarly, humans occasionally return to the UK from abroad carrying arboviral infections. However, this rarely leads to local transmission, either because our local mosquito species are not competent vectors, or because the chances of a mosquito acquiring the virus and passing it on are very low.

“As the UKHSA has outlined, the risk of West Nile virus to the UK population remains very low. However, due to climate change and the movement of people and goods, we are seeing a general expansion of mosquito-borne diseases into regions not previously associated with these infections—and that trend is expected to continue. Ongoing surveillance is essential to ensure that any future infections are detected early.”

Martin Hibberd, Professor of Emerging Infectious Disease at LSHTM, said: “I’m pleased to see that a UKHSA research surveillance is in operation and is able to give us this early warning of a potential health threat from West Nile Virus. This shows just how important funding health and disease research is, and why surveillance is our best tool against vector-borne viruses.

“With West Nile Virus detected in the UK, we also need to be prepared for the potential arrival of other viruses from the Flaviviridae family, such as those that cause dengue.

“More work needs to be done to assess the likely chances of these mosquitoes passing the virus to humans, which is known to be reduced in cooler climates, such as the UK, compared to the tropical environments these viruses usually circulate in.”

James Logan, Professor of Medical Entomology at LSHTM and Director of Arctech Innovation, said: “This development is serious, but it is not unexpected. It does not require public alarm, but it does call for vigilance and investment in long-term preparedness.

“This is part of a broader trend we can no longer ignore. Climate change, global trade and travel, and changing ecosystems are bringing vector-borne diseases — like West Nile, dengue and others — closer to home. We are entering an era where we must learn to live smarter in a bug’s world. That means stronger surveillance, better public communication, and a public health system ready for the challenges ahead.

“This is not the beginning of a crisis, but it is a signpost to the future. How we respond now matters.”

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Introduction

LSHTM experts explain risk to humans remains low but ongoing surveillance essential given impacts of climate change

Moffat Nyirenda made Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences

lshkb29 — Thu, 22 May 2025 13:02:03 +0000

Moffat Nyirenda made Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences by lshkb29 Thu, 05/22/2025 - 14:02

Professor Moffat Nyirenda, Director of the Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and ��app of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit (MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit), has been elected as a new Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

He is among 54 biomedical and health scientists recognised this year for their exceptional contributions to advancing medical science, groundbreaking research discoveries and translating developments into benefits for patients and wider society.

Professor Nyirenda’s work has demonstrated how local risk factors, such as infection and early-life undernutrition, shape the manifestation of diabetes in Africa. This has included identification of a distinct “lean type 2 diabetes phenotype,” which occurs in non-obese individuals due to impaired insulin production, contrasting sharply with the typical form associated with ageing, obesity and insulin resistance. These findings carry important clinical implications for diagnosis and treatment.

Professor Nyirenda said: “I am deeply honoured by this recognition, which I share with the exceptional teams and collaborators I have had the privilege to work with across Africa and beyond. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to meaningful work, and remain committed to ensuring that our research continues to make a positive impact on global health.”

Jaime Miranda, Head of the Sydney School of Public Health at the University of Sydney and Honorary Professor in Global Health at LSHTM, who studied on both our MSc in Epidemiology course and as a PhD student, is also among this year’s new Fellows. He has been recognised for his contributions to research on non-communicable diseases in low-income and middle-income countries including obesity, hypertension, diabetes and depression.

Professor Andrew Morris CBE FRSE PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said: “It is a privilege to welcome these 54 exceptional scientists to our Fellowship. Each new Fellow brings unique expertise and perspective to addressing the most significant health challenges facing society.

“The breadth of disciplines represented in this year’s cohort – from mental health and infectious disease to cancer biology and respiratory medicine – reflects the rich diversity of medical science today. Their election comes at a crucial time when scientific excellence and collaboration across disciplines are essential for addressing global health challenges both now and in the future. We look forward to working with them to advance biomedical research and create an environment where the best science can flourish for the benefit of people everywhere.”

The new Fellows will be formally admitted to the Academy at a ceremony on Wednesday 9 July 2025.

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Introduction

Director of MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit recognised for contributions to improving health, along with Honorary LSHTM Professor

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