Is there an epidemic of Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease in England at present?
829506
yes its deadly and if you have touch the keyboard today. then you have it\n\n\nahhhhhhhhhhhhh, im dying
986104
It is, but its just not news worthy anymore. Here in the UK the DEFRA are still monitoring birds that have died suddenly, particluarly wild birds such as swans and ducks.
1026179
according to this site there is\n\nhttp://www.gizmag.co.uk/go/3130/
499458
Hanta virus. this virus is NASTY!!!! it is a respiratory illness that is usually fatal. this can be picked up by ingesting infected mice feces. this commonly happens when it is in the dust and the dust gets on top of cans of food and the cans arent properly washed before opening and gets in your food. the dust containing feces can also be inhaled. \nHanta virus is BAD NEWS check out CDC to see if it has occurred in your state.\nadditionally, mice have been known to be carriers of lime disease, ticks get it from mice and can spread it.\n \nGood luck!!
925144
I have to revise my answer. I checked various websites and found many of them very outdated. I found the most reliable and current info. on www.statistics.gov.uk/popest ...and www.open.gov.uk The present population of England as of 24 Aug 2006  is 50,400,000, area is 130,281 so that translates to almost 387 persons/sq km. Hope that is what you wanted.
1050632
We no longer have a mad cow epidemic, though when we did have, a lot of people turned vegetarian. We do seem to be avoiding poultry now due to the bird flu threat. At the time of Mad Cow it was believed that intensive farming encouraged by the likes of McDonalds was partcially responsible.
974812
Try contacting the British council - my shcool had one but she had to go home due to illness
651948
MMR, measles, mumps, rubella. In Most states now HEP B, Polio
500246
There is a forum post re this at the first link below.  \n\nBasically the layouts will be different depending on the country although they generally follow an organic development i.e. the very centre might be planned to some extent (usually based on a castle or cathedral and often a centre of commerce like a market or port) but the area around will usually grow in a chaotic manner with housing and industry fighting for space ... this closeness was a major factor in the spread of plague.\n\nThe second link seems to give more specific info on medieval town planing - I hope it helps.\n\nI would also suggest that you look at sites about the great plague of London (although this was a couple of hundred years later) - these will give good general information on the plague. \n\nEnjoy
593378
I assume you're referring to the bird flu that's currently spreading through western europe. It's important that you remember that very few birds can carry the disease; however, one of the ways that the disease spreads to humans is by contact with the feathers. The most likely ways of a human contracting the virus, though, are constant contact with the faeces of birds, as well as regular contact with their beaks. Of course, since birds preen their feathers using their beaks, it is possible that the virus could survive for a short time on the feathers, and so could be passed onto humans. If you're in any doubt as to whether you may have contracted the disease, you should go to a doctor immediately. Bird flu usually manifests itself first in the form of a minor eye infection, but can spread through the body quickly depending on the strain.\n\nIn the UK, the deadly H5N1 strain has only been confirmed to date in a single dead swan, and there are no confirmed cases of it being passed on to humans in the UK.\n\nBreeds of birds you should be especially careful with are swans, geese and ducks, as they are particularly susceptible to it and may carry it for several weeks without showing any symptoms whatsoever. Also, as they are migratory birds the risk of them carrying it from another country are greatly increased.\n\nAll that said, I wouldn't be too concerned about it; as long as you're careful and you're not in regular physical contact with birds you should be alright.\n\nAlex
1040896
Direct quote (not my own words)\n\nToxoplasmosis is an important zoonotic disease. Around 30% of the adult population in the UK have serological evidence of infection but, as with cats, the vast majority of these human infections are either asymptomatic or result in only mild clinical disease. Of major concern however, is congenitally acquired toxoplasmosis. As noted above, this can only occur when a previously unexposed (non-immune) woman acquires toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. In this situation there is approximately a 40% chance that the foetus will acquire the infection, and in around 10% of these cases, severe neurological or ocular disease is present at birth. \n\nMost surveys show that owning a cat, or having direct contact with a cat does not constitute an increased risk of acquiring toxoplasmosis. Although cats are crucial in the life-cycle of T gondii , and are the only known source of oocysts present in the environment, it is stray and feral cats more than pet cats that are implicated in this. In the UK and other industrialised countries, it is mainly adolescent and adult humans who acquire infection with T gondii , and this is primarily correlated with the acquired habits of eating undercooked meat, and of poor meat hygiene. Ingestion of infected meat therefore appears to be the major source of human infection in the UK . \n\nFollowing a few sensible environmental and meat hygiene measures can greatly reduce the risk of human infection. \n\nCook all meat thoroughly to at least 70 degrees C \nWash hands, utensils and surfaces carefully after handling raw meat \nWash all vegetables carefully \nWear gloves when gardening in soil potentially contaminated by cat faeces \nEmpty cat litter trays daily, dispose of litter carefully and disinfect tray with boiling water. If this is done every day, even if a cat is excreting oocysts, they will not have sporulated and therefore will not be infectious by the time the litter is changed \nDiscourage pet cats from hunting and avoid feeding raw/undercooked meat \nCover any children's sandpits/boxes to prevent cats using them as a litter tray. \n \n\nFeline Advisory Bureau
781915
Not yet.\n\n\nI carry sanitizing wipes with me to use when I use a buggy in a store and use one again after leaving. You touch a lot of things when you shop.\n\nI wash my hands often and try to stay away from crowds of people.\n\nNot a fetish at all.\n\nMy mother was diagnosed three years ago with a disease of her blood called TTP. You can look it up just by typing in TTP. Doctors said chances were she caught it by dirty buggies in stores. Learned my lesson then. \n\nIt is not just the flu, it is any disease that is transmitted by others touching things. \n\nYou never know what people around you have or have had.
1040764
Yes I believe it is called the hantavirus. Here is more info from the center for disease control\n\nhttp://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/
622280
cases, outbreaks, or new diseases?\nTry the World Health Organisation (WHO) - google them.
1075843
no, in the us we just have very strict poultry handling standards and currently it can only be passed on by comming in contact with contaminated meat or excrement, if it changes to be able to transmit from human to human it will affect us
647058
Go search the news.  It recently appeared to pass from person to person in a single Indonesian family, but apparently that was the 3rd time that that has happened on a very small scale.  That's why they were so concerned so long ago (and still are;) but so far, actual cases of it happening are very rare & isolated, involving a lot of close contact with the sick person.\n\nThey believe that the virus will have to mutate before it is capable of a pandemic, but that hasn't happened yet.
645470
*Palmoplantar Pustulosis sounds like a likely possibility.  You can learn about it here:\nhttp://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/palmoplantar_pustu.html\n*Also tinea infections (also known as athlete's foot) can infect the hands as well, though rare.\n*Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (has anyone checked her throat)?\n*Blistering Dactylitis (caused by strep) - more common in kids\n*Dishydrotic eczematous dermatitis\n*Pustular psoriasis\n\nNone of these are serious, and all could be diagnosed by a dermatologist.