MOSQUITOES have genetically mutated to survive insecticide, scientists have found.

Malaria-carrying insects which can resist the long-banned pesticide DDT have been discovered in Tanzania for the first time.

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Researchers from the University of Glasgow and Tanzania’s Ifakara Health Institute warn that this could harm humanity’s battle against malaria.

PhD student Joel Odero, the study’s lead author, said: “The emergence of new resistance mechanisms could threaten decades of progress made in reducing malaria transmission and mortality.”

Researchers tested mosquitoes from 10 regions across Tanzania and found that some had gained “knock-down resistance” to the pesticide DDT due to a genetic mutation called ‘L976F’.

Those collected from the Morogoro region only died 68% of the time after being exposed to the insecticide – compared to nearly 100% for other mosquitoes.

Their findings were published in Molecular Ecology.

It is the first time malaria-carrying anopheles funestus mosquitoes have been found to have developed knock-down resistance to any chemical treatment.

It comes after health officials last year warned that mosquitoes carrying deadly West Nile virus have developed immunity to some repellents.

The virus – which can cause fits and paralysis in severe cases – is spread by the Culex mosquito.

After a season of extreme heat and heavy stormy created ideal conditions for the pest to thrive, health officials in the US reported last year that one of the first lines of defence against it no longer seemed to be working.

Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that Culex mozzies have become increasingly resistant to the insecticides that communities use in mass sprays to try to kill the bugs and their eggs.

ASDA has urgently recalled a popular chicken product over health risk fears.

The supermarket chain has urged customers to return the meal so they can claim a full refund.

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ASDA Chicken Dinners is being recalled due to containing milk, egg, barley – as not stated on the label.

As a result of a packaging error, some packs contain ASDA Beef Dinners.

Anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk, egg, or gluten could be at risk.

The supermarket chain has also issued a point-of-scale notice to its customers, explaining why the product is being recalled.

An FSA spokesman said: “Asda is recalling the above product from customers. The company has also issued a point-of-sale notice to its customers.

“These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.

“If you have bought the above product and have an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents and/or egg and/or barley (gluten), do not eat it.

“Instead, return the product to the nearest Asda store for a refund, with or without a receipt.

“For more information contact Asda Customer Relations on 0800 952 0101.”

What are my rights to a refund?

If you’re returning a recalled product, your rights to get a refund depends on whether the fault makes the product unsafe.

Sometimes the business will repair the product, for example by fitting a new part. But this should be done for you.

If a fault makes a product unsafe to use — and it’s difficult to correct the fault — the Consumer Guarantees Act says you might have the right to reject the product and claim a replacement or a refund.

You can read more about your rights concerning a recalled product in our guide.

A 13-YEAR-OLD girl in “unbearable” pain asked her mum if she would die hours before she passed away from sepsis amid alleged delays in treatment.

Chloe Longster was complaining of cold and flu symptoms before being taken to A&E on November 28, 2022.

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She was admitted to the paediatric ward at Kettering General Hospital in Northamptonshire that evening and later transferred to intensive care, where she died the following morning.

At an inquest which began on Monday, Chloe’s mother Louise Longster told assistant coroner Sophie Lomas that pain relief for her daughter was “delayed”.

Her parents were “devastated” by her death, which they believe was “completely preventable”.

Mrs Longster, 40, told Northampton Coroner’s Court that her daughter was “wincing and squirming” from pain while in hospital.

“Chloe asked if she could be put to sleep because it was unbearable,” she added.

“I remember thinking how pale and clammy she looked.

“It’s harrowing to see your own child in so much pain.

“She was clock-watching constantly – she knew when her paracetamol and ibuprofen were due and it was always delayed.

“It was like we were chasing her pain rather than getting on top of it.

“Chloe asked me if she was going to die. It’s haunting that the 13-year-old was the one that was right. It’s devastating.”

Mrs Longster said she heard Chloe’s chest “crackling” as she lay in the hospital bed, which she flagged to a nurse.

She said she felt that she was being a “nuisance” and “dramatic” because she was trying to get more help for Chloe.

It was not until Chloe was put in a side room and diagnosed with influenza A that it was “taken seriously or acknowledged how much pain she was in”, Mrs Longster told the court.

Chloe’s blood pressure was recorded for the first time on the system nearly eight hours after she arrived at the hospital.

A&E consultant Dr Marwan Gamaleldin saw Chloe three or four times before she was transferred to the paediatric ward and believed she had a chest infection at the time.

He said: “It was already flagged that pain was the main thing. She did not come across as struggling to breathe.

“The pain was described as severe so the next logical step was to jump to morphine.

“She had four doses of pain relief with three different medications.

“I appreciate that maybe it was not enough, but it was four doses of pain relief.”

Dr Gamaleldin said that in the two-hour period that he observed Chloe, he “did not think” that she had sepsis.

He told the court that there are four markers to diagnose the condition.

Two of these are high white blood cell count and fever, which the patient needs to have one of to be diagnosed with sepsis, and two other criteria which are heart rate and respiratory rate.

He said that Chloe had neither of the mandatory signs – high white blood cell count or a fever.

Dr Gamaleldin said: “There are other things I should have started if I was thinking of sepsis, rather than antibiotics.

“I did not think Chloe had sepsis at this point.”

Chloe brought so much joy, life, happiness and kindness to all those that she came into contact with

Dan ClearyPrincipal at Robert Smyth Academy

He said that Chloe’s chest X-ray showed “consolidation” on her lower left lung, where there is solid material rather than air, which suggested an infection.

Mrs Longster said the scan looked “terrifying” and Chloe’s lungs were not symmetrical.

Nurse Tricia Martinez triaged Chloe when she arrived at the hospital and had only recently joined the paediatric ward.

She told the court that Chloe looked in “agony” when she arrived in A&E so she “escalated” the issue and asked for the X-ray, but did not tick one of the boxes on a sepsis screening document.

She said: “The fault on my part was that I was not able to complete the sepsis form or go back to it after escalating.

“During the time that I saw her, something within said that there is something wrong with this child.

“We can only suggest or say she has possibly this or that, but the diagnosis will be given by the doctor.”

Chloe, a year nine pupil at Robert Smyth Academy with no underlying health conditions, died 18 and a half hours after arriving at the hospital.

She was prescribed by principal Dan Cleary as “a vibrant, talented and compassionate individual”.

“She brought so much joy, life, happiness and kindness to all those that she came into contact with,” he added.

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