Neidle, who has investigated the tax affairs of several politicians, looked into Polanski’s situation and wrote on his Tax Policy Associates website this week: “If, as seems likely, that was his main residence, then Mr Polanski and his partner should have paid council tax there.”

Ms Foy, who was elected as MP for the City of Durham in 2019, became the latest parliamentarian to call for Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation following damaging local election results in May which saw the party lose badly in Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, South Tyneside and Hartlepool.

Three Government aides resigned on Monday evening – Joe Morris, a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and Tom Rutland, a PPS to Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds, urged the Prime Minister to set out a timetable for his departure.

Ms Foy said: “After listening to the Prime Minister carefully this morning, I’ve decided to offer my honest opinion about the situation we currently find ourselves in.”

She claimed “no one listened” to her various warnings about the state of the government impacting local election results both last year and this month.

(Image: UGC)

“Backbench MPs like me have felt consistently ignored, disappointingly branded the ‘usual suspects’ who aren’t ‘playing the team game’,” she said.

“My heart breaks at the current state of the party I’ve called my political home for my entire life and I’m embarrassed by the never-ending sound bites from Cabinet Ministers stating they don’t hear issues about the leadership on the doorstep.

“Perhaps they should knock on the same doors I have, but their lack of interest in listening to backbench colleagues has been made abundantly clear.

“Apologies won’t cut it any longer. I know I might disappoint some Labour members by saying this, but we’ve reached an existential crisis.

“Labour lies on its death bed – with the only realistic cure being a change in direction and a change in leadership.”

Ms Foy is the latest North East MP to call on Sir Keir to step down, following earlier calls from Jonathan Brash, Kate Osborne, Andy McDonald, Luke Myer and Mr Morris, among others.

In a speech in central London on Monday, Sir Keir said he took “responsibility” for the losses but would fight on.

Monday’s address had been billed as a move to set out sweeping changes needed to tackle the “big challenges” facing Britain, and was widely seen as a “make-or-break” moment for the Prime Minister.

Sir Keir set out a number of measures including legislation to nationalise British Steel, a ban on “far-right agitators” coming to the UK for a planned march on Saturday and a plan to put the UK “at the heart of Europe”.

The UK’s local elections saw the Green Party gain 440 councillors across England and win its first two elected mayors. They will join many councillors from all parties who will have to confront the same question: what can any one local authority actually do about climate change?

If they ask what they are required to do, the answer is: surprisingly little. In the UK’s highly centralised system, most responsibility lies with central government. Local authorities in England have no specific climate duties or targets – even though they have asked for them.

Ask instead what councils can do, and the answer is very different. Powers over things such as planning, business development, transport and social care, open up a huge range of opportunities to contribute to climate action. There are hundreds of initiatives driven or supported by local politicians which could provide vital inspiration to newly elected councillors.

Global problem, local action

For instance, local authorities across Cambridgeshire have worked together on a plan to boost home energy efficiency, providing help and funding to householders to fit heat pumps, cut energy use and bills, and creating green jobs.

The Robin is a new transport service in rural Gloucestershire that can be booked on demand, to fill in gaps in formal transport provision and reduce isolation for rural dwellers who don’t have access to a car. Leeds City Council has partnered with private energy companies to develop Pipes, a city-wide district heating network. Some local authorities, including North Somerset and Sheffield, have even banned advertising of high-carbon products and services such as petrol cars and flights.

In Lawrence Weston, a relatively low-income area of Bristol, local government and a community organisation worked together to build the UK’s largest onshore wind turbine, which ploughs its revenues back into the community.

In Hull, an area prone to flooding, the council is working closely with local residents to protect them from increasingly extreme weather, through sustainable urban drainage systems, and a “floodmobile” which engages with local communities to discuss how best to protect households and gains vital feedback from people’s experiences.

People want more action

My local town council, Kendal, held a citizens’ jury in 2020, to ask residents what Kendal should be doing about climate change. It was one of the first of many local assemblies and juries to involve a randomly selected group of ordinary people in climate decision-making.

My research group has pulled together the findings of over 30 of these processes. It found that people want more action on climate and support more ambitious policies on transport, home energy and green space. They want the opportunity to be more involved in the decisions that affect them.

Since Kendal’s jury, the town council has used its very limited budget to create more allotments, set up a bike maintenance hub, and support a community-run café that uses surplus food from supermarkets to serve pay-as-you-can meals.

These examples, from cities, towns and rural areas, involving councillors of all political persuasions, show what can be done by a determined local authority. What they have in common is they connect climate goals to immediate local benefits: lower bills, better transport, more green space and help for families struggling to make ends meet.

But there are limits

While it’s important to celebrate these successes, there’s a need to attach a substantial health warning. Each initiative has relied on a determined council officials, elected members, and community and business support. Nearly all need external funding, which is increasingly hard to come by. Local councils’ own budgets are under constant pressure, and there are fewer staff in post. Funding per person has decreased by 18% since the 2010s. Remember that councils have no formal duties to reduce emissions – and it’s easy to understand why many feel they need to prioritise elsewhere.

It’s also an uncomfortable, rarely discussed, truth that some things local councils do actually make it harder to meet our climate objectives. Examples include planning policies which increase car dependence through low-density housing and out-of-town developments, poor transport planning which makes walking and cycling more dangerous, and support for high-carbon industrial development. We may have a climate crisis on our hands, but with limited budgets and an increasingly fraught political arena, there is a huge temptation for local councillors to look the other way.

Given this mixed and confusing picture, one of the things a new councillor could do to have the most impact would be to lobby for clear climate-related responsibilities, targets and funding for local areas. This would provide firmer foundations for local areas to act, would raise the floor, to ensure that all local areas were playing their part, and would standardise reporting so that we could compare and learn what results in the best outcomes for climate, people and nature.

Perhaps targets, funding and reporting is not the best rallying cry for climate action, but it would be the best way to make sure that these exceptional initiatives that have sprung up across England could become the norm – not the exception.

Alice O’Keeffe, head of books for The Bookseller and chairwoman of the books of the year, said the judges “championed” Ms Giuffre’s memoir, adding: “With this award we recognise the late author’s extraordinary courage and determination, supported by (publisher) Doubleday’s sensitive campaign. #BelieveHer.”

Tucked away in Cumbria’s Lake District, the charming village has been named the UK’s fastest-growing travel hotspot for summer 2026 by TripAdvisor, and it’s easy to see why

The Lake District is a much-cherished national park that attracts thousands of visitors year after year, yet one of its more modest villages has largely flown under the radar for many of today’s travellers.

Despite being steeped in history and culture, Grasmere rarely features on the average tourist’s bucket list — certainly less so than the likes of Cornwall, Devon, or popular UK city breaks. Indeed, when it comes to the district’s 16 major lakes, Windermere remains the most visited and well-known, followed by Ullswater and Derwentwater.

Yet the quaint village appears to be enjoying something of a renaissance. TripAdvisor’s Summer Travel Index for 2026 has revealed the destinations proving most popular among British travellers next summer — and the charming village of Grasmere has been crowned the fastest-growing.

Nestled within Cumbria at the heart of the Lake District, this picture-postcard village has a great deal to offer those seeking a break immersed in nature, with just the right number of spots to sit back and recharge.

The founder of Lonely Planet described the village as an “absolutely beautiful corner of the world” — a sentiment apparently shared by many, including the celebrated poet William Wordsworth.

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He lived peacefully in Grasmere from 1799 to 1813, at Dove Cottage, alongside his well-known sister, Dorothy. It was here that the great writer drew inspiration for and penned some of his most celebrated works, famously describing Grasmere as “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found”.

The Lake

The lake itself sits beside the village that shares its name, ranking among the smaller stretches of water in the Lake District. Stretching just over a mile in length, it offers small rowing boats along its banks, allowing visitors to venture out and take in the lake from its very centre.

At the heart of the lake lies a tiny island, where it is believed Wordsworth would enjoy picnics. Now under private ownership and closed to the public, it nevertheless adds a rather charming touch to the already tranquil setting.

A recent visitor shared on Tripadvisor: “We added a little stroll along Lake Grasmere from Rydal water. Pretty easy walk, and mostly flat. Scenery was beautiful, water nice and calm and our dog looked a little swim in it.”

Another wrote: “I live in Western Australia now, but this is by far the most beautiful place I have ever swam. It’s a half mile walk from White Moss Car Park, and very worth it. The lake is calm and flat, so great for kids, however, gets deep very quickly. The water is crystal clear, and even in shallow water, fish are present.”

Places to eat and drink

Tucked within the village are a variety of charming and welcoming establishments, ranging from traditionally English pubs to trendy cafés and restaurants. For those seeking a more classic experience and somewhere to unwind with a cup of tea, Baldry’s Tea Room is the perfect choice.

Situated on Red Lion Square, the delightful spot is defined by its vintage décor and straightforward menu of scones, cakes, soups and sandwiches. One diner said: “If you get to visit Grasmere then you just have to visit Baldrys. The staff are very polite and helpful, food is beyond scrumptious and the place is very clean. 10/10 would visit again.”

For a more contemporary café experience, Freda and Ray dishes up wonderful coffee and a hearty brunch to set you up for a full day of exploring the national park. Equally, visitors have heaped praise on Lucia’s Coffee + Bakehouse, hailing it as a “fabulous” destination in Grasmere.

Yet the village’s passion for food doesn’t stop there – it’s also the birthplace of its own beloved creation: Grasmere gingerbread. This distinctive delicacy sits somewhere between a biscuit and a cake, delivering a spicy-sweet medley of flavours that draws visitors from far and wide.

Originally created in 1854 by Sarah Nelson, the time-honoured recipe is still sold at The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop, a compact building that once served as the village school where Wordsworth taught.

Whether you’re enticed by the culinary offerings, its literary heritage or the breathtaking natural beauty enveloping Grasmere, this Cumbrian village has far more depth than first impressions might suggest.

President Donald Trump nominated Cameron Hamilton Monday to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a notable comeback for the former Navy SEAL who was fired from his role as FEMA’s temporary leader last year after he defended its existence.

His nomination comes as the Trump administration has increasingly signaled it is backing away from promises to dismantle FEMA, an agency that has faced withering criticism by the president. The nomination of Hamilton, who argued abolishing FEMA was not in the country’s best interests, is the latest indication of that change.

If confirmed, Hamilton would be the principal adviser to Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on emergency management and FEMA’s first permanent administrator in Trump’s second term. The agency has gone through three temporary leaders, including Hamilton’s brief tenure from January to May 2025.

He would take over an embattled agency still reeling from Kristi Noem’s turbulent leadership of the Department of Homeland Security, of which FEMA is part. FEMA’s workforce has been worn down by mass staff departures, policies that hamstrung operations and a 75-day-long DHS shutdown that ended April 30.

Hamilton will need to ensure the agency is prepared for summer disaster season, just weeks away, while answering to Trump, who is likely to expect major reforms after a council he appointed recommended sweeping changes last Friday.

“Now is the opportunity to stabilize FEMA,” said Michael Coen, the agency’s chief of staff in the Obama and Biden administrations.

Fired after defending FEMA

Hamilton, who had never been a state or local emergency management director and who had publicly criticized FEMA in the past, was a controversial choice when Trump named him temporary leader in January 2025, just days before the president floated the idea of “getting rid” of FEMA.

His rupture with DHS officials began as he defended a federal role in supporting disaster-impacted states, tribes and territories.

“Once the conversation shifted to, ‘Now we’re going to abolish,’ I immediately expressed concern,” he said last September on the “Disaster Tough” podcast with John Scardena, a former FEMA incident management team leader.

DHS officials even subjected him to a polygraph test, accusing him and other officials of leaking details of a private meeting. He passed, but said he knew his dismissal was inevitable.

At a May 7 appearance before a House Appropriations subcommittee, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat, asked Hamilton if he believed FEMA should be abolished.

“I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” he replied. The next day, he was fired.

Hamilton will have to rebuild trust

Defending FEMA despite knowing it would likely cost him his job garnered respect and trust among people whose job it is to lead communities through crisis, said Scardena, now president of the consultancy Doberman Emergency Management Group, which trains emergency managers.

“He won myself over and I think a lot of people by what he did,” Scardena said.

But multiple current FEMA employees who requested anonymity for fear of retribution for speaking publicly told The Associated Press they had concerns over some of the actions taken under Hamilton.

In 2024, Hamilton shared posts on X promoting misinformation about FEMA spending during Hurricane Helene.

During his temporary leadership, FEMA ceased door-to-door canvassing to reach survivors after disasters, and canceled a multibillion-dollar resilience grant program, since restored by a federal judge. The Department of Government Efficiency gained access to internal FEMA networks containing survivors’ private information. FEMA staff were fired for fulfilling a reimbursement payment to New York City for housing undocumented immigrants as part of FEMA’s Shelter and Services program.

Hamilton has said he believes FEMA needs major reform. He has said that he wants FEMA to move faster, that the agency is saddled with responsibilities he sees as outside its remit, and that some states have become too dependent on the agency. A Trump-appointed council last week urged sweeping changes to FEMA, which would require congressional action.

“I think he’s going to need to rebuild trust across the agency,” said Deanne Criswell, FEMA administrator under former President Joe Biden, adding that she believes Hamilton cares about FEMA and she appreciated his outreach to emergency management directors and former officials during and after his tenure.

Senate confirmation process could raise questions of experience

Hamilton could face pushback in the Senate confirmation process over never having led an emergency management agency, a common stepping stone to becoming administrator of an agency with over 21,000 employees.

Federal law requires the FEMA administrator to have “a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland security” and at least five years of “executive leadership and management experience.”

Hamilton trained as a Navy hospital corpsman before spending a decade as a Navy SEAL on SEAL Team Eight. He then became a U.S. State Department emergency management specialist handling overseas crisis response, then directed emergency medical services at DHS.

Anthony Pollio, 33, had been on a solo hike during a two-week trip when he suddenly disappeared in Glacier National Park, Montana, where it is said a bear attacked him

A “fearless” hiker left his dad a heartbreaking voicemail just moments before he was attacked by a bear.

Anthony Pollio, 33, had been on a solo hike during a two-week holiday when he suddenly vanished without a trace. The experienced athlete had rang his father while exploring a mountain trail, telling him he loved him.

But days later, search crews discovered his body in a remote, wooded area at Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. Authorities there understand Anthony was mauled by a bear during a hike. The tourist, a university graduate, had “communicated plans” to complete a famous route, hoping to reach the Mount Brown Fire Lookout.

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Rangers with the National Park Service and police officers launched an operation to find Anthony after relatives reported him missing. Officials subsequently found his body approximately 50ft off the Mount Brown Trail in a densely wooded area with fallen timber.

In a statement, Glacier National Park said: “The sequence of events leading to the bear encounter remains under investigation; however, evidence suggests that this was a surprise encounter.”

The park further noted that Pollio’s injuries were “consistent with those sustained by a bear encounter”. The trail has since been temporarily closed while the investigation remains ongoing.

Pollio’s devastated father, Arthur, later told Florida outlets that his son had left him a voicemail while out hiking. According to NBC6 and the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Pollio told his dad he loved him while describing the mountain trail he was exploring.

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Arthur also told local outlet WPLG Local 10 that his son was “a fearless man” and a seasoned outdoorsman. Family members believe Pollio may have come across a grizzly bear while making his way down the trail.

Authorities reportedly discovered bear spray amongst his belongings. Pollio, a graduate of the University of Central Florida, had visited numerous national parks and was described by those close to him as passionate about animals and outdoor adventure.

According to local reports, he worked as a service adviser in Florida and volunteered as a church deacon. The fatal attack is thought to be the first deadly bear encounter in Glacier National Park since 1998.

It comes after a bear attack on Monday in Yellowstone National Park left two hikers injured. Hiker Craig Lerman recorded video of one of the injured hikers, who was lying on the ground, reportedly with facial injuries, wearing a bloodied shirt. It was the first time a bear has injured someone in Yellowstone National Park this year, the park service said.

A simple change to how you make your bacon sandwiches can transform the taste

Few things can rival the bacon sandwich as a timeless breakfast and lunch staple. There’s little that beats sinking your teeth into crispy bacon nestled between thick slices of crusty white bread.

Add a dollop of tomato or brown sauce to your liking and enjoy the simple yet indulgent classic. That said, there’s a remarkably simple way to elevate your bacon sandwich.

If you’re keen to upgrade your bacon butty without too much fuss, this method is well worth a try. Chef Lesley Waters claims her bacon sandwich is an “instant hangover cure”.

She fries her bacon for three minutes on each side, or until golden and crisp. Lesley then butters her bread before layering up the bacon and sauce.

Her extra step is to return the assembled sandwich to the frying pan over a medium heat. For those making multiple sandwiches, Lesley suggests working in batches, reports the Mirror.

She toasts her bacon sandwiches in the pan for two to three minutes on each side until golden. For an even more decadent treat, Lesley takes a halved garlic clove and rubs it across both sides of the sandwich.

This straightforward technique of pan-toasting the sandwich intensifies the flavour as the bread soaks up the bacon juices, while also delivering a satisfying crunch.

Lesley shared her method on BBC Good Food, where it has garnered five-star reviews from those who’ve given it a go.

One reviewer remarked: “So simple, yet delicious!” While another enthused: “Who thought you could improve on the humble bacon sandwich?? genius.” Another person remarked: “Best bacon butties by far.” A fourth added: “Very tasty!”

How to make Lesley’s bacon sandwich

Ingredients

• Six rashes, rindless back bacon
• White country loaf
• Butter for spreading
• Three tbsp tomato chutney
• A large garlic clove, cut in half

Method

Heat a griddle or frying pan. Fry the bacon for three minutes on each side, or until it turns golden and becomes crispy.

Slice six generous pieces from the loaf and butter one side of each piece. Spread the chutney across three slices. Place two rashers of bacon on the three slices. Cover with the remaining bread slices and press firmly together.

Place the sandwiches in the pan over a moderate heat. Cook for two to three minutes on each side until they become golden brown.

Take out of the pan and rub both sides with the garlic clove. Slice the sandwiches in half and serve.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday set the stage for Alabama to eliminate one of two largely Black congressional districts before this year’s midterm elections, creating an opening for Republicans to gain an additional U.S. House seat in a partisan battle for control of the closely divided chamber.

The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling in April that struck down a majority-Black U.S. House district in Louisiana as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, significantly weakening a provision of the federal Voting Rights Act.

Alabama officials had pointed to the Louisiana case as reason for the Supreme Court to end a judicial order to use a court-imposed House map until after the 2030 census. The high court on Monday overturned that order and directed a lower court to reconsider the case in light of the Louisiana decision. That could free the state to instead use a map approved in 2023 by the Republican-led legislature that includes only one district where Black residents comprise a majority.

Anticipating a court reversal, Alabama officials recently enacted a law allowing it to void the results of a May 19 primary for some congressional districts and instead hold a new primary under the revised district boundaries. Alabama had asked for an expedited decision ahead of the primary.

Alabama Republicans praised the decision.

“Today, the Supreme Court vindicated the state’s long-held position. Now, the power to draw Alabama’s maps goes back to the people’s elected representatives. That’s our Legislature,” Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a video statement. Marshall said his job was “to put the legislature in the best possible legal position to draw a congressional map that favors Republicans seven-to-zero.” He concluded with the statement, “Stay tuned.”

Republican House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter called the decision “a massive victory not just for Alabama, but for conservatives across the country.”

In a dissent to Monday’s brief ruling, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the Louisiana case had reversed only one of the grounds upon which the Alabama case had been decided. Although the Voting Rights Act violation is gone, Sotomayor said a lower court could still find that Alabama had intentionally discriminated against Black voters in violation of the 14th Amendment.

The decision was a setback for Black residents and groups that had waged a legal fight for several years to get a second Alabama congressional district where Black voters had an opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice.

“We are witnessing a return to Jim Crow. And anybody who is alarmed by these developments — as everybody should be — better be making a plan to vote in November to put an end to this madness while we still can,” NAACP National President Derrick Johnson said in a statement.

Deuel Ross, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney who argued the Alabama case, said, “We will consider all of our options to fight to protect the rights of these voters and keep the court ordered map in place.”

Shalela Dowdy, a plaintiff in the Alabama redistricting case, said she was disappointed in the decision.

“For me, I feel like this is a step backwards towards the Jim Crow era for congressional representation. The state is not going to stop here,” Dowdy said, predicting Alabama will eventually go after the remaining district.

Primaries are just a week away

The decision comes a week ahead of the May 19 primaries, setting up a potentially confusing scenario for voters. Alabama lawmakers last week approved legislation to allow special primaries in four impacted congressional districts if the state is able to switch maps. The special elections would be set by the governor.

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen called the decision a “historic win for Alabama voters.” Allen said the May 19 primaries will proceed as scheduled and his office will remain in close contact with the governor’s office “as this situation continues developing.”

The change would give Republicans a chance to reclaim the district now represented by Rep. Shomari Figures, a Democrat. Figures was elected in 2024 under the court-ordered map. His election gave the state — where Black residents comprise more than one quarter of the population — two Black representatives in its congressional delegation for the first time in history.

Figures called the Supreme Court action an “incredibly unfortunate decision” that “sets the stage for Alabama to go back to the 1950s and ‘60s in terms of Black political representation in the state.”

Alabama is one of several states trying to change their congressional district boundaries before the November elections as part of a nationwide redistricting battle being won, so far, by Republicans.

Voting districts typically are redrawn once a decade, immediately after a census, to account for population changes. But President Donald Trump urged Texas Republicans last year to redraw congressional districts to their advantage in a bid to hold onto a narrow House majority in the midterm elections.

Democrats in California countered with their own redistricting. And numerous Republican-led states have followed. The high court’s Louisiana ruling provided fuel for Republicans to intensify their redistricting efforts.

So far, Republicans think they could win as many as 14 additional seats in the November elections from new districts enacted in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida and Tennessee. Democrats think they could win up to six additional seats from new districts in California and Utah. But Democrats suffered a major setback when the Virginia Supreme Cour t overturned a voter-approved redistricting amendment that could have yielded four more seats for the party.

___

Lieb reported from Jefferson City, Missouri, and Chandler from Montgomery, Alabama.

The TV doctor addressed the widespread concern caused by the virus outbreak

Hantavirus has been commanding global media attention and has generated significant concern amongst those worried it might develop into the next pandemic-scale crisis. BBC’s Dr Xand shared his verdict on this possibility and pinpointed the single demographic he feels should genuinely be anxious about the situation.

The medical expert featured on Morning Live on 11th May, voicing his desire that audiences would gain “reassurance” from his appearance, saying: “Viruses make people nervous, but actually this is not a thing that we should be concerned about.”

He stressed: “The main thing to say about hantavirus is that this, it’s not like Covid.”

Dr Xand explained that the only people he believes “should be concerned” are the cruise liner travellers who may have been in sufficiently close contact with those infected to have contracted the virus themselves.

Dr Xand addressed some comments particularly to the ship passengers currently self-isolating in the UK: “If they are watching telly at the moment we should say; we’re thinking of you, this has been very difficult for you. It is great that you’re home and we hope you’re feeling good.”

The TV doctor made a plea to anyone who might be located near or within the hospital where the passengers are quarantined: “These poor people have been on a boat. It’s been very traumatic, very nerve-wracking; they will have been very worried about catching what is potentially a deadly virus in the confines of a cruise ship.

“We shouldn’t (make them feel) contaminated or ostracised or anything. Of course, we’re taking precautionary measures, but it’s great that they’re home and they don’t pose a risk to us.”

The expert drew attention to the key difference between the two conditions, which lies in how they are transmitted. Covid was a highly contagious illness capable of spreading through brief encounters via airborne particles whenever an infected person breathed, spoke, coughed or sneezed.

Hantavirus, by contrast, is generally caught through contact with faeces, saliva or urine from infected rodents. The specific strain behind the outbreak on the luxury cruise ship has previously had documented cases of person-to-person transmission.

However, even in these rare instances of human-to-human spread, prolonged and close contact with the infected person during the early stages of the illness was required for the virus to be passed on. It was most commonly seen amongst those living in the same household or intimate partners.

Dr Xand pointed out another significant difference between this outbreak and the emergence of Covid: “(Hantavirus) not a brand new virus, it hasn’t suddenly emerged out of somewhere.” While medical professionals have understood hantavirus for many years, there remains no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment available, according to the UKHSA.

Instead, treatment focuses on symptom management tailored to each individual patient. This can include hospitalisation and respiratory support. Prompt medical attention can improve a patient’s outlook, however diagnosis can be difficult as early hantavirus symptoms resemble typical flu, which may cause people to dismiss crucial early indicators when they should be pursuing medical care.