For anyone terrified of needles, we have some good news for you – we’re one step closer to a one-size-fits-all vaccine for cold, flu and Covid.

US health experts say a simple nasal spray could help boost people’s immunity to respiratory viruses, bacteria and allergy triggers.

While the study, published in the journal Science, was carried out on mice, researchers say it shows promising results for humans.

On top of the coronavirus, the jab Stanford Medicine experts developed is also effective against the skin infection, staph.

The drug-resistant bacteria behind the infection, staphylococcus, causes a pus-filled blister that can become serious if it enters the bloodstream.

The jab also protected the mice from Acinetobacter baumannii, another bacterium that can easily outfox drugs, which causes lung infections.

Finally, people allergic to house dust mites will be relieved to know that the vaccine could one day offer them protection.

What excites experts is that not only could the vaccine replace the October rush for flu and Covid jabs, but it could work against new pandemic bugs.

Dr Bali Pulendran, director of the Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection at Stanford Medicine and lead author, said: ‘I think what we have is a universal vaccine against diverse respiratory threats…

‘Imagine getting a nasal spray in the fall months that protects you from all respiratory viruses including Covid-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and the common cold, as well as bacterial pneumonia and early spring allergens.

‘That would transform medical practice.’

Health officials are always keeping an eye out for so-called ‘disease X’, a hypothetical disease that they fear could cause the next pandemic.

It’s a disease that governments are unprepared for, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Most vaccines grant immunity for a brief window, typically about a year, which is why booster shots are important.

How does the vaccine work?

Vaccines work by injecting a weakened version of a virus or shredded parts of it that can’t infect you to train your body how to respond.

But this new one, with the catchy name GLA-3M-052-LS+OVA, works a little differently.

The spray was first dropped into the noses of mice.

It then energised the animals’ T cells, which can raise the alarm and help marshal other immune cells to fight an infection in the lungs.

Tucked inside the spray is a powerless version of an antigen, which are molecules that sparks the immune system into action.

So, rather than injecting an empty husk of a pathogen for a body to stave off, the vaccine replicates the signals immune cells communicate with.

The next step for Dr Pulendran is to test the nasal spray on people next by exposing them to infections, first with a small group, then a larger one.

Brendan Wren, professor of microbial pathogenesis at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told Metro that you might not be popping into your local Boots for this nasal spray anytime soon.

‘At least a decade, it is at a preliminary stage and there would need to be enormous evaluation to ensure that there are not any unintended consequences of such a vaccine,’ he said.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: ‘Miracle’ baby born after UK’s first-ever womb transplant from dead donor

MORE: Urgent recall for more children’s toys because they contain asbestos

MORE: My husband was fit and healthy – then he got his diagnosis

Ibrahima Konate is in the final months of his deal at Liverpool but the club are keen to offer him fresh terms

Arne Slot has hinted that Ibrahima Konate is close to signing a new Liverpool contract if his past comments about Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are anything to go by. The defender only has months left on his deal, but his exit is far from a formality yet.

Liverpool are eager to tie the Frenchman down have confirmed that discussions are in progress. In his press conference last week, Slot disclosed: “We are in talks with him so that tells you what we want. It’s clear we would like him to stay but negotiations are ongoing so let’s see where that ends. We wouldn’t be in negotiations if we didn’t want him to stay.”

Real Madrid have been linked with a potential free transfer for the 26-year-old at the season’s conclusion, although reports late last year indicated the La Liga titans had contacted Liverpool directly to clarify they wouldn’t be pursuing another high-profile Anfield acquisition following their interest in Trent Alexander-Arnold.

READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp left the door open to sensational Liverpool return amid Red Bull quit rumoursREAD MORE: Liverpool sent Real Madrid transfer instruction to secure Alexis Mac Allister perfect partner

Liverpool found themselves in a comparable predicament last year when both Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk’s contracts were due to expire at the season’s end; however, Slot frequently declined to provide ongoing updates on the pair’s negotiations until the deals were close.

So, Slot openly discussing the club’s desire to keep Konate may be telling. The Frenchman has experienced a mixed season but has shown promise in recent fixtures, including in the 4-1 victory against Newcastle United late last month.

FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FB PAGE! Latest Reds news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

Reds captain Virgil van Dijk, who will be 35 by time next season rolls around, has acknowledged he’s eager for his defensive colleague to stay at the club beyond the season’s conclusion.

“We are friends, we speak about everything,” he said. “It’s a process and let’s see what comes out of it. It’s never that easy.

“We saw with my situation last year so it’s never that easy that we can just say: ‘Let’s get it done.’ It’s a process and let’s see what comes out of it.

Advertisement

“Obviously I want him to stay. He’s an important figure on the pitch. That’s what everyone sees but off the pitch as well, he’s one of the leaders. He’s outstanding and in my eyes, a world-class centre back.”

Given van Dijk’s age, Liverpool will no doubt be keen to keep hold of Konate. The Reds have, however, taken early measures to build a defence for the future, having spent big money on centre-backs Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet in recent windows.

Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package

Advertisement

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

£49

£35

Sky

Get the deal here

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.

Advertisement

Ellie Sullivan is reeling after being diagnosed with a suspected rare condition

A gym fanatic was horrified to learn working out could kill her- as a rare allergy to exercise sees her swell up. Ellie Sullivan has been diagnosed with suspected exercise-induced urticaria (EIU)- a condition few people know anything about.

It means just a few minutes of high intensity activity can hospitalise her with an itchy rash and ballooned lips. The beauty salon owner’s symptoms first started the previous day after a 100-metre run with her personal trainer left her with a ‘bright red rash’ covering her face, neck, ears, back and chest.

The 35 year old spoke to her GP the next day on January 25 and was stunned to be told she might have EIU, a rare condition that causes hives, itching and flushing during or after physical activity. After spending just five minutes on the cross trainer and doing her usual strength exercises on Sunday, the fitness enthusiast was ‘terrified’ when she started experiencing tingling sensations and her lips doubled in size.

She rushed to hospital where doctors confirmed her rare allergy but are unsure what has triggered it. On social media, Ellie shared footage of her flare-up to running captioned ‘when you are literally allergic to exercise’. In the clip you can see the mum of four running with her personal trainer before showing her swollen lips during her flare-up.

In another clip, you can hear Ellie breathlessly saying ‘it’s so weird’ as she shows off the red rash on her neck and chest. Now Ellie is ‘living in fear’ that her allergy could turn anaphylactic, which could be fatal.

Having ‘fallen in love’ with the gym a year ago, she says it would ‘break her heart’ if she has to give it up and fears that even walking might one day trigger a reaction. Now, Ellie is urging others to get checked if they start experiencing allergy-like symptoms and ‘take it seriously’.

Ellie, who lives in Honeybourne, Worcestershire, said: “I’m living on the edge because I just don’t know what’s going to happen. The problem is they don’t know if it’s going to turn into anaphylaxis. It would absolutely break my heart [if I couldn’t go to the gym].

“I joined my local gym last year and started a transformation programme and absolutely fell in love with it. My PT said ‘we’re all going to do a mud run in July, do you want to join? Let’s go outside and see where you are with your running’. We did less than 100 metres and I was fine at the time. It was probably under three minutes that I ran for.

Advertisement

“I got home and I did think to myself ‘I feel a bit hot’ but it wasn’t until I got upstairs and looked in the mirror that I was covered in this bright red rash from my bra upwards.

“It was super itchy but it wasn’t a typical hive rash. It was a completely flat rash but just all over my face, neck, ears, back, chest. I thought ‘it’s a bit weird, don’t know what that is’ and then my lips started to swell. It wiped me out.”

After rushing to hospital after experiencing another flare-up on Sunday, doctors diagnosed her with an exercise allergy and have referred her to a specialist. Now she must carry an antihistamine with her at all times and go to hospital during any flare-up.

Ellie said: “While I was standing in Greggs my ears started tingling first and then all this tingling started all over my face. Within seconds my lips just swelled up, I was terrified.

“When I went [into hospital] I was seen so quickly. By this point it had stopped increasing and started to go down. They could see the obvious lip swelling, my lips were double the size. The doctors had to research it while I was there because it’s so rare. Every time I have a reaction it’s getting worse.

“The problem is they don’t know if it’s going to turn into anaphylaxis. If your tongue starts to swell, that is a really life-threatening situation.”

Now Ellie’s been forced to completely cut out cardio and add more resting time into her strength workouts to avoid spiking her heart rate. Ellie said: “It’s bizarre and I’m wondering what on earth has triggered it. It’s gutting [not to be able to do cardio].

“This could end up affecting everyday life because it seems to be when my heart rate increases that my body is having a complete histamine melt down. I’m terrified it could one day develop to weights as well. We’ve had to adjust everything and I’m having to have extra time during sets to make sure my heart isn’t spiking.

“It’s trial and error seeing what I can and can’t do. It’s simple things like if I run up the stairs is it going to trigger it off? Even if I was walking it could potentially affect it.

“I’m living in fear of these flare-ups and not knowing if they’re going to turn because the doctors don’t know. I would be absolutely gutted [if I couldn’t go to the gym] and I’m really hoping it doesn’t end up like that. I’ve just got to be so careful.”

Anxiously waiting to see if her symptoms worse, Ellie hopes to spread awareness about her rare allergy.

Ellie said: “I don’t know anyone else with it. It’s one of those things I’ll say to people ‘no seriously I actually have an allergy to exercise, it’s not even an excuse’. I think it’s taking it seriously because at first I didn’t take it seriously. It’s not something you’d connect it to.

“You wouldn’t connect exercise and an allergy together, it’s just getting it checked. I really didn’t think it was going to be potentially as serious as it could be to the point it was life-threatening.”

​The MPs for Scarborough and Whitby and Thirsk and Malton, as well as councillors, have reacted to the findings of investigators that the blaze, which burned for more than 40 days, was likely started by someone using a campfire or gas burner.

​At its height, the fire covered 10 sq miles (26 sq km) of moorland, reaching close to RAF Fylingdales in the North York Moors National Park, and was declared a major incident.

​Whitby MP Alison Hume and Malton’s Kevin Hollinrake called for a rethink of wild camping rules and said that there “should be consequences”.

The leader of North Yorkshire Council has said the authority will continue to support those affected, while a Green Party councillor said efforst should be focused on fighting climate change which was “the real cause of the moor fires”.

​Ms Hume said: “No one should be wild camping in our precious national park.

​“It’s clear the status quo, that discreet wild camping is ok as long as campers ‘leave no trace’, has failed with catastrophic consequences.

​“We were so fortunate that, thanks to the heroic efforts of fire crews and the farmers, no lives were lost.”

​The Labour MP told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “I hope Forestry England, the North York Moors Authority and landowners will be putting up dozens of new signs now warning people not to light fires or disposable barbecues.”

​It was only on 23 September that North Yorkshire Fire Service confirmed it was no longer being treated as a major incident.

​Part of the affected area had been used as a tank training ground during World War Two, and there were more than 18 explosions as the fire burned.

​Conservative party chairman and Thirsk and Malton MP Mr Hollinrake said: “The confirmation that this devastating wildfire is believed to have been caused by someone cooking over a naked flame is frankly infuriating.

​“This was entirely avoidable. The fire caused serious environmental damage, put livelihoods at risk and imposed significant economic costs on the local community.

​“That makes it even more angering given the extraordinary efforts of local volunteers, farmers and emergency services who worked around the clock to limit the destruction.”

​Speaking to the LDRS, he said that “where reckless behaviour is suspected, there must be consequences. Rural communities should not be left to pick up the bill for acts of carelessness.”

​He said: “I pay tribute once again to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, alongside the farmers, gamekeepers and residents who stepped forward without hesitation to protect homes, land, and wildlife.

​Commenting on the findings of the “in-depth” 150-hour investigation, chief fire officer Jonathan Dyson said: “The Fylingdales Moor fire was one of the most complex multi-agency incidents the Service has ever attended. I would like to once again thank local communities, farmers, gamekeepers and our colleagues from other fire and rescue services for the vital support they gave us.

“The fact that this fire is believed to have been started by cooking using a naked flame, such as a campfire or gas burner, is a stark reminder of how quickly wildfires can take hold, particularly in hot, dry and windy conditions.”

Responding to the publication of the cause of the worst wildfire in North Yorkshire’s history, North Yorkshire Council’s leader, Cllr Carl Les, said: “The result of the very detailed fire investigation states that the cause of this major incident is believed to be cooking using a naked flame, such as a campfire or gas burner.

“This milestone moment may trigger reflection and memories which may be difficult for the communities and businesses most impacted by what was without doubt a terrifying blaze.”

However,  the Green Party’s Cllr Andy Brown, who represents Aire Valley, said: ”The real cause of the moor fires that inflicted so much damage to local people and the local environment was not some unidentified possible camp fire as the Leader of North Yorkshire Council has stated.

“It was an exceptional period of dry weather leaving moors so tinder dry that the very ground caught fire.

“That was the product of climate change and serious action is going to be needed to rewet more of our uplands if we are going to limit the damage fossil fuel companies and oil states are doing to our community and our landscape.”

​

Earlier today (Thursday), North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service revealed the conclusions of an in-depth fire investigation into the fire on Flyingdales Moor last summer.

Following extensive enquiries, including the taking of witness statements, the review of footage and videos, detailed inspection of the site and analysis of fire patterns, the cause of the fire is believed to be cooking using a naked flame, such as a campfire or gas burner.

The fire was declared a major incident on August 13 due to its proximity to RAF Flyingdales, described as a Critical National Infrastructure. At its peak on 25 August, it covered an area of up to 25km².

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “The findings of the Langdale Moor fire investigation are being thoroughly reviewed by North Yorkshire Police. We will issue an update in due course.

“Our thoughts remain with all those affected by this devastating blaze. We also praise the firefighters, volunteers, and members of the community who worked tirelessly to bring it under control.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday rejected a preservationist group’s request to block the Trump administration from continuing construction of a $400 million ballroom where it demolished the East Wing of the White House.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled that the National Trust for Historic Preservation was unlikely to succeed on the merits of its bid to temporarily halt President Donald Trump’s project. He said the privately funded group based its challenge on a “ragtag group of theories” under the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution, and would have a better chance of success if it amended the lawsuit.

“Unfortunately, because both sides initially focused on the President’s constitutional authority to destruct and construct the East Wing of the White House, Plaintiff didn’t bring the necessary cause of action to test the statutory authority the President claims is the basis to do this construction project without the blessing of Congress and with private funds,” the judge wrote.

The preservationists sought an order pausing the ballroom project until it undergoes multiple independent reviews and wins approval from Congress.

Trump used his social media account to hail the ruling as “Great news for America.” The Republican president said the project was ahead of schedule and under budget and “will stand long into the future as a symbol to the Greatness of America.”

The preservationists did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The White House announced the ballroom project over the summer. By late October, the Republican president had demolished the East Wing to make way for a ballroom that he said will fit 999 people. The White House said private donations, including from Trump himself, would pay for the planned construction of a 90,000-square-foot (8,400-square-meter) ballroom.

Trump proceeded with the project before seeking input from a pair of federal review panels, the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts. Trump has stocked both commission with allies.

The arts panel approved the project at a meeting last week. The planning commission is set to discuss it further at a March 5 meeting.

During a preliminary hearing in December, Leon warned the administration to refrain from making decisions on underground work, such as the routing of plumbing and gas lines, that would dictate the scope of future ballroom construction above ground.

The group challenging the project argued that Trump could be emboldened to go further — and possibly demolish the White House’s West Wing or Executive Mansion — if the court did not intervene.

“The losers will be (the) American public, who will be left with a massive ballroom that not only overwhelms what is perhaps the nation’s most historically important building, but will have been built in violation of an astonishingly wide range of laws,” plaintiffs’ attorneys wrote.

The administration said in a court filing that above-ground construction on the ballroom would not begin until April. In the meantime, government lawyers argued, the preservationist group’s challenge was premature because the building plans were not final.

The administration also argued that other presidents did not need congressional approval for previous White House renovation projects, large and small.

“Many of those projects were highly controversial in their time yet have since become accepted—even beloved—parts of the White House,” government lawyers wrote.

Leon, who was nominated to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush, said the White House office behind the project is not an agency covered under the jurisdiction of the Administrative Procedure Act. The judge also said the preservationists, who argued that the ballroom usurped the authority of Congress, did not have the basis to invoke the power of the courts.

As a result, “I cannot reach the merits of the National Trust’s novel and weighty statutory arguments” at this time, Leon said.

___

Associated Press writer Will Weissert contributed to this report.

Leading criminal defence lawyer Marcus Johnstone, managing director of PCD Solicitors who specialises in representing those accused of sexual offences, said: “I am not remotely surprised that Ian Huntley has been attacked in prison, four months since Ian Watkins was murdered by a fellow prisoner at HMP Wakefield.

David Vasey vowed to refund the former owners of the Teesdale Mercury after admitting a single charge of fraud at a plea hearing at Durham Crown Court on Wednesday (February 25).

The 63-year-old defendant committed the offence between June 2012 and September 2016 when he was initially financial manager and then financial director of the Barnard Castle-based weekly.

Vasey, said to be living in Normandy, France, appeared before the court last week, facing several counts of fraud by abuse of position.

Defendant David Vasey will be sentenced at Durham Crown Court in April for defrauding the Teesdale Mercury of £75,000 (Image: The Northern Echo)

His counsel, Chris Knox, said both he and his prosecution counterpart, Martin Towers, hoped to satisfactorily resolve the case prior to a provisional sentencing hearing, then set for March 19.

On the defendant’s return to court, on Wednesday, Mr Knox asked if the charges could be put to the defendant.

Vasey denied six counts of fraud but pleaded guilty to a seventh charge alleging that he made unauthorised payments to himself, of funds belonging to the Teesdale Mercury, between 20212 and 2016.

Mr Knox told the court: “We have been endeavouring to resolve this through discussion.

“He accepts fraudulently taking funds while working for the company and will pay £75,000 by the sentencing hearing.

“We have taken a long time to get to it and the complainant had to be consulted.

“What we are now anxious to do is that there should be acknowledged repayment before he is sentenced.”

Mr Knox also asked if a Probation Service background report could be prepared on the defendant in time for the sentencing hearing.

Judge Jo Kidd asked if the defendant had a fixed address in this country where he could live as a condition of his bail.

The court was given an address in Daisy Fields, Longframlington, Northumberland.

Read next … more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

“Paying back what you stole would assist.”

He was bailed to return to the court for the new date for the sentencing hearing which was re-fixed for Thursday April 23.

A prosecuting lawyer told the court there were no booster seats, no child seats and some were “sharing seat belts.”

A man who had four unrestrained children in the back seat when he was doing over 100 mph on the motorway was handed a three-year driving ban today.

Ballymena Magistrates Court heard that on 27 May last year, police on the Rathbeg roundabout on the M2 spotted a vehicle travelling at 106 mph, 36 over the limit.

When the car was pulled over and officers spoke to 31-year-old Martin Christopher Stokes, they found a total of seven people in the car, including four children in the back seat, none of whom were properly restrained.

A prosecuting lawyer told the court there were no booster seats, no child seats and some were “sharing seat belts.”

“So there were seven people in a car, four of which were children not properly restrained, and he was doing 106 mph,” District Judge Nigel Broderick queried and the lawyer confirmed that was the case.

Stokes, with an address at Harmin Drive in Newtownabbey, entered guilty pleas to each of the five offences, including using a vehicle in a condition causing danger to passengers, excess speed, and three of carrying a child under 12 without proper restraint.

Defence counsel Grant Powles said while it was no excuse, Stokes had received news of a relative who was “very ill” in hospital, so he was on his way there.

Stokes himself was not present in court but Mr Powles conceded that he has previous driving convictions and that having been convicted of driving while unfit, he is subject to a three-year driving ban until 2028.

The barrister further conceded there were aggravating features in the case, but the judge told him “that is an understatement.”

In addition to the three-year driving ban, Judge Broderick imposed fines totalling £500.

Want to see more of the stories you love from Belfast Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Belfast Live as a preferred source, simply click here.

North in Seaburn, Sunderland, opened in December 2022 in a converted storage shelter at the far end of the promenade, and has since earned national recognition for its food.

The restaurant is now looking for a new owner, though the team has assured customers it will remain open until a suitable new owner has been chosen to takeover.

The restaurant is known for its small plates, brunches and seafood. (Image: North, Seaburn)

The team behind North, also responsible for Mexico 70, Koji, Ship Isis and The Kings Arms in Deptford, said: “We have decided to look for a new owner for North restaurant.

“Most importantly, in the meantime, we are not closing and are in no rush to.

“It’s business as usual and we will remain open until a suitable new owner has been chosen to takeover.”

This Sunday (March 1) will see the return of Sunday lunch with the arrival of a new oven. (Image: North, Seaburn)

North is one of just two restaurants in Sunderland included in the Good Food Guide, alongside Ember in Sheepfolds Stables, and has also been named among the guide’s top 100 local restaurants.

The restaurant is known for its small plates, brunches and seafood, all served with a view.

The team said: “We’ve had a fantastic three years in Seaburn and are so, so proud of the team’s achievements.

“Firstly, being listed in The Good Food Guide but then secondly discovering a month later that we’d also been chosen as the only Sunderland restaurant to have ever made The Good Food Guide’s Top 100 local restaurants was a real honour.”

They added that this Sunday (March 1) will see the return of Sunday lunch with the arrival of a new oven, and that brunch and evening menus will continue as usual.

The team also reassured customers with outstanding gift vouchers that they remain valid, and offered refunds should the restaurant change hands before vouchers are redeemed.

They said: “If you’ve enjoyed dining with us over the past three years it’d be great to see you again before we go, if you’ve not dined with us before, now is your chance.”