Posts

Seasonal Flu Epidemics: Why Do They Happen and Could this Year's Turn Into a Killer ?

Image
  The UK's 2026-27 influenza 'season' is now well underway and is taxing the NHS to its limits once again, as predicted. Adverse circumstances aside, this would be a good time to ask the question in the title i.e. is this years ‘flu virus any more potent or dangerous than the usual seasonal variety ?  To answer this, we must first take a look at the causative virus and how it infects us and propagates itself with the aid of our own cells. What is Influenza ? The well-written and extensive wiki article tells us that Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by various types of influenza virus, and infects us via the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs.  It's worth remembering that viruses, unlike bacteria, don't have their own biochemical machinery with which to reproduce themselves, and so are reliant on us, and other organisms to provide this for them. They are exquisitely designed 'infection machines' composed of genetic ma...
Post a Comment
Read more

UK Student Loans – SB or BS ?

Image
Some more bad press surfaced yesterday for the Student Loan scheme - this time highlighting misleading info on the true cost of loans, supplied to prospective students by the universities themselves.  As you'll see if you read further, the scheme is designed to recoup as much cash for the treasury as possible, and ensures that all but the very poorest will pay back all of their loans plus a large dollop of interest.  The scheme's complexity aids in this by lulling students into a false sense of security about their eligibility for avoiding repayment by virtue of lower salaries. A nasty surprise is to come for many as thresholds are kept frozen and salaries rise inexorably.  My advice - avoid these loans like the plague....or of you really can't, get them paid off as quickly as possible. Please see also recent update of 7.4.26 at the end of this text for interpretation of UK.Gov's announcement on the 6% interest rate cap for Plan 2 loans.  ------------------ UK Stud...
Post a Comment
Read more