Amazon workers at Coventry warehouse tested for tuberculosis after outbreak
Amazon is testing workers at its Coventry warehouse for tuberculosis after an outbreak of the lung disease.A handful of workers from the site were found to have contagious tuberculosis (TB) last year, prompting the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to begin running a screening programme in September.Amazon said 10 people at the site, which employs about 2,000 people according to the GMB union, had since tested positive for the non-contagious, or latent, variety of TB late last year.Some people have TB in their body but do not get ill or have any symptoms – this is known as latent TB.This variant cannot be spread to others, but it can turn into active, contagious TB in the future if it is not treated.
Dr Roger Gajraj, a consultant in health protection withUKHSA, said it identified a small number of individuals at the site who were “responding well to treatment and are no longer infectious, so pose no onward risk”.“As a precaution, and in line with national guidance, we are offering testing to those who may have had closer contact with the affected individuals.The overall risk remains low,” he added.“TB is fully treatable with antibiotics.We continue to work closely with Amazon to monitor the situation.
”Amazon said that after some cases were identified “we immediately followed guidance from the NHS and UKHSA and made all employees potentially affected aware of the situation,Out of an abundance of caution, we are currently running an expanded screening programme with the NHS,”A spokesperson said the company had briefed the whole site on the situation: “Nothing is more important than the safety and wellbeing of our team members,”Amanda Gearing, a senior GMB union organiser for the site, called for “immediate and decisive action – including the temporary closure of Amazon Coventry” warehouse, until appropriate infection control measures had been implemented to prevent the further spread of TB,The GMB said multiple cases of tuberculosis had been reported at the site, with NHS staff attending this week to perform blood tests on members of staff.
One Amazon worker said there were concerns that the high level of migrant workers at the site meant many people would be vulnerable because they would not have had vaccinations in their home country.The main symptoms of TB are a cough that lasts more than three weeks, exhaustion, high temperature, night sweats and unexplained weight loss.The disease is caused by bacteria and can spread through close contact with people who have TB with symptoms.A spokesperson for Coventry city council said: “We encourage all residents to be aware of the symptoms of tuberculosis following a rise in cases across the country.Our advice to people is that TB testing and treatment is free to everyone on the NHS, regardless of immigration status.
Anyone experiencing symptoms should contact their GP or NHS 111 without delay.”In 2024, the number of people notified to have the disease rose by 13.6% to 5,490 people.The rate of notifications at 9.4 per 100,000 population, is now only just below the World Health Organization threshold of 10 per 100,000 for a low incidence country and continuing to rise, according to a government report released in October.
The warehouse in Coventry has been the site of industrial action; Amazon narrowly defeated a recognition vote there in 2024.
UK supermarkets go all out for ‘Jab-uary’ with food for those on weight-loss drugs
Veganuary and dry January are among the new year health kicks enthusiastically endorsed by supermarkets, but this year the buzz is around “Jab-uary” as pricey diet foods aimed at people on weight-loss drugs hit the shelves.Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Asda, Ocado and the Co-op are among the big names targeting shoppers who use weight-loss injections, known as GLP-1 agonists, but better known by brand names such as Wegovy and Mounjaro.Ocado’s new virtual “weight management” aisle includes a “curated range of GLP-1-friendly products” that runs the gamut from tiny (100g) portions of steak costing £3.50 to a trendy “powdered greens” supplement, AG1, at £107 a pack.The online supermarket said it was seeing strong demand for protein-rich staples such as steak, chicken, cottage cheese, health drinks and vitamins and supplements
Shelling out? Easter eggs in the UK are smaller but pricier this year
Chocolate eggs are looking smaller than ever this year and it is not just because Easter is still so far away.Many of the Easter eggs already out on supermarket shelves this month not only cost more, but have been reduced in size or weight as the price of cocoa has driven a new wave of shrinkflation.Maltesers is living up to its “the lighter way to enjoy chocolate” slogan with its XL egg rather less large this year at 194g in many shops, down from 231g in 2025, while the price charged by Tesco has risen by £1 to £7.The weight loss is largely down to there being one fewer mini pack of Maltesers inside the box, according to trade journal the Grocer, meaning the price per gram is up 39% to 3.6p
China blocks Nvidia H200 AI chips that US government cleared for export – report
Suppliers of parts for Nvidia’s H200 have paused production after Chinese customs officials blocked shipments of the newly approved artificial intelligence processors from entering China, according to a report.Reuters could not immediately verify the report, which appeared in the Financial Times citing two people with knowledge of the matter. Nvidia did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment made outside regular business hours.Nvidia had expected more than one million orders from Chinese clients, the report said, adding that its suppliers had been operating around the clock to prepare for shipping as early as March.Chinese customs authorities this week told customs agents that Nvidia’s H200 chips were not permitted to enter the country, Reuters reported
ChatGPT to start showing ads in the US
ChatGPT will start including advertisements beside answers for US users as OpenAI seeks a new revenue stream.The ads will be tested first in ChatGPT for US users only, the company announced on Friday, after increasing speculation that the San Francisco firm would turn to a potential cashflow model on top of its current subscriptions.The ads will start in the coming weeks and will be included above or below, rather than within, answers. Mock-ups circulated by the company show the ads in a tinted box. They will be served to adult users “when there’s a relevant sponsored product or service based on your current conversation”, according to OpenAI’s announcement
Easier start for Alex de Minaur as Matteo Berrettini withdraws from Australian Open
Alex de Minaur has received an early boost to his Australian Open chances after the withdrawal of his tough first-round opponent, former world No 6 Matteo Berrettini.Tens of thousands have filled Melbourne Park on a sunny Sunday marking the first day of the main draw, which has already seen Perth product Talia Gibson secure passage to the second round.Even before a ball had been hit, however, there was reason for Australian optimism. Berrettini announced he had suffered a recurrence of the abdomen problems which had plagued his 2025 season, forcing him to miss the French and US opens, and would not take the court against De Minaur.“Unfortunately I’ve felt discomfort in my obliques once again and I won’t be ready to perform at my best level for five sets,” the Italian posted on Instagram
JD Vance to lead US presidential delegation at Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
US vice-president JD Vance will head the American presidential delegation to the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, the White House confirmed Saturday.Vance is scheduled to attend the ceremony on 6 February, when the Milan-Cortina Games officially get underway. He will be accompanied by second lady Usha Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio and US ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta.Also joining the delegation are several former Olympic champions, including twin sisters Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando, members of the US women’s ice hockey team that won gold at the 2018 Games. The group will also include figure skater Evan Lysacek, the 2010 Olympic champion, and Apolo Ohno, a two-time gold medalist in short track speed skating
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