Spy poisoning: Diners told to wash possessions but health bosses insist risk 'very low'
New post
Spy poisoning: Diners told to wash possessions but health bosses insist risk 'very low'
Video:Advice for public as nerve agent traces found
Hundreds of people have been told to wash their possessions following the discovery of traces of a nerve agent in Salisbury - but health officials insist the risk to the public is still "very low".
Public Health England (PHE) issued "precautionary advice" a week after former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found slumped on a bench in the Wiltshire city.
This was in response to traces of a nerve agent being discovered at The Mill pub and the nearby Zizzi restaurant, both of which the pair visited.
Image:Traces of a nerve agent were also found at The Mill pub
PHE said those who visited the pub between 1.30pm last Sunday and 11.10pm on Monday, and the restaurant between 1.30pm on Sunday and 9pm the next day, should take action.
This includes: :: Machine washing clothes worn that day :: Double-bagging clothes worn that day which would normally be dry cleaned and wait for further advice :: Wiping possessions such as mobile phones, purses and wallets with baby wipes :: Hand washing jewellery
A source at Zizzi has told Sky News that the possessions and work clothes of staff were removed by authorities and burned in the wake of the poisoning.
Dr Jenny Harries, joint director at PHE England, defended the decision to issue the guidance a week after the poisoning.
Video:Fears and nervousness in Salisbury
She said: "It's really important to understand the general public should not be concerned. There is, on the evidence currently, a very low risk.
"We work with our colleagues here on a continuous risk assessment basis. When we get new information we continuously risk-assess groups of people who may have become exposed, from the evidence we have in front of us.
"As new evidence becomes available, we act on that immediately. Most people who will have been at the pub will have washed the clothes they were in.
"The immediate risk - we're not anticipating, on our current evidence, seeing new patients coming forward.
"This is about a very, very small risk of repetitive contact with traces of contamination that people may have taken out.
"The advice we're giving today about washing clothes - very simple things... that will remove that risk as we go forward."
Fewer than 500 people would have been in either venue, according to chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies.
She said: "Rigorous scientific analysis continues, but we have now learnt that there has been some trace contamination by the nerve agent in both The Mill pub and Zizzi's restaurant in Salisbury.
"I am confident this has not harmed the health of anyone who was in The Mill pub or Zizzi's restaurant.
"However, some people are concerned that prolonged long-term exposure to these substances may, over weeks and particularly months, give rise to health problems.
"I'm therefore advising - as a belt and braces approach - that people who were in [Zizzi's or the Mill during the specified times]... should clean the clothes they wore and the possessions they handled while there.
"This is precautionary advice aimed at only those people who were at the venues at these times, which I believe to be below 500 people."
Video:People 'do survive' exposure to nerve agents
Mr Skripal, 66, and his daughter, 33, remain in a critical but stable condition in hospital.
Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey - who was taken to hospital after falling seriously ill when he responded to the emergency - is conscious and in a serious but stable condition.
The pub and restaurant are among a number of locations that have been cordoned off across the city
Oven BBQ Chicken Time : 1hour This juicy chicken is coated in barbecue sauce and uses the oven instead of the grill frequently, with the following helpful tip: Barbecue sauce is spread over most of the roast chicken that has been dry-rubbed. The rendered fat from the chicken gives the finished sauce its shine and thickness. After being spooned on, it is roasting the chicken until it is sticky, caramelized, and flavorful. Serve the excess sauce with supper, use it to dip poultry in, or eat it by the spoonful. (Try using this stovetop technique for boneless BBQ chicken.) INGREDIENTS Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1 (18-ounce) jar barbecue sauce, or 2 cups homemade barbecue sauce About 3 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken leg quarters or thighs, patted dry 1 tablespoon neutral oil (such as grapeseed) 2 teaspoons store-bought or homemade chili powder 1 teaspoon smoked paprika Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar PREPARATION Step 1 Heat the oven to 425 degre...
Man charged with murdering midwife Samantha Eastwood Image: Samantha Eastwood was reported missing by work colleagues at the Royal Stoke Hospital A man has been charged with murdering midwife Samantha Eastwood, whose body was found a week after she went missing in Stoke-on-Trent. Michael Stirling, 32, from Cromer Road, Stoke-on-Trent, will appear at North Staffordshire Magistrates Court on Monday. Two other men, aged 28 and 60, who were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, have been released on conditional bail while inquiries continue. Ms Eastwood was last seen when she left her night shift at the Royal Stoke Hospital at 7.47am last Friday, and officers investigating her disappearance found a body in a rural area near the city on Saturday. Staffordshire Police have now confirmed that the body is believed to be that of the 28-year-old. A post-mortem took place on Sunday, but further tests are required. In a statement released by police, Ms Eastwo...
Pregnant Khloé ‘went Ballistic’ When She Found Out About Tristan’s Cheating EXCLUSIVE: Khloé Kardashian "went ballistic" when she found out her baby daddy Tristan Thompson was fooling around behind her back with an Instagram model! What might be the outcome??
Spicy Tomato Pasta With Arugula Time : 20 minutes This one-pot pasta is coated in a rich sauce owing to a basic foundation of olive oil, tomato paste, smoky Calabrian chili paste, and pasta water. It's a go-to recipe for sleepy weeknights when you don't want to chop an onion or mince garlic. This spicy and flavorful Italian chile paste is made from crushed Calabrian chiles combined with oil, salt, and occasionally vinegar. If you can't locate it, you can also use hot pickled chiles or chile-garlic paste. You can always add extra chile to your bowl, so err on the side of caution with that. Two methods of serving the arugula: Each serving bowl should have a tangle of it at the bottom. Toss the heated spaghetti with it to soften. Then slice the rawness, or heap it on top, pour with your lovely olive oil, and sprinkle with some grated cheese for a salad and pasta dish. INGREDIENTS Yield: 4 servings Salt ¾pound long, thin pasta, such as vermicelli or capellini 2tablespoons ol...
Comments
Post a Comment
comments below