Dr Naila Rabbani of Warwick Medical School and Professor Paul J Thornalley of Warwick Medical School and Warwick Systems Biology Centre comment on the recent media attention on the sugar content of the UK population diet.

“The confirmed case of H7N7, otherwise known as bird flu, in Lancashire is a concern because of the potential threat to the UK poultry industry. There is no reason at this stage to believe that there is a threat to humans either directly by infection with the virus or indirectly by the presence of the virus in food."

"It is important for all contacts to be traced and provided with appropriate advice about possible symptoms and how to seek medical assistance. MERS is similar to, but not the same as SARS that spread in 2002-03 and the hope is that proper precautions will lead to the halt of the spread of MERS as it did for SARS."

"All influenza viruses that infect humans originated in other species from where they spread into the human population. The greatest diversity of influenza A virus strains is seen in aquatic birds and it is from these, possibly combined with flu strains present in other animals such as pigs, that human infections have arisen. The introduction of new influenza strains into humans from animals has generated worldwide pandemics which have been devastating in terms of the numbers of people seriously affected or killed. "

Commenting on the hacking of Sony's online PlayStattion store Carsten Maple, Professor of Cyber Systems Engineering at WMG/The University of Warwick, said that the attack was likely "initiated in the last fortnight.