With the highest population out of anyone on the list, a buzzing nightlife scene, and our unquestionable Manc charm, you might expect us to make the top 10… and you’d be right, as Manchester has ranked in 4th place as one of the most infected areas, with 771 new diagnoses per 100,000 people.
That’s not far from 1% of our 550,000 Mancunians diagnosed recently.
To put that in perspective, that’s 18 people of a sold-out Albert Hall, 168 of the crowd at the AO Arena and 427 fans on a matchday at the Etihad Stadium.
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Leading the way for most recorded cases is Lincoln, with approximately 2% of its just over 100,000 population diagnosed, and it seems the East Midlands proved to be a bit of a hub for the STI, as nearby Nottingham and Ashfield both placed within the top six.
Manchester has been named one of the ‘chlamydia capitals’ of the UK / Credit: PickPik
The North West is never far from the top of a table in anything, and in this case, it’s Liverpool flying the chlamydia flag for the region, finishing in second place, as the port city just down the ship canal saw 4,191 STI diagnoses in 2023 – which is far higher than first-place Lincoln, but its much larger population resulted in a lower overall rate.
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London is obviously in a league of their own, as the capital’s numbers are so impressive (or unimpressive, shall we say) that even their individual boroughs are far exceeding major cities, with Lambeth, Southwark, and Hackney not only being the highest in London, but also the UK, with all reporting over 3% of residents to have been infected.
Chlamydia is by far the most common STI in England, accounting for just over half of all infections, and this is more than double that of the next most common STI – which is gonorrhoea (if you wanted to know).
Chlamydia is by far the most common STI in England / Credit: shawnanggg (via Unsplash) | PickPik
Navin Khosla, who is a pharmacist at NowPatient – the company that has released these shocking new stats, has commented on the signs and symptoms of chlamydia and what you should do if you think you have the STI: “Chlamydia is transmitted through unprotected sex and is particularly common in sexually active teenagers and young adults, and it is recommended that those age groups should take a test once a year, and or when they have sex with new or casual partners.
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“Most people with chlamydia do not notice any symptoms and therefore do not know they have it, however, there are symptoms to keep an eye out for:
Pain when urinating
Unusual discharge from the vagina, penis or bottom
In women, stomach pains, bleeding after sex and bleeding between periods
In men, pain and swelling in the testicles
“If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, or think you are at risk of having an STI, contact your GP for an appointment, or visit a community contraceptive service or local genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic to get tested.”
We are always looking out for you at The Manc, so take our advice, and if we’re back in the top 10 for 2024, you can know what to keep an eye on and stay protected.
Featured Image – Pxhere
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Academy graduate Oscar Bobb is leaving Manchester City on a permanent transfer
Danny Jones
Manchester City youth academy graduate Oscar Bobb is leaving the club after sealing a move to Fulham FC.
Despite plenty of loan interest throughout the January transfer window, the Man City attacker has secured a switch to the in-form West London team on a permanent basis.
Bobb looked increasingly likely to leave in some capacity following the arrival of another winger in the form of instant hit, Antoine Semenyo, but it now looks as though his departure is all but confirmed, bar an imminent official announcement.
As reported by Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the agreement has now been reached between the two clubs pending a full medical today (Thursday, 29 January).
According to Romano, Fulham will pay Man City approximately £27 million for Bobb’s services, who becomes the latest addition in what has already been a fairly busy period of recruitment.
He goes on to add that “City also mantain [a] 20% sell-on clause, matching rights and future control on the player based on his decision.”
There is no suggestion of a buy-back clause at this time, but given his age and having already made a fair few appearances for Pep Guardiola‘s first team, it wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility to see him return to the club one day.
Bobb also arrives at Craven Cottage following the exit of multiple wingers and offensive options, including Adama Traore, ex-Man United product Andreas Pereira and Arsenal youngster, Reiss Nelson, whose loan deal has expired and has signed another temporary deal at local rivals, Brentford.
Had it not been for that injury I know he would’ve been class for City for a long time, and let’s not forget that goal v Newcastle pic.twitter.com/inGxi5UjPM
The young Norwegian winger joined the Etihad Campus back in 2023 and went on to contribute a handful of goals and assists, despite limited appearances and some very unfortunate injury issues.
Only seven months ago, his soon-to-be former parent club released a short video charting his return from the sidelines after fracturing his leg – a setback which kept him out for roughly five months.
Plenty of fans have quickly placed him in the so-called ‘what if?’ category of players, and given that he’s still just 22 years old and has already impressed on a number of ocassions for such a big club, we wouldn’t be surprised if he goes on to have a very exciting career.
Can you see the Blues bringing in or letting anyone else go before deadline day?
McDonald’s is set to axe 80% of its vegan and vegetarian options in the UK
Emily Sergeant
McDonald’s is set to remove nearly all of its vegan and vegetarian options from the UK menu, according to reports.
We may be in what is known to some as Veganuary, but one of the world’s leading fast food chains has reportedly made the decision to drastically cut back on the selection of plant-based and meat-free options on its UK menu, appearing to align with the trends that show a decline in veganism overall.
McDonald’s is known for offering those who choose not to eat meat a choice of different options – from its Veggie Dippers to the popular McPlant burger.
But from the start of next month, only one options is apparently set to remain on the menu.
In a decision that seems to already be making fans on social media ‘furious’, McDonald’s has revealed that it will stop selling Veggie Dippers, Veggie Dipper Happy Meals, Spicy Veggie Wraps, and Vegetable Deluxe sandwiches.
McDonald’s is set to axe 80% of its vegan and vegetarian options in the UK / Credit: McDonald’s UK
All that remains will be the vegan McPlant Burger – which McDonald’s says still remains popular with steady sales.
According to reports in various outlets like the Daily Mail and Sky News, McDonald’s says it had reviewed feedback and sales data in order to make the decision.
A spokesperson for McDonald’s UK told the Daily Mail: “We’re always listening to our customers to help inform and evolve our menu. After reviewing feedback, alongside the sales data of our Veggie Dippers, it’s clear this product does not match the appeal of McPlant for our vegetarian customers.
“That’s why we’ve made the decision to remove them from the menu, as we focus on developing better vegetarian options that meet our high standards.
The fast food chain has released a statement as to why it is reducing options / Credit: Road Ahead (via Unsplash)
“While McPlant remains a firm fan favourite and will continue to be the go-to choice for our vegetarian and vegan customers, we recognise these changes may be disappointing for some.”
If this statement is anything to go by though, it does appear that the McPlant won’t stay the only vegan option on the menu forever, as the fast food chain has indicated that it is looking at introduction others in the future.
“We are actively learning from other markets to understand which vegetarian and vegan options are proving most popular and exploring exciting new offerings that we know customers will love,” the spokesperson’s statement concluded.
The Veggie Dippers, Veggie Dipper Happy Meals, Spicy Veggie Wraps, and Vegetable Deluxe sandwiches will be removed from the McDonald’s menu in the UK on 3 February.
Harry Quick -
10th January 2024 
