内容摘要：Dr Zoe Jacobs, who is based at the National Oceanography Centre, first noticed the unusual marine temperatures a few weeks ago. She found that pockets of the UK had been coming in and out of a mild heatwave since late 2024. That heat intensified and spread in March and has now surged.

Dr Zoe Jacobs, who is based at the National Oceanography Centre, first noticed the unusual marine temperatures a few weeks ago. She found that pockets of the UK had been coming in and out of a mild heatwave since late 2024. That heat intensified and spread in March and has now surged.

Social media posts from residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital have shown an abundance of rodents swimming in the Miljacka river which flows through the centre of the city.Sarajevans long accustomed to poor public services have also posted photos of overflowing rubbish containers and illegal dumping – along with complaints that the authorities have failed to clear away dead animals from public areas including children's playgrounds.

It all makes for a wonderful environment for rats to thrive. For humans, however, the picture is rather less rosy.Health experts blame a failure to control Sarajevo's rodent population for an alarming rise in the number of cases of rat-borne diseases.In just one 24 hour period this week, the country's largest hospital reported a dozen cases of leptospirosis. That follows a steady stream of other infections earlier in the month.

One of the disease's nicknames, rat fever, reflects its key vector of infection. It generally spreads to humans through water or soil contaminated with rodent urine or faeces.Symptoms can range from headaches and muscle pain to bleeding on the lungs. The acute form of the illness, Weil's disease, can cause jaundice and even kidney failure.

The local authorities in Sarajevo have declared an epidemic, allowing the imposition of emergency measures, including a long overdue clean-up.

Extra municipal workers armed with disinfectant sprays have been deployed to carry out an urban "spring clean" in public areas across the city, while additional rubbish collections are being arranged. Schools have been directed to clean their playgrounds, mow any grass areas and check their basements for rats.Mr Huxtable has also been finessing the darts of former world champion Price, from Caerphilly county, before he battled it out at the O2 on Thursday.

"I've never seen focus like that from Gerwyn Price," he said."He was a former rugby player who just played socially and he made it into the top 32. He said that's not good enough and when he made it into top 16 he still wasn't happy with that.

"He was so focused to be the best and to take Gerwyn from being a rugby player to a world champion was a big moment for us."Mr Huxtable, from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, has completed the majority of his work from Nodor's Bridgend headquarters for about 25 years, but also travels to Kenya where their darts are mass-produced for the retail market.