What is Allergy? | Right Decisions

Announcements and latest updates

Polyfill.io vulnerability

28 june 2024

Our eHealth team advised us yesterday of an international vulnerability relating to polyfill.io . This domain has become compromised and is spreading malware through a widespread supply chain attack, estimated to affect over 110,000 websites including major websites such as the BBC. The Polyfill site offered widely used bits of code for older browsers that allowed the use of modern Javascript features. Such code makes the work for web developers easier and allows compatibility with a broader range of browsers.

Websites that have used the Javascript code from Polyfill have been urged to remove such code immediately. The change occurred after a suspected Chinese firm purchased the domain in early 2024.

Tactuum have identified and are now testing a fix to remove all Polyfill code from the RDS site.. They will be deploying the fix on Monday 1 July along with other planned fixes and amendments. I will notify you of the timing of the deployment as soon as possible.

In the meantime, please ensure that you have up-to-date anti-virus software installed on your machines and personal devices.

Allergy is an inappropriate immune response to a usually harmless substance in the environment.

These substances are known as allergens and can be food (e.g. nuts), airborne (e.g. pollen), venom (e.g. insect stings) or latex (e.g. balloons).

The body’s immune system produces specific antibodies against these allergens. When an individual is exposed to the allergen again, the body is prepared to fight it, and this causes an allergic reaction.

This results in the release of chemicals such as histamine which cause the allergic reaction and can present with; an itchy rash, swelling and redness, breathing problems (similar to an asthma attack), tight throat which can cause swallowing difficulties and/or a high pitched sound (stridor) and hoarseness.

The video by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) explains the immune response to allergens.

Permission granted for use from EAACI.