more difficult

"There's little moisture in cold air, so the humidity indoors is lower and it's more difficult to drive the TCM reaction," Woods said.

While phages can work handily when swallowed to treat stomach ailments, they’re more difficult to use for bloodstream or whole-body infections.

But Rob Jones, director of operations at the NCA, says cracking down on the trade is complex - and even more difficult than policing the movement of illegal drugs.

For instance, she said, elections have the potential to make everyday stressors like money and health concerns more difficult to manage as candidates debate policies that could raise the price of gas or cut off access to certain kinds of medical care.

"However, what these cases demonstrate is that this issue is not always simple and that children and families face a range of challenges that can make regular attendance more difficult," he explained.