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Travel health and the growing risk of antibiotic-resistant STIs like gonorrhoea – UK Health Security Agency
Recent data shows a concerning upward trend of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea infections, particularly in popular tourist destinations across the Asia-Pacific region. This includes countries such as Thailand, China, Cambodia and Vietnam. These infections are sometimes called ‘super-gonorrhoea’ in the media.
What is space weather, and why are we monitoring it? – UK Health Security Agency
As the Sun reaches its most active period in 22 years, we’re increasingly aware of the potential risks from severe space weather events. In our latest blog post, find out how we're refining our understanding and responses to space weather, ensuring the UK remains resilient to these cosmic challenges.
How we are pioneering artificial intelligence applications in public health – UK Health Security Agency
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to address health security challenges. Here are 3 examples of projects that demonstrate how we're using cutting-edge AI technology to protect and improve public health. Using …
Nanoplastics are everywhere: what is the health impact of these tiny particles? – UK Health Security Agency
Nanoplastics, and their slightly larger cousins microplastics, are polluting our environment and our food. The study of these tiny particles is still a relatively new field and in this blog post for British Science Week we’ll explore how scientists are investigating the effects nanoparticles are having on the human brain and its defences.
Changes to health protection notification regulations (NOIDs) – UK Health Security Agency
From 6 April 2025, we’re expanding the list of pathogens that Registered Medical Professionals and laboratories in England must notify us about. The changes will strengthen local and national surveillance and support a prompt response to outbreaks of infectious diseases. …
The National Collection of Type Cultures: where 100-year-old samples help solve today’s problems – UK Health Security Agency
For British Science Week, we take a look at how decades old, pre-antibiotic samples in our Culture Collections are helping to address health security challenges today. Read our latest blog post to find out how our specimens have become essential ingredients in some of the most important scientific developments in history – some more than once.
Behind the Scenes at RIPL: Protecting the UK from deadly diseases – UK Health Security Agency
In this blog post we take a behind-the-scenes look at the Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL), where our scientists work to safeguard public health from rare and deadly diseases. Our laboratories RIPL is the UK’s frontline clinical diagnostic laboratory …
Andrew Donaldson-Wheatcroft: ‘We should see HIV testing as an essential part of self-care’ – UK Health Security Agency
If you are interested in skincare, beauty and wellness, you might know of influencer Andrew Donaldson-Wheatcroft, who has well over 200,000 followers on his social media accounts. Alongside this content, Andrew is an advocate for people living with HIV. In …
What winter bug do I have? Know the signs and symptoms – UK Health Security Agency
We see cases of flu, RSV, COVID-19 and norovirus throughout the year, but in winter they circulate at the same time and can reach high levels. We also track other respiratory viruses – rhinovirus, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and parainfluenza …
What is bird flu and how are we protecting people against it in the UK? – UK Health Security Agency
Avian influenza (bird flu) is an infectious disease that affects birds, caused by the influenza A virus. Birds are the hosts for a variety of influenza virus subtypes, particularly waterfowl and shore birds. All birds are susceptible to avian influenza …
How we monitor invasive mosquitoes and stop them spreading in the UK – UK Health Security Agency
As we release data showing a significant rise in travel-related infections like dengue and malaria, we speak to Colin Johnston, Senior Medical Entomologist at UKHSA, about his team’s work on invasive mosquito surveillance. Read on to find out how we …
Why is norovirus reporting in England so high at the moment? – UK Health Security Agency
Data for the current 2024/2025 season in England shows that norovirus laboratory reports are notably higher than the 5-season average. Norovirus cases typically increase through autumn and into winter, but this year cases have risen earlier than usual and are …
How the science of snakebites is taking on superbugs – UK Health Security Agency
Patients in British hospitals with serious, antibiotic-resistant gut infections have little in common with snakebite victims overseas. But when scientists made an unlikely connection in 2018, it led to trials for a potential new treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections. In this …
Join the fight against flu by taking part in our citizen science project – UK Health Security Agency
Our scientists are tracking flu and other respiratory viruses and they need your help. Join our FluSurvey system and contribute directly to flu surveillance this winter. This UK-wide citizen science programme has now started, but there is still plenty of …
A parent’s guide to keeping kids healthy this school year – UK Health Security Agency
With kids getting back into the classroom, now is a good time for parents to familiarise themselves with some of the common illnesses that could disrupt children's studies or even cause more serious illness during the colder months. This blog …
How we monitor flu and other respiratory viruses each winter – UK Health Security Agency
As we approach another winter season, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is ramping up its comprehensive surveillance systems to monitor flu and other seasonal respiratory viruses. Here's an overview of how we're working to keep the nation informed and protected. …
Marburg virus disease: what you need to know – UK Health Security Agency
You may have seen reports about a rise in cases of Marburg virus disease in Rwanda, which we are monitoring closely. Marburg virus belongs to the filovirus family, along with Ebola. It can cause haemorrhagic fever, meaning it can damage …
How cutting-edge AI technology could hold the key to forecasting the pollen count – UK Health Security Agency
On the roof of a UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) lab, at Chilton’s Harwell Science Campus in Oxfordshire, a new chapter in artificial intelligence (AI) and pollen monitoring is unfolding. In this blog post we’ll explore how our team of Toxicologists are working to better understand and monitor what we’re breathing in and how this may impact our health.
A parent’s guide to keeping kids healthy this school year – UK Health Security Agency
With kids getting back into the classroom, now is a good time for parents to familiarise themselves with some of the common illnesses that could disrupt children's studies or even cause more serious illness during the colder months. This blog …
Who’s eligible for the 2024 COVID-19 vaccine, or ‘Autumn Booster’? – UK Health Security Agency
As we move into autumn, protection from any earlier COVID-19 vaccination you may have had will be starting to wane. For those who are more likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19, the NHS offers a free vaccine in the …
How Heat-Health Alerts contribute to keeping the vulnerable safe this summer – UK Health Security Agency
The sun is shining and most of us will be happy to see the arrival of warmer and drier weather after the wet and cool summer we have had so far. This week’s higher temperatures have triggered a yellow Heat-Health …
How you can help us resist the tiger mosquito’s conquest of Europe – UK Health Security Agency
As our world becomes increasingly interconnected and the climate changes, the UK faces challenges that we might associate with more exotic destinations. One such challenge is the potential introduction of invasive mosquito species, particularly the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus). This …
What is RSV and is there a vaccine? – UK Health Security Agency
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major respiratory virus that is common over the winter period, typically November to February. While the symptoms are mild for many, RSV accounts for around 30,000 hospitalisations of children under 5 in the UK annually, and for 20 to 30 infant deaths. In this post, we look at the symptoms, risk factors and who is eligible for the vaccine.
From measles to malaria, how to keep you and your family healthy on holiday – UK Health Security Agency
Dr Shreya Singhal is a junior doctor working in West London, as well as being a keen backpacker. She has worked in Infectious Diseases and General Practice and shares her top tips for people looking to travel this summer. With lots …
I was a GP on the frontline of a whooping cough epidemic. Here is what I saw. – UK Health Security Agency
Doug Jenkinson was a Midlands GP for 37 years, during which time he made a special study of whooping cough and documented over 700 cases. The thing about whooping cough is that anyone can diagnose it once they have heard …
What is cryptosporidium, and how can you avoid it in the water or on the farm? – UK Health Security Agency
Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that can cause an unpleasant – and sometimes dangerous – illness called cryptosporidiosis. This nasty bug lives in the intestines of infected humans and animals and is passed out in their poo. It can then …
Should we be worried about the new COVID-19 variant? – UK Health Security Agency
With the recent emergence of a new group of COVID-19 variants, known collectively as FLiRT, some people are asking about how these new strains compare to other variants. The unofficial nickname was inspired by the names of the mutations in …
Whooping cough: One mother’s story of love, loss and action – UK Health Security Agency
Whooping cough cases (also known as the '100 day cough') are rising sharply across England. Between January and March 2024 there have sadly been 5 infant deaths. Vaccination is the best protection. In this blog post, Catherine Hughes, Founding Director at The Immunisation Foundation of Australia, shares the story of her son Riley Hughes and how their family lost Riley to Whooping cough (pertussis)