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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)
What is UKHSA doing about antibiotic resistance? – UK Health Security Agency
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when medicines used to fight infections lose their effectiveness because the organisms they target – whether bacteria, fungi, viruses or parasites – have evolved or acquired adaptations to survive. In 2019, AMR was directly responsible for …
How to stay safe from infections carried by animals when visiting a farm – UK Health Security Agency
Visiting a farm is an enjoyable and educational experience for the whole family, but it carries a risk of infection from animals or the environment. Farm animals may carry germs that can be passed from animals to humans and cause …
How did singing and dancing pills raise awareness of antibiotic resistance? – UK Health Security Agency
In 2017, the Keep Antibiotics Working campaign targeted groups who were most likely to use antibiotics (mothers of children aged 0-16, and people aged over 50), and healthcare professionals dealing with patient care and prescribing. In this blog post, we look at a peer-reviewed study investigating the impact of the campaign.
How we work with partners to push the boundaries of vaccine R&D – UK Health Security Agency
As we release our Commercial Strategy, I wanted to reflect on the ways in which we partner with industry to drive greater innovations and better health outcomes. One unintended consequence of the response to COVID-19 was the suppression of many …
Who’s eligible for the 2024 COVID-19 vaccine, or ‘Spring Booster’? – UK Health Security Agency
As we move into spring, 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 …
What is whooping cough and how can I prevent my children catching it? – UK Health Security Agency
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs and airways. It can affect people of all ages and while it can be a very unpleasant illness for older vaccinated adolescents and …
What is Lyme disease and why do we need to be tick-aware? – UK Health Security Agency
To help you stay safe this spring and summer, we've compiled a guide to protecting yourself from tick-borne infections. In this blog, you'll learn how to avoid tick bites, how to recognise the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease and TBE and when to seek medical assistance.
Inside Britain’s Deadly Fungus Collection - UK Health Security Agency
Housed near Bristol, UKHSA’s National Collection of Pathogenic Fungi (NCPF) is home to more than 4,500 isolates of potentially deadly fungi isolates, gathered over the last century. In this blog post, we’ll cover the history of the NCPF: why it was set up, what it houses and how it continues to play an important role in protecting our health.
How bacteria-munching viruses could offer an alternative to antibiotics - UK Health Security Agency
They look like something out of nightmare, but these so-called ‘spider viruses’ could be a powerful new weapon in tackling the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. Bacteriophages, or phages for short, have a remarkable and currently untapped potential for viral …
Can you get hay fever in February or is the pollen count too low? - UK Health Security Agency
Hay fever is already common during the spring and summer months, but our changing climate could see some symptoms starting earlier in the year for allergy sufferers across the UK. Recent studies suggest that some types of pollen and other …
Should we be worried about the new COVID-19 variant? - UK Health Security Agency
With the emergence at the end of last year of COVID-19 variant JN.1, there are questions about how it compares to the many other variants that have been identified. JN.1 descends from variant BA.2.86 and has an additional mutation in …