PublicHealthMatters 
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 and the virus can rapidly cause significant mortality in flocks but some species of bird … Read more
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 expected to continue to increase. This rise comes alongside a shift in circulating common norovirus … Read more
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 blog post we explore the science behind the discovery. In 2018, UKHSA (then Public Health … Read more
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 time to get involved. When you register, you’ll be invited to report any respiratory symptoms … Read more
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. Laboratory surveillance NHS and UKHSA laboratories across England, provide weekly data on major respiratory viruses. … Read more
Marburg virus under a microscope. Image courtesy US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | Frederick Murphy 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 … Read more
As we approach winter, it’s time for people at risk to be booked in for their free flu jab. If you’re eligible, you need to know why it matters that you take up the offer. Flu is far more than just a bad cold. For those susceptible, it can increase the risk of developing serious … Read more
Surveillance is the ability to identify potential threats as quickly as possible and share the resulting data widely. It is one of the tools in our defence against infections like mpox. We are currently seeing mpox clade I spreading in some African countries. In this blog post, we will explore the methods used by our … Read more
Pinaceae (pine) pollen 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. By leveraging real-time data and AI-powered analysis, our team of toxicologists are developing a deeper understanding of the air we breathe and … Read more
Credit: CDC/ National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) This blog post will be updated regularly as more information emerges. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern because of the rapid spread of a mpox virus strain, clade 1, after its emergence in the Democratic Republic of the … Read more