PublicHealthMatters

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 allergens could be released earlier in the year and for longer durations as temperatures rise. … Read more

Pathogen genomics is an important tool in our mission to prepare for and respond to infectious disease threats. Our new 5-year Pathogen Genomics Strategy will establish a unified programme to enhance and expand our excellence in this field. Using pathogen genomics, we will increase our understanding of infectious disease risks, and enable effective evaluation of … Read more

With winter now in full swing, the New Year is a prime opportunity for parents to familiarise themselves with some of the common illnesses that could disrupt children’s studies or even cause more serious illness in coming weeks. This blog post covers some of the seasonal illnesses that tend to peak during winter, as well … Read more

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) dashboard was a ground-breaking tool that demonstrated the strength of public appetite for data and provided local and national decision-makers with crucial information that helped to inform response. From Thursday 21 December it will be fully replaced by the UKHSA data dashboard, which has been available alongside it since its launch in September 2023. … Read more

Vector-borne diseases – illnesses that can be transmitted to humans by other living organisms such as mosquitoes and ticks – account for more than 17% of all infectious disease and cause more than 700,000 deaths globally each year. They include West Nile virus, malaria, dengue and yellow fever. As outlined in our Health Effects of … Read more

Climate change poses a dual threat to lives and livelihoods in the UK, impacting both the environment and our health. Its consequences manifest on multiple levels, from direct effects on temperature and flooding, to impacts on air quality, food and water availability; with the most vulnerable populations likely to be worst affected both domestically and … Read more

Climate change is a growing threat, and our homes contribute significantly to the problem through energy use and emissions. However, as we make our homes more energy-efficient, we need to ensure they remain healthy environments. On average in the UK, we spend 90% of our time inside buildings. This makes the indoor air quality and … Read more

GPs and general practice have access to valuable data that is vital to the health of the public. In this blog post we will explore the importance of surveillance data collected in general practice and how it underpins our understanding of health across the nation. What is GP surveillance data? A third of GPs in … Read more

#UKHSA2023 brought together a range of people involved in public health and health protection science for speeches, panel discussions and exhibitions. It was a fascinating and busy 2 days in Leeds, with representatives joining from across the sector. As well as colleagues from across UKHSA, devolved administrations, local authorities, the NHS and Directors of Public … Read more

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – when microbes evolve to resist the medicines designed to kill them – is an urgent global threat. In England, resistant infections rose by 4% in 2022 after decreasing during the pandemic. Action is needed to curb inappropriate antibiotic use, a key driver of resistance. In 2013, we set up the English … Read more