Health blogs from the UK Health Security Agency
Meningitis: I underwent multiple surgeries, including the amputation of several fingers
Meningococcal group C (MenC) disease cases are down by 99% since the vaccination programme was introduced by UKHSA and NHS England in 1999, but the fight against the deadly diseases that...
Health and science: A guide to our most popular blog posts of 2024
Lots of people were interested in reading about protecting their health in 2024 – around a million people in fact. This was the number of readers who came to our blog in the...
What winter bug do I have? Know the signs and symptoms
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...
How human organs grown in labs are helping to develop the vaccines of the future
In a lab in Porton Down, scientists are growing human organs on tiny cassette-like chips to help accelerate the development of new drugs, therapeutic medicines and vaccines. These replica...
How we monitor invasive mosquitoes and stop them spreading in the UK
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...
What is bird flu and how are we protecting people against it in the UK?
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...
Why is norovirus reporting in England so high at the moment?
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...
How the science of snakebites is taking on superbugs
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...
Join the fight against flu by taking part in our citizen science project
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...
How we monitor flu and other respiratory viruses each winter
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...
Marburg virus disease: what you need to know
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...
Your guide to who’s eligible for the 2024 flu vaccine
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...