Posts relating to PHE Priority 3: Protecting the country's health
West Nile virus (WNV) is a virus spread primarily through the bites of infected mosquitoes. It belongs to the same family of viruses as dengue, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis. The virus circulates naturally between birds and mosquitoes, and humans or horses can be infected when bitten by a mosquito that has previously fed on …
When a serious infectious disease threat emerges anywhere in the world, the UK needs to be able to respond quickly. UKHSA plays a central role in that response, including through the government's medical evacuation arrangements, which allows us to safely repatriate those who may have been exposed to a high-consequence infectious disease. Here, Renu Bindra, …
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a viral infection that spreads through tick bites. Although it is common in many parts of the world, including several European countries, in the last few years, ticks carrying TBEV have been found in England.
When we talk about winter deaths, we may think of hypothermia or people dying directly from low temperatures. The reality is more complex - and often invisible.
Antibiotic-resistant infections are on the rise. Data published in autumn 2025 shows there are nearly 400 new cases reported every week in England. When bacteria adapt to survive antibiotics, vital medicines stop working when we need them most. But the fight against …
In this blog post Samara shares her story of fighting antimicrobial -resistant tuberculosis, the hidden long-term consequences and the importance of getting that persistent cough checked out.
Every winter, influenza viruses sweep through communities, causing a seasonal epidemic. There are several different flu vaccines that are used in the national vaccination programme and all of them protect against the 3 main flu virus types: influenza A(H1N1), influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B.
Our scientists are tracking flu and other respiratory viruses and they need your help. Join our FluSurvey UK-wide citizen science programme and contribute directly to protecting the nation’s health this winter.
Breathing in polluted air affects our health, reduces our life expectancy, and costs our society billions of pounds each year. It is estimated that 2 million healthy life years are lost in Europe due to the impacts of poor air …
Rabies is a rare but deadly viral infection that affects the brain and nervous system. Human cases of rabies are extremely rare in the UK but the infection poses a risk to travellers visiting regions where the disease remains prevalent.
