Health

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 – that can also peak over the autumn and winter months.   Flu, COVID-19 and RSV have vaccines, which are …

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 organ systems were first pioneered for human drug toxicity assessments, but are now being developed for use in cancer, radiation, chemical exposure and infectious disease research. In this blog post, we’ll …

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 show more severe clinical signs …

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 are monitoring our borders for disease-carrying insects. Can you explain what you do? I am part of The Medical Entomology …

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 genotypes. Data indicating the rise …

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 England) began working with a …

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 post covers some of the seasonal illnesses that tend to peak during winter, as well as steps you can take …

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 via the website on a …

The power of time control has always been in the fantasies of humans. From science fiction movies to philosophical musings, the urge to pause or rewind or fast-forward the milestones in life seems to be one theme that seemingly can unite people across generations and cultures. Time machines remain a product of imagination; however, when it comes to one aspect …

Custom DNA oligos are vital for various applications in molecular biology and health diagnostics, including gene editing and PCR. Their effectiveness hinges on critical foundational concepts crucial for researchers and clinicians aiming to harness the full potential of these synthetic molecules in advancing genetic studies and improving diagnostic accuracy. Sequence Specificity Custom DNA oligonucleotides are meticulously designed with high sequence …