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Inside Britain’s Deadly Fungus Collection

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Microbiology services, Uncategorized
A micriscopic image of the fungi Cunninghamella bertholletiae

Housed near Bristol, UKHSA’s National Collection of Pathogenic Fungi (NCPF) is home to more than 4,500 isolates of potentially deadly fungi isolates, gathered over the last century.

In this blog post, we’ll cover the history of the NCPF: why it was set up, what it houses and how it continues to play an important role in protecting our health.

How bacteria-munching viruses could offer an alternative to antibiotics

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: UKHSA science
Stylised visualisation of a bacteriophage

They look like something out of nightmare, but these so-called ‘spider viruses’ occur naturally, and could be a powerful new weapon in tackling the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. Bacteriophages, or phages for short, have a remarkable and currently untapped …

Is hay fever season starting earlier in the UK, with the pollen count rising?

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Health in a changing climate

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 …

A parent’s guide to keeping kids healthy this school term

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Children and Young people
Smiling children on a school trip

As a new school year begins, parents can help to slow the spread of seasonal illnesses and avoid unnecessary absences. This article covers the role of healthy hygiene habits, vaccination, spotting the symptoms of common illnesses, and how to make informed decisions on whether a sick student is well enough to attend school or college.

Health Effects of Climate Change: the health threat from vector-borne diseases

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Health Protection
A scientist checking marsh water for mosquito larvae.

In this blog post, we take a look at the current status of vector-borne diseases in the UK, as well as the vital work being carried out by our specialist entomology team to assess, understand and address the health threats that mosquitoes and ticks pose.

11 things to know about the Health Effects of Climate Change report

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Climate, Health in a changing climate
A flooded UK street

The Health Effects of Climate Change report summarises the latest science on health threats from climate change in the UK. Since the last report in 2012, both the evidence and the risks have greatly escalated. Read 11 key takeaways in our latest post.