What is the difference between Weather-Health Alerts and Severe Weather Warnings?
UKHSA's Weather-Health Alerts (WHAs) are separate from the Met Office's National Severe Weather Warning Service (NSWWS) - and understanding the difference matters.
Blog Editor
What are the symptoms of adenovirus and how does it spread?
Adenovirus might not be a household name like flu or the common cold, but it's one of the most common causes of viral infections. Most people will have had at least one adenovirus infection before they turn 10, and because …
Changes to the childhood vaccination schedule from January 2026
The NHS childhood vaccination schedule has recently been updated to help give children even better protection against diseases. Changes include protecting children against some diseases earlier and adding vaccines that protect against more diseases.
What is the MMRV vaccine and is my child eligible?
From 1 January 2026, the MMRV vaccine will be introduced into the routine childhood immunisation schedule in the UK. When your child will be offered this vaccine depends on their date of birth. The MMRV vaccine helps protect children against …
5 simple ways that we can help stop superbugs
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 …
Living with antimicrobial-resistant TB
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.
How to avoid catching flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses this winter
As we brace ourselves for chillier days and look forward to more indoor gatherings and seasonal social events with friends and family, now is the ideal time to remind ourselves of behaviours that can reduce the spread of respiratory infections …
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 A virus subtypes, particularly waterfowl and shore birds. All birds are susceptible to avian …
How to protect your home and family from the invisible danger of carbon monoxide
As the weather turns colder and we close our windows and turn on our heating, there's an invisible danger that can leak into our homes. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless gas that you cannot see, smell or taste - but it can kill.
How well will I be protected from flu this year with the current UK influenza vaccines?
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.