Ebola has been in the news since the World Health Organization's declaration of a public health emergency of international concern on 17 May 2026, for an outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. This blog post outlines what the disease is, how it spreads, and what it means for the UK.
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, …
Ebola disease is caused by a group of viruses, known as orthoebolaviruses. It affects both humans and animals and spreads through close contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials. The disease was first identified in 1976 during outbreaks in …
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that half of all vaccines produced worldwide never reach the people who need them. The reason? They lose their effectiveness before they can be used. Most vaccines must be kept cold from the moment …
Preparing for future health threats starts long before a virus makes the headlines. That’s why UKHSA works with partners around the world to study emerging pathogens and identify key gaps in knowledge and research. Our work on Oropouche, just one …
Oropouche virus disease is a lesser-known tropical infection that’s been spreading across Central and South America in recent years. If you're planning to travel to the region, or are just curious about this emerging health concern, here's everything you need to know.
Chikungunya may not be a household name, but this mosquito-borne viral infection has become a significant concern for travellers to some destinations. The disease, whose name derives from the Kimakonde (a language of Southern Tanzania) word meaning ‘that which bends up’ due to the severe joint pain it causes, has spread across the globe in …
This blog post was reviewed and updated in November 2025. Marburg virus belongs to the filovirus family, along with Ebola. It can cause Marburg virus disease, a haemorrhagic fever, which can damage blood vessels and cause bleeding, and its presentation …
The UK-PHRST is an innovative partnership between the UK Health Security Agency and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, funded with UK aid by the UK Department of Health and Social Care
The UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST) was created five years ago after the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014-16 to support Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) to prepare for and respond to public health outbreaks. In those …
