The Food Standards Agency (@foodgov.bsky.social) is reminding people to take care when handling raw pet food, following a survey that found some products can contain harmful bacteria that could make pets and their owners ill. Read the story here: https://bit.ly/3Zo4BAl

Andi Biotic (Team UKHSA) and Bryn Biotig (Team Public Health Wales) are tackling antimicrobial resistance together at the Antibiotix Nations. 🏟️🙌Here's what the fans are chanting on the stands: 💊🎵 Don’t take them for colds or flu 💊🎵 Don’t save them for later 💊🎵Take as directed #SixNations

MRSA = Methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus. 📖🔡 Staphylococcus (staph) are the bacteria behind common infections like impetigo, conjunctivitis and boils. One strain has evolved into MRSA, a well known example of the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. #AMR

⚠️ Burkholderia found in certain wipes. Burkholderia are bacteria that rarely cause harm in healthy people but sometimes cause serious infections, particularly for those with certain medical conditions or managing IV lines at home: https://bit.ly/3Hhq4W4

🆕 #UKHSAVirusWatch: The latest flu, COVID-19 and RSV data from our weekly winter surveillance report. 🟢 Flu activity decreased and is circulating at low levels

📰🆕 Our latest data shows cases of Shigella and Salmonella linked to travel to Cape Verde, a popular winter sun destination. As many UK residents prepare for half-term holidays, we share advice on how to avoid gastrointestinal infections.

🆕 Norovirus data: norovirus activity has remained high in recent weeks, particularly in adults aged 65 years and over. 🔗 Read the full report here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-norovirus-and-rotavirus-surveillance-reports-2025-to-2026-season

We are current investigating Shigella cases linked to travel to Cape Verde. Regular handwashing with soap and water (especially after the toilet, changing nappies, and before handling food) is the best way to prevent the bacteria from spreading.

From 1 April 2026, the RSV vaccination programme will extend eligibility to: 🧓 Adults aged 80 years and over 🏠 All residents in older adult care homes, regardless of age

Last Tuesday, colleagues from Institut Pasteur de Dakar visited our Porton Down site to advance our landmark partnership on global health security. We're working together to accelerate vaccine development, enhance disease surveillance and build laboratory capacity for future outbreak response.

🆕📰 The latest data from our HPV vaccination programme shows 1 in 4 school‑leavers are unvaccinated against HPV. This leaves young women at risk of cervical cancer and both sexes vulnerable to other HPV‑related cancers.

🆕 #UKHSAVirusWatch: The latest flu, COVID-19 and RSV data from our weekly winter surveillance report. 🟢 Flu activity decreased and is circulating at low levels

🆕 Norovirus data: activity for the winter vomiting bug has increased in recent weeks, particularly in adults aged 65 years and over 🔗 Full report: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-norovirus-and-rotavirus-surveillance-reports-2025-to-2026-season

You may have seen Nipah virus mentioned online recently, due to an outbreak in India (West Bengal). Understanding symptoms and prevention is important if travelling to an affected area. We routinely monitor Nipah virus and no cases have been found in the UK. Read more: https://bit.ly/49ZN7iq

Join us for a free online webinar on Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) on Thursday 12 February, 12:30 to 14:00. We'll be looking at preliminary findings from the CDI incident stood up in December 2024, plus other insights & developments. Sign up: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/98b9ab...

UKHSA responds to the confirmation from @WHO that the UK has lost its measles elimination status. Read more from WHO here: https://bit.ly/3YZuOFa

🆕 #UKHSAVirusWatch: The latest flu, COVID-19 and RSV data from our weekly winter surveillance report. 🟢 Flu activity decreased and is circulating at low levels

🆕 Norovirus data: norovirus activity has increased in recent weeks, particularly in adults aged 65 years and over. 🔗 Full report: https://bit.ly/3LYvd7J

Croup is a common childhood condition that affects the windpipe, the airways to the lungs, and the voice box. It mainly affects babies and young children. Find out about the symptoms in our blog post: https://bit.ly/4jMsNpa

UKHSA's English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation and Resistance (ESPAUR) abstracts are now available in a dedicated journal supplement, making this vital data more accessible to researchers, clinicians and policymakers. See the abstracts here: academic.oup.com/jacamr/issue...

Later in the year, we’ll be kicking off our conference in Manchester, bringing together the health security community for 2 days of cutting‑edge science. 🧪🐝 📅 Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 September 2026. https://www.conference.ukhsa.gov.uk/

🆕 #UKHSAVirusWatch: The latest flu, COVID-19 and RSV data from our weekly winter surveillance report. 🟢 Flu activity decreased, circulating at low levels

🆕 Norovirus data: Activity has increased in recent weeks but remains within expected levels. 🔗 Full report: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-norovirus-and-rotavirus-surveillance-reports-2025-to-2026-season

Nasal decongestant sprays should only be used for up to seven days. Longer use can cause rebound congestion, worsening symptoms. Our survey shows nearly 60% of pharmacists questioned believe patients don’t know this risk. Find out more: https://bit.ly/3MEkkIk

🆕 #UKHSAVirusWatch: The latest flu, COVID-19 and RSV data from our weekly winter surveillance report. 🟢 Flu shows mixed trends, circulating at medium levels

🆕 Norovirus data: Activity has varied in recent weeks and remains within expected levels. 🔗 Full report: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-norovirus-and-rotavirus-surveillance-reports-2025-to-2026-season

Multiple warnings have been issued for the coming days, here is a summery of the situation as it currently stands 👇 Latest info 👉 bit.ly/WxWarning Stay #WeatherAware⚠️

🟠⚠ Amber Cold-health alerts have now been issued across England until January 6. Forecast weather is likely to cause significant impacts across health & social care services. 🔗 https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/weather-health-alerts/cold

🎉We're thrilled to share that Dr Bassam Hallis has been awarded an OBE in the New Year's Honours. Bassam has dedicated his career to developing and evaluating vaccines and therapeutics for high-consequence infectious diseases, including influenza and COVID-19.

Amber Cold-health alerts have been issued for the North East & North West of England. Forecast weather is likely to cause significant impacts across health & social care services. All other areas of England are at the lower, yellow level. Find out more: https://bit.ly/4pXenF0

🆕 #UKHSAVirusWatch: The latest #flu, #COVID-19 and #RSV data from our weekly winter surveillance report. 🟢 Flu has decreased but continues to circulate at medium levels

Cooking with gas this #Christmas? Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless gas that can be deadly. Installing a CO alarm will help protect you and your family. https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2025/11/18/how-to-protect-your-home-and-family-from-the-invisible-danger-of-carbon-monoxide/

This week, we welcomed colleagues from the @rki.de, Germany’s public health institute, to UKHSA. UKHSA Chief Executive Professor Susan Hopkins also met with President of the RKI, Professor Dr Lars Schaade, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

🆕 Norovirus data: Activity has increased in recent weeks but remains within expected levels. 🔗 Full report: https://bit.ly/495ibNv 📆 Due to the Christmas period the next report will be published on Thursday 8 January 2026.

Dr Suzanna McDonald is back with #UKHSAVirusWatch in 60 seconds. ⏱️ Now is your very last chance to get your flu vaccine in order to protect yourself ahead of the festive period. If you're eligible, book now through your GP practice or online. 🔗 nhs.uk/fluvaccine

UKHSA is expanding wastewater surveillance to track 11 high-risk pathogens, strengthening early warning systems for public health. Learn more in the @financialtimes.com: www.ft.com/content/b498...

If you're eligible, book your flu vaccine today - it's your last chance to help protect yourself ahead of Christmas. 🎄🎁🌟 Find out more and book here: www.nhs.uk/vaccinations... #Flu #Vaccination #Christmas

From SARS in 2003 to COVID-19 in 2020, Maria Zambon, Head of Respiratory Virology at @ukhsa.bsky.social, has been at the forefront of global outbreak response. In this interview, she shares how diagnostics, antivirals, and vaccines have evolved. Read here: www.emjreviews.com/microbiology...

In our new blog post Samara shares her story of fighting antimicrobial-resistant tuberculosis, the hidden long-term consequences & the importance of getting that persistent cough checked out. #TB #AMR Read the story here: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2025/12/04/living-with-antimicrobial-resistant-tb/

🆕 #UKHSAVirusWatch: The latest flu, COVID-19 and RSV data from our weekly winter surveillance report. 🟢 Flu is rising sharply and is circulating at medium levels. It is now impacting adults more severely. (1/3)

We were delighted to welcome colleagues from Statens Serum Institut, Denmark's national disease prevention and control institute, to UKHSA last Thursday. 🇩🇰 🤝 🇬🇧 🌍 International partnerships like this are vital to our mission, and we look forward to building on this relationship with SSI.

🌍🎗 For World AIDS Day we highlight the importance of treatment in allowing people with HIV live long and healthy lives. More than half of people living with HIV are now over 50.

Spending time at UKHSA is just one of the reasons for considering doing a PdH in microbiology with our partners the @quadraminstitute.bsky.social. 🧪

🚨 10 days to go! Contamination outbreaks from healthcare products put patients at risk. Join our HIS x UK Health Security Agency webinar on 8 Dec, 13:00 GMT for lessons, risks & IPC tips. 🔗 Register: https://ow.ly/4tSo50XuEhi 🔗 Send questions by 2 Dec: https://ow.ly/RFtf50XuEkA #IPC #AMR

🆕 #UKHSAVirusWatch: The latest flu, COVID-19 and RSV data from our weekly winter surveillance report. 🟢 Flu activity has increased this week following a dip in recent weeks. Outbreaks in care homes and schools have also increased.

🆕 Norovirus data: norovirus activity has decreased in recent weeks and remains within expected levels. 🔗 Full report: https://bit.ly/483sJNI

Laura was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2023. After finding the treatment far more intrusive than a cervical smear test, she describes how she was relieved she had had her family vaccinated against the HPV virus. www.cochrane.org/about-us/new... #Vaccinate #HPV #CancerPrevention #Awareness

🆕 #UKHSAVirusWatch: The latest flu, COVID-19 and RSV data from our weekly winter surveillance report. For more detail, read the full report below. 🔎 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-flu-and-covid-19-surveillance-reports-2025-to-2026-season

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless gas that can kill 😮‍💨 This #COAwarenessWeek, we're reminding everyone to get an alarm & check fuel-burning appliances. Find out more: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2025/11/18/how-to-protect-your-home-and-family-from-the-invisible-danger-of-carbon-monoxide/

💊🕶 ANDI BIOTIC IS BACK! Andi enters a new era – we are back with our campaign on antimicrobial resistance, ahead of World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week. 💊 Don’t take them for colds or flu 💊 Don’t save them for later 💊 Take as directed