ETIDIOH - NEW

  The Public Health Agency (PHA) is aware of a probable case of Bacterial Meningitis in a pupil who attends a secondary school in Belfast .  All appropriate public health actions have been completed. As a precaution, PHA has worked closely with the school and has issued information to parents and guardians.  Relevant guidance has also been shared with GP Out-of-Hours services and Emergency Departments.   All individuals identified as close contacts have been risk assessed and where appropriate, have received antibiotic prophylaxis .  We urge students, staff and families to remain vigilant for the signs and symptoms of meningitis and act fast if they suspect they may have it. Symptoms of meningitis develop suddenly and can include :  - a high temperature (fever) over 37.5C (99.5F) - being sick - a headache - a blotchy rash that doesn't fade when a glass is rolled over it (this won't always develop) - a stiff neck - a dislike of bright lights - drowsines...

  Invasive meningococcal disease: advice for the NHS in England You may be aware of an evolving situation involving multiple cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) reported among young people linked to the University of Kent and the Canterbury area .  More information about IMD , signs and symptoms to look out for, and approaches to clinical and public health management are provided in the accompanying Briefing Note .  The purpose of this CAS Alert is to outline priority steps that primary care and hospital clinicians should consider taking to manage suspected cases, potential contacts of cases, and to reduce the risk of infection spreading.  Note that this is a rapidly evolving situation and we will update advice as further information emerges. Epidemiology -- Between 13 and 17 March 2026, UKHSA identified 20 cases of invasive meningococcal disease in the South East .  -- Six cases have been confirmed as Neisseria meningitidis group B .  -- Most cas...

  From:  UK Health Security Agency Published:  16 March 2026 Last updated:  16 March 2026  Update 16 March The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is continuing to investigate an outbreak of meningococcal disease in Kent with 13 cases notified since 13 March. Sadly, this includes 2 people who are known to have died . Investigations have confirmed some of the cases visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury between 5 to 7 March prior to becoming unwell. UKHSA’s health protection team is working closely with the nightclub and partners including the University of Kent to limit the spread. UKHSA is now advising anyone who visited Club Chemistry on 5 March, 6 March or 7 March to come forward for preventative antibiotic treatment as a precautionary measure.  This can be collected from the following sites: -- Senate Building at University of Kent , CT2 7NZ – open until 8pm on Monday 16 March (queue closes 7.15pm) and from 9am to 8pm on Tuesday 17 March. -- Gate Clinic, Ke...

  {Northern Ireland} Pheasant breeder flock, with a small mixed backyard flock with chicken, geese. Positive test for HPAI H5N1, clinical signs presented prior to testing. Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7368 ____

{England, North Yorkshire} 22.7k commercial pheasant rearing premises. Samples taken were positive for HPAI H5N1. Birds presented clinical signs prior to testing. Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7337 ____

  Abstract FluSurvey is a participatory surveillance system used to monitor trends in influenza and other respiratory viruses through weekly symptom surveys among the UK population. We aimed to characterise the wider impact of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) among FluSurvey participants and assess correlations of ILI with other established influenza surveillance systems . We included data reported by FluSurvey participants over the 2023-24 and 2024-25 winter seasons . Using weekly symptoms surveys, we derived ILI episodes and estimated the proportion reporting healthcare service use , medication use, impact on daily life, absenteeism and use of tests. We applied existing data methods (omitting first report and weighting to the age-sex structure of England) and assessed cross-correlations of weekly FluSurvey ILI rates with the national surveillance of GP ILI consultations , influenza hospital admissions, and influenza PCR test positivity at time lags of up to +/-2 weeks. There were 3...

  Abstract We examined whether the recent emergence of influenza A(H3N2) subclade K, associated with an unusually early influenza season in the Northern hemisphere, was accompanied by a reduction in human population immunity . Using virus neutralisation assays on pre-epidemic human sera collected in May 2025, we found evidence of moderate antigenic drift . Further, vaccines used in the 2024/2025 season induced cross-neutralising immunity . These findings provide timely insight for interpreting recent influenza epidemiology and informing vaccine strain selection. Competing Interest Statement The following authors declare no conflict of interests: KD, RI, LM, SR, HC, GGA, MSA, VS, ZW, SKW, JZ, BJW, DLR, JH, OML, JG, CJRI. PRM receives funding for research work for MSD. EH has received an honorarium for advisory board work for Seqirus. ET has received funding from Novavax and Astra Zeneca. Funding Statement This work was funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) to the MRC-Universi...

  {England, Suffolk}  10,532 bird duck breeder flock. Samples taken were positive for HPAI H5N1. Birds presented clinical signs prior to testing. Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7217 ____

  {Scotland} A small commercial poultry premise. Samples taken were positive for HPAI H5N1. Birds presented clinical signs prior to testing. Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7173 ____

  Abstract Avian influenza is a global public health threat. Since 2021, the ongoing H5N1 panzootic has brought a major shift in H5Nx epidemiology , including unprecedented spread, wide host range and lack of seasonality . Infections in marine mammals, wildlife and livestock have heightened concern for human-to-human transmission and pandemic potential . Contact tracing and self-isolation are used as public health measures in the UK to manage contacts of confirmed human cases of avian influenza. In this study, we aimed to estimate potential outbreak sizes and evaluate the effectiveness of contact tracing and self-isolation in managing community outbreaks of H5N1 following spillover from birds to people . We characterised contact patterns from an underrepresented agricultural population at high risk of avian influenza exposure through contact with birds (Avian Contact Study). Informed by these realistic social contact data, we modelled outbreak sizes using a stochastic branching pro...

  ~155K laying chickens’ flock. Samples taken were positive for HPAI H5N1. Birds presented clinical signs prior to testing. Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7139 ____

  {England, Kent} Laying flock with around 31K birds. Samples taken were positive for HPAI H5N1. Birds presented clinical signs prior to testing. {England, Suffolk} Backyard flock. Samples taken were positive for HPAI H5N1. Birds presented clinical signs of AI prior to testing. Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7081 ____

  Latest update The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has identified a new recombinant mpox virus in England in an individual who had recently travelled to Asia .   -- Genomic sequencing showed that the mpox genome contained elements of clade Ib and IIb mpox .  -- This is not unexpected as both clades are circulating , but highlights the continued potential for mpox virus to evolve and the importance of continued genomic surveillance.     -- UKHSA continues to assess the significance of the strain.   Dr Katy Sinka, Head of Sexually Transmitted Infections at UKHSA, said:    '' Our genomic testing has enabled us to detect this new mpox strain . It’s normal for viruses to evolve, and further analysis will help us understand more about how mpox is changing.   '' Although mpox infection is mild for many, it can be severe . Getting vaccinated is a proven effective way to protect yourself against severe disease, so please make su...

  {Scotland} Broiler breeder flock of 28-week-old birds. Increased mortality and other clinical signs reported. Samples taken were found positive for HPAI H5N1. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7013 ____

  Authors: Freja CM Kirsebom{1}, Catherine Thompson{2}, Tiina Talts{2}, Beatrix Kele{2}, Heather J Whitaker{3}, Nurin Abdul Aziz{1}, Christopher Rawlinson{1}, Rebecca E Green{1}, Catherine Quinot{1}, Nicholas Gardner{1}, Elizabeth Waller{1}, Alex Allen{1}, Conall H Watson{1,4}, Suzanna LR McDonald{1}, Maria Zambon{2}, Richard Pebody{4,5}, Mary Ramsay{6,7}, Katja Hoschler{2}, Anika Singanayagam{*2,4}, Jamie Lopez Bernal{*1,4}  {*} Joint last authors  {1} Immunisation and Vaccine-preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London  {2} Respiratory Virus Unit (RVU), UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London  {3} Modelling Division, UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London  {4} NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Respiratory Infections, Imperial College London, United Kingdom  {5} Epidemic and Emerging Infections Directorate, UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London  {6} Public Health Programmes Directorate, UK H...

{Northern Ireland} 56 week-old hens-table egg layers. Positive test for HPAI H5N1, clinical signs presented prior to testing. 10-week-old approx. turkey broilers. Positive test for HPAI H5N1, clinical signs presented prior to testing. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7000 ____

  {England} Mixed commercial premises with 32.7k ducks and 11.6k broilers. Samples taken were positive for HPAI H5N1. Birds presented clinical signs of AI prior to testing. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6987 ____

  {By Lukasz Lukasik - The uploader on Wikimedia Commons received this from the author/copyright holder., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=816655 } {Isle of Man} 1 wild bird (common buzzard) was found dead on 27/10/2025. Official samples were taken and tested positive for HPAI H5N1. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6977 ____

  {England, Suffolk} Turkey fattening unit.  Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6954 ____

  Last updated 27 October 2025 Latest update UKHSA is aware of small numbers of locally-acquired cases of clade Ib mpox in the USA , Spain, Italy , the Netherlands and Portugal which have no connection to countries with known clade Ib mpox transmission.   This suggests there is now community transmission of clade Ib mpox globally . Most of the new cases identified in Europe and the USA have been in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men , a population in which clade Ib mpox transmission has not previously been observed.   Mpox is usually a mild infection , and clade Ia and Ib mpox are no longer classified as a high-consequence infectious disease (HCID). However, it can be severe in some cases.  The UK has a routine mpox vaccination programme in place for eligible groups, including those who:   -- have multiple sexual partners   -- have group sex   -- visit sex-on-premises venues   Studies show that the vacc...