COVID, Flu, Bundibugyo Ebolavirus, Plague, H5N1, UK COVID Inquiry and Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 23rd October 2026

COVID, Flu, Bundibugyo Ebolavirus, Plague, H5N1, UK COVID Inquiry and Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 23rd October 2026

Flu and COVID in the UK are both still rising, but from a very low start, so flu is baseline and COVID is low. 

In the UK and US the beginning of flu season has arrived earlier than usual. This is a repeat of last year, which turned out to be mild overall, so it’s not necessarily a sign of bad things to come. There is a newish flu strain which may escape past some previous immunity, but so far it's really not possible to say where this will go, but it doesn't seem to be worrying medical folk online. Good idea to get your jabs promptly though... if you can...

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that flu vaccine availability was facing a logjam and there may be some delays. Superdrug last week announced their UK supplies were all designated and they won't be accepting any more bookings. 

Norovirus has had a wild couple of days. This quick onset tummy bug led to a Rhodes to Düsseldorf flight making a 'mass casualty' medical landing on Sunday, with 3 people transported to hospital. That must have been a fun flight. In a different outbreak 95 children were infected at an elementary school in Kansas - I'm not sure which is worse, the kids or the plane...

So that's your reminder - wash your hands often, stay at home if you are ill, and definitely don't cook for anyone else. 

COVID, Flu, Plague, Bundibugyo Ebolavirus, Dengue, H5N1, and Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 9th October 2026

COVID, Flu, Plague, Bundibugyo Ebolavirus, Dengue, H5N1, and Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 9th October 2026

COVID levels in the UK continue to rise and a wave  is underway, as was predicted. Levels have been super low since Spring, and you can't have it low forever. In Scotland there is a 121% increase in cases since last week. In Northern Ireland there was an increase in 25/30 areas according to wastewater surveillance (which has been paused this week), but test levels are stable, as they are in Wales. The latest stats show England has more than 10 times as many people infected as 10 weeks ago, up 34% on last week. Hospital admissions in England were a very low 950 in August and 4,939 in September.

Although the trajectory is steep, it must be stressed that this is all from that very low start, so still at low levels, and when people have gone a long time without catching it, and vaccination eligibility is very narrow, it's likely to spread.

There's a bit of talk about 'American COVID' or Stratus variant XFG. Popular in North America over the last couple of years, it's not a new strain, it's not even new to the UK, it just has some small changes. It doesn't appear to be any more severe, but it could have an advantage over some previous immunity - meaning we are even more likely to have high numbers of people catching COVID this Autumn. It also seems more likely to give you a scratchy sore throat, so at least you might sound as ill as you feel and get some sympathy... 

COVID-19 Coronavirus, H5N1, Ebola, West Nile and Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 25th September 2026

COVID-19 Coronavirus and other virus UK and World News Update 25th September 2026

Up until the 11th September 2026, in the UK, the provisional total number of people who have died from COVID was 252,934. This is likely to be an undercount. 

COVID is still on the rise in the UK, Europe, US and elsewhere. Many areas did not have a Spring-Summer wave, so the expected Autumn-Winter wave is likely to be harder than last year as immunity has had more of a chance to wane. In the week to 16th September the UK reported 1,056 confirmed cases (up from 652 a week earlier), 19 deaths (up from 5 a week earlier), and 261 people hospitalised. 

The UK's shortage of nurses is far worse than previously thought, according to a report released this week by the Royal College of Nursing. 

We are short 55,000 registered nurses, double the number of vacancies being advertised. 

Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive:

“When you have too few registered nurses, you get longer hospital stays, worse outcomes and more pressure on an already burned out and exhausted workforce."

Don't we know it. The cause appears to be lack of funding, and a lot of folk online are saying that recently qualified nurses are struggling to find positions, despite the urgent need for more staff.

COVID-19, Budibugyo, Measles, Vaccinations, Leptospirosis, Rabies and Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 11th September 2026

COVID-19 Coronavirus and other virus UK and World News Update 11th September 2026

Just before the return to school, COVID figures began to rise from a sustained very low level. That 'uptick' has continued, and if you go by percentage of positive test results (England) and wastewater readings (Scotland) it looks like we have about as many people with COVID now as we did a couple of weeks further on last Autumn This is still 'baseline' and at a very low level, as are flu and RSV. 

COVID-19, H5N1, Bundibugyo Ebola, Measles, Vaccination and Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 28th August 2026

COVID-19, H5N1, Bundibugyo Ebola, Measles, Vaccination and Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 28th August 2026

COVID levels are on the rise in the UK, and elsewhere in the Northern hemisphere, however they remain low. They've been low for quite some time, so it's not a surprise we are seeing a rise now, although it would have been even nicer if it had at least waited until the schools were all back and we could have had something to blame it on. 

The US has massive Salmonella outbreaks linked to 14.4 million eggs from Texas and fresh Jalapeño peppers from Mexico. Around 100 people have been hospitalised through both outbreaks. 

Belgium is dealing with it's largest ever salmonella outbreak. Around 2 million eggs have been recalled and 306 people were sick enough to have been tested and confirmed infected. 

If you think you are safe from salmonella in the UK, you usually are - as long as you use Lion Marked eggs from vaccinated UK hens, or cook your eggs thoroughly. The UKHSA has issued a report stating that on 26th May they noticed an increase in Salmonella, and cases had the same lineage (they're genetically related). As of the latest update on 25th August that outbreak numbered 259 confirmed cases and sadly 1 person has died. There are also 2 smaller outbreaks of 38 cases, and 177 cases.

Cases have risen quite dramatically since June, and imported eggs or egg dishes are suspected to be the cause. Around 38% of confirmed cases have been admitted to hospital and at least 2 people developed blood stream infections.

For most people Salmonella is a couple of days with a bad tummy and they won't even see a doctor. It's not pleasant, but usually resolves without treatment. If you cannot keep water down, are ill for more than 3 days or are especially vulnerable (frail or already ill, very young or old etc), always get advice from your GP.

New Driver? 6 Reasons Car Service in Dundee Deserves Priority

Our 17 year old has recently passed his driving test, and now that we live rurally, being able to drive himself around is a huge bonus. We are also in the Scottish education system, so he has finished school and is off to Higher Education in September. A couple of weeks ago it was time for him to buy a car. Here is a guest post from a Dundee driver, reminding you that buying is just the beginning, to be safe and keep running smoothly, you should also regularly service your car...

There is a particular kind of excitement that comes with a teenager passing their test and driving home in their very first car. It is a milestone that sticks in the memory long after the L plates come down, and for parents, it often marks the start of a slightly different kind of worry. Where once the concern was learning to parallel park, it quickly shifts to something more practical: is the car ready for whatever the road throws at it?

COVID-19, H5N1, Bundibugyo Ebola, Cyclosporiasis, Vaccination and Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 4th August 2026

COVID-19, H5N1, Bundibugyo Ebola, Cyclosporiasis, Vaccination and Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 4th August 2026

I completely forgot to mention that I'd be busy with family over the next 2 or 3 weeks, so here is an early surprise news update, then I'm having a an extra week off between reports, and I'll be back every 2 weeks from 28th August...

UKHSA estimates show that 2,877 people in England lost their lives in May and June because of the heat. That is almost double the whole of last year and only 108 off the full year record of 2,985 deaths set in 2022. With more hot weather expected this coming week, please be sensible, and look out for vulnerable friends and family. 

COVID-19, H5N1 Avian Flu, Measles, Cyclosporiasis, Bundibugyo Ebolavirus and other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 24th July 2026

COVID-19, H5N1 Avian Flu, Measles, Cyclosporiasis, Bundibugyo Ebolavirus and other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 24th July 2026

Firstly, please let me thank the NHS and all who work in her, with her and for her. And thank you to all of you who wished us well too. Just 7 months after being rushed to hospital as a very sick emergency patient, my youngest son had his heart surgery last week at Glasgow Children's hospital. It was as good an experience as you could ever hope for, the staff are all just awesome there, and my son is currently fit, well, happy, off his medications and already kicking his football around the garden. Modern science and medicine shouldn’t be confused for magic or miracles, but by crikey, I'm feeling like I just experienced both. Huge thanks to Dr Karen McLeod and her team, and all in Children's Cardiology. 

COVID-19, Bundibugyo Ebolavirus, mRNA Vaccinations, Measles, NHS and other Health and Virus UK and World News Update 10th July 2026

COVID-19, Bundibugyo Ebolavirus, mRNA Vaccinations, Measles, NHS and other Health and Virus UK and World News Update 10th July 2026

Resident doctors in England have voted to accept the new government pay offer - with 53% voting in favour. Yeeeeay! 

This ends 3 years of strikes and discontent.

Basic pay starting salaries will be just over £40,000, rising to £76,500 for the most senior positions - with faster pay progression.  Necessary out-of-pocket expenses such as exam fees will be covered and there will be more training jobs - 4,500 extra places have been promised for newly qualified doctors.

"Senior doctors in England who are members of the BMA have voted for industrial action over pay. 76 per cent of consultants voting were in favour on a 52 per cent turnout. Specialist (SAS) doctors were in favour but didn’t hit the 50 per cent turnout threshold."

Hugh Pym, BBC Health Editor.

The English Government finally manages to make one group of (resident) doctors happy, and, somewhat unsurprisingly, along comes another disgruntled cohort. 

COVID-19, Bundibugyo Ebolavirus, Vaccination, Andes Hantavirus, Measles and other Health and Virus UK and World News Update 26th June 2026

COVID-19, Bundibugyo Ebolavirus, Vaccination, Andes Hantavirus, Measles and other Health and Virus UK and World News Update 26th June 2026

This week's extreme heat has been disastrous for the UK's overstretched NHS. A&E departments received far more patients than any normal week, IT systems went down, MRI machines refused to work, servers overheated, non-essential electricals had to be turned off, machines for treating cancer patients decided it was not happening, ambulance staff responded to the largest number of category 1 incidents ever, and melting staff on very little sleep had to work in sweltering Victorian buildings or wards with broken aircon, and cover for staff who couldn't come in because schools were shut. 

Several NHS hospitals declared critical incidents on Thursday and shut down non-emergency appointments or admissions. 

Fun times. 

Good news. Resident doctors in England cancelled this week's strikes. The British Medical Association (BMA) says that the UK Government made a new last minute offer which is interesting enough to be put to the vote. Fingers crossed everybody.