COVID-19, COVID Inquiry, Meningitis, Measles and Other Health and Virus UK and World News Update 20th March 2025

COVID-19, COVID Inquiry, Meningitis, Measles and Other Health and Virus UK and World News Update 20th March 2025

8th March was the UK's National COVID-19 Day of Reflection

As per latest data on the day, up to 20th February 2026, the UK had officially lost 232,489 people to COVID. They all had friends, relatives, carers, neighbours. People who will miss them.

In early 2021 the UK lost up to 8,000 people to COVID a week. That figure has come down and continues to drop, and COVID testing is not what it once was, but even now we officially lose around 40-150 people every week to COVID. I am sorry to everyone who has lost someone. 

Shall we start with the obvious? There has been an outbreak of Meningitis B centred around a nightclub event mainly attended by students from University of Kent and local sixth forms in Canterbury, UK. This has now been declared a 'national emergency' and an 'urgent public health alert' has been issued, asking doctors to be on the lookout for symptoms.  

As of 12.30pm yesterday there are a total of 29 known cases (18 confirmed, 11 suspected). 2 young people have died. One was a University of Kent student and the other a year 13 secondary school pupil. At least 4 schools have confirmed cases, as does Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU). At least 11 of the patients attended Chemistry Nightclub over the weekend of 5th, 6th, 7th March. 

Several thousand contacts have already been given antibiotics as a precaution. All contacts (including club-goers, 6th form pupils, uni students) are also being offered a Meningitis B vaccination, including around 5,000 students who live in Kent University halls of residence.

COVID-19, Measles, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu, Vaccinations and Other UK and World Virus and Health News Update 6th March 2026

COVID-19, Measles, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu, Vaccinations and Other UK and World Virus and Health News Update 6th March 2026

Finally Norovirus in the UK is beginning to drop. This will no doubt be especially good news to anyone who has managed to catch it 2 or 3 times. Flu and RSV are at baseline levels, as is COVID, which is dropping fast. Children have had a disproportionately high number of recent COVID hospitalisations. I'm not entirely sure what happened there, but glad to see it correcting itself.

COVID-19, Long COVID, Measles, H5N1 Avian Flu, Vaccinations and Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 20th February 2026

COVID-19, Measles, H5N1 Avian Flu, Vaccinations and Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 20th February 2026

The COVID, flu and RSV Winter season appears to be over, low figures in the UK (and dropping in the US) ... ahhhh. Norovirus activity remains high but has stabilised. Total UK norovirus reports "between weeks 5 and 6 of 2026 were 45.9% higher than the 5-season average for the same 2-week period". Yowch. Wash your hands regularly people. 

COVID-19, Coronavirus, H5N1 Avian Flu, Measles, Vaccination and Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 6th February 2026

COVID-19, Coronavirus, H5N1 Avian Flu, Measles, Vaccination and Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 6th February 2026

On 30th January it was 6 years since WHO declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

What a rollercoaster it's been. 

Good news from UK viruswatch. Flu, COVID and RSV are all at low levels. 

There always has to be one that ruins it, and Norovirus is still at high levels, especially among people aged 65 and over.

COVID-19, Flu, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu, Measles, Norovirus, Vaccinations and Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 23rd January 2026

COVID-19, Flu, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu, Measles, Norovirus, Vaccinations and Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 23rd January 2026

Good news to start with, flu levels in the UK are still dropping, so while there is still pressure on some hospitals, it could be far worse, and still no sign of that supermegacatastrophicflu the media said we'd be expecting. England had an average 2,519 patients in hospital with flu each day last week, compared to 2,725 the week before (it was 3,833 for the same week last year). COVID continues to circulate at baseline levels and RSV activity decreased slightly, also circulating at low levels. 

It's not all fabulous news. Oh Norovirus, how we love you... Sadly Norovirus is having a party. 3 weeks ago England had an average 361 Norovirus hospital in-patients each day, 2 weeks ago it was around 600, and last week it was almost 1,000.

Some areas aren't really suffering, while others have heck of a lot of cases. Worst affected areas include Hull, Hampshire, Somerset, the Wirral, Bolton, Bristol, Sussex, York.

COVID-19, Flu, H5N1 Avian Flu, Measles, Vaccinations and other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 9th January 2025

COVID-19, Flu, H5N1 Avian Flu, Measles, Vaccinations and other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 9th January 2025

Hello, I'm back! Happy New Year! I hope your festivities were good ones, ours were great. We got to spend time with 5 of our 6 kids, plus the Grandparents, which was a treat indeed. It's been 4 weeks since the last update and thankfully it's been fairly quiet, but I shall start with something very much personal...

A few days after my last post, my strong, fit and healthy 15 year old became suddenly very unwell. We had swift advice from our GP, a visit to Stranraer A&E, a 90 mile blue light ambulance trip to Glasgow Children's Hospital, a night in the Paediatric ICU and a 2 day stay in the cardiac ward. We also got a diagnosis of a congenital heart condition which we were completely unaware of before, and my son home and safe. 

What was a terrifying experience was made so much easier by every single NHS and hospital employee we encountered. They were amazing. We were all treated with great care, nothing was an inconvenience. Everything was clearly explained and my son was remarkably calm the whole time, even when in a lot of pain and when told his sensible next step is heart surgery. If I live to be 100, I could not thank you all enough.

On my partner's 2 hour drive back from bringing toothbrushes and clean clothes up to Glasgow our car broke, so I also have gratitude to the garage, who fit in a repair 3 days before Christmas. 

So this is me, repeating my heartfelt (and in honesty teary) thanks to ALL of the vital essential workers who keep our loved ones alive and our world turning, often on low wages and with long unsocial hours, and over Christmas and other holidays. You are seen, and you really are valued. Thank you all of you. 

I also want to once again reiterate just how valuable our NHS is.

In the US I wouldn't just have my son's health to worry about, the ambulance alone could have cost us over £10,000, on top of insurance. At one point, at 11pm at night, my son had 5 consultants, 2 doctors and 2 nurses attending to him. He got the very, very best of care, and he is home and well. 

I say it at the end of every single post. Save The NHS.