COVID-19 Coronavirus, HPAI H5N1 bird Flu, Measles, Tropical Imports and other virus UK and World News Update 22nd August 2025

COVID-19 Coronavirus, HPAI H5N1 Bird Flu, Measles, Tropical Imports and Other Virus UK and World News Update 22nd August 2025

In the UK the number of people in hospital with respiratory symptoms who test positive for COVID has risen by almost 1/3 in the last fortnight. 

Although that's not good, thankfully we began at low levels, so it is actually still considered relatively 'low' - although you'd hope not to see a rise during Summer and before the kids all go back to school. Latest variants and waning immunity may well be to blame. 

The steady COVID wave is continuing in the US. Hospital admissions were up another 15% last week (on top of 18% 2 weeks ago), with 98,600 new cases reported. Medics and emergency room staff are noting a visible rise and commenting on social media. 

An average 206 people in the US have died from COVID each week this year (227 were reported last week). 

On 15th August the UK's DEFRA raised England's risk level for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI bird flu) "in response to a change in the pattern of wild bird findings and an increase in cases in poultry and captive birds".

Risk level in any areas with 'sub-optimal biosecurity' is now MEDIUM (event occurs regularly).

Risk in wild birds remains HIGH.

From 26th August nationwide biosecurity measures are increased, including for game birds. E.g. footwear and vehicle tyres need to be disinfected. 

DEFRA's last report on 11th August confirms 9 additional infected commercial and backyard poultry flocks detected since 21st July (including 2 in Breckland, Norfolk), and 78 infected wild birds of 20 different species, across 36 separate British sites in 26 counties (England 48, Scotland 29, Wales 1). 

This outbreak began on 5th November 2024, and since then across the whole UK 79 farmed or backyard flocks have been confirmed infected with avian flu:

- 1 low pathogenic avian flu (Wales)

- 1 HPAI H5N5 (England)

- 77 HPAI H5N1 (England 68, Scotland 3, Wales 2, Northern Ireland 4)

In addition a total of 848 collected wild birds have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza. 

COVID-19, H5N1 Avian Flu, Measles and other virus UK and World News Update 8th August 2025

COVID-19, H5N1 Avian Flu, Measles and other virus UK and World News Update 8th August 2025

The British Medical Association (BMA) and Department of Health are set to start detailed talks on pay issues and working conditions for Resident Doctors.

Wes Streeting has repeatedly said there is no more money, however making changes to working conditions could go a long way towards making folk a bit happier. 

UK Nurses unions are also threatening strike action, after members of the Royal College of Nursing voted overwhelmingly to reject a 3.6% pay offer. 

In the UK the latest COVID figures suggest we may have escaped the expected Summer COVID wave. Still steady up until 30th July, if anything cases are dropping, although as we've seen before, people don't seem to want to test positive during the holiday season. Hospitalisations remain steady at just over 100 a week. 

In the US their rising Summer COVID wave is continuing, with cases up 4 weeks in a row. Hospital admissions were up 5% last week and 13% this week. Levels are creeping upwards, but still no massive wave Asia as experienced when the latest variants arrived there. 

COVID-19, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu, and other virus UK and World News Update 25th July 2025

COVID-19, Long COVID, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu, and other virus UK and World News Update 25th July 2025

I hope you've had a good month - thanks for coming back! I've had a very lovely time off - I survived going on a plane, which I haven't done in 26 years because I was terrified last time. It's never too late to face your fears, and I'm exceptionally glad I did. We went on holiday with 5 of our 'children', ticked off some bucket list items visiting Pompeii, Vesuvius and Herculaneum, and walking a crippling 80 miles over 11 days. Be brave, it pays off, even if you have sore knees. Back to it... 

Resident doctors (previously junior doctors) in England are striking for 5 days from today in fresh action over pay. They are demanding pay is restored to equivalent levels for 2008, and are asking for a 29% pay rise. They have been offered 5.4%. 

Adverts have been published in national papers showing a newly qualified doctor's assistant earns over £24 per hour, while a resident doctor is on £18.62 per hour with years of medical experience (and may even have use of their own doctor's assistant to support with paperwork, admin, screening, blood tests etc). 

The BMA has warned that patients will be at risk because NHS leaders have asked that planned treatment isn't postponed, despite up to 50,000 people joining the strike. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus, HPAI H5N1, Measles, Vaccinations and Virus UK and World News Update 27th June 2025

COVID-19 Coronavirus, HPAI H5N1, Measles, Vaccinations and Virus UK and World News Update 27th June 2025

Last report I mentioned NB.1.8.1 Nimbus COVID variant. It's still under close scrutiny and expected to cause a COVID wave around the world due to its speed, and ability to bypass older immunity. In May, the US CDC's airport surveillance program began detecting cases in travellers from a range of countries. By the last week of May it accounted for almost half of the cases they detected. 

In the last 4 weeks, of those samples which have been sequenced and uploaded to GISAID, NB.1.8.1 has accounted for 81.8% of cases in Hong Kong, 76.9% in China, 75% in Japan, 56.5% in South Korea, 45.6% in New Zealand, 40.3% in Australia, and it's spread to Europe at the rapid speed we were promised. 41.7% in the Netherlands, 37.5% in Finland, 23.8% in Norway, 21.5% in Ireland, 20% in Portugal, 19.5% in Germany, 12.5% in the UK and 10% in France. Slightly slower domination in North America, but 21.1% of cases in Canada, and 9.9% in the USA. 

COVID-19, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu, Mpox and other virus UK and World News Update 13th June 2025

COVID-19, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu, Mpox and other virus UK and World News Update 13th June 2025

The UK NHS is critically short of blood and is asking for new donors to come forward urgently. If you are aged 17 to 65, generally fit and well, and weigh between 7 stone 12 lbs (50kg) and 25 stone (158kg) you can usually donate. Find out more information and register if you are able at blood dot co dot uk. Save a life. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus, Measles, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu and other virus UK and World News Update 30th May 2025

COVID-19 Coronavirus, Measles, HPAI H5N1 and other virus UK and World News Update 30th May 2025

Until it left the World Health Organisation, the US paid them $2.1b a year. 

"$2.1 billion is the equivalent of global military expenditure every 8 hours;

$2.1 billion is the price of one stealth bomber;

$2.1 billion is 1/4 of what the tobacco industry spends on advertising and promotion every single year.

It seems somebody switched the price tags on what is truly valuable in our world."

Dr Tedros, head of WHO

Norovirus cases in the UK are still incredibly high. Over the last 5 years 31st March to 27th April we've averaged 6,446 confirmed cases (which doesn't include anyone who isn't tested, which is Loooooooads), and this year that figure is 14,959. UK Gov remind us to pretty please STAY AT HOME for 48 hours AFTER you are last ill. Do not prepare food for others, do not go to school or work, do not pass go, do not risk spreading this to the very young, the very old or other vulnerable people who may become very seriously ill. 

"So far this year, nearly 2.9 million COVID cases have been reported in the U.S., causing 200,465 hospitalizations and 14,213 deaths."

BNO News

In the UK around 160 people a day are still currently being admitted to hospital with COVID, and it is officially responsible for around 70 UK deaths a week. 

COVID-19, Measles, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu and other virus UK and World News Update 17th April 2025

COVID-19 Coronavirus and other virus UK and World News Update 17th April 2025

World Health Organisation members, after over 3 years of discussions, have agreed the wording for the legally binding Pandemic Treaty. The draft agreement will be up for consideration (and hopefully accepted) at the upcoming World Health Assembly next month.

This is only the 2nd time such a treaty has been drawn up, the first being a tobacco control agreement in 2003. 

Under terms of the treaty member countries will share data about pathogens swiftly via the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS). 10% of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics will be given to WHO, and another 10% will be supplied at affordable prices.

COVID-19 Coronavirus, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu, Measles and other virus UK and World News Update 4th April 2025

COVID-19 Coronavirus, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu, Measles and other virus UK and World News Update 4th April 2025

The UK has announced Spring COVID boosters, with a focus on "protecting those who are most likely to become seriously ill", the same as last Spring, but unlike previously you have to COME FORWARD and book your appointment, rather than waiting for an invitation. Do this online at nhs dot uk /bookcovid or by calling 119.

Those eligible include:

- people aged 75 or over by 17th June

- residents of care homes for older adults (not staff or carers)

- people meeting immunosuppression criteria (check online for a list)

The UK Department of Health and Social Care has agreed an extra £167m funding (over 2 years) with Community Pharmacy England.

On top £193 million of debt for community pharmacy owners will be written off. 

In return community pharmacies in England will:

- all offer the ‘morning-after pill’ free of charge

- offer patients prescribed antidepressants "convenient support at pharmacies".

- cut red tape, with more of the pharmacy team able to deliver services such as medicines advice, Pharmacy First services, and blood pressure checks.

- have financial incentives boosted for pharmacists to identify patients with undiagnosed high blood pressure, to take pressure off GPs.

- have funding for medicine supply boosted, so patients have better access to the medicines prescribed for them. This includes writing off the historic debt linked to dispensing activity during the pandemic and increasing fees linked to dispensing prescriptions.

COVID-19, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu and other virus UK and World News Update 7th March 2025

COVID-19, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu and other virus UK and World News Update 7th March 2025

Just in case you haven't had enough of Norovirus this year, the UK Health Security Agency are warning us that there are 2 common strains, and the one which was most popular a couple of months ago is waning, but the second one is having a bit of a party. Sadly catching one doesn't mean you won't catch the other, so there are fun times ahead for some of you... 

As an aside, UKHSA reckon for every lab confirmed case, there are another 288 riding it out quietly at home. 

Latest UK Norovirus figures still aren't pretty, but they do finally show a decrease in cases. Overall still very high levels, and more than double the 5 year average for the same 2 week period. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu and other virus UK and World News Update 21st February 2025

COVID-19 Coronavirus, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu and other virus UK and World News Update 21st February 2025

Between July and November 2024 the UK NHS managed to deliver almost 2.2 million more appointments than July to November 2023. These included chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endoscopy and diagnostic tests.

There is a caveat in that during that period in 2023 there were 12 days of strikes by doctors-in-training (junior doctors) - but in 2024 no strikes and more patients seen is undoubtedly a doubly good thing. 

The waiting list has been cut by almost 160,000 since the current government took office, compared to a rise of almost 33,000 over the same period the previous year. 

The overall waiting list for planned treatment in England fell slightly in December to 7.46 million - but only 59% started treatment within 18 weeks, with the Govt target by end of parliament 92%. Some way to go yet. 

Keep going Wes. Keep fixing the NHS. 

Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of NHS England with a less than heartwarming quote last week:

“We need to think much more radically, particularly about capital…I think we now must consider private capital investment in the NHS…if we don’t fix our buildings, if we don’t fix our technology we’re not going to..really drive that long term improvement."

You don't really seem to want to save the NHS Amanda. Surely pumping cash into wining and dining private capital, then repaying interest or renting for the next bazillion years is not the best way to save the NHS?

COVID-19 Coronavirus, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu and other virus UK and World News Update 7th February 2025

COVID-19 Coronavirus, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu and other virus UK and World News Update 7th February 2025

"NHS England says more patients in hospitals last week than any other stage this winter– 96% of adult beds were occupied. 961 norovirus cases, up 7% on the week before and 69% higher than same time last year.  

Nearly 13,800 in hospital even though medically fit to be discharged."

BBC Health Correspondent Hugh Pym

Norovirus is completely preventable and only 1 in 160 cases end up in a hospital bed - so it's likely more than 153,700 people in England currently have it.

Norovirus is not only bad in the UK - the US has also doubled last years peak. We test more people nowadays, but "the emergence of an unusual norovirus genotype" (GII. 17) seems to blame.

Remember hand gel doesn't get through the thick fatty shell of Norovirus - kill it by washing with good old-fashioned soap. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus, HPAI Bird Flu and other virus UK and World News Update 24th January 2025

COVID-19 Coronavirus, HPAI Bird Flu and other virus UK and World News Update 24th January 2025

Well hello. It's been a very busy 2 weeks, and if you are reading this then I probably lost internet at some point due to Storm Eowyn (I uploaded this a couple of hours after power went off at 7.40am just in case I lost internet too). Sorry if anything is already out of date - I'll do a quick update to the update when I'm back online! I hope everyone out there isn't too badly affected. Stay safe everyone. Thank you to all of the emergency and essential workers risking their lives to look after us in this weather. 

"CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) has provided real-time data and analysis about disease outbreaks and emerging health threats without a break every week since 1960. 

Until today."

Dr Tom Frieden, former CDC Director, 23rd January 2025.

The USA has a new President and as promised, Trump immediately signed executive orders withdrawing the USA from the Paris Climate Agreement (alongside just Iran, Libya and Yemen) and the World Health Organisation. Any WHO member officially has to give 1 year's notice to leave, so it may not have an immediate effect.