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, Long COVID, HPAI H5N1 Bird Flu, Measles, Vaccines and Other Virus UK and World News Update 19th September 2025

COVID-19, Long COVID, HPAI H5N1 Bird Flu, Measles, Vaccines and Other Virus UK and World News Update 19th September 2025

COVID levels in England are still slowly creeping upward, but remain at a low level. Northern Ireland seems stable and low. In Scotland and Wales they're actually creeping downward, although not in my house they aren't! 

I apologise in advance for any errors or random comments because I do indeed have COVID. Refreshingly it's been over 2 years break, so we'd all recovered from our previous 3-6 monthly regular doses in Manchester. There are tons of 'word of mouth' reports that Stratos variant is rough on the tummy. I believe I can confirm, and I can see why it isn't measurable. We've all had awful tummy ache. A sore, sore belly that makes you unhappy and goes on for days. It's worse after eating, but it's not nice if you're hungry either. We've all also had times where we thought we were recovering, and then the stomachache returns. Aside from those massive differences, it's COVID - shortness of breath, tired, brain fog, cold symptoms, headache, cough, scratchy sore throat.

So, if your children are complaining of tummy ache, but aren't necessarily sick or anything else...