The Brick Castle

COVID-19, H5N1, Hantavirus, Ebola and other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 15th May 2026

2026-05-15T15:32:07.193+01:00

COVID-19, H5N1, Hantavirus, Ebola and other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 15th May 2026

UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has resigned. I've absolutely no idea who will replace him, but by the state of the Labour Party these days it'll probably be someone who has never set foot in an NHS doctor's surgery in their life.

The UK NHS has had the biggest improvement in waiting times for 16 years, hitting it's March 2026 target of 65% of patients beginning treatment within 18 weeks (it was 65.3%).

Critics are out in force, showing graphs and suggesting the number of patients being treated is not higher, so the drop in people waiting is due to people being removed from lists.

Honestly, I see a slightly increasing average in those graphs, and we also know they are cleaning up lists (removing people moved to different treatment, died, treated as an emergency, paid privately etc). So, bit of both, and a net benefit to patients and the NHS. It's a good thing.

The MV Hondius Andes strain Hantavirus outbreak...

2026-05-11T20:55:00.005+01:00

I generally cover virus, and this is what I'm reading about the Hantavirus outbreak...

All of the big questions out of the way first...

1. Will we all die from Hantavirus? Absolutely not.

2. Will there be another pandemic? Almost certainly not.

3. Will I catch Hantavirus from this outbreak? Were you on the MV Hondius? Have you hugged, kissed, or shared food or a room with anyone who was on board the MV Hondius?

If yes - It’s possible.

If no - Almost certainly not.

4. Is this a super variant? No. Genetic testing reveals it's the exact same strain that is endemic to Argentina and the Andes region, with a couple of hundred cases a year (and none of those have ever previously caused a pandemic). It has not mutated, nor is it likely to.

4. Should we lose sleep fretting? No.

Hantavirus was in the news last year when the wife of actor Gene Hackman died from it. It is back in the news because of an outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius.

COVID-19, Measles, H5N1 Avian Flu and Other Health and Virus UK and World News Update 1st May 2026

2026-05-01T18:03:00.002+01:00

COVID-19, Measles, H5N1 Avian Flu and Other Health and Virus UK and World News Update 1st May 2026

COVID, flu and other respiratory ailments are at very low levels in the UK, Europe, and the US... ahhh bliss. New variant B.3.2 isn’t doing anything much right now, and certainly isn’t increasing overall cases (although it is a bit harder on young people than other variants). So if you have a cough, sneezes and sore eyes, consider hayfever...

The cost of getting prescription drugs into the UK continues to rise, and pharmacists are warning it's becoming impossible to get them at the prices the NHS will pay, and some drugs are increasingly hard to get at all.

The NHS list prices are lower than much of Europe, so with shortages due to disruption to flights and shipping channels, plus increases in the price of oil pushing up transportation costs, wholesalers would rather sell any stocks they do have to other countries.

210 drugs are currently on an NHS concessions list, which means the NHS will pay extra as it knows they're unavailable at NHS list price, but even the concessions list is becoming out of date and pharmacists are having to pay the shortfall out of their own money.

The BBC has spoken to pharmacists and one gave an example of someone's epilepsy meds. They didn’t even have the whole prescription, yet what they could give left them £9 out of pocket.

This is not a situation that can carry on for long, and it will kill people.

COVID-19, COVID Inquiry, Measles and Other Health and Virus UK and World News Update 17th April 2026

2026-04-17T17:44:00.000+01:00

COVID-19, COVID Inquiry, Measles, Avian Flu and Other Health and Virus UK and World News Update 17th April 2026

Hello! Welcome back, glad you didn’t forget me. I hope you had a fabulous Easter, with a break! I had Easter and late Christmas, saw most of my family (boo to broken windscreens!) and it was epic. Back to it...

UK NHS waiting lists fell by another 20,000 in February, for a total reduction of almost 300,000 since Labour were elected, and lists are now at the lowest levels since 2023. Credit where it's due, not all of those 300,000 died waiting, and hopefully they weren't all just shipped off to private companies to have the work done at twice the price, so well done and thank you to the NHS staff who made it happen.

UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting also informs us A&E performance is the best in 4 years, ambulance response times are the best in 5 years, and record numbers of people are receiving cancer diagnosis or the all-clear within 28 days. This is very good news, well done, keep improving.

COVID-19, COVID Inquiry, Meningitis, Measles and Other Health and Virus UK and World News Update 20th March 2026

2026-03-20T17:59:00.002+00:00

COVID-19, COVID Inquiry, Meningitis, Measles and Other Health and Virus UK and World News Update 20th March 2026

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

2026-03-06T17:30:00.001+00:00

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

2026-02-20T18:27:00.005+00:00

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

2026-02-06T18:36:00.120+00:00

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

2026-01-23T18:55:00.005+00:00

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

2026-01-09T17:53:00.000+00:00

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.

COVID-19, Flu, RSV, Norovirus, H5N1 Avian Flu and Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 12th December 2025

2025-12-12T17:30:00.011+00:00

COVID-19, Flu, RSV, Norovirus, H5N1 Avian Flu and Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 12th December 2025

Shall we start with the huge elephant sitting in the centre of the room? My genuine commiserations to anyone who has flu right now...

By crikey UK flu is making the news worldwide. It's not good, but ignore anything with three exclamation marks!!! and sit yourself down (preferably beside an open window)...

Better than the headlines suggest:

- Some schools are closed to create a firebreak and stem transmissions, and in some cases for a deep clean. This happens, it just doesn’t often make the national news.

- The rates in England at 1,717 patients in a hospital bed each day 2 weeks ago (including 69 in critical care) are a massive 7 times as high as the same point in 2023 (average 243 flu patients a day), but actually only 1.6 times as high as the same week last year (2024 average 1,098 and 39 in critical care). It's bad, but 2023 was a low year, so not a fair comparison.

- Flu arrived early, and although it's at record-breaking and eye-watering levels FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR, with doubling and tripling of hospitalisations week on week, so far it's actually tracking a pretty normal pattern (albeit a month early). Even the UK HSA bulletin says "medium levels". Obviously medical bosses try to plan ahead, so staffing levels and 'free' beds, planned procedures, etc are out of sync, causing extra pressure.

- As I've previously reported, the human Flu A(H3N2) which we were expecting has mutated or 'drifted' into 'Variant K', which is likely to creep past existing immunity for more people, and means our vaccination isn’t a perfect match. An 'H3N2 year' does tend to create more cases and we've not had one for a couple of years, so immunity is waning a bit, but it is NOT a new flu.

- We could see more people ill and therefore more people hospitalised, but all evidence suggests Variant K A(H3N2) is NOT more severe or more deadly. Folk aren't dropping like flies, this is NOT an horrendously deadly new superflu.

Honest headlines:

- Australia and some Asian countries had a very long flu season, so while hospitals were not necessarily overwhelmed, numbers for the whole season were much higher (2 weeks ago Australia were still recording confirmed cases, with 441,000 at that point, compared to 363,000 in 2024 and 289,000 in 2023). The long season could be partly because Variant K arrived and kept it going for longer, maybe...

- We are still seeing large number of schoolchildren with flu in the UK, while infections are spreading through older populations, so our 'wave' could be moving more slowly, but only time will answer that.

- On Tuesday Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital in Stafford declared critical incidents due to sustained high demand, including flu patients.

On Wednesday a critical incident was declared at 4 more West Midlands hospitals - Good Hope, Heartlands and Queen Elizabeth hospitals in Birmingham, and Solihull Hospital - due to "exceptional" numbers of flu patients.

This is not new. It's demoralising and it's not good, but it’s not unusual when flu levels are high.

- Latest figures for flu patients in hospital, hospital visits, ambulance requests, GP visits, flu tests are all somewhat obviously, and somewhat normally, soaring. Last week an average 2,660 people were in hospital with flu in England alone every day. Public Health Scotland say the situation isn’t quite as bad, however they had an average 986 flu hospital admissions this week.

My twopenneth:

- It is too early to say if flu will keep rising, carry on for weeks, or just peak and tail off. At this point no-one can declare this an exceptionally bad year, especially not an AI writing clickbait headlines for a national newspaper. That said, it's not started well, so the potential exists.

- Call me a cynic, and we never want to overwhelm the NHS, but the Government want to stop the resident doctor's strikes. A lot of these headlines are dramatic and scary, they make people feel worried, and it works in the Government's favour.

COVID-19, Flu, H5N1 Avian Flu and Other Virus UK and World News Update 28th November 2025

2025-11-28T17:26:00.000+00:00

COVID-19, Flu, H5N1 Avian Flu and Other Virus UK and World News Update 28th November 2025

Norovirus cases are on a downward slope in the UK. One down, one up. RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) season is upon us. This is a common virus most people hardly notice. RSV feels like a chesty cold, but can cause pneumonia in people who are less robust, and Bronchiolitis in little ones, which is the leading cause of infant mortality. If you have a chesty cold or are otherwise ill, don't visit Grandma, or friends and family with babies, and definitely don't visit anyone in hospital.

The UK HSA weekly winter surveillance report shows that although we had an early start to flu season, it's a fairly 'normal' flu season. Cases are rising, but not leaping. Their wording:

- Flu activity has increased this week following a dip in recent weeks. Outbreaks in care homes and schools have also increased.

- RSV has increased and is circulating at low to medium levels across indicators.

- COVID-19 activity has decreased across most indicators and is circulating at baseline levels.

COVID-19, Long COVID and Other Health and Virus UK and World News Update 14th November 2025

2025-11-14T16:16:00.001+00:00

COVID-19, Long COVID and Other Health and Virus UK and World News Update 14th November 2025

Latest UK Health Security Agency (HSA) messaging is that "influenza activity showed mixed trends and is circulating at low levels – this is an unusually early start of the influenza season". They add that circulation remains high in children and young adults.

COVID-19 activity decreased, still baseline levels. RSV activity increased, still baseline levels.

"Emergency department attendances for influenza-like-illness remained stable", but "influenza-confirmed acute respiratory infection incidents increased". Of influenza viruses subtyped, the majority were A(H3N2).

There is a lot on flu today, so hopefully it all makes sense... Sir Jim Mackey, current head of NHS England, has warned that this winter will be “one of the toughest ever faced”. He told BBC Health Correspondent Hugh Pym that “from December through to March our hospitals will be at capacity”. Well that's not very positive is it? Here's why he said it...

COVID-19, Flu, Measles, H5N1 Avian Flu and other virus UK Health and World News Update 31st October 2025

2025-10-31T18:49:00.108+00:00

COVID-19, Flu, Measles, and other virus UK Health and World News Update 31st October 2025

Happy Halloween!

"If you mean was Covid a disaster? Yes.

Was the loss of education a disaster? Yes.

Was the loss of exams a disaster? Yes.

Was the disappointment, anger, frustration of a large number of kids - the additional frustration - a disaster? Yes it was.

"But it has to be seen in the context of us trying to deal with a much, much bigger disaster"

Boris Johnson, ex- UK PM at the UK COVID Inquiry, with possibly the clearest thing he's ever said.

The UK's early Autumn COVID wave has ended. Hurrah! Activity has "decreased and is now circulating at baseline levels" according to the UK HSA. Good job really, as flu is hitting pretty hard, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus, which causes coughs and sometimes pneumonia and bronchiolitis) is showing 'mixed activity'.

COVID-19 Coronavirus, Flu, H5N1 Avian Flu, Measles, Tropical Diseases and other virus UK and World News Update 17th October 2025

2025-10-17T18:47:00.002+01:00

COVID-19 Coronavirus, Flu, H5N1 Avian Flu, Measles, Vaccination and other virus UK and World News Update 17th October 2025

The UK Government and NHS have caused a nightmare for Pharmacists by massively reducing the number of people who are eligible for an NHS COVID jab, and then allowing ineligible people to book an appointment anyway. The National Pharmacy Association were quoted last week as saying their members were reporting around 1/3 to 1/2 of all COVID jab bookings were people who they aren't authorised to vaccinate.

NHS England say they've fixed the online booking system now, but literally millions of people who had Winter COVID and flu boosters last year are only eligible for flu this time, and eligibility for flu jabs has been widened, which has only made the problem worse. For reference...

NHS flu jabs for Autumn/Winter 2025 are offered if you:

- are aged 65 or over by 31 March 2026

- have certain long-term health conditions (list online)

- are pregnant

- live in a care home

- are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer's allowance

- live with someone who has a weakened immune system

(Frontline health and social care workers can also get a flu vaccine through their employer.)

NHS COVID boosters for Autumn/Winter 2025 are offered if you:

- are aged 75 or over by 31 January 2026

- are aged 6 months to 74 years and have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment (list online)

- live in a care home for older adults

It's no wonder there's confusion. Millions of people have previously been eligible due to age, and now aren't, despite not getting any younger. Please don't take it out on the Pharmacist, it wasn't their decision. Private jabs cost around £100 each.

COVID-19 Coronavirus, Other Virus, Vaccination and Health UK and World News Update 3rd October 2025 (Featuring Autism and Tylenol)

2025-10-03T18:50:00.003+01:00

COVID-19 Coronavirus, Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 3rd October 2025

In the UK COVID cases are still on the rise, we haven’t hit the peak yet. RCGP Sentinel Surveillance of around 2,000 GP surgeries in England suggests cases are up around 20% in the latest week (week ending 28th September) and UK HSA data confirms, showing a rise of 22.2% in the week ending 24th September. Looking at the charts, allowing for lags in data, it's probably on a par with where we were this time last year. Stratus (the XFG and XFG.3 variants) and Nimbus (NB.1.8.1) are being given the blame, Stratus accounted for around 2/3 of cases last month.

Online reports say Stratos includes a hoarse voice. Presumably can confirm. I've had hardly any sore throat, but I've spent over 2 weeks out of the last 3 1/2 croaking, and I still don't have my voice back properly, despite feeling a lot better and a negative test finally (hurrah!).

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

2025-09-19T18:16:00.001+01:00

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...

COVID-19 Coronavirus, HPAI H5N1 Bird Flu, Measles, Tropical Imports and Other Virus UK and World News Update 5th September 2025

2025-09-05T16:02:00.047+01:00

COVID-19 Coronavirus, HPAI H5N1 Bird Flu, Measles, Tropical Imports and Other Virus UK and World News Update 5th September 2025

From January every eligible child in the UK will receive a chickenpox (varicella) vaccination with their MMR jabs (MMRV).

"Research shows that chickenpox in childhood results in an estimated £24 million in lost income and productivity every year in the UK. The rollout will also save the NHS £15 million a year in costs for treating the common condition."

Mild chickenpox can still be awful and leave you with scarring. Severe chickenpox is rare, but does happen. It can cause infections, pneumonia, encephalitis or a range of problems with organs, including the brain, eyes and heart. Chickenpox during pregnancy can affect your baby. Any baby born with chickenpox will be very poorly.

Chickenpox vaccination also helps protect against shingles - which is where dormant varicella virus hiding in your body (often for decades) reawakens and can make you very ill. 10 years ago my partner got meningitis from dormant varicella springing back into action and making it into his head.

I strongly agree with vaccinating against varicella.

NHS England:

From 1 September, all severely immunosuppressed adults aged 18+ will be able to get the shingles vaccine from their GP.

"This includes people with conditions such as leukaemia or lymphoma or those who are undergoing chemotherapy, which put them at greater risk of becoming seriously unwell if they contract shingles."

This is another varicella vaccine, although it contains no complete or live virus (it's just a reminder for your immune system and safe for vulnerable people). You should get an invitation to book from your GP next month.

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

2025-08-22T17:21:00.001+01:00

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

2025-08-08T17:45:00.001+01:00

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

2025-07-25T17:12:00.000+01:00

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

2025-06-27T16:28:00.077+01:00

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

2025-06-13T16:26:00.004+01:00

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

2025-05-30T15:48:00.002+01:00

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 Coronavirus, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu, Measles and other virus UK and World News Update 16th May 2025

2025-05-16T18:25:00.001+01:00

COVID-19 Coronavirus, HPAI H5N1 Avian Flu, Measles and other virus UK and World News Update 16th May 2025

Reporter: "You just announced a new nominee for US Surgeon General who never finished her residency, and is not a practicing physician. So can you explain why you picked her to be America's top doctor?"

Trump: "Because Bobby thought she was fantastic" ... "I don't know her."

Awesome reasoning.

Dr Casey Means isn't actually licensed to practise medicine, and is currently an online 'wellness influencer'. (I can't understand why Joe Wicks didn't give it a go, he was super popular with his online PE lessons during lockdown.)

In other news, RFK Jr. has (under direct questioning) announced Matthew Buzzelli (a lawyer with almost no public health or medical experience) is the Acting Director of the US CDC.

Anyone nominated to stand as permanent CDC Director can't be Acting Director, so on 24th March, previous Acting Director Dr. Susan Monarez stood down, after being nominated by Trump.

Mr Buzzelli hasn't exactly been performing his duties, as he's responsible for signing off vaccines and other policies, and communications with the public, some of which have been in limbo since March or April... (I dunno, is this also news to him? His name isn't even on the CDC website...)

"The UK had a real opportunity to control spread with effective contact tracing but missed it - not once, but repeatedly over the pandemic."

Christina Pagel, IndieSAGE

The UK COVID inquiry has begun public hearings, and they've been discussing the debacle which was Test & Trace. We didn't move quickly enough. We didn't contact trace with enough speed and weren't ready with enough tests for all suspected cases. If we moved quicker, we'd have had far fewer early cases and we might even have avoided lockdown, or at least made it much shorter.

The UK Government ignored offers of help from NHS and University labs, and didn't use the skilled personnel they had (community nurses and others already do contact tracing), or other systems put in place rapidly and available to us.

It's true. From where I was sitting it looked like they dithered about trying to make money and/or collect data at the expense of everything else. It was a frustrating and ultimately very costly time.