Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major respiratory virus that is common over the winter period, typically November to February. While the symptoms are mild for many, RSV accounts for around 30,000 hospitalisations of children under 5 in the UK annually, and for 20 to 30 infant deaths. RSV can also be severe in older adults, causing pneumonia and flare-ups of existing lung disease and other long-term conditions. It causes around 9,000 hospitalisations in those aged over 75 in the UK each year.  Who is at risk? RSV can be especially dangerous for infants and the elderly. RSV is most ..read more

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs and airways. The whooping cough vaccine is given as part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule in the UK, and from 2012 pregnant women have been able to get vaccinated against whooping cough which helps to protect babies in their first months of life. In this blog post, Jenny, from Hampshire, shares the story of her daughter Layla and her struggle with whooping cough at 3 weeks old. Our daughter Layla was born at 36 weeks in July 2012 and at just 10 days old Layla d ..read more

Dr Shreya Singhal is a junior doctor working in West London, as well as being a keen backpacker. She has worked in Infectious Diseases and General Practice and shares her top tips for people looking to travel this summer. With lots of people preparing for their holidays, I’ve written this blog post as a handy guide to travelling safely and minimising risks to your health. Risks vary depending on the type of trip you’re going on – but whether you’re off for a week of sunbathing, watching the Euros, visiting family based overseas or taking a lengthier backpacking trip, it’s worth being pre ..read more

Doug Jenkinson was a Midlands GP for 37 years, during which time he made a special study of whooping cough and documented over 700 cases. The thing about whooping cough is that anyone can diagnose it once they have heard the typical cough. The ‘whooping’ noise happens right at the end of a choking cough attack, although not everyone makes it. I returned from a spell in Central Africa in the mid-1970s to take up a GP job in the Midlands to find that most parents had stopped allowing their babies to be given whooping cough vaccine. There had been a scare that the vaccine could very occasionally ..read more

Cryptosporidium parvum protozoa positive (red sphere shape) in human poo smear Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that can cause an unpleasant – and sometimes dangerous – illness called cryptosporidiosis. This nasty bug lives in the intestines of infected humans and animals and is passed out in their poo. It can then spread and contaminate water sources like lakes, rivers, and swimming pools, as well as food like raw milk and vegetables. Who's at risk of catching cryptosporidiosis? Unfortunately, anyone can catch it, but the illness is particularly common in children between 1 and 5 y ..read more

With the recent emergence of a new group of COVID-19 variants, known collectively as FLiRT, some people are asking about how these new strains compare to other variants. The unofficial nickname was inspired by the names of the mutations in the genetic code of the variants. They descend from JN.1, which had variant BA.2.86 as a parent. What have we seen so far? One of the FLiRT variants, KP.2, caused around 25% of new sequenced cases in the US over the last 2 weeks of April, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of April 2024, in the UK, the circulating variants ..read more

Credit: Catherine Hughes Cases of whooping cough have been rising across England, increasing from 556 cases in January, 918 in February to 1,319 cases confirmed in March - bringing the total number of cases in 2024 to 2,793. Sadly, between January – March 2024, there have been five infant deaths. The whooping cough vaccine provides high levels of protection against severe disease. It is given as part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule in the UK and in pregnancy to protect newborn babies. In this blog post, Catherine Hughes, Founding Director at The Immunisation Foundation of Austral ..read more

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when medicines used to fight infections lose their effectiveness because the organisms they target – whether bacteria, fungi, viruses or parasites – have evolved or acquired adaptations to survive. In 2019, AMR was directly responsible for about 1.27 million deaths globally. Sustained action is required to curb inappropriate use of antibiotics, the main driver of AMR. The UK has a 20-year vision for tackling AMR through a series of 5-year National Action Plans (NAPs), which aim to bring together organisations across government to contain, control and miti ..read more

Visiting a farm is an enjoyable and educational experience for the whole family, but it carries a risk of infection from animals or the environment. Farm animals may carry germs that can be passed from animals to humans and cause illness, with symptoms including diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, nausea and body aches. In vulnerable groups, such as young children, pregnant women and elderly or immunocompromised people these infections can be particularly serious. Infection can be picked up from the animal’s body, its poo or from areas where animals are kept or have recently been. If the germs are on ..read more

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when organisms that cause infection, like bacteria, develop resistance to medicines like antibiotics. The World Health Organization estimates that there are 4.95 million deaths per year associated with AMR and the issue is a top public health priority for policymakers in the UK and around the world.    In December 2017, Public Health England set about raising public awareness and understanding of AMR to tackle the incorrect use of antibiotics by the general public and healthcare professionals.  Over a three-year period, the Keep Antibi ..read more