Infectious Diseases
The HPA carries out a broad spectrum of work relating to prevention of infectious disease.
This includes infectious disease surveillance, providing specialist and reference microbiology and microbial epidemiology, co-ordinating the investigation and cause of national and uncommon outbreaks, helping advise government on the risks posed by various infections and responding to international health alerts.
HIGHLIGHTS
Swine Influenza
The current influenza pandemic (commonly known as swine flu) in countries around the world has been caused by a new version (strain) of the influenza A virus named Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 by the World Health Organization.
Healthcare Associated Infections
Healthcare associated infections are infections that are acquired in hospitals or as a result of healthcare interventions. There are a number of factors that can increase the risk of acquiring an infection, but high standards of infection control practice minimise the risk of occurrence.
Anthrax
Anthrax is a bacterial infection caused by Bacillus anthracis, spores of which can survive in the environment for years or decades. It is primarily a disease of herbivorous mammals, though other animals and some birds, particularly carrion birds, can also contract it.›› Anthrax
Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157
The most important VTEC strain to cause illness in the UK is E. coli O157. This can be found in the intestine of healthy cattle, sheep, goats and a wide range of other species.
