en-gb http://www.hpa.org.uk/ Protecting Health, Preventing Harm, Preparing for Threats Copyright 2012, Health Protection Agency. All Rights Reserved. webteam@hpa.org.uk Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:01:08 GMT 60 http://www.hpa.org.uk:80/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317132699584?p=1317132140479 10 February 2012, 1400hrs. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has this week been alerted by the Spanish public health authorities about a further case of Legionnaires’ Disease in a UK resident who stayed at the Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe, Costa Blanca, as well as two French cases. This brings the total number of UK residents associated with this cluster to 12, with three deaths. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:45:21 GMT /Topics/EmergencyResponse/ExtremeWeatherEventsAndNaturalDisasters/ColdWeather/ColdWeatherGeneralInformation/erdcold10February2012/ There is a 100 % probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions between 1000 on Friday and 1000 on Monday in parts of England. This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:56:51 GMT http://www.hpa.org.uk:80/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317132629426?p=1317132140479 Scientists from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) are a step closer to ensuring the stability of a component of a vaccine that may one day be used to protect against Meningitis B. The research is published today (Tuesday) in Vaccine. Tue, 7 Feb 2012 13:24:35 GMT http://www.hpa.org.uk:80/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317132605732?p=1317132140479 The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is aware of nine cases of Legionnaires’ disease in English holiday makers associated with the Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe, Costa Blanca since January 2012, in addition to four Spanish cases so far reported. Subsequently two of the English patients are reported to have died from their illness. Fri, 3 Feb 2012 13:48:06 GMT http://www.hpa.org.uk:80/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317132590836?p=1317132140479 The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is investigating an outbreak of a strain of Salmonella Newport infection among 30 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland since the beginning of December 2011. Cases of illness caused by the same strain have been confirmed in Scotland, Ireland and Germany. Thu, 2 Feb 2012 12:55:50 GMT http://www.hpa.org.uk:80/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317132452987?p=1317132140479 A new study to further extend the evidence base as to whether emissions from modern well run Municipal Waste Incinerators affect human health has been approved by the Health Protection Agency. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:46:46 GMT http://www.hpa.org.uk:80/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317132426782?p=1274087782663 Hundreds of homes across West Oxfordshire have been found to have high levels of radioactive gas radon. Last summer, the Health Protection Agency invited about 9,000 householders across West Oxfordshire to apply for a free test for radon, a naturally occurring gas present in all homes. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:37:19 GMT http://www.hpa.org.uk:80/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317132358142?p=1317132140479 Hundreds of householders across Orkney are being advised to act to protect their health, after HPA tests detected high levels of radioactive gas radon. Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:48:03 GMT http://www.hpa.org.uk:80/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317132257592?p=1317132140479 Thousands of households in a part of Cornwall with historic radon problems are being offered a free test for levels of the radioactive gas radon. Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:56:45 GMT http://www.hpa.org.uk:80/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317132254292?p=1317132140479 The Health Protection Agency (HPA) together with the group A streptococcal (GAS) Working Group* has today launched new guidelines for the investigation, control and prevention of GAS infection in acute healthcare settings, including maternity units, in the UK. Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:55:19 GMT http://www.hpa.org.uk:80/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317132185149?p=1317132140479 Cases of whooping cough (pertussis) reported to the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in England and Wales have more than doubled from 421 cases in 2010 to 1040 in 2011. Increases in levels of whooping cough are seen every three to four years and figures in 2011 are in line with cases reported in the last peak year of 2008. Thu, 5 Jan 2012 09:19:26 GMT http://www.hpa.org.uk:80/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317132004067?p=1287147958032 The Health Protection Agency’s (HPA) second report on Migrant Health, and the first UK-wide report is published today. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:22:07 GMT http://www.hpa.org.uk:80/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317131994618?p=1287147958032 Norovirus is highly contagious and can be transmitted by contact with an infected person; by consuming contaminated food or water or by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. The virus spreads rapidly in closed environments such as hospitals, schools, nursing and residential homes. Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:08:18 GMT http://www.hpa.org.uk:80/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317131955588?p=1287147958032 The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is reminding UK travellers visiting friends and family or taking winter sun holidays to ensure they take anti-malaria tablets when visiting countries where malaria is prevalent. Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:30:08 GMT http://www.hpa.org.uk:80/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317131851645?p=1287147958032 The risk of TB diagnosis is significantly increased in women during the first six months after pregnancy, according to a new UK-wide study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine today (Friday). Thu, 8 Dec 2011 17:02:59 GMT http://www.hpa.org.uk:80/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317131783799?p=1287147958032 One in 20 TB patients are failing to complete the full treatment for their infection because they are lost to follow up, according to new Health Protection Agency (HPA) figures published in its Annual TB Report 2011 today (Tuesday). Tue, 6 Dec 2011 13:18:13 GMT http://www.hpa.org.uk:80/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317131748084?p=1287147958032 New figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) have revealed that over 90 per cent of outbreaks of Campylobacter food poisoning at catering venues in 2011 were linked to chicken liver pate consumption. In light of this, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is again reminding caterers to cook poultry livers thoroughly to avoid the risk of food poisoning. Thu, 1 Dec 2011 17:35:57 GMT