With just 3 weeks until Christmas, we are urging all eligible groups to ensure they help protect themselves against flu and RSV as cases sharply increase. 

Our latest data shows that cases of flu and RSV have risen significantly in the past week and we are now seeing more flu cases among adults. Flu hospitalisations have increased by 63% in the past week and with increased mixing and socialising over the next few weeks, this is expected to exacerbate these increases further.

In the week between 24 and 30 November 2025: 

• influenza activity increased and is now circulating at medium levels
• respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity increased and is now circulating at medium levels 
• COVID-19 activity was stable and is at baseline levels

It’s important that anyone who is eligible books an appointment now to ensure they have the best protection possible in time for the festive period.

A reminder that our winter vaccines toolkit is available to download from the Campaign Resource Centre. You can also download from Google Drive. 

We have identified a new recombinant mpox virus in England in an individual who had recently travelled to Asia.  

Genomic sequencing showed that the mpox genome contained elements of clade Ib and IIb mpox. It is normal for viruses to evolve, and further analysis will help us understand more about how mpox is changing. 

Although mpox infection is mild for many, it can be severe. Getting vaccinated is a proven effective way for people to protect themselves against severe disease. The UK has a routine mpox vaccination programme in place for eligible groups, including those who have multiple sexual partners, participate in group sex, or visit sex-on-premises venues. Studies show the vaccine is around 75% to 80% effective in protecting against mpox.  

Anyone who thinks they may have mpox should contact NHS 111 for advice on what to do.

A chickenpox (known clinically as ‘varicella’) vaccination will be introduced into the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme from 1 January 2026 using a combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine.

We held a webinar last week for health professionals to explain these upcoming changes to the routine childhood immunisation schedule. We are now able to share the recording, slides and useful resources from this webinar.

• Recording: The webinar recording is available on YouTube as an accessible version with subtitles.
• Slides: The slides from the webinar can be accessed on the find public health resources website.
• Useful resources: GOV.UK: Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccination programme

Join UKHSA and NHS England for the next webinar in our Communicating Vaccines series which will be on maternal vaccines. It will be taking place via Microsoft Teams on Monday 12 January 2026, 12.30pm – 1.45pm.

This session will focus on communicating the benefits of the vaccines offered during pregnancy. This will include a look at the latest epidemiological data, a refresh of available vaccines and their benefits, a look back on what we have achieved so far and how you can help promote the benefits of getting vaccinated. There will also be time for Q&A at the end. 

This webinar is designed for anyone who works to share information about vaccination in pregnancy. This includes communications professionals working in the NHS, local government, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), and the voluntary and community sector; health professionals who engage in public-facing vaccine communications as part of their role, public health teams involved in local and/or regional vaccine promotion and anyone responsible for developing or delivering vaccine uptake messages in healthcare settings.

Register your interest via Microsoft Forms.

This webinar will be recorded - if you would like the recording please sign up using the same link.

If you have any questions please email externalaffairs@ukhsa.gov.uk.

In a new blog post charity worker Samara shares her story of fighting antimicrobial -resistant tuberculosis, the hidden long-term consequences and the importance of getting that persistent cough checked out.

Samara's message is: "if you have a persistent cough, weight loss, night sweats – don't dismiss your symptoms – speak to your doctor and get treatment early. And if you work with vulnerable people, make sure they’re thinking TB if they have a persistent cough. This is especially important because it can be so much more difficult for them to get and follow up with medical care".

Norovirus activity has varied in recent weeks but remains within expected levels.

With the festive season approaching it’s important to remember the simple steps we can take to prevent the spread of norovirus.

Our blog helps to explain more about norovirus, what to do if you catch it, and how to help stop the spread.

We have published our winter illness stakeholder communications toolkit 2025-26. This is currently being hosted on our Google Drive.

This toolkit compiles resources to help stakeholders communicate behaviours that help minimise the spread of infection this winter including key messages, social media assets and blogs which can be shared on your own channels. This toolkit will be updated with any further resources throughout the winter season, as we support the response to our winter surveillance.

We also have a new blog on how to avoid catching flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses this winter. 

If you have any questions about this toolkit, or any difficulties accessing it, please email externalaffairs@ukhsa.gov.uk.

The new HIV Action Plan for England to tackle stigma and end transmissions in England by 2030 was unveiled by the Health and Social Care Secretary on 1 December backed by £170 million.

At the heart of the plan is a first-of-its-kind national programme that will find and support people who are not accessing lifesaving HIV treatment and bring them back into care. Around 5,000 people are no longer in care, with reasons including mental health issues, addiction, poverty or fear of judgement. This targeted support is particularly crucial for groups who are more likely to face problems including racism, stigma, poverty and housing issues that can make their lives more difficult.

To help promote awareness of HIV, we have social media assets promoting HIV testing available for download which you may find useful to use on your own channels. 

As we enter the festive period, more people will travel abroad to spend Christmas with friends or family or may simply be going away to get some winter sun. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people also travel to West Africa for Detty December, including tens of thousands from the UK's large West African community. 

We are therefore encouraging stakeholders to share messaging from our travel health communications toolkit, to help reduce the impact of preventable travel-related illnesses by increasing awareness of pre-travel health advice and uptake of preventative measures. If you have trouble accessing the toolkit, please email us at externalaffairs@ukhsa.gov.uk. 

The African Diaspora Malaria Initiative have also recently launched their Africans Against Malaria campaign. They are seeking to reach members of the African community travelling between the UK and African countries with high rates of malaria, reminding them of prevention measures including antimalarials. We are encouraging stakeholders who work with these communities to promote their campaign messaging. 

The Travel Health Pro website, supported by UKHSA, also provides comprehensive information on health risks worldwide and is an excellent resource for trip planning.

Thank you for your support promoting the findings of our English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation and Resistance report (ESPAUR) 2024-25 and the second wave of our ‘Andi Biotic’ Keep Antibiotics Working campaign, both which launched to coincide with World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (18 – 24^th November).

A reminder that the second wave of our Keep Antibiotics Working campaign is running for another week, so please do continue to promote the campaign via your channels.

We have updated our toolkit to support partners in raising awareness of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the risks of AMR to the nation’s health. This update includes new videos and social media gifs which can be downloaded from the Campaign Resource Centre.

Last month UKHSA published updated guidance to the public on reducing the risk of catching avian influenza. This is an update to existing guidance on GOV.UK that was first published last year.

We have also published an updated version of our blog 'what is bird flu and how are we protecting people against it in the UK?'. This provides information about the symptoms of bird flu in humans, how we are protecting people against it, surveillance across the UK, and what people should do if they find a sick or dead bird.

The current risk to human health from avian influenza remains very low. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat. U