Be sure to check out our March newsletter. This issue covers ECACC cell line publications, new NCTC Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains, UKHSA’s Oropouche work, and the UKHSA research integrity framework. Read here: news.culturecollections.org.uk/GMQ-95LK2-12/sv.aspx
#CultureCollections #UKHSA

Culture Collections March Newsletter 2026

Be sure to check out our March newsletter. This issue covers ECACC cell line publications, new NCTC Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains, UKHSA’s Oropouche work, and the UKHSA research integrity framework. Read here: news.culturecollections.org.uk/GMQ-95LK2-12/sv.aspx
#CultureCollections #UKHSA

Line chart showing England’s COVID‑19 trends from Feb 2020 to Mar 2026 on a logarithmic scale. Four coloured lines track positive cases, hospital patients, deaths, and PCR test positivity. Latest values: 491 weekly cases (to 25 Mar 2026), 27 weekly deaths (to 20 Mar 2026), 525 hospital admissions and 572 patients in hospital (to 28 Feb 2026), and 2.2% PCR positivity (to 23 Mar 2026).

England COVID-19 update
• 491 weekly cases (to 25 Mar 2026)
• 27 deaths involving COVID-19 (w/e 20 Mar 2026)
• 525 hospital admissions (to 28 Feb 2026)
• 2.2% PCR test positivity (to 23 Mar 2026)
Data source @ukhsa.bsky.social dashboard
#COVID19 #England #UKHSA #COVIDData #PublicHealth #Epidemiology

Our @nisbetalice.bsky.social and @gemma-langridge.bsky.social are in Cambodia 🇰🇭
Powering through the jetlag, they are sharing their research on typhoidal #salmonella 🧬🦠
in collaboration with #ukhsa and #fijinationaluniversity
#takeontyphoid #phnompenh

Meningitis Cases in Kent Drop to 29 After Reclassification of Earlier Reports The meningitis outbreak in Kent has shown its first sign of decline, with total confirmed and suspected cases dropping from 34 to 29, including two deaths — a 21-year-old University of Kent student and a sixth-form pupil from Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham. According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the reduction follows the reclassification of some previously confirmed cases after further laboratory analysis and clinical reviews. Officials indicated that more cases might be downgraded as final test results come in. The latest figures record 20 confirmed cases and 9 still under investigation. Despite the improvement, health authorities stress continued caution and vigilance. Over 8,000 vaccinations and more than 12,000 antibiotic courses have been distributed to help contain the spread. Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged the toll the outbreak has taken, commending health and public workers for their dedicated response. Dr. Sherine Thomas from the UKHSA emphasized the need for the public to recognize symptoms early and seek immediate medical help, even though the overall risk remains low. Dr. Anjan Ghosh from Kent County Council outlined three possible developments for the coming month: limited containment within Kent, mild spread through travel within households, or — in the least likely scenario — new clusters outside the county. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely to prevent further transmission.

Meningitis Cases in Kent Drop to 29 After Reclassification of Earlier Reports

🤖 IA: It's not clickbait ✅
👥 Usuarios: It's not clickbait ✅

#meningitis #kent #ukhsa

View full AI summary:

Meningokokkenuitbraak Engeland groeit, Britse jongeren massaal naar vaccin — Actueel365 Zuid-Engeland kampt met een oplopende meningokokkenuitbraak. Britse jongeren halen massaal vaccins en antibiotica op na twee sterfgevallen.

Meningokokkenuitbraak Engeland groeit, Britse jongeren massaal naar vaccin
Lees verder
#Actueel365 #RIVM #VerenigdKoninkrijk #UKHSA

Proud of our #UKHSA & #UCL team to have led Exercise Bellerophon - a 2‑day multi‑sector antimicrobial resistance preparedness event with NHSE, MHRA, DHSC, UKHSA & Oxford HPRU. Challenging scenario, great collaboration, and many valuable lessons to strengthen AMR resilience across England.

Meningitis cases rise to 34 as health experts investigate outbreak The UK Health Security Agency has confirmed 34 cases linked to meningitis

More confirmed cases of meningitis in the UK as total rises to 34 #KentMeningitisOutbreak #ClubChemistry #Canterbury #MeningitisOutbreak #UKHSA

#Farage the #UKHSA have already said that the strain has been circulating in the UK for over five years and that it's likely mutated. When you're PM, like you say you'll be, you're going to have to be **all over** facts and evidence to inform your policy making. Looks like you need some practice!

Looking forward to kicking off the HPRU in Health Analytics & Modelling's Annual Scientific Meeting hosted by our #UKHSA colleagues at Colindale. We will hear from our Early Career Researchers on their upcoming projects and discuss our Patient & Public Engagement plans #HPRU-HAM #LSHTM #Imperial

13 Shigella sonnei strains (NCTC15119–15131) from human faeces, deposited by LSHTM, are now available via NCTC. These strains contain ipaH genes used in Shigella/EIEC virulence studies and PCR diagnostics. More info: https://bit.ly/3PgDWnd #NCTC #CultureCollections #UKHSA

MENİNJİT SALGINI LONDRA'YA SIÇRADI! Vaka sayısı 27'ye yükseldi, sağlık çalışanları alarmda İngiltere'de iki gencin ölümüne yol açan menenjit salgını başkent Londra'ya sıçradı. Toplam vaka sayısı 27'ye yükselirken, sağlık yetkilileri tüm doktorlara belirtilere dikkat edin uyarısı yaptı.

İngiltere'de iki gencin ölümüne neden olan menenjit salgını Londra'ya sıçradı. Toplam vaka sayısı 27'ye yükseldi.

İşte merak edilen tüm detaylar.

#Menenjit #Londra #UKHSA #Sağlık #Salgın #SonDakika
www.obtv.com.tr/haber/meninj...

Meningococcal disease outbreak resources Resources to support the meningococcal outbreak response.

#UK: #Guidance -
#Meningococcal disease #outbreak #resources: www.gov.uk/government/p...

#ukhsa #england #kent

¿Qué pasa en Kent? Dos muertas y 20 casos de meningitis Dos muertes, 20 casos y una vacuna que llegó tarde: así estalló el brote de meningitis en Kent y por qué ha sacudido a Reino Unido por dentro Kent ha entrado en una de esas semanas que dejan a un camp...

¿Qué pasa en Kent? Dos muertas y 20 casos de meningitis #Meningitis #Kent #Canterbury #ReinoUnido #SaludPublica #MeningitisB #UniversityOfKent #JulietteKenny #WesStreeting #UKHSA #CrisisSanitaria #FelizMiercoles #18deMarzo donporque.com/kent-casos-d...

CellBank Australia marks 20 years of supporting secure storage and high quality cell lines.
Explore the CBA cell lines now available through ECACC at Culture Collections.
https://bit.ly/4rEp5jU
#cba #cellbankaustralia #culturecollections #ECACC #ukhsa

Meningitis outbreak in UK prompts call to widen vaccination A UK patient group is calling for changes to the decade-old meningitis vaccination programme, after an outbreak in Kent killed two young people

#Meningitis #UK #meningitisvaccination #meningitisvaccinationprogramme #Kent #meningitisB #MenB #meningitisVaccination #GSK #Bexsero #NHS #MenBstrains #MeningitisNOW #NoPlanBforMenB #MenBboosterprogramme #MenBvaccine #MenBdisease #UKHealthSecurityAgency #UKHSA #publichealth
zurl.co/xuNAv

Meningitis: Cases rise to 20 as health officials deal with ‘explosive’ outbreak The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the number of cases could rise in the coming days.

UK Meningitis outbreak: Cases rise to 20 as health officials deal with ‘explosive’ outbreak #MeningitisOutbreak #Kent #Canterbury #ClubChemistry #UKHSA

More than a third of parents incorrectly assume antibiotics are needed for ear infections New resources to help primary care professionals tackle parent misconceptions around ear infections and antibiotics will be developed following a recent government survey.

More than a third (36%) of surveyed parents incorrectly assumed children always needed antibiotics for ear infections, according to the latest research from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Read the full article below 👇️

buff.ly/GVheBTH

#infection #ear #antibiotics #AMR #UKHSA

The UK Health Security Agency has said it acted “very, very quickly” following a meningitis outbreak in Kent, in which two young people have died.

healthcaretoday.com/article/resp...

#Healthcare #PublicHealth #UKHSA #MeningitisOutbreak #Immunisation #Vaccine

More than one-third of parents assume children need antibiotics for ear infections More than one in three parents believe children always need antibiotics for ear infections, according to a UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) survey. Data suggest that between 50% and 85% of children…

A #UKHSA survey revealed that more than one-third of parents assume children need antibiotics for ear infections

#earinfection #otitismedia #pharmacy

buff.ly/n0Hb72w

🎉 Celebrate the launch of UCL dPHE as a WHO CC!
🎤 Panel: “Pandemic Preparedness & Health Emergencies – The Digital Frontiers”

📅 25 Mar | 🕔 17:00 | 📍 Bentham House, UCL

💡 Speakers of #WHO, #UKHSA, #APHA, #UCL leaders.

🎟 It's FREE - Register now:
eventbrite.co.uk/e/launch-of-...

🖼️ Alternative text description A logarithmic line chart tracks four key COVID‑19 indicators in England from February 2020 to 4 March 2026, using official datasets. The chart displays: Positive cases (orange), Hospital patients with COVID‑19 (blue), Deaths involving COVID‑19 (red), and PCR test positivity (purple). Each line shows long‑term trends using moving averages. The chart highlights major waves from 2020–2022, followed by lower but persistent activity through 2023–2026. The latest data points show (weekly) 580 cases, 572 hospital patients, 34 deaths, and 2.6% PCR positivity. Vertical markers indicate four‑week intervals. A note explains that the chart is independently produced using official England data and is not affiliated with government or NHS bodies.

Latest England COVID‑19 data - plotted on a chart showing weekly: cases, hospitalisations, deaths, and PCR positivity.
👉 580 cases, 572 in hospital, 34 deaths, 2.6% positivity.
Reminding us that COVID hasn’t gone away.
Sources: #UKHSA, #NHSEngland, #ONS.
ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/respiratory-...

Celebrating Alexander Fleming’s legacy.
NCTC preserves the original 1928 Staphylococcus aureus strain that informed the discovery of penicillin. This historic culture remains vital for global research, method validation, and quality control. https://bit.ly/4iT7DEi
#NCTC #UKHSA

Come and meet us at #BPGPRC in Bristol on 20th March!

This will be a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the Research and Surveillance Centre and our virology and serology sampling programme, conducted on behalf of #UKHSA.

orchid.phc.ox.ac.uk/surveillance...

Shingles vaccine uptake below 50% in first year of eligibility, UKHSA report Fewer than half of adults are receiving their free shingles vaccine in the first year they become eligible, according to new data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Latest figures…

Shingles vaccine uptake below 50% in first year of eligibility, UKHSA report

buff.ly/4o4VyPz

#shingles #vaccine #vaccinations #UKHSA #pharmacy #shinglesvaccine

UKHSA warns of rising cases in North London measles outbreak A measles outbreak in North London has now seen a total of 60 cases confirmed, according to data published by UKHSA

A measles outbreak in North London has now seen a total of 60 cases confirmed, according to latest data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

#UKHSA #Measles #NHS #GPNs

Follow our new Blue Sky account for direct updates, research highlights, and announcements from Culture Collections. https://bit.ly/4bMyFgs #CultureCollections #UKHSA

Mpox rise in London and North West England, warns UKHSA Mpox cases have increased in England, particularly in London and the North West, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned. In a briefing note to NHS staff, the UK Health Security Agency…

Mpox infections are predominantly occurring in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men

buff.ly/YsCuy1a

#mpox #UKHSA #london #northwestengland #infection #vaccination #pharmacy

Mpox rise in London and North West England, warns UKHSA Mpox cases have increased in England, particularly in London and the North West, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned. In a briefing note to NHS staff, the UK Health Security Agency…

Mpox is on the rise in London and North West England, warns UKHSA

buff.ly/YsCuy1a

#mpox #UKHSA #london #northwestengland #infection #vaccination #pharmacy

New Type Strain added to NCTC
NCTC 14583: Campylobacter showae is a new Type strain recently added to the NCTC collection. This strain was isolated from a human oral cavity. Access online: https://bit.ly/4rgKb8A #NCTC #UKHSA