The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of selected surveillance metrics in the form of a situational awareness summary. Horizon scanning provides information on emerging situations that can impact public health including local, national and global events.

PHA launch competition to mark World Immunisation Week 2025. To mark this year’s World Immunisation Week the Public Health Agency (PHA) has launched a digital creator and poster competition.

Covid-19 genomics weekly report. This report describes the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) variants in Northern Ireland.

The PHA has integrated influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 reporting into a weekly report to provide a single overview of the epidemiology of these infections in Northern Ireland, along with the number of respiratory care home outbreaks, hospital admissions and occupancy, and deaths.

Pertussis (whooping cough) in Northern Ireland monthly updates. Pertussis (also known as “whooping cough”) is a highly contagious but vaccine preventable bacterial respiratory disease that is usually caused by Bordetella pertussis.

Vaping can help some people quit smoking, but many young people who vape were not previously smokers. Young people who vape are more likely to start smoking than those who never vape.

Measles infection in Northern Ireland monthly report.

Measles is a systemic viral infection caused by the measles virus. It is normally characterised by a fever, rash and respiratory illness. For more information about measles please visit NI Direct | Measles.

Group A Streptococcal (GAS) infection in Northern Ireland weekly report. GAS are common bacteria and can be present on or in the human body, without causing infection which is known as colonisation. 

The Public Health Agency’s ‘Talking really helps’ mass media campaign is running again in February and March 2025. The aim of the campaign is to encourage openness and talking in relation to feelings of anxiety, distress or crisis, increase help-seeking behaviour and reinforce the concept of recovery.