Schools will soon be finishing up for the summer holidays and parents and guardians are being encouraged to talk to their children and young people now about the dangers of using alcohol and drugs. The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging parents not to be afraid to talk about the subject and to highlight the risks associated with drinking alcohol and taking drugs. Davis Turkington, Senior Health and Wellbeing Improvement Officer with the PHA, said: “Many teenagers will be spending more time with friends over the coming months, possibly going to parties, gigs and festivals, or even heading off

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is continuing to work with counterparts in other jurisdictions as part of a UK-wide investigation being led by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) into cases of hepatitis (liver inflammation) in children in which the common viruses which usually cause hepatitis (hepatitis A, B, C, D or E) have not been detected. The agency is working with HSC partners to raise awareness among healthcare professionals, so that any children who may be affected can be identified early and the appropriate tests carried out. As of the 8 June the number of confirmed cases in Northern

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding those who think they have been at risk of exposure to monkeypox and have symptoms to phone first. Do not go to a healthcare facility without contacting them first. As of the 30 May the number of confirmed cases in Northern Ireland is two. To protect patient confidentiality, no further details relating to the patients will be disclosed. It was not unexpected to have confirmed cases following the presence of monkeypox cases elsewhere in the UK. The risk to the Northern Ireland population remains low, but we are asking people to be alert to any new

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging smokers to use World No Tobacco Day (31 May) as the date to start their quit journey and improve their health. Colette Rogers, Strategic Lead for Tobacco Control with the PHA, said: “We are encouraging people to join with us and others throughout the world in quitting smoking on World No Tobacco Day.” Charlene Maguire (39) is one of the thousands of smokers who have successfully quit using the free stop smoking services available throughout Northern Ireland. The mum-of-two from Enniskillen quit smoking in May 2017. She was smoking over 30 cigarettes a

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is today [Thursday 26 May] confirming that a case of monkeypox has been identified in Northern Ireland. This was not unexpected following the presence of monkeypox cases elsewhere in the UK. To protect patient confidentiality, no further details relating to the patient will be disclosed. The virus can be passed on through close person-to-person contact, or contact with items used by a person who has monkeypox, such as clothes, bedding or utensils. Monkeypox is usually a self-limiting illness and most people recover within a few weeks. Dr Gillian Armstrong, Head

The COVID-19 spring booster vaccination programme will shortly be coming to an end, but the opportunity has now arisen for those who will turn 75 years old by 30 June 2022 (i.e. those born before 30 June 1947), to receive a spring booster dose. As well as people aged 75 years and over, the spring booster will be offered to residents in care homes for older people, and those aged 12 years and over with weakened immune systems and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging those eligible to get the spring booster now before the offer closes. Dr Jillian Johnston, Joint Interim Assistant Director in

There are no confirmed cases of monkeypox in Northern Ireland. The Public Health Agency (PHA) is aware of the cases of monkeypox in England and is in regular contact with UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) regarding the situation and a multidisciplinary incident management team (IMT) has been established here to ensure that we are fully prepared for any potential risk to the population of Northern Ireland. Dr Gillian Armstrong, Head of Health Protection at the PHA, said: “Monkeypox is usually a mild self-limiting illness and most people recover within a few weeks. “The infection can be passed

Friday 20 May is International Clinical Trials Day and the HSC R&D Division within the Public Health Agency (PHA) is using it to celebrate those who take part in and champion research. International Clinical Trials Day is held on 20 May each year to commemorate the day that James Lind started what is often considered the first randomised clinical trial, aboard a ship on 20 May 1747. Clinical research is now the foundation of healthcare and is made possible thanks to the support and commitment of patients working in partnership with researchers and healthcare professionals. This year to mark

New figures from the Public Health Agency (PHA) show that the Take Home Naloxone programme saw naloxone administered 256 times in 2020-21 and was successful in reversing an opioid overdose in over 90% of cases. Naloxone, supplied in a small syringe, is injected intramuscularly and can be administered by anyone in an emergency overdose situation. Since April 2014, Take Home Naloxone has been successful in reversing 829 opiate overdoses. In 2020-21, it reversed 231 overdoses. The Public Health Agency, with support from the Department of Health, coordinates the Take Home Naloxone programme. Davis

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is continuing to work with counterparts in other jurisdictions as part of a UK-wide investigation being led by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) into cases of hepatitis (liver inflammation) in children in which the common viruses which usually cause hepatitis (hepatitis A, B, C, D or E) have not been detected. The agency is working with HSC partners to raise awareness among healthcare professionals, so that any children who may be affected can be identified early and the appropriate tests carried out. As of the 10 May the number of confirmed cases in Northern