Disease outbreak surveillance
Insufficiently comprehensive or risk-based surveillance activities by APHA, leading to reduced capacity to detect new disease threats.
440 items
12 sources
3 inquiries
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Committee recommendation
100match
#16 - Local authority capacity for routine animal disease surveillance has significantly diminished over time.
The Department set out concerns it has about the capacity of local authority trading standards officers to undertake routine surveillance activities. While local authorities have stepped up to provide extra resources during recent outbreaks, capacity to undertake business-as-usual activities such as visiting livestock markets has reduced over the last 15 years.19 Work on animal diseases is competing with...
Matched on
terms: disease, outbreak, surveillance
Committee recommendation
100match
#14 - Disease outbreaks significantly compromise APHA's routine surveillance activities and performance targets.
Surveillance work, or ‘eyes and ears on the ground’, is vital to help detect new and re-emerging disease threats quickly and stop their spread. The Department’s and APHA’s approach to managing disease outbreaks is through a ‘surge capacity’ resourcing model, where staff switch priority from business-as-usual activities to outbreak response. Responding to recent outbreaks has meant reduced capacity...
Matched on
terms: disease, outbreak, surveillance
Committee recommendation
100match
#3 - Set out a clear plan and milestones for APHA's updated risk-based surveillance processes
APHA’s surveillance activities to detect disease outbreaks early are not sufficiently comprehensive or risk-based. Surveillance work, or ‘eyes and ears on the ground’, is vital to help detect new and re-emerging disease threats quickly and stop their spread. But APHA’s focus on responding to current outbreaks has resulted in a reduction in some of its surveillance activities. The...
Matched on
terms: disease, outbreak, surveillance
Committee recommendation
86match
#20 - Critical National Biosecurity Centre at Weybridge is in poor condition, risking UK disease response.
The National Biosecurity Centre at Weybridge is the UK’s primary science laboratory capability for managing threats from animal diseases. It contains 98% of APHA’s high-containment laboratories. The site is in poor condition, with ageing buildings that need major repair and replacement.24 While acknowledging the critical importance of Weybridge, the Department highlighted that it does have other laboratory capacity...
Matched on
terms: disease, outbreak
Committee recommendation
83match
#10 - Government plans two major exercises to test animal disease outbreak preparedness
The government is planning to test its preparedness to respond to outbreaks with two major exercises during 2025. Exercise Pegasus, which is a whole-of-government exercise led by the Department of Health and Social Care alongside the Cabinet Office, will take place this autumn to test preparedness for a pandemic of a zoonotic disease (one that can transfer from...
Matched on
terms: disease, outbreak
Committee recommendation
82match
#1 - Animal diseases pose a national security risk and threaten farmer wellbeing.
Animal disease threats like foot and mouth disease and African swine fever are a national security issue and must be understood as such across Government. Although it is not possible to prevent all contaminated animal products entering Great Britain, the Government must take all possible steps to reduce the risk of disease incursion through human-mediated routes. Prevention of...
Matched on
terms: disease, outbreak
Committee recommendation
74match
#17 - EU exit reduced timely access to detailed animal disease intelligence for the UK.
The Department explained that following EU exit, the UK lost access to the EU’s Animal Diseases Information System which provided almost real-time intelligence on EU animal diseases. While the UK has access to an international intelligence system provided by the World Organisation for Animal Health, information is received in slower time and less detail compared to the EU...
Matched on
terms: disease
Committee recommendation
74match
#15 - APHA's surveillance activities are inefficient and not risk-based, requiring multi-year reform.
APHA pointed out that its current surveillance activities are not risk-based or efficient, which results in APHA returning to a location on a regular basis even though it finds no issues. APHA is starting work to move to a more risk- based, intelligence-led surveillance regime and to design its management information to support this. APHA stated that this...
Matched on
terms: surveillance
Committee recommendation
73match
#7 - Fifth Report - Global Health, Global Britain
We are concerned that the UK’s reduced access to European health networks could undermine the UK and European response to future disease outbreaks. We recommend that the Government builds structured permanent cooperation with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). In its response to this report, the FCDO should set out its assessment of how its...
Matched on
terms: disease, outbreak
Committee recommendation
70match
#24 - Ensure Great Britain maintains robust risk-based controls against serious plant and animal diseases
The Government must ensure that Great Britain is able to maintain risk- based controls to protect against serious plant and animal disease threats. This includes the continuation of robust import controls on plants that can host the bacterial disease caused by Xylella species and subspecies. (Recommendation, Paragraph 68)
Matched on
terms: disease
Committee recommendation
70match
#23 - Great Britain must retain ability to apply robust biosecurity measures against European diseases
Maintaining Great Britain’s biosecurity is vital. Britain’s geography provides natural protection from many plant and animal health threats. Any future SPS agreement will require adjustments to existing border controls, but it remains essential that GB retains the ability to apply robust, evidence- based measures to prevent the introduction of diseases from Europe. (Conclusion, Paragraph 67)
Matched on
terms: disease
PFD report
69match
Wessam al Jundi
Workers fabricating artificial stone are exposed to unsafe conditions with inadequate dust suppression and PPE, causing rapid onset of untreatable silicosis. Current surveillance is insufficient for this accelerated disease, risking future deaths.
Matched on
terms: disease, surveillance
Inquiry recommendation
69match
R53 - Surveillance systems fit for purpose
Health Boards should ensure that surveillance systems are fit for purpose, are simple to use and monitor, and provide information on potential outbreaks in real time.
Matched on
terms: outbreak, surveillance
Committee recommendation
66match
#10 - Defra lacks comprehensive strategy and convincing plan to prevent animal diseases and tackle POAO smuggling.
The Committee supports the Government’s commitment to “do whatever it takes to protect British farmers from foot and mouth”. The Committee welcomes efforts made so far, but concludes that there is more that Defra 36 could and should be doing to prevent animal diseases like foot and mouth and African swine fever. There is no encompassing strategy to...
Matched on
terms: disease
Committee recommendation
65match
#1 - Third Report - Growing back better: putting nature and net zero at the heart of the...
The consequences of another widespread outbreak of a zoonotic disease of similar lethality would be catastrophic. Covid-19 must therefore be treated as a wake-up call. The factors which appear to be increasing the incidence of such diseases must be thoroughly investigated and urgent action taken to mitigate the risks.
Matched on
terms: disease, outbreak
Committee recommendation
65match
#1 - Provide funding for diagnostic facilities and ensure focus on multiple vaccine technologies for pandemics
Should our successor Committee wish to further explore emerging diseases and learnings from covid-19, we recommend: • Funding should be made available for diagnostic facilities to uphold contracts, maintain equipment, and run laboratories to allow for fast and accurate diagnoses and aid the surveillance of emerging diseases; and • Ensure the UK Government focuses on multiple vaccine technologies...
Matched on
terms: disease, surveillance
Committee recommendation
65match
#22 - Current UK animal tracing systems are fragmented, old, and fragile
Livestock movements in England are significant. For example, there are around 20 million movements of sheep to or from different farms, livestock markets, collection centres, and to abattoirs each year. These movements increase the risk of spreading disease. Being able to trace animal movements quickly is therefore key in responding quickly and effectively to contain an outbreak.30 The...
Matched on
terms: disease, outbreak
Committee recommendation
62match
#10 - Require confirmation of disease commodity code database and a 24/7 IPAFFS update team.
In response to this Report, the Government should confirm that it has produced a list of pre-identified commodity codes for the top five notifiable diseases and provide a copy of this database containing the commodity codes in question to the committee. The Government should also confirm that it has established a digital team that can update IPAFFS ‘24-7,...
Matched on
terms: disease
PFD report
61match
Terence Brooks
The hospital misinterpreted Legionella test results and lacked a clear procedure for investigating outbreaks, leading to an erroneous conclusion about the infection source.
Matched on
terms: outbreak
Committee recommendation
61match
#2 - Produce a veterinary workforce strategy to effectively address APHA's vet vacancies
Not enough is being done to tackle the high level of vet vacancies within APHA, which limits its ability to respond to an outbreak. APHA struggles to recruit and retain sufficient vets. APHA’s vet vacancy rate fluctuates– it was 20% in April 2025, but it had fallen to 15% in September 2025. The reasons for difficulties recruiting and...
Matched on
terms: outbreak
PFD report
57match
Brenda Elmer
Discharged patients were not effectively informed about a hospital-acquired Listeria outbreak, delaying diagnosis. Additionally, there are no legal requirements for private labs or hospitals to share Listeria isolates, hindering timely outbreak identification.
Matched on
terms: outbreak
Inquiry recommendation
57match
R16 - CDI outbreak reporting
Health Boards should ensure that the nurse in charge of each ward reports suspected outbreaks of CDI (as defined in local guidance) to the Infection Control Team.
Matched on
terms: outbreak
Committee recommendation
57match
#5 - Fifth Report - Global Health, Global Britain
Without a full and transparent investigation into the origins of covid-19, we are at greater risk of a disastrous new outbreak. By impeding efforts to trace the origins of the virus, Beijing is endangering its own population along with the rest of the world. Even with a full investigation, the limited access to data and to key sites...
Matched on
terms: outbreak
Committee recommendation
57match
#14 - Increasing threat from highly resistant Gram-negative infections with limited treatment options
Dr Partridge told us that there is also an increasing threat in the UK from strains of pathogens which cause Gram-negative infections that are more likely to be resistant and more likely to result in the death of the patient. In particular, there has been an increase in Gram-negative pathogens which produce specific types of enzymes which are...
Matched on
terms: surveillance
Committee recommendation
57match
#5 - Compel travel operators and scale up Defra communications including a digital import tool.
Travel operators should be legally compelled to inform travellers of the rules for personal imports from the EU into GB. Defra must immediately scale up its communications to the public about personal import rules and reach a much broader audience. Communications must explain both the rules and their purpose, such as the specific threats of foot and mouth...
Matched on
terms: disease
Committee recommendation
56match
#22 - Forty-Seventh Report - COVID-19: Test, track and trace (part 1)
The 2020 Spending Review allocated £15 billion to NHST&T for 2021–22, to be kept under review as the vaccine programme rolled out.77 The government is now accelerating the roll-out of vaccines across the country, but we are yet to see a future strategy for test and trace in response. NHST&T anticipates a continuing need for large-scale testing and...
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terms: outbreak
Inquiry recommendation
53match
COVID-M3.8 - Recording Healthcare Worker Deaths
The UK government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive should work with their respective public health agencies and healthcare employers to develop nation-specific mechanisms to collect, analyse and publish data systematically on the deaths of healthcare workers in the event of a pandemic outbreak. The UK Statistics Authority should work with data providers to ensure that...
Matched on
terms: outbreak
Committee recommendation
53match
#162 - Third Report - Coronavirus: lessons learned to date
The Government, via the World Health Organisation, should make the case for an international standard of reporting covid-19 deaths and a framework for reporting disease related deaths for future pandemics. 60 Coronavirus: lessons learned to date 4 Testing and contact tracing
Matched on
terms: disease
Committee recommendation
53match
#162 - Sixth Report - Coronavirus: lessons learned to date
The Government, via the World Health Organisation, should make the case for an international standard of reporting covid-19 deaths and a framework for reporting disease related deaths for future pandemics. 60 Coronavirus: lessons learned to date 4 Testing and contact tracing
Matched on
terms: disease
Committee recommendation
53match
#9 - Design a strategy to reduce demand for illegally imported products and engage communities.
Defra should work with the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland to design a strategy to reduce demand for illegally imported products. Defra must further consider how to engage with Eastern European communities in Great Britain to raise awareness of animal disease risks and controls. (Recommendation, Paragraph 30) Inter-agency working
Matched on
terms: disease
Committee recommendation
53match
#26 - Develop strategy by June 2026 to reduce demand for illegally imported animal products
Defra must not wait until SPS negotiations are concluded before developing a strategy to reduce demand for illegally imported animal products. We reiterate the recommendation made in our previous report on this topic that the Government, by June 2026, should begin work with the FSA, FSS and local authorities to develop a strategy to tackle the domestic demand...
Matched on
terms: disease
Committee recommendation
53match
#16 - Declining childhood vaccination levels represent an ongoing public health crisis requiring urgent action.
The continuing decline in childhood vaccination levels since 2012 is a national disgrace; children should not be dying of entirely preventable diseases. The continued failure to effectively grapple with this is a significant and ongoing public health crisis and will lead to increased costs for the health service in the longer term. (Conclusion, Paragraph 86)
Matched on
terms: disease
IMB recommendation
53match
Glasgow, Edinburgh and Larne House Short Term Holding Facilities (2021)
That, in light of the experiences learned from the Covid-19 pandemic, detailed epidemic/infection control plans, with actions, are shared with the IMB GEL. This practice should be adopted in any further outbreaks of contagious illnesses.
Matched on
terms: outbreak
Inquiry recommendation
53match
R54 - Surveillance system training
Health Boards should ensure that the users of surveillance systems are properly trained in their use and fully aware of how to use and respond to the data available.
Matched on
terms: surveillance
Committee recommendation
52match
#2 - Fifth Report - Global Health, Global Britain
The pandemic has exposed shortcomings in the multilateral health system. The WHO lacks adequate funds, power and independence. It has done hugely important work in a difficult situation, facing intense pressure from many sides. However, it performed less effectively than under the leadership of Gro Harlem Brundtland and fell short on demanding transparency from Beijing, particularly in the...
Matched on
terms: outbreak
PFD report
49match
Carla London
Concerns were raised about the need to consider NICE guidance on late-onset sepsis in premature babies and to research infection monitoring systems to improve early detection and treatment.
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classifier match
PFD report
49match
Ana Sirghi-Marin
A guideline is needed for immediate microbiological analysis of discolored, non-purulent/non-blood-stained amniotic fluid samples. This precaution is vital for early infection detection, even if not immediately impactful.
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PFD report
49match
Sebastian Clark
The lack of a national screening program for streptococcal infection in labouring women misses opportunities to detect and treat infections like chorioamnionitis in infants.
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PFD report
49match
Zona Tebbs
Critical clinical practice updates and medical guidance were not effectively communicated to primary care practitioners, leading to vital information being overlooked due to convoluted dissemination methods and outdated guidance.
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Inquiry recommendation
48match
COVID-M3.4 - Data Systems for High-Risk Individuals
The UK government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive must ensure that health data and digital systems have the capability to identify individuals at high risk of morbidity or mortality from a pandemic disease quickly and accurately in a future pandemic. This should include action to improve health data systems and patient record-keeping by: improving patient...
Matched on
terms: disease
Committee recommendation
48match
#111 - First Report - Universities and Scotland
Professor Chris Pearce also pointed out however that universities, such as the University of Glasgow, have had to redirect a lot of resources to fight covid-19 and, as a consequence, a lot of non-covid research has been “severely impacted”.248 He gave examples of research into chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes being delayed, and...
Matched on
terms: disease
PFD report
45match
Dylan Hill
A critical lack of communication procedures meant a previous non-fatal anaphylactic reaction at a food business was not reported to Trading Standards, preventing timely regulatory action and risking future deaths.
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PFD report
45match
Lauren Sandell
Confusion persists regarding responsibility for vaccinating children not covered by school programs, and the optional nature of GP vaccination services means there's no audit to identify or protect unvaccinated children.
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PFD report
45match
Natasha Ednan-Laperouse
Allergens were not adequately labelled on Pret-a-Manger packaging, and there was no coordinated system for monitoring customer allergic reactions. Additionally, the needle length and adrenaline dose of Epipens may be inadequate for treating anaphylactic reactions.
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classifier match
PFD report
45match
Tien Phung
Strongyloides stercoralis, a treatable infection prevalent in certain regions, is not routinely screened for prior to transplant surgery. Its hyperinfection syndrome presents with non-specific symptoms, risking severe progression.
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classifier match
PFD report
45match
Leslie Harris
The Trust misinterpreted Public Health England guidance, exposing vulnerable patients to COVID-19 by moving them to isolation wards. Concerns remain as the unamended guidance might lead other trusts to similar unsafe practices.
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PFD report
45match
Brian Mottram
GPs' predominant use of telephone appointments potentially missed COVID-19 symptoms, and there were no clear tools to identify high-risk cases or trigger in-person assessments for vulnerable patients.
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PFD report
45match
Karen Starling and Anne Martinez
Hospital water systems are contaminated with M abscessus, posing a serious risk to immunosuppressed patients. Existing water safety guidance is inadequate, lacking specific protocols for identifying and controlling mycobacteria in hospital settings.
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classifier match
PFD report
45match
Alexandra Briess
A critical lack of national systems for capturing and reporting anaphylaxis cases, especially fatal and near-fatal ones, along with no named accountability for allergy services, impedes understanding and prevention.
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classifier match
PFD report
45match
Kimberley Sampson and Samantha Mulcahy
Unclear guidance on testing staff for potential infection sources and a lack of national protocols for antiviral therapy in post-partum women with systemic infection, specifically for Herpes Simplex, put patients at risk.
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