Protecting your health from infection

Health Protection is one of the core fields of public health.  

Health protection practice aims to prevent, assess, and mitigate risks and threats to human health. These risks come from communicable diseases and exposure to environmental hazards such as chemicals and radiation.  

The effective delivery of local health protection services requires close partnership working between UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the NHS and local government, among others. Core health protection functions expected of local health systems include: 

• Emergency preparedness, resilience, and response  
• Communicable disease control  
• Risk assessment and risk management 
• Risk communication 
• Incident and outbreak investigation and management 
• Monitoring and surveillance of communicable diseases  
• Response to public health alerts from the European Union. This is via the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organisation through the International Health Regulations 
• Infection prevention and control in health and care settings 
• Delivery and monitoring of immunisation and vaccination programmes 
• Environmental public health and control of chemical, biological and radiological hazards  

We want to protect every person in Norfolk, whatever their circumstances, from infectious and non-infectious environmental health hazards. Where such hazards occur, we want to minimise their continued impact on residents' health.  

We do this by preventing exposure to such hazards, taking timely action to respond to threats and acting collectively to ensure the best use of human and financial resources.

UKHSA Local Health Protection Teams provide specialist support to prevent and reduce the impact of health-related incidents. 

Reporting notifiable diseases and causative organisms 

For urgent Health Protection matters contact East of England UKHSA Health Protection Teams on 0300 303 8537 or EastOfEnglandHPT@UKHSA.gov.uk 

Registered medical practitioners (RMPs) have a statutory duty to notify the 'proper officer' at their local council or local health protection team (HPT) of suspected cases of certain infectious diseases. Get more information on notifiable diseases and how to report them. 

Infection prevention control is a practical evidenced-based approach preventing avoidable infections from causing harm to people.

Vaccination  

After clean water, vaccination is the most effective public health intervention in the world for saving lives and promoting good health. See the NHS website for information on vaccinations.

Screening  

Screening is a process of identifying people who may be at increased risk of a disease or condition. Find out more about NHS screening.

Hand hygiene 

Washing your hands is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself and others from illnesses.  The NHS website shows you the best way to wash your hands.

Respiratory hygiene   

Good respiratory hygiene and use of a tissue followed by hand washing has shown to help prevent the spread of infections such as the common cold, flu, COVID-19 and norovirus. We recommend: 

Catch it, Bin it, Kill it. 

• Catch it: always carry tissues and use them to catch your coughs and sneezes 
• Bin it: dispose of your tissues as soon as possible 
• Kill it: clean your hands as soon as possible 

Environments  

Keeping your environment clean, dry, and free from clutter will reduce the spread of germs.  

This is particularly relevant in food preparation and high touch areas. These include kitchens, door handles, light switches, keyboards and mice and IT equipment. 

Hot soapy water is normally all you need to remove most germs that can cause diseases. 

Ventilation 

Ventilation is an effective measure to reduce the risk of some respiratory infections. It dilutes and disperses the pathogens which cause them. Even opening windows a small amount can be beneficial. Get more information on ventilation. 

Coronavirus 

Go to Norfolk and Waveney ICB for information on the Norfolk COVID-19 vaccination programme. 

Influenza (flu)   

Flu is a common infectious viral illness spread by coughs and sneezes. It can be very unpleasant and lasts about a week. Good hygiene measures will help prevent spreading of the virus.  

People with certain medical conditions have a higher risk of flu complications. They're offered an annual flu vaccine or antiviral medication to help reduce the risk of severe illness.  

Norovirus  

Norovirus, also known as the winter vomiting bug, is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. It can be very unpleasant but usually goes away by itself in about two days.   

It is not always possible to avoid getting norovirus, but there are some steps you can take to help stop the virus spreading. These include:

• Frequent and thorough hand washing
• Disinfecting surfaces
• Staying off work until at least 48 hours after the last symptoms have passed

Avian flu

Bird flu, or avian flu, is an infectious type of influenza that spreads among birds (domestic and wild) and some mammals. In rare cases, it can affect humans.

If you suspect bird flu in poultry or other captive birds, you must report it immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

Lyme Disease 

Ticks are small, spider-like creatures which feed on the blood of birds and mammals, including humans. They are mainly found in woodland, moorland, grassy areas, and gardens.  

Infected ticks can spread a bacterial infection to humans called Lyme Disease. A circular or oval shape rash around a tick bite can be an early symptom of Lyme disease in some people.  

Almost all people recover completely from Lyme disease. But a small number do not. 

Tuberculosis 

Tuberculosis (TB) is a preventable and curable disease. But early diagnosis and treatment are essential to minimise its spread and prevent serious complications and death. 

TB mainly affects the lungs. But it can affect any part of the body, including the glands, bones, and nervous system. Bacteria spreads through inhalation of tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes from an infected person. 

TB symptoms include: 

• A persistent cough that lasts more than three weeks: this can be dry or brings up phlegm, which may be bloody
• Weight loss
• Night sweats
• High temperature
• Tiredness and fatigue 
• Loss of appetite
• Swellings in the neck

If anyone has any of these symptoms, speak to a GP, call 111 or get help from 111 online. 

TB is a notifiable disease in the UK. This means clinicians have a statutory duty to notify the UKHSA Health Protection Team.  

Measles  

Measles spreads very easily among unvaccinated people. 

Measles can be a very unpleasant illness. In some children it can be very serious and lead to hospitalisation - and in rare cases can cause death. People in certain risk groups are at increased risk of complications from measles. These groups include:

• Babies and young children
• Pregnant women
• People with weakened immunity

Symptoms include a runny nose, cough, high fever, sore red watery eyes and a blotchy red-brown rash. 

Having two doses of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine at the right time is the best way to protect your child. It also helps prevent it spreading, especially to those most vulnerable.  The first dose should be from 12 months and the second from 3 years 4 months.

Two doses of the MMR vaccine give you excellent lifelong protection. If you or your child have missed out on a vaccine, contact your GP surgery to book an appointment. It is never too late to catch up.