Amber heat health alerts issued as temperatures set to soar above 30C
Amber heat health alerts have been issued for large parts of England as temperatures are set to rise to more than 30C.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued the amber heat-health alert from 12pm on Friday to 6pm on Tuesday.
The warning affects East Midlands, South East, South West, East of England and London, the UKHSA said.
A yellow health warning is also in place in Yorkshire and the Humber and the West Midlands.
The alert is the second highest, behind red, on the UKHSA's system, and the agency has warned of the possible impacts on health and social services.
The UKHSA's weather health alert system provides early warning to the health and social care sector when adverse temperatures are likely to impact the health and well-being of the population.
Another heatwave could be on the way with temperatures forecast to reach 30C this weekend.
More changeable weather is expected this week with some showers, before temperatures are set to rise at the weekend hitting 29C on Saturday, then potentially 30C on Sunday and 31C on Monday, the Met Office said.
An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK.
The East Midlands, South East, South West, East of England and London have been given a risk score of 12 out of 16, meaning there will be 'significant impacts across health and social care services' due to the high temperatures.
The UKHSA warned high temperatures could cause a rise in deaths, particularly among those over 65 or with health conditions.
Younger age groups may also be affected, it said.
It also warned that there will likely be an increase in demand for health services, and indoor environments overheating, increasing the risk to vulnerable people.
There may also be issues managing medicines and an increased demand for power exceeding capacity, the UKHSA said.
Yorkshire and the Humber and the West Midlands, which have been issued a yellow warning, were given a risk score of 10 out of 16, meaning "significant impacts are possible" due to high temperatures.
Many charities have also issued warnings as the hotter weather continues this week.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is encouraging people with heart conditions to take precautions to minimise potential health risks during a heatwave.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
21 minutes ago
- Daily Record
UK expecting north/south weather divide as temperatures to rocket again in some regions
Another heatwave set to peak early next week could bring the highest temperatures of the year so far to the UK It has only been a few weeks but the sunshine and heat of May already seem like a distant memory. Even though Scotland has enjoyed temperatures in the mid teens to 20s recently, it has almost been too up and down to enjoy. The sun has made a steady appearance, and it hasn't been totally miserable, but most Scots would probably agree that more consistent summer is wanted. What's more, there seems to be a north/south divide in the elements. And it shows no sign of abating. Next week, the north west will be wetter due to frontal systems driven by the jet stream. Rainfall totals could even exceed 50mm in parts of Cumbria and western Scotland by Friday, July 4. Glasgow and London show a good compare and contrast. London shows a wide range of possible temperatures on Tuesday, July 2, from average to well above average, rocketing past 30C, before returning closer to normal midweek. Glasgow, meanwhile, sees a more modest rise, peaking in the low 20s before cooling again. Mike Silverstone, Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, explained: "Higher temperatures building over the weekend and into early next week will bring particularly warm, hot or even very hot conditions for some. "This will especially be felt in the southeast and East Anglia and more locally elsewhere in England and east Wales." He went on: "By the weekend, an area of high pressure will be intensifying and dominating the UK forecast. Conditions will be hottest in the south and east while areas further north and northwest will be relatively cooler." The weather agency believes another heatwave could peak early next week - possibly bringing the highest temperatures of the year so far to the UK. Well, parts of it. As is sadly often the case, Scotland may not be included. For those in the south, the mercury is set to rise over the weekend. Around 30C is being floated for the southeast or East Anglia on Sunday, and even higher than that on Monday, June 30. This is when Brits could see the peak of the heatwave. Alarmingly, parts of England have even been slapped with amber and yellow heat warnings over the weekend and into the start of next week, courtesy of the UK Health Security Agency. For much of Scotland, Friday, July 4, will be a fairly wet day, with western areas likely seeing the highest totals. More rain is likely to affect some northern and western parts of the UK over the weekend and into early next week. And regarding thunderstorms, it seems like we're not out of the woods just yet. The Met Office say there is a chance of isolated thunderstorms across parts of England in response to the heat and humidity early next week. These could produce locally torrential downpours with hail and gusty winds. Scotland escaping the intense heat that looks to hit our neighbours down south, though, means we might also be able to escape the unforgiving rainfall and blustery conditions the heat triggers. Every cloud, eh? Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
The Independent
23 minutes ago
- The Independent
Tips to avoid food poisoning as infections spike
Food poisoning infections in England, particularly Salmonella and Campylobacter, have reached their highest levels in a decade, with a 17.1 per cent increase in reported cases between 2023 and 2024. Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) indicates campylobacter cases rose to 70,352 in 2024 and salmonella cases increased to 10,388, with children under 10 and adults aged 50-79 disproportionately affected. These infections are typically contracted through contaminated food such as undercooked poultry, raw produce, or unpasteurised dairy, as well as via close contact with infected individuals or kitchen cross-contamination. In response to the escalating numbers, the UKHSA and Food Standards Agency (FSA) are reminding the public to adopt robust hygiene practices, including proper chilling, cleaning, cooking, and avoiding cross-contamination (the 4Cs). Public health advice also stresses thorough hand washing, avoiding food preparation when ill, and not returning to work or school until at least 48 hours after symptoms have subsided to prevent further transmission.
Daily Mail
32 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Surprising jab-dodging area where HALF of children aren't vaccinated against measles...as cases surge across UK
Nearly half of children in some parts of England haven't had both MMR jabs by the time they turn five, concerning figures showed today. Just 57.2 per cent of youngsters that age in Kensington and Chelsea in west London are fully-protected against deadly measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). Health chiefs say it is vital uptake of both jabs is at least 95 per cent, to prevent outbreaks of the highly infectious conditions, which spread easily between the unvaccinated. Nationally, the figure stands at 85.2 per cent—a slight uptick on late 2024 but still one of the lowest in a decade. Experts today labelled the figures, released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), as concerning and urged parents to vaccinate their children to avoid the 'life-long consequences' of a potential measles infection. British health chiefs have already sounded the alarm over a spike in cases; last year saw the highest number of infections recorded annually since 2012. Earlier this year, the US also recorded two deaths from measles—both were unvaccinated. They are the first fatalities from the disease in the nation since 2015. The MMR jab is first offered to children aged one, with the second dose given soon after they turn three. Two doses offer up to 99 per cent protection against the conditions, which can lead to meningitis, hearing loss and problems during pregnancy. According to the UKHSA data, between January and March 2025, the proportion of children aged five who had received the first dose of the MMR jab rose 0.3 per cent on the previous quarter to 92.4 per cent. Some 85.2 per cent had received both doses, at the same age, up 0.5 per cent on the previous quarter. London remains one of the least vaccinated parts of the country — taking up a staggering 19 of the top 20 spots for low MMR jab uptake. After Kensington and Chelsea, the lowest uptake rates for both doses among five-year-olds came in Hammersmith and Fulham (58.7 per cent), Hackney (58.8 per cent), Westminster (63.6 per cent) and Enfield (64.2 per cent). Outside of London, Nottingham was worst at 71.4 per cent. This was followed by Manchester and Birmingham, both logging rates of 75.8 per cent respectively, and Liverpool (76.4 per cent). By contrast, almost all children had received both doses of the MMR vaccine by the age of five in Rutland (97.6 per cent) and Northumberland (95 per cent). Dr Doug Brown, Chief Executive of the British Society for Immunology, told MailOnline: 'Vaccination is the safest and most effective way to protect your child against measles. 'Measles is a serious disease that can make children very ill and cause life-long consequences. 'In the 2024 measles outbreak in England, 1 in 5 children who contracted the disease needed to be admitted to hospital for treatment. 'To be fully protected against contracting measles, it is essential that children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine at the correct timepoints. 'We need to redouble efforts to implement the NHS Vaccine Strategy and engage with communities to ensure that all children receive the MMR vaccine and are protected against these nasty diseases. 'It is never too late to get vaccinated—if you're concerned that your child has missed out on a vaccination, contact your GP surgery.' Professor Stephen Griffin, an infectious disease expert at the University of Leeds, also said: 'The high infectivity of measles means we need to maintain vaccine coverage at around 92-95 per cent to prevent outbreaks. We are well below that now. He also warned people to not underestimate the virus—while it normally causes cold and flu-like symptoms, it does have the potential to kill. 'It causes unpleasant symptoms even if relatively mild, but can also lead to pneumonia, encephalitis and other complications,' he said. 'In unvaccinated people, it can also cause a lethal progressive disease in the brain many years after initial infection, known as sub-acute sclerosing pan encephalitis,' he said. It comes as health officials in the UK and Europe have already sounded the alarm this year over a 'concerning' spike in measles cases. Latest figures show there have been 420 confirmed measles cases in England this year, with almost 200 alone logged in April and May. More than a third of these cases (39 per cent) were in London, with 14 per cent in the South West and East of England respectively. In February, UKHSA consultant Dr Alasdair Wood, labelled the 'rapid rise in cases' within the South West as 'concerning'. Measles can infect nine in ten unjabbed children in a classroom if just one classmate is infectious. In March, the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed rates in Europe had doubled in the last year alone, with low uptake of the MMR vaccine threatening to further the spread. More than 127,350 cases were reported by member states in 2024, double the 61,070 reported in 2023. By comparison the figure stood at just 4,400 in 2016. In a plea to Government's across the continent, the UN health agency warned the figures were a 'wake-up call' and called on 'every country to step up efforts to reach under-vaccinated communities'. But UKHSA data today showed that uptake among five-year-olds also rose slightly for other jabs. The first and booster doses of the four-in-one vaccine, also known as DTaP/IPV, rose by 1 per cent between January and March, up to 82.7 per cent. The jab protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and polio. Uptake of the Hib/MenC booster increased 0.5 per cent to 90.3 per cent among the same age group. The single jab is given to one-year-old babies to reduce the risk from haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and meningitis C — serious and potentially fatal infections. In another rise, 93.4 per cent of five-year-olds had their six-in-one jab, also known as DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB—up 0.1 per cent on the previous quarter. It reduces the chance of becoming seriously ill from diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib and hepatitis B. The WHO recommends that, nationally, at least 95 per cent of children have jabs for diseases that can be stopped by vaccines, in order to prevent outbreaks. Measles, which produces flu-like symptoms as well as the tell-tale rash, can cause very serious and even fatal health complications if it spreads to the lungs or the brain. One in five children who get infected will be hospitalised, according to estimates, with one in 15 developing life-threatening complications like meningitis or sepsis.
