Report: Health security risk assessment: 2025 edition, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
What are the main threats?
- Respiratory infections with pandemic potential, such as influenza and novel coronavirus, represent the greatest risks to UK health security because of their high potential impact and assessed likelihood of occurring.
- Environmental hazards (for example, extreme heat and extreme cold) can cause significant health and socioeconomic disruption.
- Combined seasonal hazards (for example, influenza, RSV, norovirus) pose challenges for healthcare capacity and health system coordination.
- Emerging infections and antimicrobial resistance are persistent and potentially increasing threats.
EXPERT THOUGHT
Professor Steven Riley, UKHSA chief data officer
‘As we continue to experience risks from a wide range of complex health security threats that disproportionately impact more vulnerable
groups in our society, it is vital we continue to enhance our preparedness measures and resilience planning.’
Image | ISTOCK
