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<p>The outbreak of an emerging infectious disease is a categorised risk, in the 2023
National Risk Register. Working closely with the Department and NHS England, the UK
Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has a programme of work in place to plan and respond
to this risk.</p><p>The UKHSA continues to monitor the global epidemiology of infectious
diseases, to inform the assessment of risk to the United Kingdom’s population. Routine
surveillance is carried out for a range of viral infections that may be acquired overseas.
Data on some of these infections is published in the annual Travel-associated infections
reports. Information collated from these various sources are routinely reviewed and
assessed through the relevant UKHSA Horizon Scanning Group, with appropriate public
health actions proposed to mitigate any threats.</p><p>The Rare and Imported Pathogens
Laboratory has a small serological study, partnering with NHS Blood and Transplant
and at-risk groups, to look for evidence of exposure to Usutu, West Nile, and tick-borne
encephalitis viruses. The Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology group study vector
distribution, and look for the presence of tropical and other viruses in relevant
arthropod species in an ongoing surveillance programme. The Animal and Plant Health
Agency has a programme of surveillance in wild birds and mammals. The Department of
Health and Social Care, the UKHSA, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs published a national contingency plan for invasive mosquitoes that may spread
vector-borne diseases, such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya.</p>
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