The Public Health Agency (PHA) is again reminding people in “at risk” groups and others who are eligible, to get the winter flu vaccine, with a warning about the deadly dangers associated with catching the flu. As in previous years, influenza H1N1 (often known as "swine flu") is one of the strains of flu circulating this flu season, but it is covered by the free vaccine which is being offered.

To mark one month to go before Northern Ireland’s health and social care sites go smoke free, Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride and Public Health Agency (PHA) Chief Executive Dr Eddie Rooney have demolished a smoking shelter at the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre, which will be replaced by a bike shelter.

Shingles can be very painful and in some cases cause serious complications. That’s why the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding all those eligible to get the free shingles vaccine if they haven’t done so already. The vaccine will help protect against this common and painful skin disease and its associated complications.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is advising pregnant women, and those planning pregnancy, to consider avoiding travel to areas where Zika virus outbreaks are reported. Zika outbreaks have been reported in a number of countries in central and south America and all travellers to the affected countries should ensure they seek travel health advice from their GP or a travel clinic well in advance of their trip.

At least one in three of us will get cancer, and with an increasing number of cases each year in Northern Ireland, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is using World Cancer Day (4 February) to raise awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer and encourage people to speak to their GP if they experience any of them.

*** CALL FOR ABSTRACTS IS NOW CLOSED *** The Public Health Agency and Partners will be hosting the fifth Public Health Annual Scientific Conference in June. The theme of the Conference will be “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It will focus on the economic case for prevention and the health benefits of public health interventions for our population.

The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) and Public Health Agency (PHA) want to hear about your experiences to help shape how care is delivered in Northern Ireland. 10,000 Voices is a PHA initiative which gives people an opportunity to provide feedback on their experiences of accessing Health and Social Care services by asking for members of the public to ‘tell us their story’.