The Public Health Agency (PHA) and the Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland (CHNI) have launched an important booklet to encourage substance users to think about their nutrition and eat a balanced diet, to help improve their health and wellbeing. Nutrition for substance users – a step by step workbook for people using alcohol and other drugs, is a resource that can be used by individuals both in addiction and homeless settings, with or without support from staff. It has been widely distributed in the Belfast and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust areas.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is warning Northern Ireland holidaymakers travelling to Spain this summer to be aware of signs and symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease following an alert of 12 new cases in Costa Blanca. The cases have been associated with the Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe, Costa Blanca. This is the third cluster of Legionnaires’ cases associated with the hotel this year; bringing the total since the start of 2012 to 33.

For those lucky few who are escaping the rain to enjoy warmer climates over the summer months, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is taking the opportunity to remind them about the risk of catching rabies from animals. As holiday makers and students taking a gap year prepare to travel abroad, they can often forget the importance of seeking medical advice on whether the country or countries they are visiting require vaccinations against some serious diseases.

A Public Health Agency (PHA) pilot project in south Belfast is testing whether a very successful rural programme can be used in the urban environment, to help vulnerable older people.