The Public Health Agency (PHA) is warning parents about the importance of protecting their children against the serious infectious disease, measles, which can be life-threatening and spread to those who are unprotected. Although most common in children, it can occur at any age. Measles is very infectious and can be caught either through direct contact with an infected person, or through the air when the patient coughs or sneezes.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is giving smokers 4,000 reasons to give up smoking for good with a mass media campaign highlighting the thousands of chemicals contained within every cigarette.

The Public Health Agency welcomes today's study by US researchers stating babies are less likely to get flu if their mothers have had the vaccine during pregnancy.

The annual seasonal influenza vaccination campaign for winter 2010/11 is now underway and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging all those in ‘at risk’ groups to get their vaccine when invited to do so. All pregnant women are being offered the flu vaccine this year, regardless of their stage of pregnancy.

In today’s society more and more people who are diagnosed with cancer are surviving and many are able to live much longer with a better quality of life than before. However cancer survivors still need treatment and reconditioning to help them move forward. With this in mind, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is supporting LIVESTRONG Day, created by cancer survivor Lance Armstrong, on the 2 October 2010, and has invested in physical activity initiatives which could be linked to cancer prevention, as well as rehabilitation.

Today approximately 600 million people worldwide are aged 60 years and over. People are living longer than ever before and the proportion of older people in our society is growing.

Women in Northern Ireland are being urged to be breast aware and make simple lifestyle changes in a bid to reduce their risk of breast cancer.

Parents, carers and those with autism are actively involved in shaping the future of autism services across Northern Ireland. The Reference Group entitled Regional Autism Spectrum Disorder Network Reference Group (RASDN) comprising of parents, carers, users of autism services and the voluntary sector, was established in 2009 to help ensure their views were being heard and acted upon within the statutory sector.

Public Health Agency was informed at the weekend of the very sudden and tragic death of an eighteen year old male from Ballycastle. His most likely cause of death was Meningococcal Septicaemia. All appropriate public health actions have been taken and prophylactic medication has been organised for close contacts.