Heatwave health watch summary: 16 July 2015
Updated 16 July 2015
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1. Summary of environmental hazards
1.1 Heatwave
On Sunday 28 June, the Met Office issued a Level 2 heatwave alert (alert and readiness) for all regions, except the north east of England. On Wednesday 1 July 2015 a Level 3 heatwave alert (heatwave action) was issued for all regions of England. On the 2 July 2015 the heatwave alert level reverted to Level 1 (summer preparedness) for all regions.
1.2 Solar UV radiation
The Public Health England (PHE) solar radiation monitoring stations across the UK reported typical peak UV index values for this time of year. During week 28, Camborne, London, Chilton, Swansea, Leeds and Belfast recorded peak daily UV index values of 6 and 7 (high) with Glasgow, Inverness and Lerwick recording peak daily values of 5 to 6 (moderate to high).
1.3 Air pollution
Daily air quality forecasts and measured levels of air pollution across the UK are available from the UK AIR: Air information resource.
2. Health impacts
2.1 Syndromic surveillance
Following the level 3 heatwave on 1 July 2015, GP consultations and NHS111 calls for heatstroke and sunstroke decreased and have now returned to expected levels.
2.2 Laboratory surveillance
Gastrointestinal disease activity is around seasonally expected levels. The number of laboratory reports of the major gastrointestinal pathogens (campylobacter, salmonella, cryptosporidium, norovirus) in the season to date are similar to the 5-year seasonal average.
2.3 Mortality surveillance
In week 28 2015, no statistically significant excess all-cause mortality by week of death was seen through the EuroMOMO algorithm in England overall and by age group and across the devolved administrations
2.4 Surveillance reports
3. Sources of further information
- Met Office: Heat-health watch
- Heatwave plan for England
- NHS Choices
- Met Office: Get ready for summer
- UV Index graphs
- UK-AIR: Air Information Resource