Research and analysis

Heatwave health watch summary: 9 July 2015

Updated 16 July 2015

© Crown copyright 2015

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/heatwave-health-watch-2015/heatwave-health-watch-summary-9-july-2015

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 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 27, Camborne, London and Chilton recorded peak daily UV index values of 6 and 7 (high) with Leeds, Swansea, Belfast, Inverness and Lerwick recording peak daily values of 4 to 7 (moderate to high).

1.3 Air pollution

The warm, sunny, weather conditions on 1st July 2015 resulted in high air pollution in much of England. The pollution was due to ozone. 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

There was an increase in consultations for heatstroke and sunstroke across all syndromic surveillance systems, peaking in line with the high temperatures during week 27. Consultations for allergic rhinitis remain high, in line with seasonal expectations.

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 26 of 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. A routine mortality surveillance bulletin covering the dates of the heatwave alert will be published on 16 July 2015.

2.4 Surveillance reports

3. Sources of further information

Back to top