Protecting people from infection
Health Protection Agency (HPA)
The threat of bird flue and the risks from polonium-210 are just two of the issues that the Health Protection Agency has to deal with.
Purposes
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) was formed in 2003 'to provide an integrated approach to protecting public health and reducing the impact on human health from infections, poison, chemical, and radiation hazards'.
Threats of infection
In the early days, SARS was just one of many infectious diseases that the Agency had to deal with. But the HPA also promotes awareness about many other infectious diseases such as HIV and Malaria.
With the help of other organisations the Health Protection Agency informs professionals and the public in England and in Wales about prevention measures, and medical advice regarding infectious diseases around the world.
Submitted by: Sarah Doherty (Worcester Polytechnic Institute), 22 January 2007
