The Health Protection (Notification) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Published: Mon 18th May 26

Added hantavirus disease and its associated syndromes to the statutory list of notifiable diseases in England.

These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations 2010 to include hantavirus disease in the list of notifiable diseases in England.

This addition requires registered medical practitioners to notify the relevant local authority if they suspect a patient is suffering from hantavirus disease, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome or haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

The duty also extends to operators of diagnostic laboratories who identify evidence of the causative agent in human samples.

Arguments For

The Secretary of State asserts that the regulations are necessary for health protection under the powers conferred by the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984.
The document states that the provisions do not impose special restrictions or requirements that would have a significant effect on an individual’s rights.
Proponents may argue that adding specific conditions like hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome ensures precise clinical monitoring and data collection for public health surveillance.

Arguments Against

Legal scholars might note the expedited implementation timeframe, as the regulations came into force less than five hours after being laid before Parliament.
Healthcare providers may express concern regarding the administrative requirement to update reporting systems and train staff on the symptoms of these specific hantavirus conditions on short notice.
Civil liberties groups might scrutinize the use of executive powers under the 1984 Act to expand the list of diseases that trigger mandatory reporting of personal health data to state authorities.

—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health Protection (Notification) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. (2) These Regulations come into force at 6.00 p.m. on 18th May 2026. (3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and apply in relation to England only.

This section establishes the official title of the legal instrument and sets the specific time and date for when the rules become active. It clarifies that while the regulations are part of the law for England and Wales, the actual requirements apply only to activities and persons located within England.

In Schedule 1 to the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations 2010( 2 ), at the appropriate alphabetical place insert— 'Hantavirus disease, including hantavirus pulmonary or cardiopulmonary syndrome and haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome'.

This section updates the existing list of diseases that must be reported to public health authorities.

By inserting hantavirus disease and its specific clinical manifestations into Schedule 1, the law triggers mandatory notification procedures for doctors and laboratories when the disease is suspected or confirmed.

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