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Health Protection Agency
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<p>The Health Protection Agency (HPA) was a <a href="/facts/Non-departmental_public_body/rrrxAPVf">non-departmental public body</a> in <a href="/facts/England/U9mE5bGL">England</a>. It was set up by the <a href="/facts/UK_government/3zLlUWbx">UK government</a> in 2003 to protect the public from threats to their health from infectious diseases and environmental hazards. </p><p>The HPA's role was to provide an integrated approach to protecting <a href="/facts/Public_health/4563Kre9">public health</a> in the UK. It did this by providing advice and information to the general public, health professionals and local government, and by providing emergency services, support and advice to the <a href="/facts/National_Health_Service/lTzheqYw">National Health Service</a> (NHS) and the Department of Health. The HPA also played a lead role in helping prepare for new and emerging health threats, such as <a href="/facts/Bioterrorism/YW2rmVls">bioterrorism</a> or emerging virulent disease strains. </p><p>There were four HPA centres – at <a href="/facts/Porton_Down/XVed6vLA">Porton Down</a> in Salisbury, <a href="/facts/Chilton,_Oxfordshire/CKYzX4KM">Chilton</a> in Oxfordshire, <a href="/facts/South_Mimms/elFPQRAt">South Mimms</a> in Hertfordshire, and <a href="/facts/Colindale/v8dKnM2z">Colindale</a> in NW London. In addition, the HPA had regional laboratories across England and administrative headquarters in Central London. On 1 April 2013, the HPA minus the South Mimms site became part of <a href="/facts/Public_Health_England/ECRcUKGE">Public Health England</a>, a new <a href="/facts/Executive_agency/hTRRfjYN">executive agency</a> of the <a href="/facts/Department_of_Health_(United_Kingdom)/snoYk2Wm">Department of Health</a> (DoH). The <a href="/facts/National_Institute_for_Biological_Standards_and_Control/6EkHmyHE">National Institute for Biological Standards and Control</a> (<a href="/facts/National_Institute_for_Biological_Standards_and_Control/6EkHmyHE">NIBSC</a>) located in South Mimms was merged with the <a href="/facts/Medicines_and_Healthcare_products_Regulatory_Agency/6T727R0c">Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency</a> (MHRA). </p>