Resources for Journalists

The lightbulb moment behind a potential antiviral advance

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jul 2026 at 1317 AEST, 1517 NZST

Nature Communications

An unexpected observation by a University of Queensland researcher could lead to a new treatment for deadly infectious diseases including COVID‑19, pneumonia in infants and children,or viral Read more about The lightbulb moment behind a potential antiviral advance

Acute pancreatitis on the rise in South Australia, with shift in who is at risk

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 1313 AEST, 1513 NZST

Pancreatology

Alcohol‑related pancreatitis accounted for a smaller proportion overall, with researchers observing only a brief spike during the COVID‑19 pandemic, thereafter returning to pre‑pandemic levels. Read more about Acute pancreatitis on the rise in South Australia, with shift in who is at risk

Vitamin B3 treatment may halt severity of rare genetic disease

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease

Researchers believe vitamin B3 may help support energy-producing pathways. Affected children are often born healthy, but common childhood illnesses such as influenza or COVID-19 can trigger sudden Read more about Vitamin B3 treatment may halt severity of rare genetic disease

Dealing with post-pandemic sleep issues – it’s not too late

Publicly released: Tue 28 Jul 2026 at 1208 AEST, 1408 NZST

Journal of Sleep Research

pandemic, and may contribute to the fatigue commonly reported by people with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome (PCS, or ‘long COVID’). ... The high levels of both poor sleep and fatigue established during Read more about Dealing with post-pandemic sleep issues – it’s not too late

Fat stores power the body’s virus defence

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jul 2026 at 1200 AEST, 1400 NZST

Nature Communications

strategies. Fat stores power the body’s virus defenceLa Trobe University scientists have uncovered the critical role fatty cell structures play in our body’s early detection and defence against Read more about Fat stores power the body’s virus defence

Mental disorders surge among young adults

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jul 2026 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

Lancet Regional Health Western Pacific

They also found that while rates for most presentations accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were also increasing in the lead up, cautioning against solely assigning blame to COVID. Read more about Mental disorders surge among young adults

Recent rise in autism mostly driven by women and girls getting diagnosed

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

that period, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. ... However, the researchers say diagnosis rates among males remained steady - the increase was mostly driven by teen and adult women. Read more about Recent rise in autism mostly driven by women and girls getting diagnosed

EXPERT REACTION: AusAlert - Australia's emergency warning system test

Publicly released: Wed 22 Jul 2026 at 1540 AEST, 1740 NZST

On Monday, a test of a new national warning system, AusAlert, will be sent to all mobile devices in Australia, including some smartwatches and tablets. ... The test will be sent at the same time across Read more about EXPERT REACTION: AusAlert - Australia's emergency warning system test

Why key antiviral defenses failed in some severe COVID-19 patients

Publicly released: Sun 19 Jul 2026 at 2322 AEST, Mon 20 Jul 26 at 0122 NZST

Cell

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has largely subsided, scientists continue to investigate why the virus proved so deadly, causing at least three million deaths worldwide, according to the latest Read more about Why key antiviral defenses failed in some severe COVID-19 patients

COVID-19 booster strategies provide lasting immunity

Publicly released: Fri 17 Jul 2026 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Journal of Infection

Fractional dosing attracted global interest during the COVID-19 pandemic when vaccine supplies were limited. ... MCRI Associate Professor Paul Licciardi said while the acute phase of the pandemic had Read more about COVID-19 booster strategies provide lasting immunity

Patterns in heart-related deaths echo seasonal surges of respiratory illness

Publicly released: Thu 16 Jul 2026 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

Global Public Health

The COVID-19 pandemic allowed German scientists to study the timing of seasonal respiratory diseases like flu and RSV. ... The COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity to explore these dynamics, Read more about Patterns in heart-related deaths echo seasonal surges of respiratory illness

English kids born during COVID-19 lockdown still struggling at age 4

Publicly released: Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

Archives of Disease in Childhood

Kids born during the first COVID-19 lockdown in England have lower levels of executive functioning - crucial skills involved in making plans, solving problems and adapting to new situations - at age Read more about English kids born during COVID-19 lockdown still struggling at age 4

The customer isn’t always right: overlooked source of workplace discrimination

Publicly released: Tue 14 Jul 2026 at 1002 AEST, 1202 NZST

Journal of Services Marketing

Participants had experience across hospitality, retail, banking and finance, trades, consultancy and the not-for-profit sector. Read more about The customer isn’t always right: overlooked source of workplace discrimination

Grandma and Grandpa were getting COVID-19 at kids' birthday parties during the pandemic

Publicly released: Tue 14 Jul 2026 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

Grandparents were nearly 10% more likely to get COVID-19 in the week of their grandchildren's birthdays during the pandemic, according to Danish research from 2020-2022 when official advice Read more about Grandma and Grandpa were getting COVID-19 at kids' birthday parties during the pandemic

EXPERT REACTION: First case of deadly H5 bird flu in a local Australian seabird detected

Publicly released: Fri 10 Jul 2026 at 1330 AEST, 1530 NZST

Highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu has been detected in an Australian seabird, a greater crested tern, marking the first time it has been detected in a local bird rather than a ... The bird, which was found Read more about EXPERT REACTION: First case of deadly H5 bird flu in a local Australian seabird detected

Hidden pathway drives COVID-19 infections

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jul 2026 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

Nature Communications

The study by La Trobe University and WEHI researchers found SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can hide inside tiny fragments of dying infected cells, known as apoptotic ... Rather than targeting Read more about Hidden pathway drives COVID-19 infections

EXPERT REACTION: Australia's latest health report card reveals strengths and weaknesses

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jul 2026 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Life expectancy has risen steadily over decades, with a recent decrease seen across the years impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. ... The rate of ED presentations has declined in recent years, Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Australia's latest health report card reveals strengths and weaknesses

On-site virus testing in nursing homes could reduce hospital visits and speed up treatment

Publicly released: Tue 7 Jul 2026 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Internal Medicine

On-site testing devices for viral infections such as flu and COVID-19 in nursing homes could reduce the number of people transferred to hospital, according to international research. ... The team found Read more about On-site virus testing in nursing homes could reduce hospital visits and speed up treatment

Companies avoiding tax more likely to greenwash

Publicly released: Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 1130 AEST, 1330 NZST

Business Strategy and Development

The study analysed 391 Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)-listed companies between 2019 and 2022, including the period of economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. ... The paper, Surviving Read more about Companies avoiding tax more likely to greenwash

Why taking a sick day depends on more than being sick

Publicly released: Wed 1 Jul 2026 at 1302 AEST, 1502 NZST

Applied Economics

The study, published in Applied Economics, examines how workers’ health and economic circumstances dictate how many sick days they actually take. ... We focused on this period to avoid the COVID years, Read more about Why taking a sick day depends on more than being sick