Resources for Journalists

EXPERT REACTION: Foot-and-mouth disease threat

Publicly released: Thu 21 Jul 2022 at 1237 AEST, 1437 NZST

The threat of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Australia appears to be escalating after foot-and-mouth virus fragments were detected in meat imported into Australia. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Foot-and-mouth disease threat

Preterm birth more likely if women catch COVID-19 in late pregnancy

Publicly released: Thu 21 Jul 2022 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

The team used health records of 2,753 women who were infected during pregnancy and compared them with 2,753 women without COVID-19. ... Higher rates of preterm birth in women infected with COVID-19 in Read more about Preterm birth more likely if women catch COVID-19 in late pregnancy

Don't tell the tinfoil hat brigade, but beliefs in conspiracy theories may not be increasing

Publicly released: Thu 21 Jul 2022 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

For the first, they investigated whether beliefs in certain conspiracy theories—including theories related to COVID-19 and the Kennedy assassination—have increased among Americans. ... A greater Read more about Don't tell the tinfoil hat brigade, but beliefs in conspiracy theories may not be increasing

EXPERT REACTION: UK passes 40°C 'milestone' and Europe burns

Publicly released: Wed 20 Jul 2022 at 1330 AEST, 1530 NZST

The UK has crossed the 40°C 'milestone' for the first time in recorded history, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the heatwave was causing a "huge surge" in the number ... The heatwaves are not just Read more about EXPERT REACTION: UK passes 40°C 'milestone' and Europe burns

ED cases spike after Australian bushfires

Publicly released: Wed 20 Jul 2022 at 1300 AEST, 1500 NZST

Epidemiology and Community Health

The percentage of people who attended emergency departments with acute lower respiratory tract infections also increased within one day (19 per cent increase) and three days (17 per cent increase) Read more about ED cases spike after Australian bushfires

The risks of heart diseases and diabetes spike after getting Covid-19

Publicly released: Wed 20 Jul 2022 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS Medicine

The analysis showed that COVID-19 patients had 81% more diagnoses of diabetes in the first four weeks after contracting the virus and that their risk remained elevated by 27% for ... Clinical and public Read more about The risks of heart diseases and diabetes spike after getting Covid-19

EXPERT REACTION: Moderna COVID-19 jab approved by TGA for kids as young as 6 months

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jul 2022 at 1500 AEST, 1700 NZST

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has provisionally approved the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for use in kids aged six months to five years. ... The use of this vaccine in the national COVID-19 Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Moderna COVID-19 jab approved by TGA for kids as young as 6 months

Lifesaving Australian discovery helps combat antibiotic resistance

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jul 2022 at 1200 AEST, 1400 NZST

The Lancet eBiomedicine

When the COVID pandemic finally tails off, the challenge of antibiotic resistance will still be there, demanding urgent attention from the clinical lab. " ... Link to the publication: “Same-day Read more about Lifesaving Australian discovery helps combat antibiotic resistance

New wastewater surveillance method could provide an early warning of the next COVID-19 variant

Publicly released: Tue 19 Jul 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Nature Biotechnology

Austrian scientists have developed a new method of analysing wastewater that can tell us which COVID-19 variants are present and how abundant they are. ... Their new system, called VaQuERo (variant Read more about New wastewater surveillance method could provide an early warning of the next COVID-19 variant

Is Australia ready for monkeypox?

Publicly released: Mon 18 Jul 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

They say Australia has had success with HIV control, and can draw on this infrastructure, community groups and expertise, as well as the COVID-19 infrastructure, to tackle monkeypox. ... and can draw on Read more about Is Australia ready for monkeypox?

EXPERT REACTION: Can COVID-19 vaccines impact your menstrual cycle? 

Publicly released: Sat 16 Jul 2022 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

Science Advances

Since vaccine trial protocols do not usually monitor beyond 7 days post-vaccination and follow-up communications do not inquire about menstruation, SARS-CoV-2 vaccine manufacturers have been unable Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Can COVID-19 vaccines impact your menstrual cycle? 

Teens were more likely to catch the original COVID-19 strain than older adults

Publicly released: Sat 16 Jul 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

In 16 of the 19 states they examined, the incidence rate and relative risk of COVID-19 infection from the original virus strain were higher in adolescents and youth than in ... of the 19 states examined, Read more about Teens were more likely to catch the original COVID-19 strain than older adults

Side-effects of having an mRNA COVID-19 vax and a flu vax at the same time

Publicly released: Sat 16 Jul 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

Having an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and an influenza vaccine at the same time could increase the chances of side-effects, according to an international study of self-reported vaccination data ... The survey Read more about Side-effects of having an mRNA COVID-19 vax and a flu vax at the same time

EXPERT REACTION: Rising COVID-19 cases and reduced restrictions - what's going on?

Publicly released: Fri 15 Jul 2022 at 1128 AEST, 1328 NZST

COVID-19 cases continue to rise across Australia, while mask mandates and other regulations are being removed. ... 2. 75, nicknamed 'Centaurus' contributing to rising cases and evading existing immunity. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Rising COVID-19 cases and reduced restrictions - what's going on?

COVID-19 pandemic fuels biggest drop in childhood vaccinations in three decades

Publicly released: Fri 15 Jul 2022 at 1045 AEST, 1245 NZST

diseases. The decline was due to many factors including an increased number of children living in conflict and fragile settings where immunization access is often challenging, increased ... The priority Read more about COVID-19 pandemic fuels biggest drop in childhood vaccinations in three decades

Booze offers no health benefits for under 40s, but a small tipple might benefit older Aussies

Publicly released: Fri 15 Jul 2022 at 0945 AEST, 1145 NZST

The Lancet

19 drinks for males and 3. 51 for females). The estimates suggest that small amounts of alcohol consumption in populations over 40 without underlying conditions may be associated with improved health Read more about Booze offers no health benefits for under 40s, but a small tipple might benefit older Aussies

Women in the health and care sector earn 24% less than men

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jul 2022 at 1500 AEST, 1700 NZST

The gender pay gap in the health and care sector: a global analysis in the time of COVID-19 finds that, even with the COVID-19 pandemic and the crucial role ... The COVID-19 pandemic clearly exposed this Read more about Women in the health and care sector earn 24% less than men

Antidepressant one of two drugs ruled out by the WHO for treating mild COVID-19

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jul 2022 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

The BMJ

The antidepressant drug fluvoxamine and the gout drug colchicine should not be used to treat non-severe COVID-19 outside clinical trials, according to updated advice from the World Health ... Fluvoxamine Read more about Antidepressant one of two drugs ruled out by the WHO for treating mild COVID-19

Even after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, in-person activity levels stayed low

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jul 2022 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the U. K. joined many countries in introducing restrictions on people’s movement and social activities to mitigate viral spread. ... the COVID-19 pandemic and related Read more about Even after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, in-person activity levels stayed low

Kids under 6 may have some COVID-19 immunity up to 1 year after infection

Publicly released: Thu 14 Jul 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

Long-Term Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Children, Adults After Mild InfectionJAMA Network Open Original InvestigationAbout JAMA Network Open: JAMA Network Open is the new online-only Read more about Kids under 6 may have some COVID-19 immunity up to 1 year after infection