Resources for Journalists

Hidden casualty of Russia’s war: global phosphorus security

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jun 2022 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Amid worsening global disruptions to food and fertiliser supply due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, one of the world’s essential resources is under threat. ... from households, retail Read more about Hidden casualty of Russia’s war: global phosphorus security

Unvaccinated children mount COVID-19 immune response, but vaccination may be key to strengthening immunity

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jun 2022 at 0800 AEST, 1000 NZST

Immunity

Published in Immunity, the study is among the first to analyse the immune response of children following infection with SARS-CoV-2, using new technologies and a group of more than ... Study senior author Read more about Unvaccinated children mount COVID-19 immune response, but vaccination may be key to strengthening immunity

Post-COVID-19 condition rarer in children during Omicron era

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Pediatrics

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), a rare condition found in children after COVID-19 infection, has become even more rare in the Omicron era, according to Danish data. ... They say the rates of MIC Read more about Post-COVID-19 condition rarer in children during Omicron era

The Australian death rate in 2020 was the lowest on record

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

The updated data includes causes of death and region-specific data, including the first data on COVID-19 deaths in the country. ... These products include information up to 2020 (including preliminary Read more about The Australian death rate in 2020 was the lowest on record

Suicide rates might be lower in women who use hormonal contraception

Publicly released: Tue 7 Jun 2022 at 0805 AEST, 1005 NZST

European Congress of Psychiatry

The research team found that attempted suicide rates between hormonal contraceptive users and non-users were similarly high in women between 15-19 (in general, suicide rates are higher in younger Read more about Suicide rates might be lower in women who use hormonal contraception

Red pandas face a fractured future

Publicly released: Mon 6 Jun 2022 at 0931 AEST, 1131 NZST

Landscape Ecology

He returned to Australia in January 2020, with the intention of returning to Nepal within a few months to continue monitoring the animals and install cameras in the field, but ... It was a surreal Read more about Red pandas face a fractured future

GI cancer detection rates higher during lockdown, but fewer cancers found

Publicly released: Mon 6 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

During Melbourne's COVID-19 lockdowns, gastrointestinal cancer detection rates were higher as the focus shifted to prioritising urgent cases. ... A total of 1147 endoscopic procedures were performed Read more about GI cancer detection rates higher during lockdown, but fewer cancers found

Flu vax rates for Victorian healthcare workers dropped in 2021

Publicly released: Mon 6 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in 2021, flu vaccination rates among Victorian health care and aged care workers dropped, according to Australian research. ... It is likely that influenza vaccination Read more about Flu vax rates for Victorian healthcare workers dropped in 2021

Doing CPR with a face mask works

Publicly released: Sat 4 Jun 2022 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

Euroanaesthesia 2022

Along with chest compressions, it forms cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, CPR training in the Czech Republic and elsewhere was limited to either tuition in Read more about Doing CPR with a face mask works

COVID-19 kidney injury twice as common as diagnosed

Publicly released: Fri 3 Jun 2022 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

PLOS Medicine

Dr Wainstein said when researchers also measured the fall in creatinine levels, which often follows the initial rise, the rate of AKI diagnosis in COVID-19 patients doubled. ... That was a pretty shocking Read more about COVID-19 kidney injury twice as common as diagnosed

Australia’s Food Safety Report Card released for UN World Food Safety Day

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jun 2022 at 1630 AEST, 1830 NZST

This past 12 months has seen a mixed report card for Australian food safety and now we are out and about with relaxing public health measures required to control COVID-19 ... Much of this reduction could Read more about Australia’s Food Safety Report Card released for UN World Food Safety Day

The mindful way to manage stress among elite athletes

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jun 2022 at 1016 AEST, 1216 NZST

Perceptual and Motor Skills

This relationship was observed at two timepoints: immediately after the initial COVID-19-related shutdown of sport in South Australia and approximately six months later, at the end of the athletes' Read more about The mindful way to manage stress among elite athletes

EXPERT REACTION: How might waning immunity and reinfections affect NZ’s next Omicron wave?

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jun 2022 at 0900 AEST, 1100 NZST

Researchers from Covid-19 Modelling Aotearoa modelled different scenarios, finding that a second smaller COVID wave arose in the latter half of 2022 in all scenarios, however a higher peak of Read more about EXPERT REACTION: How might waning immunity and reinfections affect NZ’s next Omicron wave?

Dogs can sniff out COVID-19 better than a RAT

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jun 2022 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

French and Emirati researchers have found that dogs trained to sniff out COVID-19 infections in people can do so with a high sensitivity and even perform better than some commonplace ... Future research Read more about Dogs can sniff out COVID-19 better than a RAT

Perceived expert views could influence COVID-19 jab hesitancy

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Nature

Before COVID-19 vaccines became commonly available, researchers surveyed Czech doctors and members of the general public to get a sense of what people thought doctors’ views were, and whether that Read more about Perceived expert views could influence COVID-19 jab hesitancy

Many aspects of teens' lifestyles became more unhealthy during COVID-19

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

BMJ Open

During the COVID-19 pandemic, teens spent more time on screens, used more alcohol and tobacco, and more of them didn't eat enough fruit, according to Australian research. ... encompassing the COVID-19 Read more about Many aspects of teens' lifestyles became more unhealthy during COVID-19

Mandating flu jab, but not COVID-19 jab, ethically justified for healthcare staff

Publicly released: Wed 1 Jun 2022 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

Journal of Medical Ethics

hesitancy, the authors compare the ethical criteria for mandating vaccination of healthcare staff against COVID-19 and seasonal flu. ... What’s more, COVID-19 illness severity has reduced, due to Read more about Mandating flu jab, but not COVID-19 jab, ethically justified for healthcare staff

Changing the way we jab might help stop post-vax fatigue

Publicly released: Wed 1 Jun 2022 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS Biology

fatigueDespite their strong effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2, mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines are associated with adverse post-vaccination effects, such as fatigue; how can this be avoided? ... To improve Read more about Changing the way we jab might help stop post-vax fatigue

Ethnic biases in pulse oximetry may restrict timely treatment for Black and Hispanic patients

Publicly released: Wed 1 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Internal Medicine

About The Study: This analysis of a large clinical data set of patients with COVID-19 found significant and persistent overestimation of arterial oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry among Asian, Read more about Ethnic biases in pulse oximetry may restrict timely treatment for Black and Hispanic patients

Hospital admissions rose as COVID-19 restrictions eased in most states and territories in 2020–21

Publicly released: Wed 1 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

1 million in 2019–20. Hospital admissions rose as COVID-19 restrictions eased in most states and territories in 2020–21Public and private hospital admissions rebounded in 2020–21, following a Read more about Hospital admissions rose as COVID-19 restrictions eased in most states and territories in 2020–21