Resources for Journalists

Animal culture should be included in conservation efforts

Publicly released: Wed 21 Apr 2021 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

The team say such behaviors have implications for reproduction, survival, or adaptation, and that the COVID-19 “anthropause” could be a good time to further study how social learning impacts a Read more about Animal culture should be included in conservation efforts

2 months after Israel's vaccination campaign began, cases dropped by 77 per cent

Publicly released: Tue 20 Apr 2021 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

Nature Medicine

A significant drop in COVID-19 cases in Israel early this year was strongly influenced by the rollout of the Pfizer vaccine, according to Israeli researchers. ... Examining health data, the researchers Read more about 2 months after Israel's vaccination campaign began, cases dropped by 77 per cent

COVID 'subunit' vaccine shown to be effective in animal trials

Publicly released: Tue 20 Apr 2021 at 1034 AEST, 1234 NZST

Nature

A COVID-19 vaccine that contains only a small part of the virus alongside an agent that stimulates the immune system, has been shown to provide protective immunity in non-human ... The authors say Read more about COVID 'subunit' vaccine shown to be effective in animal trials

Women who take vitamins are catching COVID-19 less frequently

Publicly released: Tue 20 Apr 2021 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health

risk Taking multivitamins, omega-3, probiotics or vitamin D supplements may lessen the risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19 infection--at least among Read more about Women who take vitamins are catching COVID-19 less frequently

A dad’s-eye view of pregnancy during the pandemic

Publicly released: Mon 19 Apr 2021 at 1430 AEST, 1630 NZST

Understanding how COVID-19 has affected families is the focus of a new University of South Australia and Monash University study where researchers are exploring fathers’ experiences of pregnancy Read more about A dad’s-eye view of pregnancy during the pandemic

We have no idea what's happening to global microbe diversity

Publicly released: Mon 19 Apr 2021 at 1401 AEST, 1601 NZST

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

Human gut bacteria populations are reportedly becoming less diverse, while variation in the virus that causes COVID-19 is increasing. ... Says Dr. Thaler: The world is finding hundreds of variants of the Read more about We have no idea what's happening to global microbe diversity

Eye and cystic fibrosis drugs identified among drugs with potential to guide new COVID-19 treatments

Publicly released: Mon 19 Apr 2021 at 1349 AEST, 1549 NZST

mBio

that block the binding of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) to cells. ... Each provided $100,000 to the Australian node of iCAIR’s COVID-19 project to develop treatments against SARS-CoV-2,” Read more about Eye and cystic fibrosis drugs identified among drugs with potential to guide new COVID-19 treatments

Biomarker for inflammation predicts COVID-19 risk

Publicly released: Mon 19 Apr 2021 at 1233 AEST, 1433 NZST

International Journal of Infectious Diseases

This chemical may help, together with other patient characteristics, in predicting which COVID-19 patients are likely to deteriorate and require aggressive management,” the researchers say. Read more about Biomarker for inflammation predicts COVID-19 risk

To stop COVID-19, 2 masks are better than 1

Publicly released: Sat 17 Apr 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Internal Medicine

In a small study, US scientists compared the filtering efficiency of single facemasks versus double masking. ... worse than one of the cloth masks (Hanes cotton ear-loop mask) they tested. Read more about To stop COVID-19, 2 masks are better than 1

Vitamin D deficiency may impair muscle function, mouse study suggests

Publicly released: Fri 16 Apr 2021 at 1800 AEST, 2000 NZST

Journal of Endocrinology

In recent years, vitamin D deficiency has been reported to be as prevalent as 40% in European populations and linked to increased risk for several conditions, including COVID-19, cancer and Read more about Vitamin D deficiency may impair muscle function, mouse study suggests

EXPERT Q&A: What is vaccine-induced thrombosis and thrombocytopenia (VITT)?

Publicly released: Fri 16 Apr 2021 at 1500 AEST, 1700 NZST

EXPERT Q&A with Professor Beng Chong. Beng is an expert on heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) - the condition which most closely resembles the blood clot condition linked to the AstraZeneca Read more about EXPERT Q&A: What is vaccine-induced thrombosis and thrombocytopenia (VITT)?

EXPERT REACTION: Brain blood clots may be more likely after COVID-19 infection than following vaccines

Publicly released: Fri 16 Apr 2021 at 1155 AEST, 1355 NZST

Compared to the current COVID-19 vaccines, this risk is between 8-10 times higher, and compared to the baseline, approximately 100 times higher. ... An important factor that requires further research is Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Brain blood clots may be more likely after COVID-19 infection than following vaccines

You're less likely to catch COVID-19 a second time, but the risk is still there

Publicly released: Fri 16 Apr 2021 at 1130 AEST, 1330 NZST

The Lancet Respiratory Medicine

The Lancet Respiratory Medicine: Past COVID-19 infection does not fully protect young people against reinfectionStudy finds that participants who had not previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2 Read more about You're less likely to catch COVID-19 a second time, but the risk is still there

US states with higher mask use have lower COVID-19 rates

Publicly released: Fri 16 Apr 2021 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

PLOS ONE

During the COVID-19 pandemic, different states have enacted different policies on mask wearing, with some states having no mask requirements and others requiring masks in all public spaces. Read more about US states with higher mask use have lower COVID-19 rates

The world may not be ready for the Olympics

Publicly released: Fri 16 Apr 2021 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

The BMJ

and promote vaccine nationalism. " The paper argues COVID-19 is not yet under control in Japan, presenting a risk especially to Paralympic athletes. ... To properly protect athletes from covid-19, Read more about The world may not be ready for the Olympics

Patients who are overweight or obese at risk of more severe COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 16 Apr 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Diabetes Care

COVID-19, including the prioritisation of healthcare such as vaccination programs Patients who are overweight or obese have more severe COVID-19 and are highly likely to require invasive respiratory Read more about Patients who are overweight or obese at risk of more severe COVID-19

Be prepared: Taranaki’s Māori organisations responded quickly to Covid-19

Publicly released: Fri 16 Apr 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

A small study has canvassed the views of Māori organisations in Taranaki on their preparedness for the pandemic and the types of support provided. ... Themes included the key role of relationships and Read more about Be prepared: Taranaki’s Māori organisations responded quickly to Covid-19

Priorities for supporting Pacific people in a pandemic

Publicly released: Fri 16 Apr 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

poor mental health, which are heightened by the economic and social impacts of COVID-19. ... An all-of-community approach responds to the recommendation that a best practice plan for COVID-19 and beyond Read more about Priorities for supporting Pacific people in a pandemic

Breathing easy: indoor airflow and close-fitting masks needed to prevent Covid spread

Publicly released: Thu 15 Apr 2021 at 1230 AEST, 1430 NZST

British Medical Journal

Respiratory experts argue that it is now clear that covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) is most likely to transmit between people at close range through inhalation rather than through contact with ... People infected Read more about Breathing easy: indoor airflow and close-fitting masks needed to prevent Covid spread

Get exercising to avoid the most severe COVID-19

Publicly released: Wed 14 Apr 2021 at 0930 AEST, 1130 NZST

British Journal of Sports Medicine

The researchers looked at almost 50,000 patients with COVID-19 and linked their self-reported physical activity to their COVID outcomes. ... Patients with COVID-19 who were consistently inactive during Read more about Get exercising to avoid the most severe COVID-19