Resources for Journalists

Detection dogs show promising ability to sniff out COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS One

Detection dogs could also be able to be trained to smell COVID-19 in infected people, according to early research. ... symptomatic COVID-19 patients and people without the virus. Read more about Detection dogs show promising ability to sniff out COVID-19

The vicious cycle of poverty and mental health

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

Science

most common mental illnesses, depression and anxiety, an especially urgent consideration during the COVID-19 pandemic, they note. ... Public-health crises such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic tend to Read more about The vicious cycle of poverty and mental health

Tasmanian devils may survive their own pandemic

Publicly released: Fri 11 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

Science

Amid the global COVID-19 crisis, a study released this week has some good news about a wildlife pandemic, which may help scientists better understand how other emerging diseases evolve. ... Griffith Read more about Tasmanian devils may survive their own pandemic

Wastewater flushes out COVID-19 cases weeks before people show symptoms

Publicly released: Thu 10 Dec 2020 at 1130 AEDT, 1330 NZDT

Environmental Research

An Aussie study has provided further evidence that wastewater (untreated sewage) testing can detect COVID-19 in communities weeks before people display symptoms, suggesting this testing could provide Read more about Wastewater flushes out COVID-19 cases weeks before people show symptoms

The AusSMC's Top 10 Science Stories 2020

Publicly released: Thu 10 Dec 2020 at 0906 AEDT, 1106 NZDT

There's no getting away from the fact that 2020 was an 'annus horribilis' for us all, as COVID-19 infected millions around the world, killing more than a million, and ... The virus hit while Australia was Read more about The AusSMC's Top 10 Science Stories 2020

Men with Covid-19 nearly three times as likely to require intensive care as women

Publicly released: Thu 10 Dec 2020 at 0902 AEDT, 1102 NZDT

Nature Communications

sex was a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection, and mortality from COVID-19. ... The authors found that there was no difference in the proportion of male and female patients who were infected with SARS-CoV Read more about Men with Covid-19 nearly three times as likely to require intensive care as women

The 7 signs someone is likely to be COVID positive

Publicly released: Thu 10 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

The seven features are: COVID-19 patient exposure or international travel, discomfort or aches and pains, loss of smell or taste, temperature, sore throat or inflammation of the upper respiratory Read more about The 7 signs someone is likely to be COVID positive

Developing rapid genomics strategies to trace coronavirus

Publicly released: Wed 9 Dec 2020 at 2100 AEDT, 2300 NZDT

Nature Communications

Every time the SARS-CoV-2 virus passes from person to person, it may make copying errors that change a couple of its 30,000 genetic letters. ... By reconstructing the virus’s evolutionary history, or Read more about Developing rapid genomics strategies to trace coronavirus

Do international travel restrictions actually slow the spread of COVID?

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 1100 AEDT, 1300 NZDT

The Lancet Public Health

International travel restrictions may only be effective at controlling the spread of COVID-19 when applied in a targeted way, say UK researchers, and they were most effective at limiting local Read more about Do international travel restrictions actually slow the spread of COVID?

Discovery provides hope for early detection of serious COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 8 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Clinical and Translational Immunology

QIMR Berghofer researchers have developed a prototype blood test that can detect if a COVID-19 patient's immune system has the capacity to fight the disease. ... They used the blood of Queenslanders who Read more about Discovery provides hope for early detection of serious COVID-19

Aged Care policy reform crucial to attract Aussies into sector

Publicly released: Mon 7 Dec 2020 at 1430 AEDT, 1630 NZDT

International Nursing Review

Work-related stress, lack of career progression and up-skilling opportunities are key deficiencies in Australia’s aged care sector with casual staff working across multiple homes to secure liveable Read more about Aged Care policy reform crucial to attract Aussies into sector

Covid-19 antibodies provide some immunity in macaques

Publicly released: Mon 7 Dec 2020 at 1208 AEDT, 1408 NZDT

Nature

US researchers extracted certain antibodies from macaque monkeys recovering from SARS-CoV-2 and gave measured doses to uninfected macaques who were then exposed to the virus. ... The presence of SARS-CoV-2 Read more about Covid-19 antibodies provide some immunity in macaques

COVID-19 detector dog research and trials underway

Publicly released: Mon 7 Dec 2020 at 1201 AEDT, 1401 NZDT

venture into determining the feasibility of training COVID-19 detector dogs. ... The results from the trials are expected to be published in early 2021 and will inform whether trials in the community Read more about COVID-19 detector dog research and trials underway

Half of surveyed renters suffered mental health decline during COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 4 Dec 2020 at 1400 AEDT, 1600 NZDT

Australian renters have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 facing income loss, the inability to pay rent, tenure insecurity and eviction risk and a new AHURI publication provides a stark Read more about Half of surveyed renters suffered mental health decline during COVID-19

Why does COVID-19 affect some animals, but not others?

Publicly released: Fri 4 Dec 2020 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS Computational Biology

Some animals are more susceptible to COVID-19 than others, and new international research suggests this may be due to distinctive structural features of a protein found on the surface of ... Using Read more about Why does COVID-19 affect some animals, but not others?

EXPERT REACTION: Aussies likely to start COVID-19 vaccinations in March after UK approves Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

Publicly released: Thu 3 Dec 2020 at 1229 AEDT, 1429 NZDT

This follows the news from the UK overnight that they have approved the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID vaccine for emergency use. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Aussies likely to start COVID-19 vaccinations in March after UK approves Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

Money won't save countries from climate change health harms

Publicly released: Thu 3 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

The Lancet

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown what happens when health is affected on a global scale and there is an opportunity for a joint response to the converging crises, according to ... Such a response would Read more about Money won't save countries from climate change health harms

EXPERT REACTION: 2020 looks set to be one of the warmest years on record - WMO report

Publicly released: Thu 3 Dec 2020 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

According to FAO and WFP, over 50 million people have been hit twice: by climate-related disasters (floods, droughts and storms) and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. ... Countries in Central America are Read more about EXPERT REACTION: 2020 looks set to be one of the warmest years on record - WMO report

Don't drink the hand sanitiser - it can kill

Publicly released: Wed 2 Dec 2020 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

BMJ Evidence Based Medicine

The author says the public is largely unaware of the potential safety hazards of this form of hand hygiene, which has become commonplace in homes, hospitals, schools, workplaces and public venues, Read more about Don't drink the hand sanitiser - it can kill

EXPERT REACTION: Māori and Pacific academics paid and promoted less

Publicly released: Wed 2 Dec 2020 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

MAI Journal

Māori and Pacific women are the most impacted, with a $7,700 pay gap and 65% less likely to be promoted to associate professor or professor. ... The research found the differences could not be explained Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Māori and Pacific academics paid and promoted less