Resources for Journalists

Cutting down vitamin D tests could help lower carbon costs of healthcare

Publicly released: Wed 24 Aug 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

BMJ Open

Health. “We must improve healthcare sustainability by decreasing wasted resources and the carbon footprint of healthcare. ... This is despite a visible decline of tests initially during late March to mid Read more about Cutting down vitamin D tests could help lower carbon costs of healthcare

RSV prevention finally in reach after 20 years of research

Publicly released: Tue 23 Aug 2022 at 1430 AEST, 1630 NZST

The Lancet Infectious Diseases

by the approval of a maternal vaccine given in pregnancy to provide newborns with protection against the virus. ... We recently completed Phase 3 studies on Nirsevimab here in Perth, and there have been Read more about RSV prevention finally in reach after 20 years of research

EXPERT REACTION: What do we know about 'tomato flu'?

Publicly released: Tue 23 Aug 2022 at 1230 AEST, 1430 NZST

In India, more than 82 children under five are reported to be infected with a virus being called 'tomato virus' or 'tomato flu'. ... The virus appears to cause a mild illness. Below, Australian experts Read more about EXPERT REACTION: What do we know about 'tomato flu'?

A step towards local long COVID-19 diagnostics

Publicly released: Tue 23 Aug 2022 at 1200 AEST, 1400 NZST

Murdoch University’s Australian National Phenome Centre (ANPC) has made a vital technological finding that could assist general practitioners diagnose the long-term effects of COVID-19 and long Read more about A step towards local long COVID-19 diagnostics

Empowering childhood cancer survivors to engage in physical activity

Publicly released: Tue 23 Aug 2022 at 0900 AEST, 1100 NZST

JMIR Cancer

The distance-delivered education program aims to improve survivors’ health knowledge and help them strive towards recommended physical activity guidelines. ... Thirty participants from Sydney Read more about Empowering childhood cancer survivors to engage in physical activity

Doing around 20 minutes of moderate exercise a day could help you avoid COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 23 Aug 2022 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

British Journal of Sports Medicine

Sweden. The pooled data analysis showed that, overall, those who included regular physical activity in their weekly routine had an 11% lower risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus ... The Read more about Doing around 20 minutes of moderate exercise a day could help you avoid COVID-19

mRNA COVID-19 vaccines not linked to major heart problems

Publicly released: Tue 23 Aug 2022 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

Annals of Internal Medicine

99% of the French population, to assess short-term risk for severe cardiovascular events (excluding myocarditis and pericarditis) after COVID-19 vaccination. ... However, the authors note that vaccination, Read more about mRNA COVID-19 vaccines not linked to major heart problems

New Zealand's latest Omicron BA.5 modelling

Publicly released: Tue 23 Aug 2022 at 0600 AEST, 0800 NZST

New Zealand's Covid-19 modellers have released their latest effort to track and anticipate the spread of the BA. ... 5 subvariant. They say BA. 5 has been the main driver of the second Omicron wave Read more about New Zealand's latest Omicron BA.5 modelling

Post-COVID-19 symptoms and conditions in children

Publicly released: Tue 23 Aug 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Pediatrics

Symptoms, Health Conditions in Children Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection About The Study: This study of nearly 660,000 children who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by antigen or polymerase ... chain reaction Read more about Post-COVID-19 symptoms and conditions in children

The COVID-19 incubation period has become shorter through the variants

Publicly released: Tue 23 Aug 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

The average incubation time for an Omicron COVID-19 infection is shorter than for other variants, according to international experts. ... The team looked at 142 studies estimating the incubation period of Read more about The COVID-19 incubation period has become shorter through the variants

'Spiders bleed out of walls!': Spider news is full of fakes

Publicly released: Tue 23 Aug 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Current Biology

Spider-related information in the press flows through a highly interconnected global network, and the spread of misinformation is driven by a limited number of key factors, the sensationalistic tone Read more about 'Spiders bleed out of walls!': Spider news is full of fakes

The number of Aussies receiving kidney replacement therapy has doubled in 20 years

Publicly released: Tue 23 Aug 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

The report, which looks at Chronic Kidney Disease in Australia, found the pause on transplant surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic substantially impacted those with chronic kidney disease, as more Read more about The number of Aussies receiving kidney replacement therapy has doubled in 20 years

Zombie fungus-infected fly wins image award

Publicly released: Fri 19 Aug 2022 at 1000 AEST, 1200 NZST

BMC Ecology and Evolution

The image, taken during a storm in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, depicts researchers performing fieldwork to investigate whether isolated trees can help mitigate the impacts of human activity Read more about Zombie fungus-infected fly wins image award

Optimising health, equity and safety for people in social housing

Publicly released: Fri 19 Aug 2022 at 0951 AEST, 1151 NZST

realities and enable the system to respond to the very challenging personal circumstances these people faced during the COVID-19. ... While the research was conducted in the context of the pandemic, the Read more about Optimising health, equity and safety for people in social housing

Apps kept us healthy during the pandemic, but it came at a cost

Publicly released: Fri 19 Aug 2022 at 0948 AEST, 1148 NZST

PLOS Digital Health

However, the same technology added to stress and information overload from COVID-19-related news. ... The authors declare no competing interests. Read the paper: ‘The use of mobile apps and fitness Read more about Apps kept us healthy during the pandemic, but it came at a cost

Smoking, drinking and other risk factors cause half of all cancer deaths

Publicly released: Fri 19 Aug 2022 at 0942 AEST, 1142 NZST

The Lancet

3% (14. 6 million in 2010 to 19. 4 million in 2019). ... Results from the GBD 2019 study were estimated prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, therefore evaluating its impact on risk-attributable cancer burden Read more about Smoking, drinking and other risk factors cause half of all cancer deaths

Brain and nerve problems can persist for 2 years after COVID-19

Publicly released: Thu 18 Aug 2022 at 1520 AEST, 1720 NZST

The Lancet Psychiatry

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there has been growing evidence that survivors might be at increased risk of neurological and psychiatric conditions. ... Of those with health records in the US-based Read more about Brain and nerve problems can persist for 2 years after COVID-19

How much of an impact do standing desks have in the office?

Publicly released: Thu 18 Aug 2022 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

The BMJ

After a year, the researchers say the standing desk group reduced their sitting time by an average of an hour, and the non-standing desk intervention group reduced their sitting time ... However, she Read more about How much of an impact do standing desks have in the office?

Ivermectin, fluvoxamine and metformin not effective at preventing severe COVID-19

Publicly released: Thu 18 Aug 2022 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

New England Journal of Medicine

Ivermectin, fluvoxamine and metformin don't appear to significantly reduce the severe outcomes of COVID-19; hypoxemia, emergency department visits, hospitalisation and death, according to ... They say Read more about Ivermectin, fluvoxamine and metformin not effective at preventing severe COVID-19

Pfizer COVID-19 jab effectiveness in teens wanes after a month, but protects against severe disease

Publicly released: Thu 18 Aug 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

South Korean scientists say the effectiveness of the Pfizer COVID-19 jab in teens wanes after a month, but it continues to protect against severe disease. ... Estimated Long-Term Effectiveness Among Read more about Pfizer COVID-19 jab effectiveness in teens wanes after a month, but protects against severe disease