Resources for Journalists

Tweens use screens for a third of their after-school time

Publicly released: Fri 7 Jul 2023 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

NZMJ

The screen use was mostly dominated by television and computers, with tablets and phones being a lower proportion. ... Screen use rose rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and children in 2023 are Read more about Tweens use screens for a third of their after-school time

Women from refugee backgrounds at higher risk of mental distress due to COVID-19

Publicly released: Thu 6 Jul 2023 at 0900 AEST | 1100 NZST

PLOS Global Public Health

They've lost everything,” Ms Nadar says. Ms Nadar saw that for this group of women, the COVID-19 pandemic resurfaced trauma and exacerbated existing mental health issues. ... Rees says. “We need to be Read more about Women from refugee backgrounds at higher risk of mental distress due to COVID-19

More than half of new drugs add little to existing treatments

Publicly released: Thu 6 Jul 2023 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The BMJ

The system’s current performance does not meet the expectations of patients and the public, clinicians, or policy makers,” she writes. ... Having experienced the potential of a coordinated drug Read more about More than half of new drugs add little to existing treatments

Global efforts to reduce infectious diseases must extend beyond early childhood

Publicly released: Wed 5 Jul 2023 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

The Lancet

The COVID-19 pandemic and recent epidemics of Zika virus, Ebola and severe acute respiratory syndrome underscore the urgent need to take stock of infectious disease control,” he said. ... The unfinished Read more about Global efforts to reduce infectious diseases must extend beyond early childhood

Escaping exploitation with nowhere to go: Barriers in accommodating survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery

Publicly released: Tue 4 Jul 2023 at 1220 AEST | 1420 NZST

The Anti-Trafficking Review

We know we are in the middle of a severe housing crisis, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected housing affordability and the availability of rental properties and accommodation Read more about Escaping exploitation with nowhere to go: Barriers in accommodating survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery

Coronavirus inflammatory marker testing could save lives

Publicly released: Tue 4 Jul 2023 at 1123 AEST | 1323 NZST

Frontiers in Immunology

With vaccinations leading to high levels of population immunity to SARS-CoV-2, the World Health Organization recently highlighted the decreasing trend in COVID-19 deaths, the decline in COVID-19 Read more about Coronavirus inflammatory marker testing could save lives

Voluntourism still a 'neo-colonial practice' despite new focus on cultural exchange

Publicly released: Fri 30 Jun 2023 at 1010 AEST | 1210 NZST

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management

Voluntourism is a controversial mix of overseas volunteer work and more traditional tourist experiences that before the Covid-19 pandemic some estimated to be a US$2 billion industry annually. Read more about Voluntourism still a 'neo-colonial practice' despite new focus on cultural exchange

Rising monkey and pig populations pose human disease risk

Publicly released: Fri 30 Jun 2023 at 0938 AEST | 1138 NZST

Biological Reviews

The wildlife origins of the COVID-19 pandemic show that mammals in human-modified ecosystems often host high pathogen loads and pose serious zoonotic disease risks,” he said. ... The research is Read more about Rising monkey and pig populations pose human disease risk

How COVID-19 affected dental services in Fiji

Publicly released: Fri 30 Jun 2023 at 0800 AEST | 1000 NZST

PLOS ONE

COVID-19 has had a big impact on how dental clinics practice, given how the virus spreads, but no research has been done until now about how the pandemic affected services ... They report that most Fijian Read more about How COVID-19 affected dental services in Fiji

New drug could one day treat long COVID and prevent re-infection

Publicly released: Tue 27 Jun 2023 at 1900 AEST | 2100 NZST

Nature Communications

A new drug developed by QIMR Berghofer could transform the treatment of COVID-19 by potentially protecting against infection by any SARS-CoV-2 variant and reversing the persistent inflammation that Read more about New drug could one day treat long COVID and prevent re-infection

Customising the fit of respirator facepieces proves a good measure

Publicly released: Tue 27 Jun 2023 at 1136 AEST | 1336 NZST

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

Working with public hospital workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Chapman with clinician and cardiac electrophysiology scientist at Flinders, Professor Anand Ganesan, led the project to compare Read more about Customising the fit of respirator facepieces proves a good measure

Even a mild COVID-19 infection may reduce sperm quality months later

Publicly released: Mon 26 Jun 2023 at 1915 AEST | 2115 NZST

European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Núñez-Calonge. It is known that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can affect the testicles and sperm, but the mechanism is still unknown. ... It should be mentioned that impairment of semen parameters may not be due Read more about Even a mild COVID-19 infection may reduce sperm quality months later

Yeast dust makes a cheap, fast virus test

Publicly released: Mon 26 Jun 2023 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Nature Nanotechnology

Researchers from The University of Queensland have made a dust from baker’s yeast that can detect COVID-19 and could safeguard communities against future pandemics. ... AIBN research fellow Dr Read more about Yeast dust makes a cheap, fast virus test

1.3 billion people will be living with diabetes by 2050, and the gap is widening for First Nations Aussies

Publicly released: Fri 23 Jun 2023 at 1030 AEST | 1230 NZST

The Lancet and The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology

The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified diabetes inequity globally, with people with diabetes 50% more likely to develop severe infection and twice as likely to die compared to those without diabetes, Read more about 1.3 billion people will be living with diabetes by 2050, and the gap is widening for First Nations Aussies

Bee disease offers rare insights into RNA virus origins

Publicly released: Thu 22 Jun 2023 at 1600 AEST | 1800 NZST

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)

The study offers a rare insight in the origins of an RNA virus which, as we’ve seen through the COVID-19 pandemic, can be notoriously tricky to isolate,” Professor Mikheyev ... These mites carry the Read more about Bee disease offers rare insights into RNA virus origins

Tackling viruses with pandemic potential

Publicly released: Thu 22 Jun 2023 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

Nature Communications

Dr Isaacs said the virus caused fever and severe respiratory symptoms and was from the same class of viruses as the deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses. ... We saw with COVID-19 how unprepared the world was Read more about Tackling viruses with pandemic potential

Urgent action needed to further improve child survival in Ethiopia

Publicly released: Thu 22 Jun 2023 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS Global Public Health

With Ethiopia’s mortality rates two and three times those figures, the country is unlikely to reach those targets. ... Given the study uses data prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent civil war Read more about Urgent action needed to further improve child survival in Ethiopia

Lessons learned from New Zealand's ‘genomic journey’ through the COVID-19 pandemic

Publicly released: Fri 16 Jun 2023 at 1143 AEST | 1343 NZST

BMC Medicine

New Zealand scientists at the forefront of our COVID-19 pandemic response say the lessons learned from our world-leading genomic surveillance programmes could be useful in the looming crisis of Read more about Lessons learned from New Zealand's ‘genomic journey’ through the COVID-19 pandemic

Video games spark exciting new frontier in neuroscience

Publicly released: Wed 14 Jun 2023 at 1300 AEST | 1500 NZST

Nature Communications

Dr Tristan Wallis and Professor Frederic Meunier from UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute came up with the idea while in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. ... Individual proteins bounce and move in a Read more about Video games spark exciting new frontier in neuroscience

Lung and heart stem cell research paves way for new COVID-19 treatments

Publicly released: Wed 14 Jun 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Stem Cell Reports

Lung and heart stem cell research paves way for new COVID-19 treatmentsResearch at a Glance:Melbourne researchers have used heart and lung stem cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 to ... SARS-CoV-2 primarily Read more about Lung and heart stem cell research paves way for new COVID-19 treatments

Sports injury hospitalisations return to pre-COVID-19 trends

Publicly released: Wed 14 Jun 2023 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

injury hospitalisations largely in line with pre-COVID-19 trends – according to a new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). ... In response to COVID-19 lockdowns and the Read more about Sports injury hospitalisations return to pre-COVID-19 trends

Diabetes drug shortly after infection cuts risk of long COVID by 40%

Publicly released: Fri 9 Jun 2023 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The Lancet Infectious Diseases

Taking a two-week course of metformin, a safe and affordable diabetes medication after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 leads to 40% fewer long COVID diagnoses over the following 10 ... Previous studies Read more about Diabetes drug shortly after infection cuts risk of long COVID by 40%

Older Australians who coped better mentally during the pandemic were smarter with their money

Publicly released: Fri 9 Jun 2023 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

Among older Australians, those who coped better mentally at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to be making good financial choices, according to Australian research. ... The team Read more about Older Australians who coped better mentally during the pandemic were smarter with their money

COVID-19 can cause brain cells to 'fuse'

Publicly released: Thu 8 Jun 2023 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

Science Advances

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has been detected in the brains of people with ‘long COVID’ months after their initial infection. ... SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has been Read more about COVID-19 can cause brain cells to 'fuse'

COVID-19 transformed road safety for older Australians

Publicly released: Mon 5 Jun 2023 at 1052 AEST | 1252 NZST

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

crash data before and after COVID-19 to determine the impact of the pandemic on the frequency and location of crashes involving older people. ... Police-reported crash data for the over-65 population in Read more about COVID-19 transformed road safety for older Australians

Focus on the non-health benefits of COVID-19 vaccination to convince people to get their booster

Publicly released: Sat 3 Jun 2023 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

Focusing on the non-health benefits of getting a COVID-19 booster could make vaccine messaging more persuasive, according to Australian research. ... The team recruited about 450 people to view different Read more about Focus on the non-health benefits of COVID-19 vaccination to convince people to get their booster

Parkinson's drug could help slow motor neurone disease progression

Publicly released: Fri 2 Jun 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Cell Stem Cell

While they say many of the patients dropped out of the study - mainly due to COVID-19 - those who continued to receive the treatment saw a slower progression of the disease. ... Many patients dropped out Read more about Parkinson's drug could help slow motor neurone disease progression

EXPERT REACTION: Can garlic fight flu and COVID-19?

Publicly released: Thu 1 Jun 2023 at 1515 AEST | 1715 NZST

Media releases issued by the Australian Garlic Producers Pty Ltd and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry suggest that new research shows that garlic can kill COVID-19 and flu Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Can garlic fight flu and COVID-19?

EXPERT REACTION: Australia considers ban on ‘high-risk’ uses of AI

Publicly released: Thu 1 Jun 2023 at 1434 AEST | 1634 NZST

The Albanese government is considering a ban on “high-risk” uses of artificial intelligence and automated decision-making, warning of potential harms including the creation of deepfakes and Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Australia considers ban on ‘high-risk’ uses of AI

After two years, one in six people who had COVID-19 before vaccination still report health effects

Publicly released: Thu 1 Jun 2023 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The BMJ

The team followed a group of 1,106 people who caught the original COVID-19 variant and compared their self-reported symptoms with 628 people who hadn't had the virus ... Their findings are based on 1,106 Read more about After two years, one in six people who had COVID-19 before vaccination still report health effects

Lockdown really made us lose our sense of time

Publicly released: Thu 1 Jun 2023 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

The social isolation resulting from COVID-19 lockdowns significantly impacted people’s activities and emotions, and prior research has shown that the pandemic triggered distortions in people’s Read more about Lockdown really made us lose our sense of time

Fish were the most widely used animals in New Zealand research in 2021

Publicly released: Wed 31 May 2023 at 1650 AEST | 1850 NZST

The figures show that 309,872 animals were used in 2021, an increase from 245,522 used in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020. ... This is an increase from 245,522 used in the first year of the Read more about Fish were the most widely used animals in New Zealand research in 2021

Social networks the key to water management & sanitation in the Pacific

Publicly released: Wed 31 May 2023 at 1337 AEST | 1537 NZST

Water Policy

lead author Dr Mark Love, a research fellow at the International WaterCentre and the Australian Rivers Institute. ... For example, Facebook ‘live’ information discussions have been proactively used Read more about Social networks the key to water management & sanitation in the Pacific

Sourdough or #sourfaux?

Publicly released: Wed 31 May 2023 at 0900 AEST | 1100 NZST

International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition

Sourdough has had a renaissance in Australia in recent years. This has been partly driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown baking; from March to April 2020, Google searches for ... Grafenauer says. Read more about Sourdough or #sourfaux?

Has the pandemic changed our drinking habits?

Publicly released: Wed 31 May 2023 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Drug and Alcohol Review

Adult men and those aged 35 or over were most likely to increase their alcohol consumption during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Australian and international researchers Read more about Has the pandemic changed our drinking habits?

Sleeping well linked to a lower risk of long COVID

Publicly released: Wed 31 May 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

The team looked at 1,979 women who reported testing positive for COVID-19, and gave them a pre-pandemic sleep score of 0-5 based on a number of factors ... They found those with a pre-pandemic sleep score Read more about Sleeping well linked to a lower risk of long COVID

Over 250,000 COVID-19-related hospitalisations recorded across 2021-2022

Publicly released: Wed 31 May 2023 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

3% required ventilation and 2% died in hospital. The report says about 1 in five COVID-19-related hospitalisations were in patients with at least one other chronic health condition. ... 3% required Read more about Over 250,000 COVID-19-related hospitalisations recorded across 2021-2022

COVID-19 vaccine builds powerful immune response in First Nations peoples

Publicly released: Tue 30 May 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Immunology

An Australian study has shown that vaccination against COVID-19 elicits an effective immune response in First Nations peoples, who are at higher risk of respiratory virus infections. ... We found Read more about COVID-19 vaccine builds powerful immune response in First Nations peoples

New compounds give important pandemic therapeutic option

Publicly released: Wed 24 May 2023 at 0600 AEST | 0800 NZST

Clinical & Translational Immunology

the ability of influenza virus to replicate in the lung, and protect against damaging inflammation. ... damaging. ” A/Prof Tate said. COVID-19 has shown us the damage that can be done by out-of-control Read more about New compounds give important pandemic therapeutic option

Rental housing standards a threat to resident health and wellbeing

Publicly released: Mon 22 May 2023 at 1230 AEST | 1430 NZST

Regional Studies, Regional Science

Prior to COVID-19, research found an estimated one million Australians were living in poor to very poor housing. ... Dr Daniel says rising interest rates and other factors are likely to have drastically Read more about Rental housing standards a threat to resident health and wellbeing

Masks and air cleaners reduced the amount of COVID-19 in the air in classrooms

Publicly released: Fri 19 May 2023 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS Medicine

The researchers consistently detected salivary and airborne SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in air samples and samples from students throughout the study period. ... The levels of airborne Read more about Masks and air cleaners reduced the amount of COVID-19 in the air in classrooms

Donor hearts from those who died with active COVID-19 could pose risks for recipients

Publicly released: Thu 18 May 2023 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

Journal of the American College of Cardiology

York. The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for heart transplantation since transplant centers had to continuously modify their recipient and donor management protocols as the pandemic and Read more about Donor hearts from those who died with active COVID-19 could pose risks for recipients

Genetic links to severe COVID-19 could help us improve treatments

Publicly released: Thu 18 May 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature

The findings, which build on previous analyses, improve our understanding of the factors that underlie severe COVID-19 and highlight targets for drug development. ... In the latest update, Kenneth Baillie Read more about Genetic links to severe COVID-19 could help us improve treatments

Evidence update finds masks may help stop the spread on COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 16 May 2023 at 0700 AEST | 0900 NZST

Annals of Internal Medicine

The final update of an ongoing review of the evidence around masks and COVID-19 has found that masks may be linked to a small reduction in risk for ... The initial review was followed by eight brief Read more about Evidence update finds masks may help stop the spread on COVID-19

Environmental researchers could be (accidentally) capturing identifiable human DNA

Publicly released: Tue 16 May 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Ecology & Evolution

These samples can be used to monitor wild populations and invasive species, reconstruct past environments and screen wastewater samples for human pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2. ... Time Authors David Duffy, Read more about Environmental researchers could be (accidentally) capturing identifiable human DNA

Youth input key to addressing pillars of the mental health crisis

Publicly released: Mon 15 May 2023 at 0430 AEST | 0630 NZST

Te Hiringa Mahara - Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission

Dr Stubbing says internationally, organisations such as the World Health Organization and the International Association of Youth Mental Health are also recognising young people’s perspectives on Read more about Youth input key to addressing pillars of the mental health crisis

Sending at-home HPV test kits to under-screened women can help boost testing rates

Publicly released: Fri 12 May 2023 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The Lancet Public Health

Cervical cancer disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic women in the USA, with the highest incidence among Hispanic women and the highest mortality among Black women. ... The trial was also Read more about Sending at-home HPV test kits to under-screened women can help boost testing rates

Your COVID immunity could wane faster if your BMI is high

Publicly released: Fri 12 May 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Medicine

The team also looked at the relationship between BMI, hospitalisation and mortality due to COVID-19 among 3. ... 6 million people in Scotland using their COVID-19 surveillance platform, and found Read more about Your COVID immunity could wane faster if your BMI is high

AI helps map the postal workers in cells

Publicly released: Fri 12 May 2023 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Cell

University of Queensland researchers have used artificial intelligence to build a 3D map of key cell components to better understand dementia and infectious diseases including COVID-19. ... Viruses such Read more about AI helps map the postal workers in cells

Most children with COVID-19 don’t require hospital treatment

Publicly released: Fri 12 May 2023 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

The Medical Journal of Australia

The research, led by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and published in The Medical Journal of Australia, found more than half of children with COVID-19 who visited an emergency department Read more about Most children with COVID-19 don’t require hospital treatment