Resources for Journalists

Climate change is harming our health but climate services save lives

Publicly released: Thu 2 Nov 2023 at 2200 AEDT | Fri 3 Nov 2023 at 0000 NZDT

Currently, just 0. 2% of total bilateral and multilateral adaptation finance supports projects that identify health as the primary focus, and the investment in the capacity for multisectoral and Read more about Climate change is harming our health but climate services save lives

How does COVID-19 affect immunocompromised people differently?

Publicly released: Thu 2 Nov 2023 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

PLOS ONE

The team recruited 27 immunocompromised COVID-19 patients; 12 with blood cancers or conditions, eight with secondary immunosuppression and seven with primary or acquired immunodeficiency from Read more about How does COVID-19 affect immunocompromised people differently?

Pandemic compliance rules are confused by slow science and misinformation

Publicly released: Thu 2 Nov 2023 at 0820 AEDT | 1020 NZDT

Policy and Society

A new study in the international journal Policy and Society found gaps in knowledge about the first and subsequent COVID-19 virus prevention led to sometimes confusing government messaging, which Read more about Pandemic compliance rules are confused by slow science and misinformation

Evidence shows that masks reduce transmission in a pandemic

Publicly released: Wed 1 Nov 2023 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

Viruses that are spread by the respiratory system can lead to pandemics such as COVID-19, and face masks provide an important layer of protection. ... viruses. Robust available data support the use of Read more about Evidence shows that masks reduce transmission in a pandemic

Males’ immune response to a virus-like challenge alters their offspring’s behaviour

Publicly released: Tue 31 Oct 2023 at 1550 AEDT | 1750 NZDT

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

The researchers are calling urgently for more studies to explore what this might mean to human development and brain health in the wake of widespread COVID-19 and flu infections. ... With many men of child Read more about Males’ immune response to a virus-like challenge alters their offspring’s behaviour

How do lingering COVID-19 symptoms affect your quality of life?

Publicly released: Wed 25 Oct 2023 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

Nature Communications

Over 250,000 people involved in a British COVID-19 study filled out a questionnaire about their experiences with the virus; with about 130,000 of the participants reporting at least ... The researchers Read more about How do lingering COVID-19 symptoms affect your quality of life?

Australian health spending up by 6% in 2021/2022

Publicly released: Wed 25 Oct 2023 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

9%) in real terms to $84. 1 billion, which was associated with increased spending related to the pandemic, such as COVID-19 vaccines and personal protective equipment. ... 2 billion by state and territory Read more about Australian health spending up by 6% in 2021/2022

How to slow the spread of deadly ‘superbugs’

Publicly released: Tue 24 Oct 2023 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

Nature Review Genetics

and the University of South Australia. ... The use of genomic tracing during the Covid-19 pandemic has provided insight into the potential of genomic technologies to monitor the development and spread of Read more about How to slow the spread of deadly ‘superbugs’

Common COVID-19 medications associated with small reduced risk of lingering symptoms

Publicly released: Tue 24 Oct 2023 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

JAMA Internal Medicine

The researchers looked at post-COVID-19 conditions - COVID-19 symptoms persisting between one and three months after infection - among nearly 2 million people aged 65 and over in the US. ... 6% received Read more about Common COVID-19 medications associated with small reduced risk of lingering symptoms

COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant mothers linked to fewer serious health complications for their babies

Publicly released: Tue 24 Oct 2023 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

JAMA Pediatrics

The researchers used Canadian health databases to compare the health of 142,006 babies, 85,670 of which were exposed to at least one COVID-19 vaccination in utero. ... death, and neonatal intensive care Read more about COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant mothers linked to fewer serious health complications for their babies

Gut fungi related to severe COVID-19 could provide an opportunity for treating the virus

Publicly released: Tue 24 Oct 2023 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

Nature Immunology

Iliyan Iliev and colleagues examined the gut mycobiota (the fungal microbiota) of 91 individuals with COVID-19 from 3 US cohorts recruited during the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections. ... In mice Read more about Gut fungi related to severe COVID-19 could provide an opportunity for treating the virus

Mimics human tissue, fights bacteria: new biomaterial hits the sweet spot

Publicly released: Mon 23 Oct 2023 at 2000 AEDT | 2200 NZDT

Nature Communications

Surprise discovery in lockdownAshley Nguyen, a PhD student in the UNSW School of Chemistry and first author on the paper, made this discovery during the Covid19 lockdown using computer simulations. Read more about Mimics human tissue, fights bacteria: new biomaterial hits the sweet spot

Eyes may be the window to your soul, but the tongue mirrors your health

Publicly released: Thu 19 Oct 2023 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

AIP Conference Proceedings

This is especially relevant in the wake of a global pandemic like COVID, where access to health centres can be compromised. ” ... patients with a moderate infection had a red tongue, and 99% of patients Read more about Eyes may be the window to your soul, but the tongue mirrors your health

Telehealth audiology services need to be dialled up

Publicly released: Wed 18 Oct 2023 at 1400 AEDT | 1600 NZDT

American Journal of Audiology

Despite a surge during COVID-19, the use of telehealth-supported access to audiologists is not being used to its full potential according to new research from Flinders University. ... The study – Read more about Telehealth audiology services need to be dialled up

Aged care could be beneficial for people with dementia

Publicly released: Wed 18 Oct 2023 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

to allow the interaction between health and aged care systems to be monitored. ... Due to data availability at the time of study, changes in health and care aged care services following recent aged care Read more about Aged care could be beneficial for people with dementia

Cycling in school improves teenagers’ mental health, but wider social factors may impact benefits

Publicly released: Thu 12 Oct 2023 at 1500 AEDT | 1700 NZDT

Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

Participation in a school cycling education program during the Covid-19 pandemic was associated with improved psychosocial well-being amongst middle schoolers in the US,” said Dr Esther Walker, Read more about Cycling in school improves teenagers’ mental health, but wider social factors may impact benefits

Liquid reagent can rapidly inactivate coronavirus for faster, safer and potentially life-saving testing

Publicly released: Tue 10 Oct 2023 at 1214 AEDT | 1414 NZDT

Frontiers in Microbiology

The study showed that the unique composition of the reagent could extract RNA in patient samples in little as five to ten minutes – and importantly, rapidly inactivate SARS-CoV-2 to ... QIMR Berghofer Read more about Liquid reagent can rapidly inactivate coronavirus for faster, safer and potentially life-saving testing

Call to comprehensively mitigate the impact of Covid, flu, and RSV

Publicly released: Fri 6 Oct 2023 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

New Zealand Medical Journal

A group of 16 New Zealand researchers say we should start treating illnesses such as influenza and RSV more like COVID-19, rather than the other way around. ... and exploring the advantages and Read more about Call to comprehensively mitigate the impact of Covid, flu, and RSV

Australian Long COVID response lagging

Publicly released: Thu 5 Oct 2023 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

Public Health Reviews

Co-lead author Associate Professor Zhen Zheng highlighted that while early investigation at week four after contracting COVID-19 is recommended by the Australian, UK and US guidelines, this is not Read more about Australian Long COVID response lagging

When cells go boom: revealing an inflammation-causing gene carried by millions

Publicly released: Tue 3 Oct 2023 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Nature Communications

In the future researchers hope to pinpoint the genetic changes that might mean someone is more likely to have a severe case of COVID-19, or less likely to bounce back ... 1038/s41467-023-41724-6). The Read more about When cells go boom: revealing an inflammation-causing gene carried by millions