Science Media Centre

Claims that an influenza epidemic of swine flu proportions are set to overwhelm the country are overblown, according to virologists at the National Influenza Centre.  Media reports that a ‘new strain’ of influenza — H3N2 — causing hallucinations and crippling nausea, is heading north from Canterbury, and that flu admissions are at ‘epidemic’ levels, are [...]

Kate Newton writes in the Dominion Post about findings in a New Zealand-based study that show that two different flu viruses can infect a person at the same time. Such co-infection, though rare, has raised concerns that it could lead to new, more dangerous forms of flu, for example passing drug resistance from one flu [...]

New Zealand-based research has shown that, for people who get both seasonal A(H1N1) and pandemic flu (H1N1) flu at the same time, the results are more than just feeling very ill – the combination could lead to a newer, more harmful variant of the virus which is harder to treat. The new strain could arise [...]

Concern was sparked last week as there were reports in Australia that the Fluvax flu vaccine had had negative effects on some children under five. As a result, doctors both here and in Australia are suggesting that children under five not be vaccinated with the vaccine, but are encouraging everyone over the age of five [...]

Swine flu – lessons one year on This time last year, as Kiwis prepared to attend weekend dawn parade and RSA dinners in celebration of ANZAC Day, a public health issue was brewing that would quickly come to dominate headlines globally. In hindsight, it’s easy to for critics to take pot shots at the scale [...]

Australia’s Chief Medical Officer today told doctors in Australia to stop giving the seasonal flu vaccine to children under the age of five. The advice follows concerns the vaccine is adversely affecting children’s health after more than 20 children in Western Australia had adverse reactions including suffering from high fever and in some cases convulsions. [...]