Science Media Centre

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has today urged heightened readiness and surveillance against a possible major resurgence of the H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza amid signs that a mutant strain of the deadly Bird Flu virus is spreading in Asia and beyond.     The full release from the FAO is available here.  Our [...]

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 [...]

The Science Media Centre sought comment from experts on the 60 Minutes piece Living Proof, which examined the story of Alan Smith, who was treated with intravenous doses of vitamin C while close to death suffering with the H1N1 virus and made a full recovery. Professor John Fraser, Head of School of Medical Sciences, University [...]

With a fifth suspected swine flu death in New Zealand, the Ministry of Health is warning that New Zealand is experiencing a second wave of the disease. Although the WHO has announced that the pandemic is over, the pandemic influenza strain is the predominant strain circulating this winter in New Zealand. An excerpt: (read in [...]

Sacked drug adviser tours NZ Professor David Nutt grabbed headlines in the UK last year when the chair of the British Government’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs was sacked for his controversial views on recreational drugs and how they are classified. Professor Nutt, who has gone on to form the Independent Council on [...]

Following the outbreak of a highly infectious virus (now confirmed as swine flu) in the Wairarapa in the last few days, and the deaths of two people nationally from swine flu, medical experts are urging people to take steps to protect themselves. There are still a few swine flu vaccine doses left in the country, [...]

Tanya Katterns writes in the Dominion Post about a highly contagious virus, thought to be H1N1 flu, which is emptying schools of their pupils in the Wairarapa. Thus far, 300 pupils and 20 staff/teachers are at home with the virus, and Wellington Regional Public Health Service is  urging that any children showing symptoms be sent [...]

With flu cases on the increase nationally, authorities are warning that there are only a small number of vaccines left. An excerpt: (read in full here) “In the last week alone 59 people have been admitted to hospital, with areas around the top of the North Island worst hit. “This week Northland DHB reported the [...]

Flu cases are continuing to climb in New Zealand, especially in the North Island, but no serious cases have been reported this week. So far, two deaths have been linked with swine flu this year. An excerpt: (read in full here) “Two deaths have been linked to swine flu so far this year in New [...]