Science Media Centre

Concern over the current outbreak of the mosquito-spread Zika virus in the Americas is growing. The virus is likely to spread to all countries in the Americas except for Canada and Chile, the World Health Organization said yesterday. The US Centres for Disease Control currently lists 22 countries with active transmission of the virus, including […]

A brand new analysis of obesity worldwide has shown that global rates have climbed steadily over the last three decades and New Zealand, unfortunately, is leading the charge. The percentage of overweight and obese individuals has climbed markedly among New Zealanders since 1980, according to a new, first-of-its-kind analysis of trend data from 188 countries. […]

The world population passed the seven billion mark on Monday (according to the UN), highlighting the population issues faced by global society. The tipping point (October 31), based on census data and surveys, was largely symbolic but was used by the United Nations to draw attention to their report: People and Possibilities in a World […]

New research has revealed New Zealand has one of the highest rates of diabetes among developed countries, drawing attention to the causes and prevention of the disease. The study, published in the Lancet, examined 2008 data on rates of diabetes globally and found that among wealthy countries New Zealand ranked in the top five in […]

A review article published in the Lancet this week put forward health priorities aimed at tackling some of the worlds biggest killers – heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory disease. A team of nearly 100 international health experts, led by New Zealander Professor Robert Beaglehole, called on heads of state and governments to […]

A review article published in the Lancet today puts forward health priorities aimed at tackling some of the worlds biggest killers – heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory disease. A team of nearly 100 international health experts, led by New Zealander Professor Robert Beaglehole, are calling on heads of state and governments to […]