Science Media Centre

Influenza vaccinations are more effective in the morning, reports a new study. The UK research, published in the journal Vaccine, compared the immune response of 276 older adults vaccinated in the morning  or afternoon, and found that morning-vaccinated people had more influenza-fighting antibodies when tested one month later Read more about the study on Scimex.org The Science […]

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 […]

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has approved the use of a genetically modified virus (Pexa-Vec) for a liver cancer treatment trial. The Pexa-Vec virus is the first genetically modified organism for a human therapeutic purpose that is capable of reproducing itself, to be approved by the EPA for release under the HSNO Act. In a separate media release Environment Minister […]

The latest reports from South Korea confirm that 16 people have died in an outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). A review by the World Health Organisation has determined that the outbreak – which began last month – has been large and complex. In New Zealand, the Ministry of Health is updating the health sector on […]

Scientists seeking to publish highly controversial studies on the avian influenza virus H5N1 have agreed to remove key details from manuscripts describing their work following requests from the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSSAB). This effective censorship of scientific research – including potential to create airborne contagions – has sparked debate over the […]