Science Media Centre

This week the World Health Organization (WHO) released a priority list for pathogens for which new drugs are urgently needed to combat. The list includes 12 families of bacteria divided into three categories: critical, high and medium priority. Among the critical group includes Pseudomonas aeruginosa,  which causes skin infections in humans – some strains have been […]

The World Health Organization’s cancer agency has found no conclusive evidence that coffee causes cancer but that drinking very hot drinks (65 °C or above) probably causes cancer of the oesophagus. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) said the finding suggests that it is the temperature of drinks rather than the drinks themselves […]

A wide-ranging series of initiatives designed to tackle childhood obesity was unveiled by the Government yesterday afternoon. The package is made up of 22 initiatives, which are either new or an expansion of existing programmes. The focus is on food, the environment and being active at each life stage, starting during pregnancy and early childhood. […]

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 […]

A group of health experts led by New Zealanders have laid down the global challenge of the world being tobacco-free by 2040, but they admit it requires a ‘turbo-charged’ effort. Writing in a major new Series in The Lancet, an international group of health and policy experts, led by University of Auckland Professors Robert Beaglehole […]

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a report looking at electronic cigarettes and how they should be globally regulated. The report recommended restrictions should be placed on the marketing of the devices, their sale to minors and indoor use. In addition, it points out that there is evidence showing that e-cigarette aerosol is not merely “water […]

A global update on air quality in cities around the world has shown that most — but not all — New Zealand centres meet international safety standards The new database, released yesterday by the WHO covers 1600 cities across 91 countries – 500 more cities than the previous report(2011), revealing that more cities worldwide are […]

A World Health Organisation report warning of increasing global levels of antibiotic resistance has received wide-spread attention in New Zealand. The report reveals that antibiotic resistance is no longer a prediction for the future – it is happening right now in every region of the world, and has the potential to affect anyone, of any […]

A WHO-commissioned study of fast food purchases per capita has found that NZ is one of the worst, with a sharp increase in both fast food consumption and obesity rates in recent years. The authors behind the study suggest that better regulation of food products is the answer to cutting back on unhealthy eating. The study, […]

The latest issue of New Scientist features a cover story investigating the health consequences of sugar intake, a hotly debated issue in nutrition circles. A recent study from Dr Lisa Te Morenga and her colleagues from the University of Otago is highlighted in the article (you can read earlier media coverage of the research, collated […]