Guest Author • Jan 14, 2020 •
Connor Bamford, Queen’s University Belfast Since December 2019, there has been a cluster of 59 cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, eastern China. The pneumonia is associated with a previously unidentified coronavirus related to the deadly SARS virus. Seven of those cases are thought to be serious, and one person – with serious pre-existing health problems – has died. The … Read More
Public Health Expert • Feb 01, 2017 •
By Dr Julia Scott, Prof Nick Wilson, Prof Michael Baker. In a globalised world an infectious disease outbreak anywhere is a potential threat to New Zealand. Recent such threats have included severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), pandemic influenza (2009), Ebola and Zika. In the context of an upcoming University of Otago, Wellington Public Health Summer School symposium on … Read More
InfectedNZ • Nov 21, 2016 •
By Associate Professor Lance Jennings, as part of the #InfectedNZ online campaign to raise awareness about infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. In the context of World Antibiotic Awareness week (November 14-20) and efforts to raise the awareness of infectious diseases in New Zealand, it is useful to include a discussion on viruses. Although few treatments and vaccines … Read More
Siouxsie Wiles • May 13, 2013 •
Between November 2002 and July 2003, a novel respiratory virus appeared in South China, spreading first to Hong Kong and going on to infect people in 37 countries around the world. As the virus spread, thousands were quarantined, schools were shut, and many airports implemented thermal screening programmes to stop potentially infected people from getting on planes. By the end … Read More