600 Results

  • Monkeypox has arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand: what is the level of risk and how do we manage it?

    … (Fig 2) are increasing steadily . Technically it could be termed a pandemic, as it is an outbreak that has spread to … that this outbreak did not yet meet the criteria to be designated as a PHEIC 3 . However, it plans to reconvene a … and suspected cases identified through contact tracing can be given smallpox vaccines to stop forward transmission 20,21 …
    Briefing

  • The marked decline of sudden mass fatality events in NZ (1900 to 2015)

    … when war-related events were excluded). This trend could be due to such diverse factors as improved industrial safety … floods (2). Indeed, if future climate change continues to be rapid, then these type of events (along with mass deaths … to counter such patterns, since deaths from bush fires can be partly prevented by avoiding having housing next to …
    Briefing

  • Global survey shows New Zealanders value science highly, prioritise public health

    … The high level of trust reported globally should not be taken for granted. The scientific community must maintain … people hold science in high regard and want scientists to be more involved in policy decisions (Figure 1). New … infant vaccinated? Do I need to wear sunscreen? Should I be drinking this much coffee? What we choose to do is …
    Briefing

  • The science is certain: masks work. Policy and practice must support their use

    … made masking a far more complex issue than it needed to be. The review is broad in scope and includes evaluation of … review settles the issue and shows why masks need to be comfortable, sustainable, accessible, and widely worn when … control during winter 2024 and beyond. This policy should be integrated into a wider respiratory infection disease …
    Briefing

  • Modifying homes to prevent falls is very cost-effective: New NZ study

    … rails and removing tripping hazards in homes) appears to be a very cost-effective health sector intervention. But even … The total cost to implement the programme was estimated to be NZ$145 million (95%UI: $96 to $206 m). The net health … remaining lives of the modelled cohort) was estimated to be NZ$110 m (95%UI: cost saving to NZ$196 million). The …
    Briefing

  • New Zealand’s poor pandemic preparedness according to the Global Health Security Index

    … but that countries must also have a robust health system, be compliant with international norms, and work to improve … progressing civilisation). Public health capabilities must be regularly (annually) exercised and countries need to be transparent about their capabilities to assure neighbours. …
    Briefing

  • The humility of being second to Australia in cancer mortality

    … higher death rates from cancer than Australia that cannot be explained by higher incidence for most sites. This … there are differences in cancer survival, which appear to be particularly marked for bowel cancer, and for breast … ” led by Diana Sarfati would suggest that inequalities may be lessening, albeit still present in places. And we do know …
    Briefing

  • Rodents running riot in supermarkets – do we need to worry?

    … diseases such as salmonellosis – these pests should indeed be completely excluded from retail outlets. But this Briefing … been heated such as bread or canned produce are likely to be lower risk and in fact are a source of human food in some … evidence of rodent activity in human food can be very upsetting, it is likely that it causes only a …
    Briefing

  • BODE3 Interactive League Table Series: Prevention versus treatment, voluntary versus mandatory, targeted versus untargeted – can we generalize?

    … might typically generate the most health gain and be best value-for-money. In two of the previous blogs in this … jumping to abandon such treatments (!), and it must be noted that: The treatment interventions are for patients … voluntary interventions might still sometimes be the best choice eg, if there was a genuine need for …
    Briefing

  • Is youth vaping a problem in New Zealand?

    … and offer suggestions about how this behaviour needs to be more effectively monitored. Image by Christo Anesteva from … there is general agreement that vaping is likely to be less harmful than smoking, so long as smokers transition … to vape. Vaping uptake among non-smokers appears likely to be concentrated among young people, whose engagement in risk …
    Briefing

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Public Health Expert Briefing (ISSN 2816-1203)