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Likely rise in invasive strep infections in NZ requires a strategy
… Summary Group A streptococcus (GAS) is a common cause of sore throats and skin infections in children. In rare … high-income countries reporting increases in cases of iGAS, with children under the age of 10 the most affected group. In Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) a …
Briefing
NZ should prepare for a potentially severe global coronavirus pandemic
… In this blog we briefly summarise our assessment of the highly uncertain new coronavirus threat. Given its … precautionary response now means activating all components of our pandemic plan, with a particular focus on ‘keep it … and their immediate families, but requiring them to practice ‘self-isolation’ for 14 days (technically a form of …
Briefing
Cyclone Gabrielle joins list of Aotearoa NZ’s ‘sudden mass fatality events’
… the deaths caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in the context of previous 'sudden mass fatality events' in Aotearoa New … since the year 1900. But fatalities are just one aspect of the wider harm to health and wellbeing from Gabrielle – … and from job losses. Implications for public health practice and policy There is a need for: A broader inquiry …
Briefing
Can CT screening for lung cancer in New Zealand be cost-effective?
… it is the most deadly cancer, accounting for almost 20% of all cancer deaths in New Zealand. Lung cancer carries such … when the disease is advanced, has spread to other parts of the body, and is that much harder to treat. Consequently, there is a lot of interest in detecting lung cancer at its earlier stages. …
Briefing
Walking and cycling for transport is good for physical activity levels in Kiwis!
… Physical activity is good for health. Higher levels of physical activity are associated with reduced rates of breast and colon cancer, better mental health, lower … to their main activity each day have a 76% higher chance of achieving the Ministry of Health physical activity …
Briefing
The Two-Faced Tobacco Industry: Transformation and Cigarillos
… Tobacco companies have made much of their “transformation” vision, which they claim will … pioneered this rhetoric yet this company’s recent launch of a new, super value, smoked tobacco product : the cigarillo … a cheaper cigarette-like product fits with PMI’s vision of a smoke-free future? In this blog we explore that question …
Briefing
6 teaspoons of sugar a day helps the diseases stay down, in a most challenging way
… intake for consultation. In this blog, we review some of the underlying evidence on the health harm of sugar, and then pull back to consider the diet in total. … that we do not cover here, such as sugar industry lobbying of politicians that the UK press – in particular the …
Briefing
False zombie arguments about illicit tobacco shouldn’t be given any more oxygen
… illicit tobacco use has not increased as a proportion of the tobacco market, despite substantial tobacco tax … demand for illicit tobacco 'Zombie arguments' are lines of argument that refuse to die, despite lacking a logical or … prevalence. Implications for public health policy and practice The best way to ensure that the illicit tobacco …
Briefing
Wellbeing in public housing vs. private rentals: Quality and security make the difference
… NZ are assessed as being in serious housing need. Many of these households include children whose current and future … This Briefing summarises recent evidence that provision of public housing can improve the wellbeing of people currently in private tenancies. Public housing is, …
Briefing
An upgraded Alert Level 2 is urgently needed to address the Delta Variant threat
… and the system must be updated to address the threat of the highly transmissible Delta variant and future … school buses), shops, and meeting places. Mandatory QR code scanning or sign-ins whenever passing into an … when combined with masking [2]. Continuing to require QR code scanning or sign-ins will assist in contact-tracing …
Briefing

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