494 Results

  • Severe weather events linked to outbreaks of crypto in Aotearoa – New study

    … disease cryptosporidiosis in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). We found statistical evidence that weather events with … infectious disease. This finding is consistent with other NZ and international evidence, though additional research is … so since  rainfall intensity is expected to keep rising in NZ due to climate change. This study provides yet further …
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  • Can pandemic threats justify border closure for island nations like NZ?

    … the costs and benefits of complete border closure in NZ in response to new pandemic threats. We found that there … some very severe pandemic scenarios where rapid closure of NZ’s border could provide overall societal benefit – even … could become a rational choice for island nations like NZ. That is especially if that closure decision could be made …
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  • The need for a robust scientific definition for the elimination of COVID-19 from New Zealand

    … country or region requires continued preventive measures. NZ has successfully eliminated poliomyelitis, hydatid disease, and brucellosis [3]. NZ’s polio-free status required a verification process and … are scrutinised by a WHO verification commission [4]. The NZ Government has adopted a goal of eliminating COVID-19, …
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  • Weekly deaths declined in NZ’s lockdown – but we still don’t know exactly why

    … possibly the most dramatic public health intervention in NZ history. It helped achieve the elimination of community transmission of the COVID-19 virus in NZ. But it was also associated with 548 fewer total deaths … informed assessments. We examined weekly death data for NZ up to 8 June 2020 (the first 23 weeks into the year) and …
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  • Vaping very likely to be improving health in NZ – but how does this compare with other options?

    … for tobacco smoking, will improve the health of the NZ population. The estimated health gain is about the same as … liberalisation of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes – as NZ is doing. In this blog we discuss this new study and … potential health gain – and minimise risks.   Our joint NZ/Australian team used a computer simulation model to …
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  • Improving NZ Government communication about COVID-19: Five suggestions

    … The high quality communication by the NZ Government for much of the COVID-19 pandemic has been … depoliticise the COVID-19 response. Overall, Aotearoa NZ has done very well with its COVID-19 pandemic response and … typically ranked in the top few performing countries. 1 2 NZ’s economic indicators, such as GDP impacts, also compare …
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  • The COVID-19 pandemic in Aotearoa/NZ: A brief photo-essay with 10 photos

    … In this photo-essay of the COVID-19 pandemic in Aotearoa/NZ, each photo is accompanied by a brief comment on the … government action. The distinguishing feature of the NZ response to COVID-19 was that the Government listened to … tracing, quarantine of contacts and isolation of cases. NZ is the only OECD country with an explicit elimination …
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  • Urgent action needed to help eliminate cervical cancer in Aotearoa

    … a cancer as a public health problem. Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) committed to this goal in 2020. Four years on, NZ has made some great strides but is still far from meeting … these three things, cervical cancer will be eliminated in NZ within the lifetime of today’s children.  NGOs, …
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  • Promoting physical activity through the prescription of smartphone apps in primary care: Likely to produce health gains and cost-savings

    … Over 40% of NZ adults are insufficiently physically active. In this blog … health and save millions in health sector costs for NZ. Nevertheless, this type of intervention should ideally … aerobic physical activity each week [3]. In NZ, over 40% of adults are estimated to be insufficiently …
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  • Increasing whooping cough cases put pēpi at risk. What can be done about it?

    … Summary  Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) is experiencing a marked increase in whooping cough … in 2023 three very young pēpi died from pertussis in NZ, 5 despite low rates of recognised pertussis at the time. 5 6 Pertussis is always circulating in NZ and epidemics typically occur every 3-5 years (see Figure …
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Public Health Expert Briefing (ISSN 2816-1203)