There’s just over five weeks until the 4th One Health Aotearoa Symposium in Wellington on 12-13 December. Our Symposium Organising Committee have prepared a fantastic two-day programme to stimulate discussion and foster collaboration among infectious diseases scientists and professionals across the fields of animal, environmental and human health. 4th One Health Aotearoa preliminary programme Sessions at…

One Health Aotearoa researcher Associate Professor Patricia Priest discussed the ‘One Health’ concept at the Otago Spotlight on Infectious Disease in Wellington last month. Associate Professor Priest is based in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at the University of Otago.   Other One Health Aotearoa members also presented at the Spotlight including Dr…

In a world first, international scientists including a University of Otago researcher, have used whole genome sequencing to help diagnose a plant pathogen destroying crops on African farms, potentially paving the way for preventing crop failures, vital to the African economy. Dr Jo-Ann Stanton, a Senior Research Fellow in the University of Otago’s Department of…

ESR scientists say gardeners should be aware of the risks posed by potting mix and compost, as the numbers of cases of legionella bacterial infection begins to rise. Legionella can cause a range of symptoms, including severe pneumonia (Legionnaires’ Disease). ESR, which manages public health surveillance for the Ministry of Health, has already noted a seasonal…

University of Otago doctor and scientist is calling on New Zealand to be the first country in the world to eliminate tuberculosis (TB), the top infectious disease killer in the world. “With the right leadership, we could be the first country to eliminate tuberculosis and show the world it is possible,” Dr Ayesha Verrall, a…

Our latest newsletter announces the four plenary speakers for our annual symposium in December, invites our members to get involved with our work streams which focus on water quality and emerging infectious diseases, and highlights the research undertaken by the Food Assurance Team at AgResearch. View the One Health Aotearoa Winter 2018 newsletter

The fourth One Health Aotearoa Symposium will be held on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 December 2018 in the Nordmeyer Theatre at the University of Otago, Wellington. Plenary speakers The Symposium Organising Committee are delighted to announce that the plenary speakers will be: Dr Alison Mather (Quadram, UK) Professor Ross Thompson (Canberra, Australia) Dr Colleen…

Closing the border may make sense for New Zealand in some extreme pandemic situations, according to a newly published study of the costs and benefits of taking this step. “In a severe pandemic, timely/effective border closure could save tens of thousands of New Zealand lives far outweighing the disruptions to the economy and the temporary…

One Health Aotearoa Management Group member Professor Michael baker has been appointed to the HRC ‘Development Group’ to establish New Zealand’s first set of national health research priorities. Read the HRC’s press release about their ‘Development Group’.

Work undertaken by ESR scientists is the first in the world to show a particular and surprising immune response among people to influenza, and could help pave the way to a globally-sought universal flu vaccine. The study has significantly changed understanding of a critical part of the influenza virus, with an ESR report on its…