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…

A national campaign is asking beef and dairy farmers across New Zealand to help develop frameworks for disease control of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVD). BVD is an infectious cattle disease which costs New Zealand farmers an estimated $150 million per year, primarily through reproductive issues, reduced growth rates and decreased milk production. Infected animals are…

One Health Aotearoa Co-director Distinguished Professor Nigel French from Massey University has received the Ministry for Primary Industries Award for Significant Contribution to Food Safety. Professor French was presented the award by Minister of Food Safety Damien O’Connor at the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology conference dinner earlier this month. The award…

Public health researcher Professor Michael Baker from the University of Otago, Wellington was interviewed by Wallace Chapman from Radio New Zealand yesterday about the quality of New Zealand’s drinking water.   Listen to Michael Baker on Radio New Zealand’s website.

One Health Aotearoa Co-director Professor David Murdoch has recently been appointed to the newly-established International Council on Adult Immunisation. The council comprises 12 global experts and advocates for older adults and immunisation, and is charged with providing technical expertise and leadership to advance the agenda of adult immunisation globally.