One Health Aotearoa aims to improve health and well-being through integrated, cross-sectoral, and whole-of-society approaches to health hazards. We focus on inclusiveness across the health sectors: animal, environment and human. Read about the latest research from our members.
No, catching Omicron is not ‘inevitable’ – here’s why we should all still avoid the virus
Aotearoa New Zealand has entered new COVID territory, characterised by high vaccination rates but also the rapid spread of the Omicron variant and rising numbers of hospitalisations. As we approach the peak of this wave, some have suggested it would be better to drop remaining public health measures, let the infection rip through our population…
OHA investigators involved with PMCSA’s report on infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance
One Health Aotearoa investigators were contributors to the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor’s report, Kotahitanga: Uniting Aotearoa against infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance, which was publicly released late last week. Six of the 10 members of the expert panel are One Health Aotearoa investigators including co-directors Professors Nigel French and David Murdoch. The other investigators…
Two years on from the first COVID case, New Zealand’s successful pandemic response still faces major challenges
Two years ago today, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported in Aotearoa New Zealand. Few of us could have imagined the huge impact this pandemic would still be having two years later. As New Zealand enters its third year of the pandemic, we are facing widespread community transmission as an epidemic wave of…
One Health Aotearoa Summer Newsletter 2022
Our latest newsletter has a reminder that EOIs for One Health Aotearoa leadership positions close today, congratulates Professor David Hayman on his recent appointment and reviews the 7th OHA Symposium held late last year. View the OHA Summer 2022 newsletter
Innovative animation educates tamariki on the role of COVID-19 genomic sequencing
The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) and the University of Otago have partnered with Maui Studios Aotearoa to create a short animation to highlight the role of genomic sequencing in the management of COVID-19. The animation is guided by Koro, an elderly Māori scientist and his granddaughter, Ruia, a young Māori girl intrigued by science…
Massey appoints first-ever Percival Carmine Chair in Epidemiology and Public Health
Building on Massey’s expertise in epidemiology and public health is the aim behind a position that has been newly established by the Massey University Foundation. The Percival Carmine Chair in Epidemiology and Public Health has been generously funded by Massey alumni Anne and Bryce Carmine to the value of $3.5 million for the next 10…
$1m of HRC funding awarded to enhance leptospirosis diagnosis and outcomes for rural and Māori communities
Professor Jackie Benschop and her team at Massey University are recipients of a 2021 Health Delivery Research Project Grant from the HRC for a project that aims to enhance leptospirosis diagnosis and outcomes for rural and Māori communities. Lay summary of project Poor community awareness and inconsistent laboratory testing for leptospirosis means cases go…
Award for science communication for Michael Baker
OHA Management Group member Professor Michael Baker from the University of Otago, Wellington, has been awarded the New Zealand Association of Scientists (NZAS) Cranwell Medal for science communication for 2021. The award was presented by NZAS Co-Presidents Professor Troy Baisden (via Zoom) and Dr Lucy Stewart in person in Wellington, following the association’s online conference…
One Health Aotearoa Spring Newsletter 2021
Our Spring newsletter congratulates the recipients of the HRC’s Liley Medal, announces the preliminary programme for the 7th OHA Symposium taking place in December and highlights recent OHA investigators providing expert opinion to media outlets on the COVID-19 pandemic. View the OHA Spring 2021 newsletter
New research focuses on connection between humans, gorillas and diseases in Uganda
New research suggests cross-species transmission of pathogens is intimately linked to human and environmental health, meaning areas with poor or challenging living conditions may be particularly susceptible to endemic and emerging diseases. School of Veterinary Science Disease Ecologist Dr Renata Muylaert and colleagues recently published the research paper titled ‘Community health and human-animal contacts on…