wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/... New research shows seasonal flu vaccines could also offer some protection against H5N1 bird flu. In ferrets (our best model for human flu), vaccinated animals had milder illness and lower virus levels after H5N1 exposure.

Queensland: The measles outbreak tied to overseas travel (particularly from SE Asia) continues. Queensland Health has issued alerts after exposure incidents including at Cairns Hospital maternity ward. Masking is now required in high‑risk hospital wards.

www.medicalrepublic.com.au/nasal-flu-va... This is good news

NSW measles alert 🚨 A case was infectious at Sydney Airport T2 + flights Perth ➝ Sydney ➝ Gold Coast. Check your MMR vaccination & watch for symptoms (fever, cough, rash, red eyes) for up to 3 weeks. Call ahead before visiting a clinic. #PublicHealth #Measles #VaccinesWork

Rollout of #Ebola vaccine has begun in DRC in response to the country’s most recent zairevirus outbreak. It is still thrilling to know a vaccine for this scourge has been licensed and can be rapidly deployed. Vaccines save lives. www.afro.who.int/countries/de...

Moderna say that their new LP.8.1 updated COVID vaccine is being manufactured in their Melbourne plant, and hope to have it available by the end of the year. In the meanwhile, we wait with bated breath while COVID vaccine safety is discussed at the US ACIP meeting next Thursday.

Australia: 2 measles cases in Perth, linked to Bali travel; exposure at Dan Murphy’s + Coles Butler. Global: Ebola outbreak in DRC grows to 68 cases, 16 deaths; dengue & chikungunya surging in Bangladesh. #PublicHealth #Epidemiology #VaccinesWork

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam... Azelastine inhaled antihistamine 0.1% nasal spay available over the counter in Australia has been found in this (small) German RCT to reduce the incidence of COVID in vaccinated people from 6.7% to 2.2% by Day56.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09... Measles outbreak declared in Cairns after a case of the virus transmitted locally. There have been four measles cases in FNQ this year, with the first 3 travellers from Bali. Health officials urging people to monitor for symptoms and get vaccinated before travelling.

Australia has approved its first vaccine designed to protect koalas from chlamydia. This single‑dose vaccine, developed by the University of the Sunshine Coast, reduces infection, prevents disease progression, and even reverses symptoms in some cases.

www.health.qld.gov.au/newsroom/doh... Flu is still surging in QLD. The free vaccine ends 30 September. For the elderly, do wear a face mask when out shopping etc. #publichealth #Australia

Australia will soon have its own ‘centre for disease control’. Let’s not repeat the chaos of the US theconversation.com/australia-wi... Good overview article by Allen Cheng about the new Australian CDC

In Australia, COVID, flu & RSV are all trending down from winter peaks; but flu still high for late Aug. WHO has lifted the mpox global emergency—risk lower, not gone. Check measles and dengue status of country before international travel #auspol #publichealth

Epi update: Measles alert Sydney (imported), whooping cough surging (worst since ’91), winter viruses plateauing, RSV programs rolling out. 🌏 Globally: H5N1 in US cat food, cholera deaths rising, measles resurgence Americas. #PublicHealth #Epidemiology

www.health.gov.au/ministers/th... Big milestone - well done Mark Butler

🌍 I’m heading to #IUPESM2025 in Adelaide this month! Over 1,000 global delegates, a future-focused program, and unmissable conversations on medical physics, biomedical engineering & health innovation. 🔗 Join me: wc2025.org/registration 📅 Program: wc2025.org/program @IUPESM2025 #IUPESM2025

The Australian PABC had recommended that two RSV vaccines be funded under the National Immunisation Program - GSK’s Arexvy and Pfizer’s Abrysvo for all patients aged 75 and older, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 60-74.

During a pandemic, CSL Seqerus Australian manufacturing plant needs 1,000,000 fertilised chicken eggs a day.

Just attending the CSL Seqerus symposium on avian influenza. More later.

Long COVID is more than fatigue. Our new study suggests its impact is similar to a stroke or Parkinson’s theconversation.com/long-covid-i... It is a major problem that authorities don't want to talk about

Accelerated vascular ageing after COVID-19 infection: the CARTESIAN study url: academic.oup.com/eurheartj/ar... We know women are at higher risk of Long Covid, and that a covid infection can cause stiffness in the arteries via a build up of plaques. This large study confirms these findings.

Is it too late to get a flu shot? theconversation.com/is-it-too-la... My new article in The Conversation

Vaccines hold tantalizing promise in the fight against dementia theconversation.com/vaccines-hol... Another interesting article in The Conversation.

COVID, the flu and other viral infections can re-awaken dormant breast cancer cells, new study in mice shows theconversation.com/covid-the-fl... Interesting research, especially for cancer survivors

theconversation.com/long-covid-v... Suggests that upstream of fibrin amyloid microclots, viral-induced endothelial senescence is the key event that triggers the clot formation

www.nature.com/articles/s41... Study found that for those aged 40–85 years and infected with SARS-CoV-2, being vaccinated before infection was highly protective (wIRR 0.710 of a major acute cardiovascular event one year after the infection.

How germy is the public pool? An expert weighs in on poop, pee and perspiration – and the deceptive smell of chlorine theconversation.com/how-germy-is... In the 1980's I led research to determine how much chlorine residual is need to minimise the risk of infection in swimming pools and spas.

Coughs and sneezes spread diseases! See my new article in The Conversation. #UniSA #EpiSky #Epidemiology theconversation.com/covid-flu-rs...

time.com/7300451/new-... Still only about 5% of sequences in Australia

Moderna provide results of Phase 3 mRNA flu vaccine www.cidrap.umn.edu/influenza-va...

In Vaccine Nation, Raina MacIntyre reflects on science, misinformation and the threat to 200 years of progress theconversation.com/in-vaccine-n... Somewhat overshadowed by war in the Middle East, never-the-less, I am very happy with my latest article in The Conversation #UniSA #EpiSky

I chaired a CSL/Seqeris breakfast session of fluvax for the elderly. Coverage rates for the over 65s have now dropped to 2020 levels, which is a very worrying trend.

Just finished the Communicable Diseases and Immunisation Conference in Adelaide. Lots of discussion about the new Australian CDC & the Executive Director of the American Public Health Association brought us up to date with the dire news there. Mark Butler spoke today - he was impressive.

The new COVID subvariant NB.1.8.1 has now been called Nimbus (Latin for rain or storm cloud). Quite apt!

Yet another big jump in COVID-19 notifications in South Australia - the 5th week in a row. If you are over 65, please consider getting a booster shot if you are not up to date.

Yet another rise in COVID notifications this week in South Australia. It has gone from 159 at the beginning of May to 313 today. There have been similar rises in WA, Vic, Qld and NSW. Subvariant NB.1.8.1 is taking hold.

There’s a new COVID variant driving up infections. A virologist explains what to know about NB.1.8.1 theconversation.com/theres-a-new... A good explainer about NB.1.8.1.

www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/fda... The US FDA have decided that COVID-19 vaccines used in the United States starting in fall 2025 should be based on JN.1 lineage strains, preferably the LP.8.1 strain.

NB.1.8.* is now the dominant Covid subvariant in Western Australian wastewater. NB.1.8.* has better binding efficiency to human receptors compared with competing subvariants. Given the big rise in cases in Asia due to NB.1.8.*, it is highly likely we will see a new wave of cases across Australia.

The big rise in Covid cases across Asia appears to be due to NB.1.8.1 - a descendant of JN.1. It is better able to bind to human receptors than competing subvariants. Meanwhile, LP.8.1 is on the rise in Australia. CDC are considering LP.8.1 for the next vaccine update.

Big jump in South Australian Covid notifications this week from 175 to 286.

Do photons wear out? An astrophysicist explains light’s ability to travel vast cosmic distances without losing energy theconversation.com/do-photons-w... Great article - I didn't know much about photons until I read this

www.usatoday.com/story/opinio... A must read, from the ex-US Ambassador to Ukraine

www.usatoday.com/story/news/h... This pretty much brings the USA in alignment with Australia. However, we still do allow an annual booster for adults 18-64, although it is not recommended.

www.who.int/news/item/20... 124 countries have voted in favour of a global treaty aimed at enhancing pandemic preparedness. 11 countries abstained. Not forgetting that the US has withdrawn from W.H.O.

www.ndtv.com/world-news/c... Major rise in Covid cases in Asia, especially China. Authorities say that it is most likely due to waning immunity, rather than a new variant.

What makes people flourish? A new survey of more than 200,000 people across 22 countries looks for global patterns and local differences theconversation.com/what-makes-p... What an interesting study. Unfortunately, Australia didn't come out too well. We only just beat the UK, near the bottom!

www.bbc.com/news/article... Some fair criticism - but I still reckon our system is way better than the UK's NHS.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04... Excellent article. I agree with everything Raina says. We really should be concerned: "Australia's childhood immunisation rates remain relatively high by global standards but fell in 2023 for the third consecutive year"

Why it’s not safe for dogs to drink from communal water bowls theconversation.com/why-its-not-... I never let Kidogo drink from a communal bowl. Good advice.