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Testing for COVID-19 in NZ to achieve the elimination goal
… just recently detailed in a NZ Medical Journal Editorial [1]). We have been fortunate in having political leaders who … common background of patients with similar symptoms. 1) Testing of moderate and severe cases to ensure appropriate … than the wider population. Key groups could include: (1) asymptomatic contacts of cases; (2) healthcare workers; …
Briefing
Bowel cancer screening – An interesting new US study and thoughts about the NZ situation
… increasing ADR. Quintile of adenoma detection rate: 1 – low 2 3 4 5 – high Net costs in $US millions, discounted at 3% p.a. (per 1000 patients) $2.1 $2.0 $1.9 $1.9 $1.8 Life-years saved, discounted at 3% p.a. (per …
Briefing
Implementing healthy food environment policies in Aotearoa
… are the biggest preventable cause of death in Aotearoa NZ 1 . These are related to our food environments 2 . Health … with 47 good practice indicators are assessed (Figure 1). We compiled evidence of current implementation in NZ for … and validating this with government officials . Figure 1: Level of implementation of food environment policies and …
Briefing
The need for a robust scientific definition for the elimination of COVID-19 from New Zealand
… incidence of infection caused by a specific agent…” [1]. The global eradication of smallpox was declared in the … by a specific agent in a defined geographical area…” [1]. An alternative definition is “the reduction of case … is still occurring for levels 2-4 . Moving to alert level 1 would imply that there is relatively high confidence that …
Briefing
Tobacco Excise Taxes and the Smokefree 2025 Goal: Some Ways Forward
… scheduled tobacco excise tax increase came into effect on 1 January 2020, critics called on the Government to stop … majority of smokers wish they had never started smoking. 1,2 High tobacco prices stimulate quitting among smokers … largest tobacco company operating in New Zealand, released 1.1 billion cigarettes sticks for sale , more than 300 …
Briefing
Rising congenital syphilis in Aotearoa New Zealand needs a strong response
… can have tragic consequences for pēpē and their whānau. 1 Cases in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) are increasing, but with … increases for women and subsequently their infants. Figure 1: Infectious syphilis notifications by sexual behaviour, … to have received antenatal care, it is estimated around 1 in 4 congenital syphilis cases had mothers with a normal …
Briefing
Where do the parties stand? Long-term thinking & catastrophic risks
… including those from nuclear war and climate change. 1 Given this background, we included questions on these … catastrophic risk, specifically “pandemics”. Table 1: High level summary of the political party responses, … long-term thinking into the policy-making process. 1 Indeed, the NZ Productivity Commission has recommended a …
Briefing
Ventilation in NZ schools during the Omicron wave – results from a preliminary study
… outbreaks with cases in children increasing exponentially, 1 2 leading to large numbers of child hospitalisations, … size, weather, and physical classroom structure. Figure 1 demonstrates CO 2 levels from two primary school classrooms … to behavioural differences of windows being opened. Figure 1. School 1 – CO 2 levels in two primary school classrooms at …
Briefing
Insights into health system costs of living and dying in New Zealand – New study
… 2007-09 costs by age applied. The results are in Figure 1(click on it for higher quality image). Figure 1. Estimated cumulative health system costs (in 2011 NZ$) for … of GDP in NZ might increase from 6.9% in 2011 to 11.1% in 2060. However, Treasury models do not allow for …
Briefing
Water infrastructure failures from Cyclone Gabrielle show low resilience to climate change
… damage in its wake. It caused an estimated 1720 injuries, 1 11 deaths, 2 with an economic cost estimated to be up to … 285km of the water pipe network was damaged 5 (see Figure 1). Figure 1: Water supply and distribution piping network for Gisborne …
Briefing

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