Speaking with: Dr. John Gerrard on infectious diseases
The Conversation, CC BY-ND23.2 MB(download)
William Isdale speaks to Dr. John Gerrard about the constant threat of infectious diseases and what we can do to prevent a deadly pandemic from establishing itself in Australia.
Women have evolved to have stronger immunity than men. But this comes with downsides -
women are more likely to have autoimmune diseases due to their “reactive” immune systems.
Like so many Indigenous people in the NT, Dr G. Yunupingu had chronic hepatitis B since he was a child.
DAN HIMBRECHTS/AAP
Benjamin Cowie, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity; James Ward, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, and Steven Tong, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Hepatitis B rates in Indigenous communities are ten times higher than the rest of Australia. Eliminating the infection from Indigenous Australia can make a significant contribution to closing the gap.
Scientists estimate that by 2020, non-communicable disease will account for almost 70% of the total disease burden.
Shutterstock
Despite being so small they can’t be seen with the naked eye, pathogens that cause human disease have greatly affected the way humans live for centuries.
It’s the ability of our immune system to remember past infections, and pass this memory on to our kids, that allows us to survive infectious diseases.
from www.shutterstock.com
Tularemia is an animal disease that can be transmitted to humans. While it can be fatal, it is rare in Australia and can be treated with antibiotics.
Medical workers move a woman, who is suspected of having Ebola, upon her arrival at Meioxeiro Hospital, in Vigo, northwestern Spain, 28 October 2015.
SALVADOR SAS (EPA)/ AAP
Professor Samir Brahmachari’s innovative Open Source Drug Development allows thousands of researchers to work together to discover novel therapies for under-studied diseases.
One nostril or two? Hard blow or gentle? Some ways are more effective and less risky than others.
from www.shutterstock.com
There are a number of challenges that the World Health Organisation’s new leader, Ethiopian-born Tedros Ghebreyesus, will have to navigate during his tenure.
Pit latrine in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Access to clean water and sanitation are key to preventing cholera epidemics.
D. Schafer, SuSanA/Flickr
Cholera kills thousands every year but is treatable if it is caught early. Understanding how El Niño shifts cholera risks in Africa can help countries prepare for outbreaks and save lives.
While the flu vaccine cuts your chance of coming down with influenza, that’s not the whole story.
from www.shutterstock.com
As we head towards flu season, many people are wondering if it’s worth getting vaccinated against influenza and if so, when. Here’s what you need to know.
After the Spanish flu we didn’t see any new flu strains for forty years. Now novel strains are increasingly popping up.
Carlos Barria/Reuterspics
Eric Delaporte, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD)
One year after the end of the West African Ebola epidemic, a study of survivors in Guinea shows what has been learned about the deadly virus, and what remains unknown.
