Health

On World Zoonoses Day, Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mark Schipp has highlighted how the risk of zoonoses, diseases which can be transmitted to humans from animals, can be reduced through practising good animal biosecurity and hygiene control procedures. The bacterial disease leptospirosis is an example of a zoonotic disease of worldwide importance. The disease has been reported in over 150 mammalian species around the world, including wildlife, rodents, cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, and people.

CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, will spearhead a $1.7 million project to identify new treatments for COVID-19, including 'long-COVID'. Scientists will develop a faster, smarter way of rapidly screening existing drugs and advancing those that can be used to treat COVID-19 and aim to have identified the suitable TGA- or FDA-approved drug candidates to progress to phase 2-3 human clinical trials within a year.

The Chief Minister announced Territory Day celebrations across the NT are deferred due to the unfolding COVID situation in Darwin ... Territory Day will go ahead at a later date so we can all celebrate together ... The Alice Springs Show which was due to happen today was cancelled due to the lockdown.

This article may trigger strong emotions. To clarify, COVID-19 as an infection does pose serious health risks to vulnerable people. That being said, I believe we must still discuss the issues affecting our nation and communities in an open and transparent manner ... We now see state-wide restrictions and lockdowns as a result of low case numbers. At the time of printing, there is one person in ICU in Australia with COVID-19 and a total of 54 in hospital, from a nation of 25,360,000 people. Yes, COVID-19 is a risk, but so are lockdowns. The trigger for these lockdowns is the numbers of positive PCR tests. What if a PCR test didn’t accurately reflect live virus but instead Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) of dead virus?

A political decision to build a kidney transplant unit at Townsville instead of Cairns has riled medical experts in the Far North. The state government held bids from both Cairns and Townsville hospitals for the new renal transplant unit, but opted for the more southern hospital, despite evidence suggesting more patients would benefit if it was in Cairns.

Out of town on the Ellangowan flats, the Diggers Clubhouse is a place where serving and former veterans can meet like-minded people. The former RFS building is the clubhouse for the Diggers Military Motorcycle Club where the men-only chapter of eight meet twice a month. Club president Todd De Bono said it was a place of “no judgment”.

Emma Pritchard. The opening of a new Covid-19 vaccination clinic in Grafton last week has given the Clarence Valley community a massive boost in the fight against the ongoing pandemic ... NNSWLHD Director of Corporate Services and Covid-19 Vaccination Executive Matt Long said the new clinic can currently vaccinate up to 100 people per day, with that number set to increase to 200 in the coming weeks as more staff receive their vaccinations.

Paint Main Beach pink with Evans Head Malibu Club’s first one-day women-only longboarding competition. Organiser Emma Perrier said the Saturday, June 19 event will be the Breast Comp Ever and will raise funds for the local Breast Care Nurse Service in Lismore.

Research led by the University of Technology Sydney and funded by AgriFutures Honey Bee & Pollination Program aims to provide evidence required by modern medicine to reposition honey from a staple in the pantry to a health food. The work seeks to use honey as a prebiotic to promote good digestive health and to help combat the onset and progression of gut related disease.

Kendall Jennings. As a part of a border community, you can enjoy both sides of the river without thinking you are in a different state – until the state governments have a difference of opinion over COVID-19 safety.

Nicholas Rupolo. Health Services Union paramedics across the Riverina will only attend to serious emergencies today following NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet’s wage increase offer the union describes as “humiliating and insulting” ... Health Services Union Riverina organiser Mick Grayson said regional paramedics were at a significant disadvantage from lower pay and costly work practices.

Central Goldfields Shire Council is reminding all households using an open fireplace or wood heater to ensure care is taken to prevent producing excessive amounts of smoke, which can have a negative impact on your neighbours and the environment.

The Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, said he is still in “shocked disbelief at the sheer arrogance of the acting Premier and his head health honcho and their combined defence of Victoria’s never ending COVID mismanagement”.

Kirstin Nicholson. It was a crazy few hours on Wednesday, May 26, when the Cohuna Kangas announced on its Facebook page that a person who attended their footy and netball matches on Saturday, May 22 had since tested positive for COVID-19. ... The town was sent into a flurry. Apart from the Kangas’ Facebook post, there was no official community-wide notification, and no official government announcement, leaving many wondering what was happening. The old bush telegraph was working at full capacity and social media was running wild.

The Evans Head Men's Shed is where the blokes meet to have a cup of tea and a chat. They make things – but that isn’t the point, says Greg Davies. It’s about the mateship. Without it he wouldn’t have got through his wife’s death, he said.

The Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Australian Business Council Dubai are delighted to jointly host this two-part webinar series with Dubai FDI - Healthcare on 16 June, Food & Agribusiness in September.

From Cape York to Kangaroo Island, to Wilcannia to Alice Springs, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is in the air delivering safe and effective vaccines to remote Australian communities. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack joined Regional Health Minister and Parkes MP, Mark Coulton to visit the RFDS base in Dubbo to announce a significant national partnership.

Five optometrists from Queensland University of Technology recently visited the Northern Peninsula Area and provided free eye tests for children. “The aim was to provide a service to the kids to do comprehensive vision testing and to understand the extent of any uncorrected vision problems that may be in the community,” said Dr Scott Read, Associate Professor at QUT’s School of Optometry and Vision Science.

Farmers are being urged to touch base with a Rural Aid counsellor for a mental wellbeing check-in, as mouse plagues continue to ravage rural communities. Rural Aid CEO John Warlters has urged primary producers to get in touch with Rural Aid. “Rural Aid can help farmers with a range of measures including financial, fodder and mental wellbeing assistance,” Mr Warlters said.