Jennifer Barr

Most flu deaths this century were recorded in 2025, ABS finds There were more deaths associated with influenza last year than any other year this century, according to the Australia Bureau of Statistics.

Most flu deaths this century were recorded in 2025, ABS finds.

-bigger season means more deaths unless flu vaccination levels are much higher. And we had our biggest season in record.

www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

Nipah in the news: why it’s essential to follow the facts, not the fiction Doherty Institute's Dr Danielle Anderson shares the latest insights on Nipah virus reemergence in India, with two recent confirmed cases in West Bengal.

🌐🦠 #NipahVirus in the news, but not a 'new global threat'
Two cases in India & a newly reported death in Bangladesh, serious, but outbreaks stay small as it does not spread easily between people.
Sensationalism doesn’t help, check AuCDC & WHO websites for advice.

bit.ly/4rHGg4E

Integrating Prevention and Response at the Crossroads of Henipavirus Preparedness, Hendra@30 Conference, 2024 Hendra@30 Henipavirus Conference, 2024

With thanks to @jennbarr.bsky.social for the reminder re #NipahVirus #OneHealth research progress
🌏 A recent global meeting in Geelong brought together experts to share advances in vaccines & treatments, viral mechanisms, genetic diversity, and the bat ecology behind spillovers 🦇🔬
bit.ly/3Mx6kjM

#Nipah virus case in Bangladesh. Likely contracted from consumption of contaminated date palm sap.

www.who.int/emergencies/...

"The patient reported no travel history but had a history of consuming raw date palm sap. All 35 contact-persons are being monitored and have tested negative for NiV and no further cases ”

Risk increases when seasonal higher-risk human activities increase.

www.who.int/emergencies/...

Nipah virus: What we know and how Australian researchers are responding Nipah virus is a rare but deadly zoonotic disease. While the virus is not present in Australia, CSIRO researchers are studying Nipah and related bat-borne viruses to strengthen outbreak preparedness a...

www.csiro.au/en/news/All/...

Emerging bat virus found in stored throat swabs from 5 patients with suspected #Nipah infection

The finding raises the concern that dangerous bat viruses may be silently co-circulating with Nipah virus.

www.cidrap.umn.edu/m...

Photo: Cloudtail the Snow Leopard / Flickr cc

Integrating Prevention and Response at the Crossroads of Henipavirus Preparedness, Hendra@30 Conference, 2024 Hendra@30 Henipavirus Conference, 2024

A little over 12 months ago, 150 scientists from 16 countries gathered in Geelong to reflect on the past 30 years of henipavirus research, current developments and future directions. The outcomes of that meeting are detailed in our recent publication in EID below.

wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/...

Henipaviruses (Hendra, Nipah) have high fatality & epidemic risk. In 2024, 150 scientists from 16🇨🇦 met at Hendra@30, expanding research with bat ecology for prevention.🦇

🔥 Thousands of #flyingfoxes died in last week’s 42°C+ heatwave across SA, VIC & NSW, worst since 2019/20 Black Summer fires
🦇 Flying foxes are like “canaries in the coal mine” warning us as what is happening to other animals as extreme heatwaves become more frequent🌡🔥

#OneHealthResearch 🚨
New scoping review on climate & arboviruses in Australia:

📊 30 studies analysed
🌏 Inland regions included
🌡️ Temperature–infection link varied by region
👉 Highlights need to enhance human & 🦟 vector surveillance
#RossRiverVirus #BarmahForestvirus

#Marburg: Ethiopia's health ministry says at least 3 people have died from Marburg. The slide, posted to their X account, suggests there've been 4 confirmed cases. WHO has said at least 9.
Am curious about efforts to get experimental vaccine into the field. africannewsagency.com/ethiopia-rep...

CSIRO to cut up to 350 research jobs in major overhaul After 440 positions were slashed last year, the CSIRO has announced more staff cuts across the country in a bid to remain financially viable.

“CSIRO has announced it will slash up to 350 jobs as the national science agency grapples with long-term financial challenges … with current funding failing to keep pace with the rising costs of running a modern science agency.”

Not “challenges”. They’re choices. 😡

Breaking: CSIRO to cut up to 350 research jobs in major overhaul After 440 positions were slashed last year, the CSIRO has announced more staff cuts across the country in a bid to remain financially viable.

Things are a bit grim at CSIRO today

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...

Ethiopia confirms first Marburg outbreak as WHO lauds country's fast action Ethiopia has confirmed its first Marburg outbreak after nine cases were identified in the southern region of the country that borders South Sudan

Disease outbreak in Ethiopia confirmed to be Marburg virus

www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

www.afro.who.int/news/ethiopi...

Nice! There was some action down under too. Although not quite as impressive as yours

Did you take that pic Arinjay?
I’m hoping to see the Southern Lights tonight!

Ebola outbreak in DR Congo adds 11 new cases in past week The death rate of the outbreak, first declared on September 4, is 61%.

Ebola outbreak in DR Congo adds 11 new cases in past week www.cidrap.umn.edu/ebola/ebola-...

From bat roost to breakthrough: The story of Salt Gully virus During routine bat surveillance in Queensland, CSIRO scientists discovered Salt Gully virus: a previously unknown henipavirus. Its unique behaviour highlights the importance of early virus detection a...

The story behind the discovery of Salt Gully virus

www.csiro.au/en/news/All/...

Thanks Ian!

A new bat-borne pathogen dubbed Salt Gully virus has been uncovered in flying-foxes Down Under. While there are no signs of human spillover, it is a relative of Nipah & Hendra – diseases considered ‘priority pathogens’ by WHO
www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt... @telglobalhealth.bsky.social

On #ScienceUnderSeige BY @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social @michaelemann.bsky.social @latimes.com @hiltzikm.bsky.social www.latimes.com/business/sto...

Behind these airlocked doors, Australian scientists study deadly diseases Step into one of Australia's few biosafety level 4 facilities, where scientists handle highly transmissible and potentially lethal pathogens such as Ebola and Hendra virus.

www.abc.net.au/news/health/...

Underlying disease can make things worse. Poverty creates a number of factors that can poor infection outcomes more likely.
But "being healthy" is not a shield to the normal biological functions of a disease causing agent like a virus.
A functioning and immunised immune system certainly can be.

> Salt Gully virus does not use the same receptors for cell entry as the classical henipaviruses

> Pathogenicity remains unknown with no evidence of spillover into humans or animals to date

> This new virus is in the same genus as the deadly Hendra & Nipah viruses

> Salt Gully virus is most closely related to Angavokely virus, discovered in bats in Madagascar

Novel Henipavirus, Salt Gully Virus, Isolated from Pteropid Bats, Australia Novel Henipavirus Isolated from Bats, Australia

Our research describing the isolation and characterisation of a novel henipavirus, Salt Gully virus, discovered in Australian bats has been published in the September edition of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/...