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Virology Down Under

Facts, data, info, expert opinion and a reasonable, occasionally grumpy, voice on viruses: what they are, how they tick and the illnesses they may cause.

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19th April Harvard webpage landing page snippet

What if Harvard loses?

Posted onApril 19, 2025April 23, 2025

The prestigious Ivy League private university has taken a stand against the Trump administration’s demands. Briefly (see the link above for full details), these set out a list that aims Read More …

CategoriesUncategorized

The US 2024-2025 flu season and the vaccine

Posted onFebruary 13, 2025February 13, 2025

The United States has been having one of its biggest influenza (flu) years. Let’s look at how this season’s northern hemisphere flu vaccine, which most Americans most likely didn’t seek Read More …

CategoriesUncategorized

people in facial mask standing on sidewalk

Not the “Chinese flu” label thing again…please

Posted onJanuary 6, 2025January 11, 2025

A few recent headlines have suggested something novel and infectious might be brewing among China’s children. But is it really novel? The hard-to-source headlines imply that we should be concerned. Read More …

CategoriesUncategorized

Unexplained hepatitis: severe liver inflammation among young children

Posted onApril 25, 2022May 11, 20222 Comments

Uncharacterised and so far rare cases of unexplained severe liver inflammation among young children. These cases of unexplained hepatitis have been appearing in elevated numbers worldwide since November 2021. The Read More …

CategoriesAdenovirus, Emerging disease, SARS-CoV-2, Uncategorized

COVID-19 cases slow a little in Australia

Posted onMarch 27, 2020March 28, 202014 Comments

Our borders have been shut to non-citizens for about a week and despite being regularly admonished for being terrible at obeying confusing, constantly changing or poorly communicated new rules, the Read More …

CategoriesUncategorized

Politically infectious period

Posted onMarch 20, 2020March 20, 20206 Comments

A senior Australian politician arrived in Australia from the United States (US) carrying a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Many infected travellers are arriving from the US at the moment. He self-reports becoming Read More …

CategoriesUncategorized

Wuhan remains the source, for now

Posted onJanuary 21, 2020January 22, 20202 Comments

Cases of the novel Wuhan coronavirus remain anchored in contact with the city of Wuhan in Hubei province. When that changes and we see human-to-human (h2h) spread occur outside of Read More …

CategoriesUncategorized

Buy a gift with real impact this year

Posted onNovember 19, 2019November 25, 2019

Hi All. This is just a small festive season appeal to you. Please consider spending a few dollars on those in need of our support in the lead-up to the Read More …

CategoriesUncategorized

#Flunami2019: Australia’s biggest confirmed flu count on record

Posted onSeptember 1, 2019December 13, 20191 Comment

For those who love a good multiple of 1,000, or enjoy drooling over the passing of a historical threshold, yesterday was such a day for influenza (flu) counts in Australia. Read More …

CategoriesUncategorized

They are us

Posted onMarch 16, 2019March 17, 2019

Kia Kaha New Zealand. Stay Strong. The use of hate and fear only creates more hate and fear. And it creates anger and loss. Tragic loss. Some articles online that Read More …

CategoriesUncategorized

Way up…

Posted onFebruary 9, 2019February 10, 20192 Comments

Australia has had a big summer of flu with numbers way up from what we’re used to. As my recent posts here and here flagged, it’s hard to know whether Read More …

CategoriesUncategorized

What’s up d̵a̵n̵g̵e̵r̵ Flu?

Posted onJanuary 18, 2019January 22, 20192 Comments

Influenza is still hammering Australia with unseasonable disrespect. Is this just more testing for flu viruses, or is it a new variant virus? January in Australia is continuing 2018’s out-of-character Read More …

CategoriesUncategorized

What’s new Influ2day…?

Posted onMay 24, 2018November 4, 2018

Annoying things I read in the Australian online news media today… Not too late to get the flu shot. No. It sure isn’t. I was…surprised to read this since the flu Read More …

CategoriesUncategorized

A pile of TWADALs…

Posted onMay 8, 2018May 8, 20181 Comment

IMPORTED POST* During my time engaging with a gaggle of hardcore vaccine denialists, I developed a term and acronym…TWADAL TWADAL stands for “Those Who Are Decided Against Learning“. It came Read More …

CategoriesUncategorizedTagsanti-vaccination, TWADAL

What’s new Influ2day…?

Posted onApril 17, 2018May 1, 2018

Annoying things I read in the Australian online news media today… ‘Super vaccines’ For those confused – and from what I’ve seen on FaceBook, confusion about this season’s influenza (flu) vaccine Read More …

CategoriesUncategorized

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Recent Posts

  • What if Harvard loses? April 19, 2025
  • Measles takes your immune memories April 9, 2025
  • A measles infographic: virus, symptoms and white blood cells March 27, 2025
  • United States influenza: biggest season in 15 years of data February 18, 2025
  • No new A/H7N8 chook farms hit in Victoria so far February 17, 2025
  • The US 2024-2025 flu season and the vaccine February 13, 2025
  • A good news RSV vaccine story for adults February 5, 2025
  • Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in Australia – a 2022 study and the current state January 29, 2025
  • Not the “Chinese flu” label thing again…please January 6, 2025
  • SNAPDATE: MPOX cases in Australia, 14.09.2024 September 14, 2024
  • In Australia, COVID-19 deaths may have stopped decreasing September 6, 2024
  • It takes a while to gather death data September 5, 2024
  • Update on Monkeypox virus (MPXV) transmission in Australia August 6, 2024
  • More PCR cycles don’t mean magic results August 5, 2024
  • Stop Hijacking Definitions To Farm Anger And Clicks! December 29, 2023

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Recent Posts

  • What if Harvard loses?
  • Measles takes your immune memories
  • A measles infographic: virus, symptoms and white blood cells
  • United States influenza: biggest season in 15 years of data
  • No new A/H7N8 chook farms hit in Victoria so far

All opinions are my own and do not represent medical advice or the views of any institution.

All graphics made by me are free-to-use. Please just cite the particular page, blog and me. A heads-up would be nice too but that can happen later.

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