H3N2 is 50 years old and still going strong

The highly variable H3N2 influenza viruses which seem to cause us the most trouble, heartache and headlines have only been with us since 1968. These tiny droplets of dread emerged Read More ...

Could Measles virus and Ebola virus be working together in the DRC?

Measles, resulting from measles virus (MeV) infection can cause immune suppression and “immune amnesia”. MeV infection most often affects non-immune children but can occur in any age group. Immune suppression Read More ...

Buy a gift with real impact this year

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 ...

PHEIC news

Posted onJuly 25, 2019July 25, 2019Leave a comment

Almost a year (51 weeks) since the first 25 cases of fever were reported by the Ministry of Health (MOH) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on July 30 Read More …

Flu, genes, clades and H3N2

Posted onJuly 9, 2019July 20, 2019Leave a comment

We’ve talked earlier about clades; a term which relates to how we can put influenza (flu) viruses that sit under the broad title, “A/H3N2”, into subgroupings. Clades are a way Read More …

H3N2 in Australia – Australia’s unseasonal flu season rolls on

Posted onJune 28, 2019June 29, 20191 Comment

Australia’s unseasonal flu season is still with us, albeit a little quieter than it was. Some jurisdictions have already had a peak and have returned to almost normal numbers of Read More …

Which is the inFLUencing hemisphere, north, south or neither?

Posted onJune 20, 2019June 20, 20192 Comments

One of the most common comments I’ve read on Twitter from my northern hemisphere buds these past weeks is – “hey look at those bad influenza (flu) numbers in Australia…that Read More …

Ebola virus disease crosses the border into Uganda

Posted onJune 12, 2019June 13, 2019Leave a comment

The first confirmed case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) has been reported in a child identified in Kasese, Uganda. The child, who died has a history of travelling to The Read More …

Every flu season is a soup of viruses

Posted onJune 6, 2019July 4, 20196 Comments

It may surprise some to know that influenza isn’t caused by just one “flu virus”. There are multiple flu viruses which can all cause the flu and they are around Read More …

An influenza virus is the sum of its parts

Posted onMay 30, 2019May 31, 2019Leave a comment

The influenza viruses are a bit different from other viruses that infect and affect our respiratory tract. Their genetic material – the stuff that acts as the blueprint to make Read More …

The Australian Flunami rolls on

Posted onMay 18, 2019August 5, 2019Leave a comment

Flu. What the heck are you doing? Since November 2018 – traditionally a time of influenza decline as the winter season wanes to a baseline level – you’ve been causing Read More …

Portrait of uncontrolled Ebola

Posted onMay 13, 2019May 15, 2019Leave a comment

The latest Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak has been a slow burn in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the first official report in July 2018. With the wonderful Read More …

More confirmed Ebola deaths than cases?

Posted onMay 7, 2019May 7, 2019Leave a comment

A strange number pattern has appeared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Ministry of Health (MOH) Ebola virus disease (EVD) Reports for a couple of the affected health Read More …

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.

Latest posts...