Public Health :: Pandemic Influenza Research Group, New Zealand (PIRGNZ)

 

Aims

PIRGNZ aims to progress research on the epidemiology of seasonal and pandemic influenza and to inform appropriate pandemic preparedness – especially for island nations such as New Zealand.

Invite to students and collaborators

We invite proposals from prospective Masters students, PhD students and postdocs. We are also open to correspondence from investigators interested in collaborating on our research areas (see below).

Convenor

Associate Professor Michael Baker : email Michael.baker@otago.ac.nz

Collaborators and students (current & recent students)

Dr Melissa McLeod, Jennifer Summers, Associate Professor Nick Wilson

Courses and training

We occasionally run a Summer School course relating to influenza/pandemic influenza (February in Wellington). There is currently one Master of Public Health student working on pandemic influenza as part of PIRGNZ activities.

Research areas

    • Border control for pandemic influenza: PIRGNZ members have a current contract with the Centers for Disease Control (USA) that is studying the screening of international air travellers for influenza-like illness and also border control for island nations. Co-investigators are based in Christchurch and Dunedin (University of Otago) and in Melbourne (VIDRL).
    • Influenza transmission in households: This is also part of our work for CDC and is linked to housing and health studies.
    • Clioepidemiology of pandemic influenza: We have an ongoing project studying the experience of pandemic influenza amongst NZ military personnel in 1918.
    • Pandemic planning: We have had contracts in recent years with the NZ Ministry of Health to inform pandemic planning and provide ongoing advice to inform plan revisions.

 

Research outputs – Publications in peer-reviewed journals (influenza and pandemic influenza)

  • Duncan AR, Priest PC, Jennings LC, Brunton CR, Baker MG. Screening for influenza infection in international airline travelers Am J Public Health 2009;99 Suppl 2:S360-2.

  • Wilson N, Mason K, Tobias M, Peacey M, Huang QS, Baker M. Interpreting “Google Flu Trends” data for pandemic H1N1 influenza: The New Zealand experience. Euro Surveill. 2009;14(44):pii=19386. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19386

  • Baker MG, Kelly H, Wilson N. Pandemic H1N1 influenza lessons from the southern hemisphere. Euro Surveill. 2009;14(42):pii=19370. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19370
  • Eichner M, Schwehm M, Wilson N, Baker MG. Small islands and pandemic influenza: Potential benefits and limitations of travel volume reduction as a border control measure.BMC Infect Dis 2009;9:160. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/9/160/abstract

  • Murray R, Chandler C, Clarkson Y, Wilson N, Baker M, Cunningham R, on behalf of the Wellington Respiratory and Hand Hygiene Study Group. Sub-optimal hand sanitiser usage in a hospital entrance during an influenza pandemic, New Zealand, August 2009. Euro Surveill. 2009;14(37):pii=19331. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19331

  • Wilson N, Summers J, Baker M, Rice G. A bizarre case of drowning as a result of pandemic influenza (1918 pandemic). N Z Med J. 2009;122(1302): 9-94. http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/122-1302/3777/

  • Baker MG, Wilson N, Huang QS, Paine S, Lopez L, Bandaranayake D, Tobias M, Mason K, Mackereth GF, Jacobs M, Thornley C, Roberts S, McArthur C. Pandemic influenza A(H1N1)v in New Zealand: the experience from April to August 2009. Euro Surveill. 2009;14(34):pii=19319.  http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19319 

  • Nishiura H, Wilson N, Baker MG. Estimating the reproduction number of the novel influenza A virus (H1N1) in a Southern Hemisphere setting: preliminary estimate in New Zealand. N Z Med J 2009;122(1299):73-77. http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/122-1299/3722/

  • Wilson N, Baker MG. The emerging influenza pandemic: estimating the case fatality ratio. Euro Surveill. 2009;14(26):pii=19255. http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19255

  • Nishiura H, Wilson N. Transmission dynamics of the 1918 influenza pandemic in New Zealand: analyses of national and city data. N Z Med J 2009;122(1296):81-85. http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/122-1296/3649/content.pdf

  • Schwehm M, Eichner M, Wilson N, Baker MG. A freely available software tool for assessing aspects of pandemic influenza risk reduction for small islands. N Z Med J 2009 122(1295):94-95. http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/122-1295/3624/content.pdf

  • Nishiura H, Wilson N, Baker MG. Quarantine for pandemic influenza control at the borders of small island nations. BMC Infect Dis 2009, 9:27. (11 March 2009) [Abstract] [Provisional PDF].

  • Schwehm M, Wilson N. Potential impact of pandemic influenza interventions in New Zealand: a brief modelling study. N Z Med J 2009;122(1291):117-121.

  • Wilson N, Baker M. Comparison of the content of the New Zealand influenza pandemic plan with European pandemic plans. N Z Med J 2009;122:36-46.

  • Wilson N, Baker MG, Jennings LC. The clioepidemiology of pandemic influenza and next steps for pandemic influenza research in New Zealand. N Z Med J 2008;121:(1284):6-10.

Research outputs – Reports for government agencies

    • Wilson N, Baker M. Putting potential mortality impacts of pandemic influenza in context: Background data to inform decision-making and communication. Report for the Ministry of Health, 2009.

    • Wilson N, Baker M. Literature review work to inform pandemic influenza mitigation in New Zealand. Report for the Ministry of Health, 2009.

    • Wilson N, Baker M. Modelling to inform short and medium-term decision-making for mitigation of pandemic influenza. Report for the Ministry of Health, 2009.

    • Wilson N. Literature Review to Inform Pandemic Influenza Prevention and Control in New Zealand. (Unpublished Report for the New Zealand Ministry of Health). 2008.

    • Baker M, Jennings L, Roberts M, Sertsou G, Wilson N. Modelling Interventions to Prevent and Control Outbreaks of Pandemic Influenza in New Zealand [Report to Ministry of Health]. Wellington: University of Otago, Massey University, 2006.

    • New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID). Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan for New Zealand’s Response to the Needs of Pacific Island Countries. Wellington: NZAID, 2005.

    • Wilson N. A Preliminary Examination of the Impact of an Influenza Pandemic on New Zealand. Wellington: Ministry of Health, 2000.

Research outputs – Recent presentations at conferences (since January 2008)

    • Nishiura H, Wilson N, Baker MG. Quarantine for pandemic influenza control at borders in small island nations. [Poster Presentation] At: Epidemics: First International Conference on Infectious Disease Dynamics. December 1-3, 2008, Asilomar, CA, USA.

    • Baker MG, Wilson N. Border control for small island nations to prevent or delay pandemic influenza. Presentation at: Otago International Health Research Network Conference, Dunedin, 18-19 November 2008.

    • Duncan A, Priest P, Jennings L, Brunton C, Baker M. Measuring the Prevalence of Influenza Infection in Arriving Airline Travellers: A Pilot Study. Population Health Congress, Brisbane Australia, 6-9 July 2008.

    • Wilson N, Kelly H, Baker M, Sertsou G. Potential benefit of long travel times and quarantine for pandemic influenza control in small island nations. Population Health Congress, Brisbane Australia, 6-9 July 2008.

    • McLeod M, Baker M, Wilson N, Kelly H, Alvarado-Ramy F. Protective effect of maritime quarantine in South Pacific Islands during the 1918-19 influenza pandemic [Poster presentation]. Population Health Congress, Brisbane Australia, 6-9 July 2008.

    • McLeod M, Kelly H, Baker M, Wilson N. An evaluation of border control measures in influenza pandemic plans: Six South Pacific Nations [Poster presentation]. Population Health Congress, Brisbane Australia, 6-9 July 2008.

    • Wilson N, Kelly H, Baker M, Sertsou G. Might border control interventions prevent pandemic influenza in island settings [Poster presentation]. Population Health Congress, Brisbane Australia, 6-9 July 2008.

    • McLeod M, Baker M, Wilson N, Kelly H, Alvarado-Ramy F. Protective Effect of Maritime Quarantine in South Pacific Jurisdictions, 1918-19. [Poster presentation 247]. International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases (ICEID). Atlanta (16-19 March). 2008. (Page 158 in Abstract Book).

    • McLeod M, Kelly H, Baker M, Wilson N. Influenza pandemic planning among South Pacific Nations: A critical review of available plans from a border control perspective [Poster presentation 30]. International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases (ICEID). Atlanta (16-19 March). 2008. (Page 52 in Abstract Book).

    • Wilson N, Kelly H, Baker M, Sertsou G. Likely effectiveness of quarantine for pandemic influenza control at the borders of island nations [Poster presentation 33]. International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases (ICEID). Atlanta (16-19 March). 2008. (Page 53 in Abstract Book).

    • Wilson N, Kelly H, Baker M, Sertsou G. Potential value of multiple border control interventions to prevent pandemic influenza. [Poster presentation 31]. International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases (ICEID). Atlanta (16-19 March). 2008. (Page 53 in Abstract Book).
 

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