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The COVID pandemic had few silver linings. But arguably one benefit was that several other infectious diseases were sent into hiatus while we were all lying low. There were far fewer cases of illnesses such as flu and whooping cough. But now the lockdowns are long behind us and these diseases are well and truly bouncing back.
As Laurence Luu explains, Australia is suffering a whooping cough outbreak, with case numbers particularly high in Queensland and New South Wales over recent months. We tend to see whooping cough outbreaks every 3 or 4 years, but we hadn’t seen one in roughly double that time.
The COVID pandemic could explain this unusually big gap. Unfortunately, the pandemic has also meant many missed routine vaccinations, which could leave us particularly vulnerable to a whooping cough outbreak now.
Whooping cough is a nasty disease, and especially dangerous for newborn babies. In recent years, the bacteria that causes it has been showing signs it might be getting better at evading vaccines and antibiotics. But the good news is current vaccines are still very effective at preventing serious illness from whooping cough, and reducing its spread. They remain our best tool to limit this outbreak, so Luu recommends ensuring your jabs are up-to-date.
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Phoebe Roth
Deputy Health Editor
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Laurence Don Wai Luu, University of Technology Sydney
Vaccination is our best tool to limit this whooping cough outbreak.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Governor-general designate Sam Mostyn would become the latest punching bag in the culture wars. But how will her Governor-Generalship compare to others past?
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Sigi Goode, Australian National University
A secret, years-long project to implant a backdoor in a widely used free software tool was only foiled by luck.
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Thomas Sigler, The University of Queensland
Even in states that don’t have daylight saving, most people favour it. However, support is strongest in the country’s south, where the difference between summer and winter daylight hours is greater.
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Isaac Gross, Monash University
How exactly does our central bank control the cost of borrowing in the first place?
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Simon Wright, Charles Sturt University
The energy transition could be scuppered by community scepticism. Communities have to see the benefits.
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Darian McBain, London School of Economics and Political Science
The doubling in the price of cocoa would have pushed up the price of cocoa in a typical snack bar by just six cents.
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Leonie Rutherford, Deakin University; Andrew Singleton, Deakin University; Bronwyn Reddan, Deakin University; Katya Johanson, Edith Cowan University; Michael Dezuanni, Queensland University of Technology
A new study has identified seven types of teen readers. It also found about 30% do not read in their free time.
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Ben Singh, University of South Australia; Carol Maher, University of South Australia
Esports, obstacle course racing and pickleball are becoming more and more popular, but how do they impact physical and mental health?
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Stephen Gaunson, RMIT University
The new Australian war epic is a young man’s production in more than one sense of the word.
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James Bradley, University of Sydney
So much is being lost due to climate change, one can feel deranged. But the world still hums with beauty and astonishment – there is much for us to save.
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Politics + Society
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Ian Parmeter, Australian National University
The government’s rhetoric in response to the death of the Australian aid worker is stronger than we’d previously seen, but in a conflict with no clear solutions, little will change.
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Books + Ideas
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Jessica Gildersleeve, University of Southern Queensland
Winnie Dunn has made it her project to bring a more sensitive intercultural understanding to an unfamiliar readership
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