The Bulletin: Big reveal coming on infrastructure project spending

Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Announcements expected on infrastructure projects, Kiwis trapped in Wuhan speak out, and speaker Trevor Mallard being sued. Major announcements will be made on infrastructure spending today. It’s part of a $12 billion package announced last year, but with the details kept under wraps until now. However, … Read more

How contagious is the Wuhan coronavirus?

And can you spread it before symptoms start? Epidemiology expert C Raina MacIntyre on what we know so far. Cases of the Wuhan coronavirus have increased dramatically over the past week, prompting concerns about how contagious the virus is and how it spreads. According to the World Health Organisation, 16-21% of people with the virus … Read more

The Bulletin: What impacts will coronavirus have?

Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Impacts of coronavirus in focus, claims of NZDF coverup of indecent assaults, and will NZ and Europe get a trade deal this year?  I realise that the lead story in Friday’s Bulletin was also about the coronavirus, so apologies if you feel there is too … Read more

The Wuhan coronavirus is highly likely to arrive in NZ, but please don’t freak out

When it comes to emerging infectious diseases and outbreaks, so much can happen in a week. In the case of the coronavirus outbreak in China, I’ve gone from not being too alarmed, to thinking, oh, crap! But that still doesn’t mean we should all panic, writes Siouxsie Wiles. The likelihood of a case of the … Read more

The Bulletin: Māori Party revival gathers steam

Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Māori Party revival gathers steam, Coronavirus response screening stepped up, and rural economists predict dairy land value slide. A clear theme has emerged from the political gathering at Rātana this weekend – the Māori Party are getting ready for a serious tilt at the 2020 … Read more

Is this… snake flu?! What we know about the source of the Wuhan coronavirus

The world is on edge over a coronavirus outbreak that started in early December in Wuhan City, China. The virus is thought to have first infected people working at a seafood and live animal market. So what could the original source have been? Siouxsie Wiles explains. Update, January 27: Soon after the “snakeflu” paper was … Read more

Cheat sheet: Should we be freaking out about the mysterious virus in China?

Medical staff in protective outfits as a precaution during a previous Coronavirus outbreak in China

A strange pneumonia-causing virus has broken out in China, and the number of cases is rising rapidly. How worried should we be?  What’s all this then? Like Sars, swine flu and ebola before it, a new virus is hitting the headlines. The outbreak of a new type of coronavirus is centred around Wuhan in China, … Read more