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Source: Radio New Zealand

The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control says a New Zealander on board the cruise ship struck by hantavirus has tested negative.

One New Zealander left the ship on Saint Helena Island in the South Atlantic last month – before the deadly hantavirus outbreak was revealed.

The Centers for Disease Control said the passenger entered Taiwan on 7 May and has reported no health issues.

It said testing of blood and urine samples were negative for hantavirus and infection has been ruled out.

However, it said the passenger is a high-risk contact and will therefore remain isolated in hospital for monitoring until 6 June.

“The passenger is required to measure body temperature daily for health monitoring and to observe good respiratory hygiene and hand hygiene,” the CDC said.

“Taiwan CDC will continue to collect specimens weekly through the end of the enhanced self-health management period.

“Taiwan CDC will continue to work with WHO and the New Zealand government on the appropriate response measures related to this passenger during their stay in Taiwan and reassures the public that there is no cause for concern.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade earlier said it was in contact with the New Zealander.

“We are providing consular assistance to a dual national who ordinarily resides outside New Zealand, who has sought help from MFAT today.”

A second New Zealander and five Australians are now in quarantine in Western Australia.

The ABC reported all six passengers had tested negative for hantavirus before flying to Perth. They were all asymptomatic, but would undergo further health screening.

What is hantavirus?

Hantavirus is typically spread by the inhalation of contaminated rodent droppings.

This particular strain, the Andes virus, is endemic to Argentina, and is the only strain of hantavirus that has been known to have human to human transmission – typically through very close contact such as sharing a bed or food.

Its symptoms typically include fever, headache, muscle aches and gastrointestinal symptoms.

No vaccines or specific treatments exist for hantavirus, but quick hospital care can often prevent symptoms turning deadly.

Hantaviruses are found in small mammals such as rats, mice, voles, shrews and lemmings, but no New Zealand rodents carry these viruses, University of Auckland associate professor of infectious diseases Dr Mark Thomas said.

“The only way a New Zealand resident could become unwell with a hantavirus infection would be as the result of travel to a country where the virus is present.”

WHO has said the investigations so far suggest possible exposure to rodents during bird watching activities.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The child who died in a house fire in Christchurch on Thursday night was a three-year-old girl.

Her 23-year-old mother, who was taken to hospital, died of her injuries on Friday evening.

Detective Senior Sergeant Jo Carolan said four other children, siblings aged between 10 weeks and five-years-old, were admitted to hospital but three have since been discharged into the care of family.

A two-year-old girl remains in hospital is in a stable condition and has moderate injuries.

Emergency services were first called at 8.25pm on Thursday with cordons in place on Whitehall Street and Hills Road.

“This is a heartbreaking tragedy for the whānau, and police extend our deepest sympathies as they navigate this devastating time,” Carolan said.

The fire is not being treated as suspicious.

Neighbours have described the chaos as they rushed to help the family.

One neighbour said a man from the house banged on his door, asking for help.

He and his wife then gathered three of the children from the berm – a baby and two young children – and kept them at their house until ambulance staff arrived.

Other neighbours described big flames leaping from the house at the height of the blaze and said the quiet street resembled a “war scene” as people hurried to help the family involved.

They said they were shocked and heartbroken by the child’s death.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Lawyer Grant Hewison insists Flaxmere is the wrong neighbourhood to promote more alcohol sales through a propsed licence at the local supermarket.

Woolworths has appliced for licence to sell alcohol seven days a week from 9am-9pm, but has met with strong opposition a variety of sources that claim the Hastings suburb already suffers from more than its share of booze-related harm.

Hewison, who is a member of Communities Against Alcohol Harm, represented a concerned resident at a hearing this week and told RNZ’s Checkpoint the application was ill advised.

“[Social harm] is really at the core of the licencing regime,” he said. “The key section is the object of the act that requires a good look at a whole range of the different parts of the social make-up of an area – the health of the community, the wellbeing of the community, issues like injuries, illness and crime… those sorts of things are at the core of whether a licence should be greanted or not.

“For this community in Flaxmere, those issues are really heightened.”

New Zealand measures deprivation through its communities on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the most deprived. The national average is 5.5, Hawke’s Bay has a measure of 6.0, but Flaxmere is rated in the most vulnerable 9/10 decile.

“Personal responsibility doesn’t really feature in the way licences are regulated under this legislation,” Hewison said. “This legislation is about regulating the sale of alcohol.

“It accepts alcohol causes harm and we have a trememdous amount of harm generally in our population from the sale of alcohol – $9 billion of harm caused by this legal drug every year.

“Because of that and the real risks around the sale of alcohol, it’s regulated really carefully.”

Woolworths told Checkpoint it took its responsibilities as an alcohol retailer seriously and the Flaxmere store was designed so customers could completely bypass the alcohol department.

No alcohol displays would be positioned at the end of aisles, and the alcohol area would be close to the service desk and checkout area, where staff could monitor those using it.

Hewison accepted the Woolworths’ systems and staff training would be thorough, but questioned its responsibility once the alcohol left the premises.

“The thing that’s really difficult in these processes, particularly for applicants, is do they really undersand the community, are they really aware of the social issues taking place in this community and, at the end of the day, is this the right place to be putting a really large off-licence?

“There are two existing bottle store off-licences, which provide the full range of alcohol. This is very large by comparison with some of the other off-licences.

“We would be adding to an existing level of harm through premises in the area.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Nearly two years of bargaining has ended with nurses, midwives and health care assistants voting to accept the latest Collective Agreement.

The agreement would see around 35,000 members get a 2.5 percent salary increase in year one and a 2 percent increase in year two, the health minister said.

It would also see a $2000 salary adjustment for nurses at the top of pay scale, and lump sum payments of $1300 for senior designated nurses and $1000 for all others.

Other allowances would also increase, and see the nurse practitioner professional development allowance jump to $6000 per year.

A Safe Patient Care Statement of Intent will also be developed by NZNO and Health New Zealand as part of the agreement.

More than 38,000 union members working for Te Whatu Ora could vote in the secret ballot.

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation said work would now begin to implement the agreement including researching nurse-to-patient ratios and applying a cultural lens to Te Tiriti commitments.

Delegate Dawn Barrett, who was involved in bargaining, said the union recognised that many members who voted to reject the offer, were willing to carry on the fight.

“We could not have made any progress without their willingness to stand up for what was right for patients and nursing staff.

“We recognise that many members who voted to reject this offer were willing to carry on the fight.

“We celebrate you and know there is more to be done as we continue to battle to ensure all New Zealanders get the care they need and our nurses, midwives and health care assistants are properly recognised and valued.”

Health Minister Simeon Brown welcomed the news.

“I am pleased for the approximately 35,000 nurses, healthcare assistants, and midwives employed by Health New Zealand who will benefit from this agreement. These dedicated frontline health workers play a vital role in delivering care across our hospitals and communities,” Brown said.

“Nurses, healthcare assistants, and midwives are at the centre of our healthcare system, supporting patients and their families in moments that matter most, often in challenging circumstances. I want to recognise and thank them for the skill, care, and professionalism they bring to their work every day, and for their commitment to putting patients at the centre of what they do.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The child who died in a house fire in Christchurch on Thursday night was a three-year-old girl.

Her 23-year-old mother, who was taken to hospital, died of her injuries on Friday evening.

Detective Senior Sergeant Jo Carolan said four other children, siblings aged between 10 weeks and five-years-old, were admitted to hospital but three have since been discharged into the care of family.

A two-year-old girl remains in hospital is in a stable condition and has moderate injuries.

Emergency services were first called at 8.25pm on Thursday with cordons in place on Whitehall Street and Hills Road.

“This is a heartbreaking tragedy for the whānau, and police extend our deepest sympathies as they navigate this devastating time,” Carolan said.

The fire is not being treated as suspicious.

Neighbours have described the chaos as they rushed to help the family.

One neighbour said a man from the house banged on his door, asking for help.

He and his wife then gathered three of the children from the berm – a baby and two young children – and kept them at their house until ambulance staff arrived.

Other neighbours described big flames leaping from the house at the height of the blaze and said the quiet street resembled a “war scene” as people hurried to help the family involved.

They said they were shocked and heartbroken by the child’s death.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand