PHF Science

16/10/2026

🌏 World Food Day: Using science to keep our food safe

Food safety is essential to protecting the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders. At PHF Science, we're helping build a better understanding of the bacteria that can cause foodborne illness. One example is our research into Yersinia enterocolitica, a bacterium associated with yersiniosis, an intestinal infection that can cause diarrhoea, stomach pain and fever.

Our scientists investigated different types of the bacterium to better understand how they behave and contribute to illness. Using advanced genetic sequencing and innovative laboratory models that mimic the human gut, they discovered that one type, previously thought to be less harmful, could trigger a strong inflammatory response.

The findings publishing in the journal Pathogens highlight the importance of distinguishing between different types of Yersinia to better understand their role in gastrointestinal illness and support public health surveillance.

The full open access article is available here: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/15/10/1015

This World Food Day, we're celebrating the science that helps us understand foodborne pathogens, protect public health and contribute to a safer food supply for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Yersiniosis is a notifiable disease in Aotearoa|New Zealand, which includes Yersinia enterocolitica (YE) Biotype (BT) 1A, whose pathogenicity and clinical significance has been questioned. An analysis of yersiniosis cases with different YE biotypes (BTs) notified between 2018 and 2022 identified tha...

15/10/2026

📍 We're at SuperLocal 2026 in Rotorua!

This week, PHF Science is connecting with local government leaders and communities at the SuperLocal Conference, showcasing how our science helps keep New Zealanders healthy, safe and thriving.

From monitoring infectious diseases and ensuring safe food and drinking water to reducing drug harm and supporting the justice system, our science helps councils and communities make informed decisions and tackle real-world challenges.

As a New Zealand Government-owned research organisation, we're proud to deliver science that makes a difference in communities across Aotearoa.

👋 If you're at SuperLocal, come and say hello to our team!

13/10/2026

Is our kai safe to eat right now? 🌊

It’s a question that hapū and iwi caring for customary fisheries come back to again and again, and our Māori Impact and Genomics and Bioinformatics teams have been working together on a faster way to help answer it. The result so far is a prototype test that changes colour when dangerous Vibrio bacteria are present in seawater or kaimoana and gives an answer in under an hour without needing a lab.

The work began with a request from Ngāi Tahu customary fisheries managers who need good information to keep their people safe, and it means a great deal to Georgia Bell, Technical Lead in our Māori Impact team. “As a kid I was in the estuary every day, observing creatures in the taiao and taking kai home to my nan and my aunties and uncles,” she says. “Mahinga kai is our food cupboard - a key source of sustenance for iwi and hapū.”

With warmer water and heavier rain creating ideal conditions for Vibrio to thrive, a quick test that can be used right where kai is gathered could make a real difference. The team has already tried it out at Akaroa Harbour and is now looking at a phone app so communities can read and share results in real time. There is still work to do on turning a colour change into clear food safety advice, and the team is keen to spend more time with customary fisheries communities to hear their ideas for making it easier to use.

Read the full story here:

The New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science) was formerly named The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR).

08/10/2026

The respiratory illness leaderboard is looking a little different this week 👀

🦠 Respiratory illness activity is looking a little different this week.

Several key indicators continue to trend downward, with influenza activity falling and severe respiratory illness activity remaining low.

🔽 Influenza remains the most commonly detected virus, although positivity has decreased to 20%.

🔽 Influenza-positive Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) hospitalisation rates have decreased and remain low.

🔽 SARI hospitalisation rates have decreased and remain low.

🔽 Healthline calls for influenza-like illness have decreased nationally.

🔼 Children aged 0-4 years continue to have higher Healthline call rates nationally and SARI hospitalisation rates in Auckland than other age groups.

🔽 SARI admissions among children aged 0-4 years decreased in the latest week.

🔼 Rhinovirus, which causes the common cold, is the most commonly detected respiratory virus in the Wellington-based WellKiwis study.

🔽 Influenza and RSV activity in the WellKiwis study continue to decline.

🔽 RSV-related SARI hospitalisations remain low.

🔽 COVID-19-positive SARI activity remains low.

📅 This update is based on surveillance data collected up to 4 October 2026.

Under the Weather Report is a series dedicated to breaking down the latest updates on respiratory illnesses in Aotearoa New Zealand collected by PHF Science.

More information can be found on the Respiratory Illness Dashboard:
🔗 phfscience.nz/digital-library/respiratory-illness-dashboard/

The dashboard is updated every Thursday.

ℹ️ WellKiwis is a Wellington-based community health study that tracks respiratory illnesses and viruses to help researchers understand how infections spread in the community. More info: wellkiwis.co.nz

More health advice can be found at
🔗 healthnz.govt.nz

07/10/2026

It's Cyber Smart Week and we're celebrating it here at PHF Science! We're used to looking closely at the evidence, so this week we're putting that same curiosity to work on spotting scams before they find us and keeping our information safe online. Own Your Online

27/09/2026

Last week on Brainfood for Breakfast with RadioActive.FM, listeners learned about the highly specialised field of forensic biology from Senior Forensic Scientist Maria van der Salm.

Maria discusses how forensic scientists use evidence, statistics and scientific expertise to help answer important questions during investigations. She also shares insights about the challenges of working with complex DNA samples and how emerging technologies are helping improve forensic science methods and workflows.

If you've ever wondered how DNA evidence is analysed, what scientists can and cannot learn from a biological sample, or how forensic science works beyond what we see on television, this kōrero is for you.

Listen to the full interview here: https://www.radioactive.fm/phf-science-brainfood-for-breakfast-with-senior-forensic-scientist-maria-van-der-salm-14-09-2026/

PHF Science: Brainfood for Breakfast with Senior Forensic Scientist Maria van der Salm – 14/09/2026 Kia ora you are tuned into RadioActive.fm Parakuihi brought to you by San Fran,And this morning it’s time for another Brain Food for Breakfast segment, where every fortnight on a Monday I am joine...

24/09/2026

The respiratory illness season is entering its next chapter 👀

Influenza activity continues to decline across Aotearoa New Zealand, although respiratory illness activity remains elevated.

🔽 Influenza-positive SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection) hospitalisation rates have decreased into the medium activity range.

➡️ SARI hospitalisation rates remain stable in the medium activity range for a second consecutive week.

🔽 Healthline calls for influenza-like illness have decreased nationally.

🔽 One-third (33.3%) of SARI cases tested positive for influenza.

🔼 Influenza-SARI is predominantly affecting adults aged 65+ years.

🔼 Children aged 0-4 years continue to have higher Healthline call rates nationally and SARI hospitalisation rates in the Auckland region than other age groups.

🔼 SARI admissions among children aged 0-4 years increased in the latest week.

🔽 Influenza activity in the Wellington-based WellKiwis study continues to decline.

🔼 Rhinovirus is now circulating more than influenza in the WellKiwis study.

🔽 RSV-related SARI hospitalisations have returned to levels seen in May.

🔽 COVID-19-positive SARI activity remains low.

📅 This update is based on surveillance data collected up to 20 September 2026.

Under the Weather Report is a series dedicated to breaking down the latest updates on the respiratory illnesses in Aotearoa New Zealand collected by PHF Science.

More information can be found on the Respiratory Illness Dashboard:
🔗 phfscience.nz/digital-library/respiratory-illness-dashboard/

The dashboard is updated every Thursday.

ℹ️ WellKiwis is a Wellington-based community health study that tracks respiratory illnesses and viruses to help researchers understand how infections spread in the community. More info: wellkiwis.co.nz

More health advice can be found at Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora
🔗 healthnz.govt.nz

18/09/2026

Our latest Covid-19 Genomics Insights Dashboard is available to download. Discover the latest overview of SARS CoV-2 genomic surveillance across New Zealand. https://www.phfscience.nz/digital-library/covid-19-genomics-insights-dashboard-74-september-2026/

17/09/2026

🦠 The downward arrows have entered the chat.

Influenza activity remains elevated across Aotearoa New Zealand, but several respiratory illness indicators continue to decline.

🔽 Influenza-positive SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection) hospitalisation rates in Auckland have decreased into the high activity range.

🔽 Auckland SARI hospitalisation rates have decreased into the medium activity range after four weeks in the very high activity range.

🔼 Influenza A/H1 and A/H3 continue to circulate, with influenza A remaining the predominant virus detected.

🔽 Healthline calls for influenza-like illness have decreased nationally.

🔼 Over half (51.9%) of Auckland SARI cases tested positive for influenza.

🔼 Influenza-SARI continues to affect all age groups.

🔼 Children aged 0-4 years continue to have higher Healthline call rates nationally and SARI hospitalisation rates in Auckland than other age groups.

🔽 SARI admissions among Auckland children aged 0-4 years decreased in the latest week.

🔽 Influenza activity in the Wellington-based WellKiwis study remains high but continues to decline.

🔽 RSV-related SARI hospitalisations have returned to levels seen in May.

🔽 COVID-19-positive SARI activity remains low.

📅 This update is based on surveillance data collected up to 13 September 2026.

Under the Weather Report is a series dedicated to breaking down the latest updates on the winter respiratory illnesses in Aotearoa New Zealand collected by PHF Science.

More information can be found on the Respiratory Illness Dashboard:
🔗 phfscience.nz/digital-library/respiratory-illness-dashboard/

The dashboard is updated every Thursday.

ℹ️ WellKiwis is a Wellington-based community health study that tracks respiratory illnesses and viruses to help researchers understand how infections spread in the community. More info: wellkiwis.co.nz

More health advice can be found at Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora
🔗 healthnz.govt.nz

11/09/2026

PHF Science’s Dr Rob Lake is a contributing author on five articles published in the August edition of the journal The Lancet Global Health, presenting new research on the global burden of foodborne disease. The articles form part of a major international effort led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to understand the scale of illness, disability and premature death caused by unsafe food around the world.

Rob has played a significant role in that work. For the past five years, he has chaired the core group of international experts supporting WHO to deliver its latest global foodborne disease burden estimates: the Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG). The project brings together data from 194 countries, more than 20 commissioned systematic reviews, seven specialist task groups, and analysis of the burden from illnesses and deaths associated with 42 biological and chemical hazards.

Reliable estimates of the burden of foodborne disease are critical for helping governments, regulators and industries understand which risks matter most, assess whether food safety measures are working, and decide where resources can have the greatest impact.

Rob’s role as lead author of "WHO estimates of the global, regional, and national burden of 42 foodborne infectious and chemical hazards, 2000–21: an updated data synthesis", alongside his contributions to four other articles in the journal, highlights PHF Science’s contribution to international research that is strengthening the evidence base for food safety decisions worldwide.

Read the article in The Lancet Global Health: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214109X26001567