Michael Baker

The 11 New Zealanders in quarantine on board the cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, are being offered seats on a plane that's leaving Japan for Australia tomorrow.

Not all of them want to go despite… Audio

A public health expert says the Wuhan outbreak now has all of the characteristics of a pandemic.

The virus has now killed more than 800 people, surpassing the death toll from the SARS epidemic in… Audio

With the Wuhan coronavirus spreading to more than 23 countries including Australia, extra effort is being put in to keep it out of the Pacific. Audio

The Ministry of Health is telling anyone travelling from China to New Zealand to isolate themselves for 14 days after arriving in the country.

However, no cases of the virus have been confirmed in… Audio

Samoa's government has imposed heavy restrictions on its border in a bid to stave off the coronavirus, in the wake of last year's measles epidemic. Audio

Several Pacific countries are already dealing with epidemics and some are taking extreme measures to try and halt the spread of the new coronavirus.  Audio

The Government is being told to take urgent steps to prevent the export of infectious diseases to the Pacific.

It follows a deadly epidemic of measles in Samoa that's killed 83 people since October… Audio

This afternoon the Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield and the Director of Public Health Dr Caroline McElnay explained the work that's happening to make sure New Zealand is prepared to… Audio

"Alert but not alarmed" - that's how the Health Minister is describing New Zealand's response to the coronavirus outbreak in China.

David Clark fronted to media on Thursday afternoon to outline how… Audio

A case of the deadly coronavirus has been diagnosed for the first time in the United States.

It's the first time a case of the virus has been found outside Asia and was detected in a passenger from… Audio

As passenger screening begins at three United States airports, confusion is growing over the exact numbers of people infected by a mystery virus emerging in China.

Airports in Los Angeles, San… Audio

Samoa was warned as early as March to immunise its population against measles. Audio

Coffins donated to Samoan measles victims as a public health expert says remembering grief is key to avoiding fatal complacency. Audio

A public health expert says the measles virus needs better management to limit the ongoing deadly spread in the Pacific region. Audio

Otago University epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker talks about the measles epidemic in Samoa originating in New Zealand. Audio

Public health experts say they're concerned Auckland's measles outbreak will soon become a nationwide problem.

The Ministry of Health is trying to contain an escalating number of cases in the city… Audio

Winter is well and truly here - and with that comes flu season. In Australia there's been more than 55,000 cases of the flu and 119 deaths so far - whilst here in New Zealand, three people have died… Audio

Medical experts are warning a drug resistant superbug that kills one-third of all infected patients will inevitably spread to New Zealand. It's a tough new strain of fungus called Candida auris, and… Audio

Medical experts are warning a drug resistant superbug that kills one-third of all infected patients will inevitably spread to New Zealand. A Professor of Public Health at Otago University, Michael… Audio