Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Prof Brendan Crabb AC @brendancrabb.bsky.social · 19h

Honoured to visit Port Moresby Gen Hospital. TB is the nation’s #1 killer & we’re proud to work with PNG on addressing it. Note the key to how TB spread has been mitigated in hospital settings for decades - airborne controls… lessons that should be applied more widely. @burnetinstitute.bsky.social

Image shows a sign in a TB ward saying that their are patients shedding drug resistant TB in this ward, next to it is a CO2 monitor showing excellent air quality, readings that demonstrate great ventilation and airflow

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Prof Brendan Crabb AC @brendancrabb.bsky.social · 2d

As an Australian, I’m especially proud to be in PNG today. 50 years ago, demonstrating how interdependent and close our countries are, Gough Whitlam said something like, “Australia can only be fully free when PNG is fully free”. This announcement is in that spirit.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

'Our nearest neighbour is our newest ally': Albanese, Marape sign new defence treaty

PNG and Australia formally sign a landmark new defence treaty, elevating the bilateral relationship between the two countries to an alliance and agreeing to "act to meet the common danger" if the othe...

www.abc.net.au

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Reposted by Prof Brendan Crabb AC

The Australia Institute @australiainstitute.org.au · 5d

It's not just Pacific Islanders facing rising sea levels.

Australian citizens are already experiencing the same threat in the Torres Strait.

🔊 ‘Alopi Latukefu, Director of the Edmund Rice Centre for Justice & Community Education
#auspol

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Reposted by Prof Brendan Crabb AC

Burnet Institute @burnetinstitute.bsky.social · 5d

Burnet board member Dr Andrew Nash and former board member Professor Christina Mitchell have been elected as Fellows of The Australian Academy of Science – one of the highest honours in Australian science.

Read more: www.burnet.edu.au/news/burnet-...

Burnet leaders elected as Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science

Warmest congratulations to Dr Andrew Nash and Professor Christina Mitchell AO, who have been admitted as Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science (AAS).

www.burnet.edu.au

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Prof Brendan Crabb AC @brendancrabb.bsky.social · 6d

Yes, good point, apologies.

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Reposted by Prof Brendan Crabb AC

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 6d

I never met Jane Goodall, but she loomed over much of my reporting over the years. With @emilyanthes.bsky.social I wrote a piece about her scientific legacy. Gift link: nyti.ms/46PGBtd

nyti.ms

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Prof Brendan Crabb AC @brendancrabb.bsky.social · 6d

Such an important piece. The positive momentum behind clean indoor air is palpable. But we’re not there yet as my last post demonstrates. Please read and share and get behind this cause.

theconversation.com/why-investme...

Why investment in clean indoor air is vital preparation for the pandemics and climate emergencies to come

Unchecked airborne infections cost billions in lost health and productivity each year – likely more than the cost of better ventilation to clean up indoor air.

theconversation.com

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Prof Brendan Crabb AC @brendancrabb.bsky.social · 6d

Great tip. Thankyou Ros

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Prof Brendan Crabb AC @brendancrabb.bsky.social · 7d

For more on this see... www.burnet.edu.au/news/indoor-...

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Prof Brendan Crabb AC @brendancrabb.bsky.social · 7d

CO2 readings from my kids 6-hr holiday program activity today, in a room shared with 20-30 other kids. Clearly an increased risk of COVID & other airborne infections. Reducing kids chances of re-infection (therefore long COVID) means improving indoor air quality in classrooms. This is achievable.

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Prof Brendan Crabb AC @brendancrabb.bsky.social · 7d

And an excellent accompanying commentary.

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

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Prof Brendan Crabb AC @brendancrabb.bsky.social · 7d

“These findings add to previous evidence linking paediatric long COVID to multisystem effects and highlight the need to promote vaccination in younger populations...”

Time to reconsider our approach to kids and COVID/long COVID.

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Long COVID associated with SARS-CoV-2 reinfection among children and adolescents in the omicron era (RECOVER-EHR): a retrospective cohort study

Children and adolescents face a significantly higher risk of various PASC outcomes after reinfection with SARS-CoV-2. These findings add to previous evidence linking paediatric long COVID to multisyst...

www.thelancet.com

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Reposted by Prof Brendan Crabb AC

Burnet Institute @burnetinstitute.bsky.social · 7d

As Papua New Guinea celebrated 50 years of independence, our future depends on the health of women and children.

Through the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies program, we’ve seen that locally led, evidence-based solutions — from antenatal care to nutrition and disease prevention — can transform lives.

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Prof Brendan Crabb AC @brendancrabb.bsky.social · 9d

Great story focussing on Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies. I am proud to have led the establishment of this program with my board chair the late Alastair Lucas in 2012/13. Partnership and locally focussed, it marries science with community in a powerful way.

devpolicy.org/women-and-ch...

Women and children’s health: the key to PNG’s future - Devpolicy Blog from the Development Policy Centre

The measure of national progress is not only political sovereignty but the health of communities, say Beeson, Charles and Babona.

devpolicy.org

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Reposted by Prof Brendan Crabb AC

Australian Academy of Science @science.org.au · 10d

“It’s time to remove the arbitrary funding cap on MRFF disbursements so it can deliver what is has been designed & legislated to do: support medical research & innovation" - says Academy President Prof. Chennupati Jagadish, AC commenting on a story in Nine Newspapers lnkd.in/geu3QVba

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Prof Brendan Crabb AC @brendancrabb.bsky.social · 11d

Great work Dr Megan Lim and colleagues - in many places menstrual health is one of the last taboo’s in public health, but it’s mainstream for us @burnetinstitute.bsky.social - as it should be everywhere.

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

The rag trade: why reusable period products are a bloody good idea

With 10,000 disposable pads or tampons used over a lifetime, sustainable options can reduce waste – period

www.theguardian.com

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Prof Brendan Crabb AC @brendancrabb.bsky.social · 12d

Hard to know quite what more can be said. I watched the video by the two Australian doctors referred to in this piece, as powerful a testimony as you can get.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

Australian doctors become unofficial correspondents from hospital in Gaza City

In a ruined hospital and with little medication, two Australian doctors say the situation inside Gaza City is a "nightmare".

www.abc.net.au

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Reposted by Prof Brendan Crabb AC

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 12d

The organizers of the UN event for healthy indoor air used a canary on all their materials and gave everyone canary pins.

Why? Canaries detect dangerous substances in the air of coal mines. We all need to be like canaries and warn about the dangers of unhealthy indoor air due to COVID and climate.

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Prof Brendan Crabb AC @brendancrabb.bsky.social · 12d

This is a good article btw, but the headline is terrible and wrong.

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Prof Brendan Crabb AC @brendancrabb.bsky.social · 12d

The event was not about mask mandates nor did Violet advocate for them, it was about clean indoor air. Her comment “We can create clean air infrastructure that is so ubiquitous and so obviously necessary, tomorrow’s children don’t even know why we need it” is the main aim. Treat air as we do water.

Billy Hanlon @bhanlon15.bsky.social · 13d

Vanity Fair: “Violet Affleck Advocates for Mask Mandates at the United Nations: “I’m Furious”

‘The 19-year-old, eldest child of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, is fighting to raise awareness of the long-term consequences of COVID-19’

www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/st...

Violet Affleck Advocates for Mask Mandates at the United Nations: “I’m Furious”

The 19-year-old, eldest child of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, is fighting to raise awareness of the long-term consequences of COVID-19.

www.vanityfair.com

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Prof Brendan Crabb AC @brendancrabb.bsky.social · 12d

On vaccine misinformation and lies.

www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....

Risk and Benefit | NEJM

Editor-in-Chief Eric Rubin asks why, under an administration that says it is focused on making America healthy again, we are denigrating and discarding our single most cost-effective public health ...

www.nejm.org

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Reposted by Prof Brendan Crabb AC

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 14d

“We are told by leaders that we are the future. But when it comes to the ongoing pandemic, our present is being stolen right in front of our eyes.”

Incredible speech by Violet Affleck who warned about the ongoing dangers of COVID & Long Covid, & advocated for masks and clean air at the UN today!

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Prof Brendan Crabb AC @brendancrabb.bsky.social · 13d

Proud that @burnetinstitute.bsky.social and the @science.org.au came together to drive this. Lots of partners and support too. Bronwyn King and Anna Maria Arabia are very effective change-makers.

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 13d

Yesterday, history happened at the UN: For the first time hundreds of orgs signed a global pledge declaring that healthy indoor air is a human right.

Healthy indoor air is a key tool for preventing pandemics, building climate resilience, and increasing health equity. We need it everywhere!

People signing the Global Pledge for Healthy Indoor Air at the UN

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Prof Brendan Crabb AC @brendancrabb.bsky.social · 13d

bsky.app/profile/luck...

Prof Brendan Crabb AC @brendancrabb.bsky.social · 14d

Let’s hope this is a watershed moment for public health. Feels like it. Congratulations especially @drbronking.bsky.social - but also to Anna-Maria Arabia and all involved. Pls circulate the pledge and get on board. Here is an OpEd we put out yesterday www.burnet.edu.au/news/indoor-...

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Reposted by Prof Brendan Crabb AC

Burnet Institute @burnetinstitute.bsky.social · 14d

The Australian Institute for Infectious Disease (AIID) is one step closer to realisation. Leaders from the Uni of Melbourne, @thedohertyinst.bsky.social and Burnet Institute, joined Vic Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson at the site today to inspect progress and latest designs.

AIID marks significant planning milestone in facility development - Australian Institute for Infectious Disease [AIID]

The Australian Institute for Infectious Disease (AIID) is one step closer to realisation with key planning approvals achieved and a main works tender to construct the facility underway.

aiid.edu.au

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