🇦🇺 AUSTRALIA Weekly COVID Update: 26 September 2025 ACT saw a big jump (+30.5%) QLD down (–27.3%, 43 in hospital); WA down (–16.6%, 42/day in hospital); NSW down (–14.9%) and SA down (–5.2%, 6 deaths reported) Aged care down (–39.4%) and 2 deaths reported VIC & TAS report next: Oct 3

🇦🇺 Australia: "Many products used to protect healthcare workers during COVID weren’t up to scratch" The TGA has tightened rules for face masks and respirators on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) after a review found many products added early in the pandemic didn’t meet safety or quality standards. Source: https://archive.md/2j4O6

Outpatient antibiotic use in COVID patients linked to 'downstream' antibiotic resistance. A study of 50,000+ Canadian seniors diagnosed with COVID-19 found that antibiotic use within 7 days of diagnosis was linked to antibiotic-resistant organisms, researchers reported today in NEJM Evidence. Source:

Outpatient antibiotic use in COVID patients linked to 'downstream' antibiotic resistance

Canadian seniors who received antibiotics within 7 days of a COVID diagnosis were 24% more likely to have an antibiotic-resistant organism within 6...

Study: https://evidence.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/EVIDoa2400108

Researchers in Spain have developed a novel, next-generation, intranasally administered vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2. "While a single dose provides 60% protection in mice, the use of double intranasal immunization achieves 100% protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, the undetectable levels of virus in nasal and lung samples indicate that the immunization is sterilizing Source:

Una vacuna intranasal experimental elimina el virus del COVID-19 en ratones | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

Un equipo del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), organismo adscrito al Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, ha...

Study: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2516587122 (The study may still be in press / not published yet.)

Queensland Weekly Respiratory Surveillance Report: 16 Sep to 22 Sep 2025 Reported cases: 🔹COVID: 487 (-27.3%) 🔹Influenza: 2,706 (-22.6%) 🔹RSV: 718 (-15.3%) Hospitalisations: 🔸COVID: 43 (-20.3%) 🔸Influenza: 155 (-25.1%) 🔸RSV: 56 (+16.6%) Source: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/guidelines-procedures/diseases-infection/surveillance/reports/flu

Queensland: Measles alert issued in Mackay, QLD as cases grow. "The state recording at least 12 infections in the past 6 weeks in Cairns, the Gold Coast and Townsville" Source:

the Guardian

Australia news live: Optus identifies seven more people unable to call triple zero; Meta to use AI to detect under-18s

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Strange Covid symptoms explained as doctor give vital warning about new strain. "The new variant seems to be starting with ear, nose and throat symptoms, so most people are complaining about a really hoarse voice or a super sore throat. It also seems to present with more GI symptoms. A lot of people are complaining about nausea, vomiting, bloating [and] acid reflux." Source: https://archive.md/qF1yR