Wellington, Oct 7 NZPA - New Zealand scientists with special expertise in human immune systems say recent research indicates the key to tackling the deadly disease tuberculosis may lie in understanding how the immune system responds to it.

Young Pacific and Maori women are leading the way in taking up a vaccine which protects them against infection with HPV (human papillomavirus), Pacific Island Affairs Minister Georgina te Heuheu says. HPVs are common viruses which lead to most cervical cancers and genital warts.

University of Auckland scientists have made an important discovery about how an antibody against the anthrax toxin works, and their findings may have implications for vaccine development for anthrax and for other similar infectious diseases.

In a lead up to World Rabies Day, the Bali government has just signed an agreement authorising a mass vaccination campaign to inoculate nearly 400,000 dogs as an essential first step towards eradicating rabies from the island by 2012.

As the first of the voting packs for the local body elections go out, the Public Health Association (PHA) is urging New Zealanders to cast a ballot in the local government and district health board elections.

The West Coast District Health Board is pleased by the PHO Performance Programme results for the period 1 July - 31 December 2009, released by the Ministry of Health on Friday. The results clearly show that good outcomes are being achieved for West Coast residents.

Influenza H1N1 activity reports are continuing to show a decline.

The HPV immunisation programme to help protect girls and young women from future cervical cancer has hit a key milestone with more than 100,000 eligible young New Zealand women having made the choice to get vaccinated.

Overall, national influenza H1N1 activity in the community now appears to be falling. However, there is still regional variation, with some areas experiencing high or increasing influenza activity.

Influenza H1N1 activity is continuing across the country, with variable rates of infection according to geographic region. Recent information suggests that some regions may be starting to see a decline in influenza activity, especially in the North Island where most activity has been occurring.