Health Report - Separate stories podcast

In the news:
Twenty years ago, the first dose of the HPV vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer was administered. What's the impact of the research that led to this, from University of Queensland's Emeritus Professor Ian Frazer AC and his colleague Dr Jian Zhou?
A Select Committee on Women's Health will look for the first time at post-partum care and pregnancy, amongst other issues that will support women. Submissions close on October 9.
Genetic markers for stress have been investigated in donated brain tissue of people with schizophrenia, showing stress genes had been turned on.
Two more people have died of measles in the United States 
References
20 years. Millions of lives saved. One revolutionary vaccine
Select Committee on Women's Health
Association Between Age-Dependent DNA Methylation Changes at FKBP5 Enhancer Sites and Increased Cortical Gene Expression in Schizophrenia
Pennsylvania Department of Health Confirms Two Measles-Associated Deaths

It's become harder for medical students to qualify as a fully accredited specialist. This delay is having a profound impact on the wellbeing of doctors and on access to specialists across Australia. 
For some the path can be two decades on from when they graduated, especially for the more competitive specialties like surgery. 
Guest/s
Dr Sanjay Hettige, Radiology Registrar; Chair, AMA Council of Doctors and Training
Dr Helen Schultz, Consultant Psychiatrist
Sarah, Surgical Registrar
Seniru Mudannayake, President, Australian Medical Students Association
Dr Philip Morreau, President, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons 
References
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons 2026-2030 Surgical Pathways Strategy
Department of Health: Whole of Medical Workforce Supply and Demand Study

A new study compares frequency of ‘gout flares’ in patients over seven years and shows people experiencing flares more frequently have a higher likelihood of developing heart disease.
Guest/s
Dr Kuei-Ting Tung, Clinical nephrologist, Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Taiwan
References
Annual gout flare frequency as a marker of sustained cardiovascular risk: a clinical threshold for risk stratification

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.
You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

In the news:
Despite the reduction in daily smoking rates, 'poly-use' of nicotine, is a concern in some groups
The WHO reports the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the largest ever seen in that country
The TGA has a big job on its hands cracking down on influencers and companies flouting regulations around peptides
References
National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2025: Tobacco, e-cigarettes and other nicotine insights
WHO Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus - Democratic Republic of the Congo
TGA flexes its muscle against illegal peptides and steroids
Melanotan II tanning peptide products found to be inconsistently dosed