Latest news with #GeoffRice
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Analysing past pandemics to inform future responses
About 9000 people died in six weeks when the 1918 influenza pandemic swept through New Zealand, making it the largest natural disaster in the country's history. Now University of Otago researchers have joined forces with researchers at Durham University (United Kingdom) and the University of Tubingen (Germany) to complete the first digital analysis of the pandemic, in a bid to provide insights for managing future infectious disease emergencies. Also known as the Great Influenza Epidemic and the Spanish flu, the deadly global pandemic lasted from 1918-20, and was caused by the H1N1 subtype of the influenza A virus. The earliest documented case was in March 1918, in Kansas, United States, and a month later there were cases in France, Germany and the UK. It was quickly spread around the globe by troops during World War 1. Between 1918 and 1920, nearly a third of the global population (an estimated 500 million people) had been infected, and up to 50 million people are estimated to have died from the virus, making it the deadliest pandemic in history. Project co-leader and University of Otago Health Protection Aotearoa Research Centre director Prof Michael Baker said the pandemic was still the largest natural disaster in New Zealand's history, killing about 0.8% of the population — the equivalent of about 40,000 people today. "While the social history of this pandemic has been comprehensively described by historians, notably Prof Geoff Rice, there has not been a full epidemiological analysis using case data. "This project will fill that gap and provide insights into how a poorly controlled modern influenza pandemic could affect the country." The researchers now had a digital database that showed who got infected and when in 1918, and who died, which would allow them to see how the virus moved through New Zealand. "This is why influenza is actually quite worrying, because it has a very short incubation period, and it would sweep through the country very rapidly. "If we had a comparable influenza virus arriving in New Zealand tomorrow, it would probably infect most of the country within a few weeks, it would absolutely overwhelm the health system, and we would not be using an elimination approach at that stage — it would be a mitigation approach, where we just try to dampen it down. "It would put massive strain on our ability to manage people with ventilators and so on, so it could cause 40,000 deaths in that period of time if it behaved the same way." Project leader and Durham University bioarchaeologist Prof Rebecca Gowland said the project was the first step towards a more comprehensive programme aimed at better understanding past global pandemics, including the Black Death in 1348, the 6th century Justinian plague in Europe and the Tudor-era English Sweating Sickness. The aim was to better understand how social connections and differences influenced the spread of pandemics through the centuries, and how individuals and societies responded to the threat they pose.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Finishing seven marathon challenge 'emotional'
A Peel runner who completed seven marathons in a week raising £3,700 for the RNLI said he felt a sense of "jubilation" on finishing the feat. Geoff Rice ran a marathon each day between 17 and 23 May, racking up an overall distance of 183 miles (295km) and a combined elevation of 35,000 feet (10,668 metres). Completing the challenge in a total of 39 hours, with an average time of five and a half hours for each, which comprised five laps of Peel Hill ending at Peel Lifeboat Station. The 57-year-old gardener said completing the last marathon was "very emotional". With about 100 people cheering him on at the end, Geoff said: "As I was running down the hill I could see quite a few people gathering at the bottom, it was very emotional and just a good feeling to get it done." "The weather was not on my side as it was hot [and] I think the heat got to me." But he said aside from that, and picking up blisters on the third day, the week went "smoothly". He said he knew that physically and mentally he was strong enough as "a lot of it was down to discipline and keeping to the game plan". In the last few days of the challenge, about 20 people ran alongside him for portions of the course, which he said was a great help. "You needed the support, there were a lot of times where I wish I had someone to talk to as the sheep weren't saying much," he said. He said while it was "difficult to comprehend" the distance that he had run, he was "absolutely buzzing" and "still on cloud nine now". Having chosen to raise money for the RNLI he said he wanted to "put something back into the community". "I respect what the lifeboats have done," he added. RNLI community manager for the Isle of Man Dani Beckett said it was an "incredible achievement" and an "epic fundraising challenge". It was "inspiring that people believe in our mission and come up with such creative, and challenging ways to raise the vital funds we need to continue our work", she said. Chairman of Peel Lifeboat Station Stuart Blackley, who cheered Geoff on each day, said the funds would go towards safety equipment for the western branch of the RNLI. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. Peel runner to take on seven marathons in a week RNLI
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Finishing seven marathon challenge 'emotional' for Peel runner
A Peel runner who completed seven marathons in a week raising £3,700 for the RNLI said he felt a sense of "jubilation" on finishing the Rice ran a marathon each day between 17 and 23 May, racking up an overall distance of 183 miles (295km) and a combined elevation of 35,000 feet (10,668 metres).Completing the challenge in a total of 39 hours, with an average time of five and a half hours for each, which comprised five laps of Peel Hill ending at Peel Lifeboat 57-year-old gardener said completing the last marathon was "very emotional". With about 100 people cheering him on at the end, Geoff said: "As I was running down the hill I could see quite a few people gathering at the bottom, it was very emotional and just a good feeling to get it done.""The weather was not on my side as it was hot [and] I think the heat got to me." But he said aside from that, and picking up blisters on the third day, the week went "smoothly".He said he knew that physically and mentally he was strong enough as "a lot of it was down to discipline and keeping to the game plan".In the last few days of the challenge, about 20 people ran alongside him for portions of the course, which he said was a great help."You needed the support, there were a lot of times where I wish I had someone to talk to as the sheep weren't saying much," he said while it was "difficult to comprehend" the distance that he had run, he was "absolutely buzzing" and "still on cloud nine now".Having chosen to raise money for the RNLI he said he wanted to "put something back into the community"."I respect what the lifeboats have done," he added. RNLI community manager for the Isle of Man Dani Beckett said it was an "incredible achievement" and an "epic fundraising challenge".It was "inspiring that people believe in our mission and come up with such creative, and challenging ways to raise the vital funds we need to continue our work", she of Peel Lifeboat Station Stuart Blackley, who cheered Geoff on each day, said the funds would go towards safety equipment for the western branch of the RNLI. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Peel runner to take on seven marathons in a week
A Peel man who is poised to take on seven marathons in seven days, to raise money for charity, has said completing the challenge will be "emotional". Over the coming week, Geoff Rice will be running a marathon each day, until Friday, racking up an overall distance of 183 miles (294.5km) and a total elevation of 35,000 feet (10,668 metres). The 57-year-old gardener, who is raising funds for the RNLI, will begin each individual marathon run daily at 13:00 BST near Fenella Beach, running five laps of Peel Hill and ending the race at Peel Lifeboat station. Geoff came up with the idea two years ago, but said the initial plan to run just one race "was not much of a challenge" for him. Completing seven marathons in seven days "had a ring to it", he said. He chose Peel Hill as that was is where he frequently trains. A veteran runner who has been running for 15 years, Geoff has completed 15 marathons and a further ten ultra-marathons. Although this is his first time completing a series of marathons back-to-back, he remains confident, both physically and mentally, that he can do it, but said it was important "to get the recovery in". "It is not a race," he commented. "It is always the next one that is going to be the hardest. "It's just the case of getting it done and going onto the next one." Geoff said he wanted to raise money for the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) to "put something back into the community". "Everyone knows what a good job they do, and when you are in Peel all the time and you see them going out, you just think they are heroes," he said. His son previously volunteered for the charity as a crew member, and the RNLI's recent rescue of a friend's son had made the fundraising even "more special" to him, Geoff said. He said his enjoyment of running came down to the training, discipline, comradery and mental health benefits. "It gets you out, helps you switch off and takes your mind off things." Having his own running groups gives him "a lot of satisfaction", he added, witnessing the "excitement" members of the group derive from their achievements. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. RNLI fundraiser walks coastal path twice Royal National Lifeboat Institution
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Peel runner to take on seven marathons in seven days
A Peel man who is poised to take on seven marathons in seven days, to raise money for charity, has said completing the challenge will be "emotional".Over the coming week, Geoff Rice will be running a marathon each day, until Friday, racking up an overall distance of 183 miles (294.5km) and a total elevation of 35,000 feet (10,668 metres).The 57-year-old gardener, who is raising funds for the RNLI, will begin each individual marathon run daily at 13:00 BST near Fenella Beach, running five laps of Peel Hill and ending the race at Peel Lifeboat station. Geoff came up with the idea two years ago, but said the initial plan to run just one race "was not much of a challenge" for him. Completing seven marathons in seven days "had a ring to it", he chose Peel Hill as that was is where he frequently trains. A veteran runner who has been running for 15 years, Geoff has completed 15 marathons and a further ten ultra-marathons. Although this is his first time completing a series of marathons back-to-back, he remains confident, both physically and mentally, that he can do it, but said it was important "to get the recovery in"."It is not a race," he commented. "It is always the next one that is going to be the hardest. "It's just the case of getting it done and going onto the next one."Geoff said he wanted to raise money for the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) to "put something back into the community". "Everyone knows what a good job they do, and when you are in Peel all the time and you see them going out, you just think they are heroes," he said. His son previously volunteered for the charity as a crew member, and the RNLI's recent rescue of a friend's son had made the fundraising even "more special" to him, Geoff said his enjoyment of running came down to the training, discipline, comradery and mental health benefits."It gets you out, helps you switch off and takes your mind off things." Having his own running groups gives him "a lot of satisfaction", he added, witnessing the "excitement" members of the group derive from their achievements. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
