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Professor Michael Baker, Department of Public Health

MBChB, FNZCPHM, FAFPHM, FRACMA, DComH, DObst

Michael Baker image 2020

Professor of Public Health; Director, Health Environment Infection Research Unit (HEIRU); Co-Director, He Kainga Oranga/Housing and Health Research Programme; Co-Director, Public Health Summer School

Teaches PUBH734 Health Protection

Contact details

Tel +64 4 918 6802
Fax +64 4 389 5319
Email michael.baker@otago.ac.nz

Research interests and activities 

Michael is a public health physician and Professor in the Department of Public Health. He is passionate about opportunities to organise society in ways that promote health, equity and sustainability.

In 2013 Michael was awarded the Liley Medal (Health Research Council) for his contribution to the health and medical sciences. In 2014 he was a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Science Prize as a member of He Kainga Oranga / Housing and Health Research Programme. In 2015 he was the NZ-UK Link Foundation Visiting Professor at the School of Advanced Study (SAS), University of London.

His work during 2020-21 has been dominated by assisting with the Covid-19 pandemic response. Michael is a member of the Ministry of Health’s Covid-19 Technical Advisory Group and has been a leading architect and advocate for the Covid-19 elimination strategy. He established a programme of research on the epidemiology, prevention and control of Covid-19 in NZ and internationally (Co-Search), which has generated a large amount of published research and commentary aimed at improving the pandemic response.

Michael’s work on public health, and the Covid-19 response in particular, was recognised by a number of recent awards including: the Critic and Conscience of Society Award (from Universities NZ), the Public Health Champion award (from the Public Health Association of NZ), being made a Member of the NZ Order of Merit (MNZM), his selection as the 2020 Wellingtonian of the Year, and the Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize in 2021.

Michael has a wide range of public health research interests, with a focus on infectious diseases, environmental health, and improving housing conditions. Specific research areas include:

  • infectious disease epidemiology
  • The COVID‑19 pandemic, including epidemiology, elimination strategy, control measures
  • emerging infectious diseases, including pandemic influenza
  • food safety and enteric diseases, e.g. campylobacteriosis
  • zoonoses and One Health
  • immunisation and vaccine preventable diseases
  • health effects of household crowding, healthy housing
  • rheumatic fever, skin infections, chronic effects of infectious diseases
  • seasonality of disease, health effects of climate change, e.g. on infectious diseases
  • environmental health, drinking water quality, water pollutants, e.g. nitrates
  • drug law reform and harm minimisation, e.g. needle exchange programme
  • public health services organisation and capacity, e.g. surveillance and outbreak investigation
  • global health security, e.g. the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005)
  • science communication

Michael has worked in a range of roles, including being a medical advisor to a Minister of Health, for regional public health services, at a Crown Research Institute (ESR), and for the World Health Organisation in Manila and Geneva. Since 2003 he has been based full-time at the University of Otago, Wellington. Specific positions include:

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Publications

Bennett, J., Shorter, C., Kvalsvig, A., Telfar Barnard, L., Wilson, N., Crane, J., Douwes, J., Cunningham, C., … Summers, J., … Baker, M. G., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2022). Indoor air quality, largely neglected and in urgent need of a refresh. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1559), 136-139. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Baker, M. G., Gurney, J., Moreland, N. J., Bennett, J., Oliver, J., Williamson, D. A., Pierse, N., … Merriman, T. R., … Edwards, R., … Thomson, W. M., Zhang, J., & Lennon, D. (2022). Risk factors for acute rheumatic fever: A case-control study. Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2022.100508

Bennett, J., Moreland, N. J., Zhang, J., Crane, J., Sika-Paotonu, D., Carapetis, J., Williamson, D. A., & Baker, M. G. (2022). Risk factors for group A streptococcal pharyngitis and skin infections: A case control study. Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific, 26, 100507. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2022.100507

Walker, T. A., Grainger, R., Quirke, T., Roos, R., Sherwood, J., Mackereth, G., … Baker, M. G., & Jones, N. (2022). Reactive arthritis incidence in a community cohort following a large waterborne campylobacteriosis outbreak in Havelock North, New Zealand. BMJ Open, 12, e060173. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060173

Kvalsvig, A., Baker, M., Summers, J., Telfar Barnard, L., Dickson, A., Bennett, J., Timu-Parata, C., Wilson, N., (2022, May). The urgent need for a Covid-19 Action Plan for Schools in Aotearoa New Zealand. Public Health Expert blog. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/pubhealthexpert/the-urgent-need-for-a-covid-19-action-plan-for-schools-in-aotearoa-new-zealand/

Howden-Chapman, P., Chisholm, E., Telfar Barnard, L., Viggers, H., O'Sullivan, K., Bennett, J., Bierre, S., Preval, N., Randal, E., Tiatia, R., Ombler, J., Amore, K., Rivera-Muñoz, G., … Davies, C., Aspinall, C., Oliver, J., Baker, M., Keall, M., … Crane, J., & Pierse, N. (2017). Housing, energy and health in resilient cities. In P. Howden-Chapman, L. Early & J. Ombler (Eds.), Cities in New Zealand: Preferences, patterns and possibilities. (pp. 95-106). Wellington, New Zealand: Steele Roberts Aotearoa.

Chapter in Book - Research

Baker, M., Zhang, J., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2013). The health effects of social housing: The Social Housing Outcomes Worth study. In S. Bierre, P. Howden-Chapman & L. Early (Eds.), Homes people can afford: How to improve housing in New Zealand. (pp. 33-40). Wellington, New Zealand: Steele Roberts Aotearoa.

Chapter in Book - Research

Harris, R., Purdie, G., Robson, B., Wright, C., Zhang, J., & Baker, M. (2007). Appendix 3: Estimating Māori hospitalisations and cancer registrations. In B. Robson & R. Harris (Eds.), Hauora: Māori standards of health IV: A study of the years 2000-2005. (pp. 249-259). Wellington, New Zealand: Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pōmare, University of Otago.

Chapter in Book - Research

Baker, M., Milosevic, J., Blakely, T., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2004). Housing, crowding and health. In P. Howden-Chapman & P. Carroll (Eds.), Housing & health: Research, policy and innovation. (pp. 57-69). Wellington, New Zealand: Steele Roberts.

Chapter in Book - Research

Howden-Chapman, P., Crane, J., Baker, M., Cunningham, C., & Matheson, A. (2004). Reducing health inequality through improving housing: He Kainga Oranga/ Housing and Health Research Programme. In P. Howden-Chapman & P. Carroll (Eds.), Housing & health: Research, policy and innovation. (pp. 83-92). Wellington, New Zealand: Steele Roberts.

Chapter in Book - Research

Baker, M. G., Goodyear, R., & Howden-Chapman, P. L. (2003). Household crowding and health. In What is the extent of crowding in New Zealand?: An analysis of crowding in New Zealand households 1986-2001. (pp. 58-87). Wellington: Statistics New Zealand.

Chapter in Book - Research

Martin, D., Walker, S. J., Baker, M. G., Roberts, A., & Lennon, D. R. (1996). Epidemic of serogroup B meningococcal disease in New Zealand has parallels with that observed in the Netherlands, 1980-1990. In W. D. Zollinger, C. E. Frasch & C. D. Deal (Eds.), Pathogenic Neisseria. (pp. 496-497). Baltimore, Maryland: National Institute of Health.

Chapter in Book - Research

Baker, M. (2002). Immunisations and malaria prophylaxis for travellers. In New Ethicals Catalogue 1997-2002. Auckland, New Zealand: Adis International.

Chapter in Book - Other

Ammar, S. E., McIntyre, M., Baker, M. G., & Hales, S. (2022). New Zealand travellers to high-risk destinations for arbovirus infection make little effort to avoid mosquito bites. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2022.2071951

Journal - Research Article

Baker, M. G., Gurney, J., Moreland, N. J., Bennett, J., Oliver, J., Williamson, D. A., Pierse, N., … Merriman, T. R., … Edwards, R., … Thomson, W. M., Zhang, J., & Lennon, D. (2022). Risk factors for acute rheumatic fever: A case-control study. Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2022.100508

Journal - Research Article

Bennett, J., Moreland, N. J., Williamson, D. A., Carapetis, J., Crane, J., Whitcombe, A. L., Jack, S., … Baker, M. G. (2022). Comparison of group A streptococcal titres in healthy children and those with pharyngitis and skin infections. Journal of Infection, 84, 24-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.10.014

Journal - Research Article

Bennett, J., Moreland, N. J., Zhang, J., Crane, J., Sika-Paotonu, D., Carapetis, J., Williamson, D. A., & Baker, M. G. (2022). Risk factors for group A streptococcal pharyngitis and skin infections: A case control study. Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific, 26, 100507. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2022.100507

Journal - Research Article

Gray, L., MacDonald, C., Puloka, A., Bocock, C., Gwyther, R., Rushton, A., Puloka, V., … Kvalsvig, A., & Baker, M. G. (2022). The lived experience of hotel isolation and quarantine at the Aotearoa New Zealand border for COVID-19: A qualitative descriptive study. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 70, 102779. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102779

Journal - Research Article

Kvalsvig, A., Telfar Barnard, L., Summers, J., & Baker, M. G. (2022). Integrated prevention and control of seasonal respiratory infections in Aotearoa New Zealand: Next steps for transformative change. Policy Quarterly, 18(1), 44-51. doi: 10.26686/pq.v18i1.7500

Journal - Research Article

Thompson, J., McClure, R., Blakely, T., Wilson, N., Baker, M. G., Wijnands, J. S., … Stevenson, M. (2022). Modelling SARS-CoV-2 disease progression in Australia and New Zealand: An account of an agent-based approach to support public health decision-making. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.13221

Journal - Research Article

Walker, T. A., Grainger, R., Quirke, T., Roos, R., Sherwood, J., Mackereth, G., … Baker, M. G., & Jones, N. (2022). Reactive arthritis incidence in a community cohort following a large waterborne campylobacteriosis outbreak in Havelock North, New Zealand. BMJ Open, 12, e060173. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060173

Journal - Research Article

Whitcombe, A. L., McGregor, R., Bennett, J., Gurney, J. K., Williamson, D. A., Baker, M. G., & Moreland, N. J. (2022). Increased breadth of Group A Streptococcus antibody responses in children with acute rheumatic fever compared to precursor pharyngitis and skin infections. Journal of Infectious Diseases. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiac043

Journal - Research Article

Ammar, S. E., McIntyre, M., Baker, M. G., & Hales, S. (2021). Imported arboviral infections in New Zealand, 2001 to 2017: A risk factor for local transmission. Travel Medicine & Infectious Disease, 102047. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2021.102047

Journal - Research Article

Bennett, J., Zhang, J., Leung, W., Jack, S., Oliver, J., Webb, R., … Sika-Paotonu, D., Harwood, M., & Baker, M. G. (2021). Rising ethnic inequalities in acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, New Zealand, 2000-2018. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 27(1), 36-46. doi: 10.3201/eid2701.191791

Journal - Research Article

Binny, R. N., Baker, M. G., Hendy, S. C., James, A., Lustig, A., Plank, M. J., … Steyn, N. (2021). Early intervention is the key to success in COVID-19 control. Royal Society Open Science, 8, 210488. doi: 10.1098/rsos.210488

Journal - Research Article

Cannon, J., Zhang, J., Bennett, J., Moreland, N. J., Baker, M. G., Geelhoed, E., … Jack, S. (2021). The economic and health burden of disease caused by Group A Streptococcus in New Zealand. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 103, 176-181. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.11.193

Journal - Research Article

Carlton, L. H., Chen, T., Whitcombe, A. L., McGregor, R., Scheurich, G., Sheen, C. R., … Baker, M. G., … Moreland, N. J. (2021). Charting elimination in the pandemic: A SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey of blood donors in New Zealand [Short paper]. Epidemiology & Infection, 149, e173. doi: 10.1017/s0950268821001643

Journal - Research Article

Chambers, T., Joy, M., Wilson, N., Hales, S., & Baker, M. (2021). Quantifying the nitrate levels in bottled water in New Zealand. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.13196

Journal - Research Article

Choi, K., Giridharan, N., Cartmell, A., Lum, D., Signal, L., Puloka, V., Crossin, R., Gray, L., Davies, C., Baker, M., & Kvalsvig, A. (2021). Life during lockdown: A qualitative study of low-income New Zealanders' experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1538), 52-67. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Geoghegan, J. L., Douglas, J., Ren, X., Storey, M., Hadfield, J., Silander, O. K., … Baker, M. G., Murdoch, D. R., … de Ligt, J. (2021). Use of genomics to track Coronavirus disease outbreaks, New Zealand. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 27(5), 1317-1322. doi: 10.3201/eid2705.204579

Journal - Research Article

Gray, L., Rose, S. B., Stanley, J., Zhang, J., Tassell-Matamua, N., Puloka, V., Kvalsvig, A., … Murton, S. A., … Baker, M. G. (2021). Factors influencing individual ability to follow physical distancing recommendations in Aotearoa New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic: A population survey. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 51(Suppl. 1), S107-S126. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2021.1879179

Journal - Research Article

Grout, L., Katar, A., Ouakrim, D. A., Summers, J. A., Kvalsvig, A., Baker, M. G., Blakely, T., & Wilson, N. (2021). Failures of quarantine systems for preventing COVID-19 outbreaks in Australia and New Zealand. Medical Journal of Australia. Advance online publication. doi: 10.5694/mja2.51240

Journal - Research Article

Huang, Q. S., Wood, T., Jelley, L., Jennings, T., Jefferies, S., Daniells, K., Nesdale, A., Dowell, T., Turner, N., Campbell-Stokes, P., Balm, M., Dobinson, H. C., … Baker, M. G., … Werno, A., Grant, J., van der Linden, A., … Webby, R. J. (2021). Impact of the COVID-19 nonpharmaceutical interventions on influenza and other respiratory viral infections in New Zealand. Nature Communications, 12(1), 1001. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-21157-9

Journal - Research Article

Keall, M. D., Tupara, H., Pierse, N., Wilkie, M., Baker, M. G., Howden-Chapman, P., & Cunningham, C. (2021). Home modifications to prevent home fall injuries in houses with Māori occupants (MHIPI): A randomised controlled trial. Lancet Public Health, 6(9), e631-e640. doi: 10.1016/s2468-2667(21)00135-3

Journal - Research Article

Kvalsvig, A., & Baker, M. G. (2021). How Aotearoa New Zealand rapidly revised its Covid-19 response strategy: Lessons for the next pandemic plan. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 51(1), S143-S166. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2021.1891943

Journal - Research Article

Lake, R. J., Campbell, D. M., Hathaway, S. C., Ashmore, E., Cressey, P. J., Horn, B. J., … Baker, M. G., … French, N. P. (2021). Source attributed case-control study of campylobacteriosis in New Zealand. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 103, 268-277. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.11.167

Journal - Research Article

Lorenz, N., Ho, T. K. C., McGregor, R., Davies, M. R., Williamson, D. A., Gurney, J. K., … Baker, M. G., & Moreland, N. J. (2021). Serological profiling of group A streptococcus infections in acute rheumatic fever. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 73(12), 2322-2325. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciab180

Journal - Research Article

McGregor, R., Tay, M. L., Carlton, L. H., Hanson-Manful, P., Raynes, J. M., Forsyth, W. O., … Baker, M. G., & Moreland, N. J. (2021). Mapping autoantibodies in children with acute rheumatic fever. Frontiers in Immunology, 12, 702877. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.702877

Journal - Research Article

Nguyen, T., Adnan, M., Nguyen, B. P., de Ligt, J., Geoghegan, J. L., Dean, R., … Baker, M. G., … Murdoch, D. R., … Simpson, C. R. (2021). COVID-19 vaccine strategies for Aotearoa New Zealand: A mathematical modelling study. Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific, 15, 100256. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100256

Journal - Research Article

Oliver, J., Bennett, J., Thomas, S., Zhang, J., Pierse, N., Moreland, N. J., Williamson, D. A., Jack, S., & Baker, M. (2021). Preceding group A streptococcus skin and throat infections are individually associated with acute rheumatic fever: Evidence from New Zealand. BMJ Global Health, 6, e007038. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007038

Journal - Research Article

Oliver, J., Robertson, O., Zhang, J., Marsters, B. L., Sika-Paotonu, D., Jack, S., Bennett, J., Williamson, D. A., … Pierse, N., & Baker, M. G. (2021). Early release-ethnically disparate disease progression and outcomes among acute rheumatic fever patients in New Zealand, 1989–2015. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 27(7), 1893-1901. doi: 10.3201/eid2707.203045

Journal - Research Article

Pilapitiya, D. H., Harris, P. W. R., Hanson-Manful, P., McGregor, R., Kowalczyk, R., Raynes, J. M., … Baker, M. G., … Moreland, N. J. (2021). Antibody responses to collagen peptides and streptococcal collagen-like 1 proteins in acute rheumatic fever patients. Pathogens & Disease, 79, ftab033. doi: 10.1093/femspd/ftab033

Journal - Research Article

Prasad, N., Walker, T. A., Waite, B., Wood, T., Trenholme, A. A., Baker, M. G., … Newbern, E. C. (2021). Respiratory syncytial virus-associated hospitalizations among adults with chronic medical conditions. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 73(1), e158-e163. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa730

Journal - Research Article

Richards, J., Chambers, T., Hales, S., Joy, M., Radu, T., Woodward, A., Humphrey, A., Randal, E., & Baker, M. G. (2021). Nitrate contamination in drinking water and colorectal cancer: Exposure assessment and estimated health burden in New Zealand. Environmental Research. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112322

Journal - Research Article

Riggs, L., Keall, M., Howden-Chapman, P., & Baker, M. G. (2021). Environmental burden of disease from unsafe and substandard housing, New Zealand, 2010-2017. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 99, 259-270. doi: 10.2471/BLT.20.263285

Journal - Research Article

Robertson, O., Nathan, K., Howden-Chapman, P., Baker, M. G., Atatoa Carr, P., & Pierse, N. (2021). Residential mobility for a national cohort of New Zealand-born children by area socioeconomic deprivation level and ethnic group. BMJ Open, 11, e039706. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039706

Journal - Research Article

Shackleton, N., Li, E., Gibb, S., Kvalsvig, A., Baker, M., Sporle, A., … Milne, B. J. (2021). The relationship between income poverty and child hospitalisations in New Zealand: Evidence from longitudinal household panel data and Census data. PLoS ONE, 16(1), e0243920. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243920

Journal - Research Article

Thomas, S., Bennett, J., Jack, S., Oliver, J., Purdie, G., Upton, A., & Baker, M. G. (2021). Descriptive analysis of group A Streptococcus in skin swabs and acute rheumatic fever, Auckland, New Zealand, 2010–2016. Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific, 8, 100101. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100101

Journal - Research Article

Wilson, B., Jones, N., Wood, T., Jagroop-Dearing, A., Kubovy, J., & Baker, M. G. (2021). Clinical outcomes of campylobacteriosis: A case series analysis of hospitalisations associated with the Havelock North Campylobacter outbreak. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1547), 71-84. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Wilson, N., Baker, M. G., Blakely, T., & Eichner, M. (2021). Estimating the impact of control measures to prevent outbreaks of COVID-19 associated with air travel into a COVID-19-free country. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 10766. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-89807-y

Journal - Research Article

Wilson, N., Blakely, T., Baker, M. G., & Eichner, M. (2021). Estimating the risk of outbreaks of COVID-19 associated with shore leave by merchant ship crews: Simulation studies for New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1529), 26-38. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Adnan, M., Gao, X., Bai, X., Newbern, E., Sherwood, J., Jones, N., Baker, M., … Gao, W. (2020). Potential early identification of a large campylobacter outbreak using alternative surveillance data sources: Autoregressive modelling and spatiotemporal clustering. JMIR Public Health & Surveillance, 6(3), e18281. doi: 10.2196/18281

Journal - Research Article

Chung, A. W., Ho, T. K. C., Hanson-Manful, P., Tritscheller, S., Raynes, J. M., Whitcombe, A. L., … Oliver, J. R., Gurney, J. K., … Baker, M. G., & Moreland, N. J. (2020). Systems immunology reveals a linked IgG3-C4 response in patients with acute rheumatic fever. Immunology & Cell Biology, 98, 12-21. doi: 10.1111/imcb.12298

Journal - Research Article

Geoghegan, J. L., Ren, X., Storey, M., Hadfield, J., Jelley, L., Jefferies, S., … Baker, M. G., Murdoch, D. R., … de Ligt, J. (2020). Genomic epidemiology reveals transmission patterns and dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in Aotearoa New Zealand. Nature Communications, 11(1), 6351. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-20235-8

Journal - Research Article

Gilpin, B. J., Walker, T., Paine, S., Sherwood, J., Mackereth, G., Wood, T., … Baker, M. G., & Jones, N. (2020). A large scale waterborne Campylobacteriosis outbreak, Havelock North, New Zealand. Journal of Infection, 81, 390-395. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.06.065

Journal - Research Article

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