Associate Professor Michael Baker

MBChB, FAFPHM, FRACMA, DComH, DObst

Programme Co-Director, He Kainga Oranga/Housing and Health Research Programme; Principal Investigator for Social Housing Outcomes Worth (SHOW) Study; Principal Investigator for CDC funded project on containment of pandemic influenza.
Michael Baker is a public health physician and associate professor at the University of Otago, Wellington. He has worked extensively on the surveillance, investigation and control of infectious diseases.  His more recent work has focussed on the importance of health determinants, notably housing conditions.
Michael’s research interests include the health effects of household crowding, home injury, homelessness, seasonality of disease, disease surveillance systems, the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), pandemic influenza and how it can be contained, infectious disease epidemiology, emerging infectious diseases, and enteric diseases such as campylobacteriosis (see current and recent projects below).  Michael is a member of the government’s Pandemic Influenza Technical Advisory Group (PITAG). See the Pandemic Influenza Research Group’s NZ site for published work on influenza.

Michael has a long-standing involvement in developing the public health workforce in NZ.  He is currently Director of Continuing Professional Development for the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine (NZCPHM).  Michael is co-academic convenor of the Public Health Summer School and coordinates the Applied Epidemiology Courses.
He also has a specific interest in the role of film in public health teaching.

Current and recent projects (with funding and/or collaborating agency)

  • Health effects of social housing (Housing New Zealand Corporation)
  • Housing and Health, including home injury (HRC)
  • Homelessness (Statistics NZ)
  • Seasonality of mortality and morbidity
  • Surveillance sector review (Ministry of Health and Allen and Clarke)
  • International Health Regulations (World Health Organisation)
  • New Zealand’s Influenza H1N1 epidemic (ESR and Ministry of Health)
  • Methods for containing influenza at the borders of island countries (US Centres for Disease Control)
  • Epidemiology of TB and Rheumatic Fever (HRC)
  • Epidemiology of close-contact infectious diseases (Ministry of Health)
  • Epidemiology of skin infections and necrotising fasciitis (Ministry of Health)
  • Role of contaminated chicken as a cause of NZs campylobacteriosis epidemic
  • Epidemiology of enteric diseases in NZ, including giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis
  • Interactive teaching of medical students

Publications (selected from the last 5 years)

  • Eichner M, Schwehm M, Wilson N, Baker MG. Small islands and pandemic influenza: Potential benefits and limitations of travel volume reduction as a border control measure. BMC Infectious Diseases. Accepted 2009.
  • O’Sullivan C, Baker MG. A proposed epidemiological case definition for serious skin infection in children. J Paed Child Health. Accepted 2009.
  • Duncan AR, Priest PC, Jennings LC, Brunton CR, Baker MG. Screening for influenza infection in international airline travellers.  AJPH. Accepted 2009.
  • Baker MG, Wilson N, Huang QS, Paine S, Lopez L, Bandaranayake D, Tobias M, Mason K, Mackereth GF, Jacobs M, Thornley C, Roberts S, McArthur C. Pandemic influenza A(H1N1)v in New Zealand: the experience from April to August 2009. Euro Surveill. 2009;14(34):pii=19319.
  • Millar E, Baker MG, Howden-Chapman P, Wilson N, Dickson N. Involving students in real-world research: a pilot study for teaching public health and research skills. BMC Med Educ. 2009 Jul 16;9:45.
  • Wilson N, Baker MG. The emerging influenza pandemic: estimating the case fatality ratio. Euro Surveill. 2009 Jul 2;14(26). pii: 19255
  • Snel SJ, Baker MG, Venugopal K, et al. A tale of two parasites: The comparative epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis & giardiasis in New Zealand, 1997-2006. Epidemiol Infect. 2009 Apr 27:1-10. [Epub ahead of print]
  • Nishiura H, Wilson N, Baker MG. Quarantine for pandemic influenza control at borders of small island nations. BMC Infect Dis. 2009 Mar 11;9:27.
  • Telfar Barnard L, Baker MG, Hales S, Howden-Chapman P. Excess winter morbidity and mortality: still a lack of evidence that housing or socio-economic status makes much difference.  Rev Environ Health 2008; 23: 203-221.
  • Wilson N, Baker MG,  Edwards R, Simmons G. Case-case analysis of enteric diseases with routine surveillance data: Potential use and example results. Epidemiol Perspect Innov. 2008 Oct 31; 5:6.
  • Howden-Chapman P, Pierse N, Nicholls S, Gillespie-Bennett J, Viggers H, Cunningham M, Phipps R, Boulic M, Fjällström P, Free S, Chapman R, Lloyd B, Wickens K, Shields D, Baker M, Cunningham C, Woodward A, Bullen C, Crane J. Effects of improved home heating on asthma in community dwelling children: randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2008 Sep 23;337:a1411. doi: 10.1136/bmj.a1411.
  • Jaine R, Baker M, Venugopal K. Epidemiology of acute rheumatic fever in New Zealand 1996-2005. Paediatrics and child health 2008;44:564-71.
  • Baker M, Das D, Venugopal K, Howden-Chapman P. Tuberculosis associated with household crowding in a developed country. J Epidemiol Community Health 2008; 62; 715-21.
  • McLeod M, Baker M, Wilson N, et al. Maritime quarantine appeared to protect South Pacific Islands from the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic. Emerg Infect Dis. 2008; 14; 468-70.
  • Keall M, Baker M, Howden-Chapman P, Cunningham M. Association between the number of home injury hazards and home injury. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 2008; 40: 887–93.
  • Hales S, Baker M, Howden-Chapman P, Menne B, Woodruff R, Woodward A. Implications of global climate change for housing, human settlements and public health. Rev Environ Health 2007; 22: 295-302.
  • Baker M, Forsyth A. The new International Health Regulations: A revolutionary change in global health security. NZ Med J 2007; 120: U 2872.
  • Davie GS, Baker MG, Hales S, Carlin J. Trends and determinants of excess winter mortality in New Zealand: 1980 to 2000. BMC Public Health. 2007; 7: 263.
  • Roberts MG, Baker M, Jennings LC, Sertsou G, Wilson N. A model for the spread and control of pandemic influenza in an isolated geographical region. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 2007; 4: 325-30.
  • Howden-Chapman P, Matheson A, Crane J, Viggers H, Cunningham M, Blakely T, Cunningham CW, Woodward A, Saville-Smith K, O’Dea D, Kennedy M, Baker M, Waipara N, Chapman RB, Davie G. Retrofitting houses with insulation to reduce health inequalities: main results of a cluster, randomised study in a community setting. BMJ 2007;334:460-4.
  • Baker M, Thornley C, Lopez L, Garrett N, Nicol C. A recurring salmonellosis epidemic in New Zealand linked to contact with sheep. Epidemiol Infect 2007; 135: 76-83.
  • Baker M, Sneyd E, Wilson N. Is the major increase in notified campylobacteriosis in New Zealand real? Epidemiol Infect, 2007; 135: 163-70.
  • Sertsou G, Wilson N, Baker M, Nelson P, Roberts M. Estimation of key transmission parameters of an institutional outbreak during the 1918 influenza pandemic by mathematical modelling. Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling 2006;3:38.
  • Das D, Baker M, Venugopal K, McAllister S. Why the tuberculosis incidence rate is not falling in New Zealand? NZ Med J 2006; 119: U2248.
  • Das D, Baker M, Calder L. Tuberculosis epidemiology in New Zealand: 1995 – 2004. NZ Med J 2006; 119: U2249.
  • Baker M, Wilson N, Ikram R, Chambers S, Shoemack P, Cook G. Regulation of chicken contamination urgently needed to control New Zealand’s serious campylobacteriosis epidemic. NZ Med J 2006; 136: U2264.
  • Baker MG, Fidler DP. Global public health surveillance under the new International Health Regulations. Emerg Infect Dis 2006: 12: 1058-65.
  • Baker MG, Lopez LD, Cannon MC, de Lisle GW, Collin DM. Continuing Mycobacterium bovis transmission from animals to humans in New Zealand. Epidemiol Infect, 2006; 134: 1068-73.
  • Howie S, Voss L, Baker M, Calder L, Grimwood K, Byrnes C. Tuberculosis in New Zealand, 1992-2001: a resurgence. Archives of Disease in Childhood; 2005; 90:1157-61.
  • Baker MG Ortega-Benito JM, Garret N, et al. Prevalence and risk factors for Chlamydia trachomatis infection in female New Zealand University Students. NZ Med J; 2005, 118: U1607.
  • Huang QS, Greening G, Baker M, et al. Persistence of oral polio vaccine virus after its removal from the immunisation schedule in New Zealand. Lancet, 2005;366:394-6.

Invited presentations (selected from the last 5 years)

  • The epidemiology of travel related infectious diseases in NZ. Invited presentation to NZ Society of Travel Medicine Conference. Auckland 21-22 August 2009.
  • Zoonotic disease in NZ: A human health research perspective Invited presentation to National Centre for Biosecurity and Infectious Disease (NCBID) -Wallaceville 2009 Scientific Symposium – Zoonotic disease ‘Linking the divide between animals and humans’. Wellington, 7 August 2009.
  • The epidemiology of VTEC in New Zealand: What can we learn from this disease? New Zealand Veterinary Association Conference, Rotorua, 24-27 June 2009.
  • Controlling pandemic influenza at the borders of island countries and in households. Invited presentation, St Judes Centre, Memphis, USA, 3 March 2009.
  • The epidemiology of tuberculosis in New Zealand:  Reinforcing the need to address national and global health inequalities. Australasian TB Conference, Auckland, 27-8 Nov 2008.
  • Epidemiology – Some tools to support wise science in the 21st Century Running hot science conference, Wellington, 30-31 Oct 2008.
  • A public health doctor’s view of foodborne zoonoses. Invited presentation to Australian College of Veterinary Scientists (Epidemiology Chapter) Science Week, Surfers Paradise, Australia, 3-5 July 2008.
  • VTEC surveillance: doing what is desirable. Invited presentation to ESR NCBID-Wallaceville Scientific Symposium: VTEC – Preparing for the inevitable. Wellington, 16 May 2008.
  • The compelling case for urgent action to control New Zealand’s foodborne campylobacteriosis epidemic. New Zealand Veterinary Association Conference, Christchurch, 4-7 July 2007.
  • Building cultural competence into recertification programme for public health physicians in New Zealand. Cultural competence symposium: Overcoming disparities: the HPCA & culturally competent health care, Auckland, 19 Feb 2007, and Christchurch, 18 June 2007.
  • New Zealand experience with systems for supporting CPD. Invited presentation to Joint Conference of the Australian Faculty of Occupational Medicine & Australian Faculty of Public Health Medicine. Melbourne Australia, 3-5 May 2007.
  • NZ’s campylobacteriosis epidemic: Is it a food safety crisis and what action is needed to protect public health?  Invited presentation to seminar to celebrate the life and work of Dr Rod Ellis-Pegler, Auckland Hospital, 16 Nov 2006.
  • Competencies for public health medicine practice. Invited seminar. RACP Congress, Cairns, 7-11 May 2006.
  • Improving health through the built environment. Invited presentation to the New Zealand Institute of Environmental Health Conference, Dunedin, 2 March 2006.
  • Campylobacteriosis: A view from ‘Down-under’. Invited presentation to the international conference: Campylobacter surveillance and research in Ireland: The way ahead? Dublin, 30 June 2005.
  • The built environment and health. Invited presentation at RACP Annual Scientific Meeting, Wellington 8-11 May 2005.
  • Implications of the revised IHR for the quality of public health surveillance. Invited paper presented to the International Conference on International Law in Public Health: Reflection on International Health Regulations Revision and Future Implementations, National Taiwan University College of Law and College of Public Health Taiwan, 7-8 January, 2005.