Influenza

Here are the changes that have been made to the 2017 immunization schedules, as reported in the CDC’s most recent MMWR.

High flu activity and new pediatric flu-related deaths around the country lead some area schools to announce temporary closures in hopes of preventing further spread of the virus.

Although President Donald Trump’s previous skepticism on the flu vaccine was certainly not helpful in terms of encouraging individuals to be vaccinated, research indicates that celebrity commentary on a topic makes it more likely that the audience will recall the message and be motivated to react to it.

Researchers find that having a local team in the Super Bowl sets a city up for a substantial increase in flu-related illness and deaths during influenza season.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials are reporting epidemic flu levels across the United States, along with three new pediatric deaths from the virus.

Since avian influenza is continuing to spread in birds across Europe, WHO calls for stronger surveillance efforts in order to better prevent potential infection in humans.

With flu season underway, a pair of recent studies highlight the impact of winter weather on influenza activity and raise questions about the right time to receive a flu shot.

An additional nine states are reporting widespread influenza activity, in what is already a busy flu season that has been marked by severe illness caused by the influenza A (H3N2) strain.

University of Alberta researchers have designed a new surgical mask that uses a sodium chloride salt coating to trap and kill pathogen droplets, which could help prevent the spread of viruses.

The 2016-2017 influenza season continues to see a growing number of severe flu cases due to the increased prevalence of influenza A (H3N2) virus.

Researchers at Southern Research Institute are focusing their efforts on finding a broad-spectrum antiviral drug that will be effective against a number of influenza strains.

The H3N2 strain of influenza continues to circulate throughout Calgary, as well as in the South Zone, while “little influenza activity in the North Zone [has been observed] to date.”

Researchers have found no link between an influenza infection during pregnancy and an increased risk of an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis.

Researchers have conducted a study looking into the role that vitamin D might play in reducing the number of acute respiratory infections that are experienced by older adults residing in long-term care facilities.

Researchers uncover high rates of co-infections in patients who are admitted to hospitals with influenza.

New surveillance reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that this year’s influenza vaccine can offer effective protection against circulating viruses this flu season.

Health officials in China have reported six recent human cases of bird flu in three mainland provinces and the Macao Special Administrative Region; these cases have been traced back to live poultry markets and poultry farms.

Researchers continue to move closer to the development of a universal influenza vaccine that would potentially provide protection against all influenza A strains and subtypes.

Americans are gearing up for travel to celebrate the winter holidays amid a mild start to the influenza season.

A defense mechanism by which plants and animals fight off RNA viruses was recently observed in human cells for the first time, offering researchers a look at new ways to treat viral diseases.

While flu vaccination rates for pregnant women have more than doubled since 2005, a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that at least half of expectant mothers are missing out on the protective benefits of the flu shot.

In honor of National Influenza Vaccination Week, the CDC reports on influenza vaccination coverage and the benefits of receiving a flu shot.

The CDC’s NCHS released its mortality report on life expectancy and leading causes of death for adults and infants in 2015.

Researchers discover a simple method for estimating fitness of antiviral-resistant influenza strains using surveillance data.

A new pair of studies take a look at the human immune response to the flu vaccine and explain how the flu components may affect the shot’s effectiveness.

University of Arizona researchers look at important trends related to infectious disease mortality in the United States.

Researchers at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University are the first to develop a computer model that predicts influenza activity down to the local level.

Ten years ago in Geneva, the World Health Organization (WHO) unveiled what is now called the Global Action Plan for Influenza Vaccines (GAP), a comprehensive approach to meeting the demand for vaccines should there be a pandemic anywhere in the world. How is it doing?

Thomas Frieden, MD, MPH, director of the CDC, and Susan Desmond-Hellmann, MD, chief executive of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation discuss how governments and business organizations should prepare for pandemics, especially a potential influenza pandemic.

Recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in Northern Europe, Russia, and the Middle East are worrying neighboring countries and have led to the culling of tens of thousands of chicken, turkeys, and ducks.