Influenza News

September 5, 2016

Time of Day Affects Susceptibility to Infection

Engineers Design Programmable RNA Vaccines

2009 Swine Flu Pandemic Originated in Mexico

Get Your Vaccinations in the Morning: Study

Latest Headlines

updated 12:21am EDT

New Virus Gets Official Name, Influenza D

Sep. 1, 2016 — A new influenza virus that affects cattle has an official name. influenza D. The executive committee of the International Committee of Taxonomy of Virus announced a new genus, Orthomyxovirdae, with a ... read more

Bird Bugs Shed New Light on Malaria Infection

Aug. 31, 2016 — A study into bird malaria could provide important clues about the causes of parasite co-infections in animals, including people, report investigators. They found that not ... read more

New Flu Strains and Old Antibodies: How Sinful Is 'Original Antigenic Sin'?

Aug. 18, 2016 — Immune memory ensures a quick, specific response to previously encountered pathogens. However, for rapidly evolving pathogens like influenza virus, there is concern that recalled ('old') antibodies ... read more

Flu Nasal Spray Provides Similar Protection Against Influenza as Flu Shot: Study

Aug. 15, 2016 — A three-year trial in a Hutterite colony, where people live communally and are relatively isolated from cities and towns, was set to determine ... read more

How Antiviral Antibodies Become Part of Immune Memory

Aug. 15, 2016 — Scientists probe activated B cells, important for forming immune memory, during flu vaccination and infection and Ebola infection in humans. Understanding how to elicit these cells is critical for ... read more

New Study Explains Why MRSA 'Superbug' Kills Influenza Patients

Aug. 15, 2016 — Secondary infection with the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacterium (or 'superbug') often kills influenza patients because the flu virus alters the antibacterial response of ... read more

Researchers Pinpoint Key Influenza-Fighting Immune Trigger

Aug. 12, 2016 — Scientists have identified the molecule that recognizes the influenza virus in infected cells and triggers their suicide to fight the infection, outlines a ... read more

Vaccines Fail to Protect Obese Mice from Severe Influenza Infections

Aug. 2, 2016 — A new study found that obese mice are not protected against influenza infections by vaccines that include adjuvants, raising concerns about vaccine effectiveness in obese ... read more

Migratory Birds Are Not a Reservoir for Highly Pathogenic Flu Viruses, Evidence Suggests

July 25, 2016 — The H5 avian influenza A virus that devastated North American poultry farms in 2014-15 was initially spread by migratory waterfowl, but evidence ... read more

Flu Vaccine Reduces Risk of Hospital Stay for Stroke, Heart Failure for Diabetes Patients

July 25, 2016 — People with type 2 diabetes who receive the influenza vaccine may be less likely to be admitted to hospital for myocardial infarction, stroke and ... read more

How A Florida Teen Survived A Rare Brain-Eating Amoeba Infection

Wisc. Researchers Discuss New Zika Findings

Hong Kong Culls Thousands of Birds Over Avian Flu Scare

Scientists Say They're One Step Closer To An HIV Vaccine

Mouse Study Points Way to Shut Down Harmful Immune Response in Lupus

Aug. 17, 2016 — Molecules that scavenge debris from dying cells appear to halt the cycle of chronic inflammation in lupus, while also enhancing the body’s ability to combat flu, according to studies in ... read more

Combining Forces Against Influenza A

Aug. 12, 2016 — Influenza A is one of the most prolific and diverse viruses on Earth; its ability to rapidly mutate to resist treatment challenges the management of future pandemics. Effective antiviral drugs for ... read more

Distraction Techniques Can Soothe Shot Anxiety During This Year's Flu Season

Aug. 10, 2016 — A typical visit to the pediatrician when it is time for a child to get a shot can include tears, tantrums and might not seem worth the trouble. But with the FluMist not being offered by many ... read more

Vaccine Strategy Induces Antibodies That Can Target Multiple Influenza Viruses

July 22, 2016 — Scientists have identified three types of vaccine-induced antibodies that can neutralize diverse strains of influenza virus that infect humans. The discovery will help guide development of a ... read more

Intranasal Flu Vaccine Produces Long-Lasting Immune Response in Mice

July 18, 2016 — Intranasal flu vaccines may be able to provide long-lasting protection against pandemic flu strains, according to a new study from ... read more

Next Flu Pandemic Could Double Past Cost Estimates

June 28, 2016 — Policy makers’ and public health officials’ proper reactions could hold down the total costs to U.S. GDP of an influenza outbreak. Otherwise, costs could be nearly double previous estimates, say ... read more

Antibodies Triggered by Avian Influenza Virus Vaccine Illuminate a New Path Toward Universal Flu Vaccine

June 8, 2016 — Diverse antibodies induced in humans by vaccination with an avian influenza virus vaccine may offer broader, more durable protection against multiple strains of influenza than today's vaccines ... read more

In Resource-Poor Settings, Vaccinating Mothers Against Flu Can Protect Newborns Too, New Study Finds That

June 2, 2016 — Each year, influenza causes between 250,000 and half a million deaths around the world. Now a new study has shown that immunizing mothers against flu can decrease by 70 percent the risk of their ... read more

Putting the Brakes on Cell's 'Engine' Could Give Flu, Other Vaccines a Boost

May 24, 2016 — Altering MCJ -- a relatively unknown molecule that regulates metabolism in virus-attacking T cells -- can result in a boost to the immune system's response to the flu, according to a new ... read more

New Strategy Could Yield More Precise Seasonal Flu Vaccine

May 23, 2016 — Medical researchers have described a novel strategy to predict the antigenic evolution of circulating influenza viruses and give science the ability to more precisely anticipate seasonal flu strains. ... read more

Flu Vaccination Associated With Lower Dementia Risk in Patients With Heart Failure

May 23, 2016 — Influenza vaccination is associated with a lower risk of dementia in patients with heart failure, according to a new study in more than 20,000 ... read more

Differences in Individuals' Immune Responses Linked to Flu Vaccine Effectiveness

May 17, 2016 — For the first time, scientists have identified how differences in individuals' immune responses might be linked to the effectiveness of the seasonal influenza vaccination ... read more

Real-Time Influenza Tracking With 'Big Data'

May 11, 2016 — Cloud-based data from electronic health records can be used to pick up cases of influenza in real time, at least one week ahead of CDC reporting, a new study ... read more

Infants Much Less Likely to Get the Flu If Moms Are Vaccinated While Pregnant

May 3, 2016 — Babies whose moms were vaccinated against the flu while pregnant had a 70 percent reduction in confirmed flu cases compared with infants whose moms weren't immunized, study ... read more

Influenza in the Tropics Shows Variable Seasonality

Apr. 27, 2016 — Whilst countries in the tropics and subtropics exhibit diverse patterns of seasonal flu activity, they can be grouped into eight geographical zones to optimise vaccine formulation and delivery ... read more

Threat of Novel Swine Flu Viruses in Pigs, Humans

Apr. 26, 2016 — The wide diversity of flu in pigs across multiple continents, mostly introduced from humans, highlights the significant potential of new swine flu strains emerging, according to a ... read more

Immune Response to Flu Causes Death in Older People, Not the Virus, Study Suggests

Apr. 21, 2016 — Death from influenza virus in older people may be primarily caused by a damaging immune response to flu and not by the virus itself, new research suggests. The insight could lead to novel strategies ... read more

Infectious Outbreaks Must Be Combatted Strategically, Experts Argue

Apr. 21, 2016 — New funding is not enough to guarantee success against emerging infectious diseases around the world. Rather, good governance, a long-term technology investment strategy and strong product management ... read more

Bird Genomes Contain 'Fossils' of Parasites That Now Infect Humans

Apr. 21, 2016 — In rare instances, DNA is known to have jumped from one species to another. If a parasite's DNA jumps to its host's genome, it could leave evidence of that parasitic interaction that could ... read more

Factors That May Influence Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness

Apr. 19, 2016 — Currently, seasonal flu vaccines are designed to induce high levels of protective antibodies against hemagglutinin (HA), a protein found on the surface of the influenza virus that enables the virus ... read more

Wednesday, August 17, 2016