Bird Flu News

September 5, 2016

Engineers Design Programmable RNA Vaccines

2009 Swine Flu Pandemic Originated in Mexico

Get Your Vaccinations in the Morning: Study

Why Flu Is Worse in the Elderly

Latest Headlines

updated 12:27am EDT

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

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

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 ... 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

Hong Kong Culls Thousands of Birds Over Avian Flu Scare

Ghana Bans Sale, Movement of Poultry to Stop Bird Flu Spread

Hong Kong Chicken Cull Begins After H7N9 Found

Seasonal Flu Widespread Across the US

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

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

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

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

Researchers Combine Drugs to Develop a New Treatment for Human Parainfluenza Virus

Apr. 7, 2016 — A promising discovery has been made in the treatment and prevention of human parainfluenza virus. Scientists have shown that two existing drugs readily available on the market can work together to ... read more

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination During Pregnancy May Reduce Risk of Stillbirth

Mar. 31, 2016 — Seasonal influenza vaccination may guard against stillbirth, a new study suggests. Researchers in Western Australia analyzed data from nearly 60,000 births that occurred during the southern ... read more

New Flu Vaccine Protects Against Multiple Strains Including H1N1

Mar. 29, 2016 — Researchers have announced the development of a vaccine that protects against multiple strains of both seasonal and pandemic H1N1 influenza in mouse ... read more

Simulation Study Shows That Pandemic Swine Flu Had a Minor Impact in Finland

Mar. 24, 2016 — Researchers have used modeling to estimate the true impact of infectious diseases, such as swine flu, when underreporting can mean the surveillance from time of the pandemic can miss the vast ... read more

Computer-Assisted Approaches as Decision Support Systems Serving to Combat the Zika Virus

Mar. 18, 2016 — No drug is known to treat ZIKV infection; neither do we have any vaccine which can prevent the spread of it. While scientists are trying to cope with the situation, computer-assisted approaches may ... read more

No Increased Risk in Providing Flu Vaccine to Surgical Patients, New Study Finds

Mar. 14, 2016 — Surgical patients who received the flu vaccine during their hospital stay did not have an increased risk of emergency department visits or subsequent hospitalizations in the week following discharge, ... read more

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Mouse study points way to shut down harmful immune response in lupus

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Distraction techniques can soothe shot anxiety during this year's flu season

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Antibodies triggered by avian influenza virus vaccine illuminate a new path toward universal flu vaccine

Thursday, June 2, 2016

In resource-poor settings, vaccinating mothers against flu can protect newborns too, new study finds that

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Putting the brakes on cell's 'engine' could give flu, other vaccines a boost

Monday, May 23, 2016

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Differences in individuals' immune responses linked to flu vaccine effectiveness

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Real-time influenza tracking with 'big data'

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Infants much less likely to get the flu if moms are vaccinated while pregnant

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Influenza in the tropics shows variable seasonality

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Threat of novel swine flu viruses in pigs, humans

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Bird genomes contain 'fossils' of parasites that now infect humans

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Factors that may influence influenza vaccine effectiveness

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Researchers combine drugs to develop a new treatment for human parainfluenza virus

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Seasonal influenza vaccination during pregnancy may reduce risk of stillbirth

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

New flu vaccine protects against multiple strains including H1N1

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Simulation study shows that pandemic swine flu had a minor impact in Finland

Friday, March 18, 2016

Computer-assisted approaches as decision support systems serving to combat the Zika virus

Monday, March 14, 2016

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Potential antibody treatment for H7 avian flu

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

State laws boost flu vaccination rates in health care workers

Monday, February 22, 2016

Parents rate flu vaccine less important, effective, safe than other childhood vaccines

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Scientists discover bird blood cell which destroys fatal fungal infection

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Immune response to flu vaccine linked to recipients' ethnic background

Monday, February 15, 2016

Raising a child has a bigger effect on the immune system than gastroenteritis

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Flu vaccine shows promise for reducing risk of influenza-associated atrial fibrillation

Monday, February 1, 2016

Thursday, January 28, 2016

First recombinant influenza vaccine comes to Mexico

Monday, January 25, 2016

Acid-sensitive molecular changes contribute to the emergence of pandemic influenza

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Infant-friendly flu vaccine developed with key protein

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Safe to cuddle with pets while home with a cold or flu

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Not the weaker sex: Estrogen protects women against the flu, study finds

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Flu virus hijacking tactics revealed by scientists, paving way for new treatments

Monday, January 4, 2016

Minor flu strains pack bigger punch, scientists find

Thursday, December 17, 2015

First flu exposure imprints itself on immune system

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Monday, December 14, 2015

Flu fighting strategies should be tailored to cities and rural areas: York U study

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Sunday, December 6, 2015

New vaccine strategy better protects high-risk cancer patients from flu

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Genetic risk for hyperinflammatory disorder from viral infection identified

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Evidence of probable transmission of bird flu virus between two unrelated individuals

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Baffling lab mystery leads to potential new anemia treatment

Monday, November 2, 2015

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Alerting the immune system's watchmen to improve vaccines

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Multi-tasking flu vaccine could provide better protection against outbreaks

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Vaccinating children may be cost-effective for tackling flu

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Study finds significant decrease in hospitalization of older nursing home residents with high dose influenza vaccine

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Major flu drug report underway

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Flu shot reduces risk of stroke, study suggests

Monday, October 5, 2015

Schools are underprepared for pandemics, natural disasters

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Colds, flu may temporarily increase stroke risk in kids

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

New test detects all viruses that infect people, animals

Friday, September 25, 2015

When paired with coinfection, social isolation might fuel rather than foil epidemics

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

How flu viruses gain the ability to spread

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Possible contributor to the virulence of the 1918 flu pandemic discovered

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Where flu vaccination rates are higher in adults under 65, lower flu risk for seniors

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Immune cells take cue from animal kingdom: Together, everyone achieves more

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Flu study, on hold, yields new vaccine technology

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

How anesthesia may fight lung infections: Mouse study

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Flu remedies help combat E. coli bacteria

Monday, August 24, 2015

Thursday, August 20, 2015

School vacations and humidity linked to multiple waves of influenza in Mexico during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Cell phones help keep track of flu on campus

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Could flu someday be prevented without a vaccine?

Monday, August 10, 2015

Developing a better flu vaccine

Friday, August 7, 2015

Internet program to encourage handwashing reduces spread of cold, flu viruses

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Computer model forecasts flu outbreaks in a subtropical climate

Monday, July 27, 2015

Some vaccines support evolution of more-virulent viruses

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Virus-like particle vaccine protects mice from many flu strains

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Could dissolvable microneedles replace injected vaccines?

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Discovery points to a new path toward a universal flu vaccine

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Immune response to a flu protein yields new insights into narcolepsy

Saturday, June 27, 2015

New strategies, solutions to fight pediatric asthma

Friday, June 26, 2015

Scientists identify 'decoy' molecule that may sharply reduce risk of flu death

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Scientists pinpoint mutations responsible for ineffectiveness of 2014-2015 flu vaccine

Friday, June 19, 2015

Climate change won’t reduce winter deaths

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Viral commuters: How influenza viruses use transportation systems in the US

Monday, June 15, 2015

Personal experience a major driver in decision for or against flu vaccination

Monday, June 8, 2015

Virus evolution and human behavior shape global patterns of flu movement