All articles tagged with #antivirals
As the school year starts, watch for common illnesses like colds and strep, monitor for breathing changes, seek early care if flu or COVID-19 is suspected to get antivirals within the recommended windows, and be alert for measles symptoms (rash with respiratory signs) while reinforcing handwashing and keeping sick kids home.
Even though autumn respiratory illness season hasn’t begun and flu/RSV remain relatively low, a summer wave of Covid-19 is emerging in the US with test positivity above 3% for the week ending Aug. 8. Hospitalizations and deaths remain small, but tracking Covid now relies more on wastewater signals, ER visits, and lab data rather than daily case counts. Experts advise staying informed via local trend tools (like PopHIVE), considering an updated vaccine this fall, practicing good hygiene, and having antivirals (e.g., Paxlovid or the new Xocova) on hand if exposed or ill.
Shingles can occur even after vaccination, but the shot lowers the severity and duration of acute pain, reduces pain medication use, and, by about 90%, lowers the risk of lingering postherpetic neuralgia. Start antiviral treatment (e.g., valacyclovir) within 24–72 hours of rash onset, and see an ophthalmologist promptly for shingles near the eye. Adults over 50 should get the shingles vaccine unless contraindicated. For long COVID, a COVID vaccine is safe and can prevent future long COVID; recovery is gradual and aided by tailored exercise, good sleep, stress management, and possibly probiotics, with no single magic cure.
COVID-19 infections are rising across all 50 states as summer ends. The most common symptoms remain upper-respiratory (runny nose, congestion, sore throat, fever), with some cases progressing to shortness of breath and a severe cough. Experts expect waves to continue into fall and emphasize vaccination, good air hygiene (ventilation, masks), and testing if symptoms appear. Treatments like Paxlovid are available for those who need them, and Xocova may help after exposure in certain cases, underscoring the importance of consulting a clinician if you test positive.
As US measles cases rise to multidecade highs amid falling vaccination rates, researchers are developing monoclonal antibody therapies and antiviral drugs to treat infections and protect vulnerable populations. While these treatments could offer short-term protection and aid outbreak control, challenges include manufacturing at scale, costly clinical trials, regulatory hurdles, and whether people will accept non-vaccine interventions, meaning real-world availability could still be years away.
A Science Translational Medicine study reveals how Epstein-Barr virus triggers immune responses that contribute to inflammation and nervous system damage in multiple sclerosis, a finding that could lead to vaccines or antiviral therapies tailored to MS with fewer side effects than current immunosuppressants.
As U.S. measles outbreaks rise due to declining vaccination rates, researchers and biotech firms are racing to develop an approved antiviral or treatment, though none exists yet; the resurgence highlights the ongoing health and economic costs of low vaccination coverage and has spurred renewed interest in antiviral strategies and potential therapies under investigation by scientists.
A University of Vermont lab found that the Rab11B protein is essential for H3N2 influenza to enter human lung cells, challenging the idea that sialic acid is the universal entry point and suggesting new antiviral targets as H3N2 relies on Rab11B while H1N1 does not.
Researchers mapped, at atomic resolution, a conserved cloverleaf RNA structure at the start of enterovirus genomes that recruits the 3CD protein to initiate replication. The sD stem-loop binds two 3C units, acting as a molecular switch between translation and replication, a feature conserved across poliovirus, coxsackievirus, rhinoviruses, and EV71. Because this RNA–protein interface is highly conserved, it offers a promising target for broad-spectrum antivirals that could disrupt replication across the enterovirus family.
Two open-label randomized trials in the UK (PANORAMIC) and Canada (CanTreatCOVID) found that early Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir–ritonavir) did not reduce hospitalizations or deaths among vaccinated high-risk outpatients, though it shortened time to recovery and lowered viral load. Adverse events were common and one trial stopped early due to slow recruitment and Paxlovid supply. Experts caution against overinterpreting the findings, suggesting antivirals may still be useful on a case-by-case basis in older or immunocompromised individuals or where rapid recovery is a priority.
The U.S. is in a record-breaking flu season, with the CDC reporting about 19 million illnesses and thousands of deaths from a new subclade K. Personal stories show people coping by resting for days, using meal delivery services and streaming to pass the time, and relying on vaccines and antivirals like Tamiflu and Xofluza. The season appears to be easing from its winter peak, but the impact has been widespread across ages and professions.
As a severe flu season drives high illness and hospitalizations, U.S. officials have moved to shared decision-making rather than clear endorsements for flu shots in children, prompting concerns from experts that mixed messaging could lower vaccination rates despite evidence that vaccines reduce severe illness and death. The CDC reports millions ill, tens of thousands of hospitalizations, and hundreds of pediatric deaths; current vaccination uptake is around 42–43% for children and adults. Antivirals usage has declined in recent years. Experts urge continued vaccination, early antiviral treatment for high-risk groups, and standard preventive measures while warning about evolving flu strains and bird-flu risks.
CDC officials are urging Americans to get flu vaccines and antivirals amid record child deaths and circulating virus mutations, emphasizing the importance of vaccination to prevent severe illness and death, especially among vulnerable groups, despite challenges like vaccine hesitancy and virus mutations.
A meta-analysis of nine studies published in the Journal of Infection found that early use of oral antiviral drugs, particularly Paxlovid, reduced the risk of long COVID by 23%. The study suggests that broader use of antivirals may be beneficial in preventing long COVID, highlighting the importance of timely antiviral intervention.
Access to the COVID-19 antiviral drug Paxlovid should be easier, as it is widely available and affordable. However, some healthcare providers are still reluctant to prescribe it, citing concerns such as "Paxlovid rebound," which studies have shown to be unfounded. Officials urge healthcare providers to prescribe antivirals to eligible patients, especially those at high risk for severe COVID-19. Patients who are declined Paxlovid can seek other healthcare providers or utilize free telehealth services for treatment.