Tag

Influenza

All articles tagged with #influenza

health28 days ago•36 min saved

US flu vaccine underperforms against new strain, officials say

CDC data show this season’s flu vaccine was about 25%–30% effective at preventing illness requiring medical care for adults and roughly 40% for vaccinated children, due mainly to a newly dominant H3N2 subclade not well matched by the vaccine. An estimated 27 million illnesses, 350,000 hospitalizations and 22,000 deaths have occurred; adult vaccination is about 46.5% and around 48% of kids have been vaccinated. Vaccination remains worthwhile to reduce severe illness, and next season’s vaccines will be updated to address the subclade.

via Yahoo|

#cdc #flu-vaccine #h3n2

public-health29 days ago•6 min saved

FDA panel backs subclade K as centerpiece of fall flu shots

U.S. FDA vaccine advisers unanimously endorsed including the A(H3N2) subclade K in next fall’s flu vaccines, aligning with WHO guidance; final approval rests with FDA Commissioner Makary. Subclade K has become the dominant strain in the Northern Hemisphere, highlighting the annual, uncertain process of strain selection. The season saw limited vaccine effectiveness and a high pediatric burden, with falling vaccination rates since the pandemic, alongside tens of millions of illnesses and thousands of hospitalizations.

via CIDRAP|

#fda #flu #influenza

health1 month ago•7 min saved

Mild COVID-19 May Leave Lasting Brain Changes, Tulane Study Finds

A Tulane study using a mouse model found that while both COVID-19 and influenza can cause lasting lung injury, only SARS-CoV-2 infection led to persistent brain inflammation and microvascular damage after the virus was no longer detectable, helping explain long-COVID brain symptoms and highlighting distinct brain-attack mechanisms from flu; findings could inform post-infection monitoring and treatment.

via SciTechDaily|

#brain-inflammation #health #influenza

health1 month ago•271 min saved

March Vaccine Checklist for Those Over 50

Doctors urge people over 50 to get up to date on vaccines this March, as aging immune systems raise the risk of serious illness from flu, COVID-19, RSV, and shingles. Key vaccines to consider include the influenza shot, updated COVID boosters, RSV (especially for those 50–74 at risk or over 75), shingles (zoster), pneumococcal, and Td/Tdap boosters; some may also need MMR and varicella based on risk. Vaccines are widely available at primary care clinics, pharmacies, and local health departments, and getting them can reduce hospitalizations and long-term complications. In addition to vaccines, a healthy lifestyle and planning for fall vaccinations are advised.

via AOL.com|

#covid-19 #health #influenza

health1 month ago•17 min saved

Chasing a universal flu vaccine: hitting the virus where it stays the same

Scientists are pursuing a universal flu vaccine that would protect against many influenza strains by targeting conserved parts of the virus; multiple candidates are in trials using approaches such as focusing the immune response on the virus's stable cone of haemagglutinin, exposing fixed regions by presenting thousands of HA variations, blocking neuraminidase, stimulating T cells, or nasal delivery, and some work also explores AI-assisted strain selection. While a true universal vaccine may take years, interim gains include more durable protection and higher-dose shots for older adults, with experts optimistic about improvements within about five to ten years.

via BBC|

#artificial-intelligence #haemagglutinin #health

health1 month ago•3 min saved

EU poised to approve first single-shot COVID-19 and flu vaccine for 50+

The European Medicines Agency recommended EU-wide marketing authorisation for mCombriax, the first combined mRNA vaccine protecting people aged 50 and older against both COVID-19 and seasonal influenza in a single shot. In trials, antibodies against both viruses were non-inferior to existing vaccines, and the vaccine showed common short-term side effects (injection-site pain, fatigue, muscle/joint pain, fever, etc.). The European Commission will decide on authorization, after which price and reimbursement are set by individual member states.

via European Medicines Agency|

#covid-19 #ema #eu

health1 month ago•6 min saved

WHO Updates Flu Vaccine Strains for 2026-27 Northern Hemisphere

WHO recommends the 2026–27 northern hemisphere flu vaccines with updated strains: egg-based vaccines should contain A/Missouri/11/2025 (H1N1)pdm09-like, A/Darwin/1454/2025 (H3N2)-like, and B/Tokyo/EIS13-175/2025 (B/Victoria lineage)-like; cell culture-, recombinant protein-, or nucleic acid-based vaccines should include A/Missouri/11/2025 (H1N1)pdm09-like, A/Darwin/1415/2025 (H3N2)-like, and B/Pennsylvania/14/2025 (B/Victoria lineage)-like. The review also addresses animal (zoonotic) influenza threats, notes 25 human infections since Sept 2025 with no human-to-human transmission, and calls for developing a new CVV for A(H9N2).

via World Health Organization (WHO)|

#gisrs #h3n2 #health

health1 month ago•6 min saved

Moderna’s combo flu-COVID shot shows durable immune response in mid-stage trial

Moderna reported that its experimental mRNA-1073 two-in-one flu and COVID-19 vaccine elicited durable immune responses against matched influenza and SARS-CoV-2 strains for six months in a small 550-participant mid-stage trial, with no serious safety concerns; the briefing also covers ongoing Potomac River contamination concerns after a wastewater spill, a long-term MSU study showing college students rebounded emotionally post-pandemic, and other health news highlights.

via CIDRAP|

#clinical-trials #covid-19 #health

health1 month ago•210 min saved

CNN Tracks U.S. Flu Surge With CDC-Backed Weekly Maps and Stats

CNN reports that this flu season has the highest rate of doctor visits for flu-like illness since CDC surveillance began in 1997, with weekly updates tracking case rates and hospitalizations across states via CDC’s FluView data. The CDC estimates about 8% of the U.S. population gets sick each season, and young children as well as seniors are at higher risk, though data are preliminary and can change as new reports come in.

via CNN|

#cdc #flu #health

health2 months ago•18 min saved

AMA partners on independent vaccine-safety review amid CDC criticism

The American Medical Association and a public health research group are launching a system to review vaccine safety and efficacy, starting with influenza, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines, in response to criticisms of the CDC’s vaccine-review process.

via The Washington Post|

#ama #cdc #health

health2 months ago•17 min saved

Wyoming reports influenza-related child death, urging vaccines

The Wyoming Department of Health announced the death of a Fremont County child from influenza, part of a season dominated by the H3N2 strain; officials say flu can be serious, encourage annual vaccination, and outline preventive measures and antiviral treatment, noting nationwide pediatric deaths and that most affected children were not up to date on vaccines.

via Oil City News|

#h3n2 #health #influenza

health2 months ago•26 min saved

Wyoming records a flu-related pediatric death in Fremont County amid H3N2 season

A Fremont County child has died from flu-related complications in the 2025-2026 season as the H3N2 strain dominates. Nationwide, 52 pediatric flu deaths have been reported, with about 90% of the children not up to date on flu vaccination. Health officials urge updated vaccination, staying home when ill, covering coughs, and handwashing; antiviral meds are recommended for higher-risk groups when started quickly, and flu shots remain widely available.

via County 10|

#flu #h3n2 #health

health2 months ago•1 min saved

Second Wave Looms as U.S. Flu Activity Rebounds

U.S. flu activity is rising again, with more emergency department visits among children over 5; while not as severe as December, doctors expect a smaller second peak in late winter that could extend into spring.

via The New York Times|

#cdc #flu #health

sports2 months ago•2 min saved

Volkanovski hails Ruffy’s grit after fight-week flu at UFC 325

Volkanovski revealed Mauricio Ruffy battled influenza at the start of fight week and still fought through fevers and limited movement to KO Rafael Fiziev in the second round at UFC 325, keeping his lightweight ranking intact and potentially setting up a top-8 matchup next (with Gamrot among the suggested options).

via Bloody Elbow|

#alexander-volkanovski #influenza #mauricio-ruffy

health2 months ago•16 min saved

Why a few people spread flu far: biology, speech, and the air we share

New research shows that flu outbreaks are often driven by a small minority of people whose high viral loads, particle types, and behaviors—like loud speech and heavy breathing—combine with environmental factors (dry air, poor ventilation) to boost transmission. Factors such as stage of infection, lung capacity, mucus properties, and social context determine who becomes a superspreader, suggesting that biology and behavior together shape who—and where—an outbreak escalates.

via BBC|

#aerosols #droplets #health