98 Results for search "Flu".
A universal flu vaccine that would protect against all influenza strains -- and that people might not need to take every year -- could be close at hand, researchers report.
An experimental vaccine candidate produced a strong immune response in lab mice, and it provided protection against severe inf...
Over-the-counter nasal sprays could be a potent weapon against a major public health threat -- antibiotic resistance, researchers report.
Their analysis, which looked at data from nearly 14,000 adults, found that common nasal sprays could help keep upper respiratory tract infections at bay, reducing the need for antibiotics.
Antibiotic resistance caused by overuse and misuse of thes...
U.S. health officials announced Tuesday that the federal government will pay Moderna $176 million to speed development of a pandemic flu vaccine based on mRNA technology.
Such a vaccine could be used to treat bird flu in people, as concern grows about H5N1 cases spreading in dairy cows across the country, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) noted.
"We ha...
The spread of H5N1 avian flu to dairy cows has health experts and many Americans on edge, and now a new study finds the virus stays viable on milking equipment for at least an hour.
"Dairy cows have to be milked even if they are sick, and it has not been clear for how long the virus contained in residual milk from the milking process remains stable on the equipment,"said study lead author...
A simple and inexpensive paper strip test could help diagnose a case of the flu, and even identify the influenza strain that caused it, a new study finds.
The test can distinguish between influenza A and B -- the two main types of seasonal flu -- as well as identifying more virulent strains like H1...
Two human cases of "dual mutant" strains of H1N1 flu have been reported by U.S. health officials.
Unfortunately, the genetic changes appear to render the leading flu antiviral, Tamiflu, less effective, researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted.
The new analysis, published Wednesday in the age...
An experimental vaccine that could offer one-stop prevention for both COVID-19 and influenza is showing positive results among older adults in trials, maker Moderna announced Monday.
The shot -- for now called mRNA-1083 -- "has met its primary endpoints, eliciting a higher immune response than the licensed comparator vaccines used in the trial," Moderna said in a
An experimental mRNA vaccine against the H5N1 avian flu is highly effective in preventing severe illness and death in lab animals, researchers report.
The vaccine could help fight the H5N1 bird flu outbreaks now spreading in wild birds, poultry and cows in the United States, researchers said.
H5N1 avian "bird" flu is making headlines this week, with new reports finding inactive virus detected in 1 in 5 U.S. milk samples.
That means the virus is infecting mammals such as dairy cows, and now researchers report it's turned up in a bottlenos...
Want to prevent a respiratory infection?
A fingerful of Neosporin antibiotic swabbed inside your nose might help you fight off a range of invading respiratory viruses, a new study claims.
Lab animals whose noses were treated using neomycin -- the main ingredient in over-the-counter Neosporin ointment -- mounted a robust ...
An unnamed person in Texas had been diagnosed with the H5N1 avian flu after close contact with infected dairy cattle, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday.
It's only the second case ever confirmed in the United States (the first was in Colorado in 2022), and preliminary analysis of the strain in the new case suggests no new mutations of concern.
"This...
New research offers an easy prescription to get people to roll up their sleeves for a flu shot.
Just ask them to.
And then reinforce the invitation with a little video and print encouragement.
"Our study adds to the growing body of knowledge showing that a number of important public health interventions can and should be delivered to underserved populations in emergency ...
The flu is more likely to lead to a neurological disorder than COVID, according to a new study that surprised its authors.
"While the results were not what we expected to find, they are reassuring in that we found being hospitalized with COVID did not lead to more care for common neurological conditions when compared to being hospitalized with influenza," study co-author
Bird flu has mutated to spread more easily between birds and marine mammals, increasing the potential risk to humans, a new study warns.
Four sea lions, one fur seal and a tern found dead in Argentina all tested positive for the avian influenza virus H5N1, researchers report.
Further, genetic analysis revealed that the virus was nearly identical in all the animals, and shared adapta...
America's most popular cold medications contain a nasal decongestant that doesn't work, creating a knotty dilemma for regulators, a new study reports.
Cold remedies containing phenylephrine remain consumers' most popular choice, despite decades of concern that the decongestant simply isn't effective, researchers say.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering whether to pu...
A disturbing number of people sick with an infectious disease conceal their illness to avoid missing work, travel or social events, new research reveals.
About three in four people (75%) had either hidden an infectious illness from others at least once or might do so in the future.
These folks reported boarding planes, going on dates and engaging in other social activities while sic...
The old saying "feed a cold, starve a fever"is baloney, doctors say.
People fighting off a seasonal respiratory virus need adequate nutrition, regardless of their symptoms, according to advice from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Fever is just one of the many defense mechanisms the human body uses to stave off any infection, said
THURSDAY, Jan. 25, 2024 (HealthDay news) -- It's been said that closing the toilet lid before flushing can prevent the spread of all germs, by keeping any flush-produced mist in the bowl.
But a new study refutes that, showing that tiny viral particles spread to many restroom surfaces during toilet flushing -- whether the lid is up or down.
The only effective way of reducing the spre...
The maker of Robitussin has recalled eight lots of Robitussin Honey CF Max Day Adult and Robitussin Honey CF Max Nighttime Adult cough syrups.
The products, which are made by Haleon, may be contaminated with a microbe, and "in immunocompromised individuals, the use of the affected product could potentially result in severe or life-threatening adverse events such as fungemia or disseminate...
Flu and COVID are sweeping across the country, posing a particular hazard to people at risk for heart disease.
These respiratory infections can trigger heart complications from fever, dehydration and inflammation, experts from Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital say.
Mount Sinai doctors are seeing an increase in heart problems prompted by respiratory infections, and it's happening acr...
Following weeks of increases in flu activity, the latest U.S. government data shows "a single-week decrease" for the first time in months.
But health officials warn that the flu season is far from over, with a surge expected shortly.
"Folks try not to seek care during the holiday season, so we see these divots in the surveillanc...
Researchers appear to have discovered a new weapon in the war on a particularly difficult foe.
They have identified a previously unrecognized class of antibodies that seem to be capable of neutralizing multiple strains of the flu virus.
Their findings, recently reported in the journal PLOS Biolog...
Most parents plan to have their kids vaccinated against influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), even as COVID-19 vaccine acceptance flags, a new poll finds.
Seven in 10 parents (71%) plan to have their children get an RSV jab and six in 10 (63%) plan to get their kids the flu vaccine, according to poll results published recently in the journal
It's that time of year when your kids come home with sniffles and sore throats, but when should you worry if they have a fever?
To a certain extent, fevers are the body's natural way of fighting infection, one expert says.
"Fever helps the immune system,"explained Dr. Christopher Tolcher, a pediatrician with Agoura-We...
Low vaccination rates for the flu, RSV and COVID-19 are putting Americans at higher risk for severe illness and hospitalization this winter, a new government alert warned Thursday.
There is an "urgent need"to boost vaccination rates as the trio of viruses spread through the country, the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention said.
"Low vaccination rates, coupled with ongoing...
'Long COVID' has become a well-known potential consequence of COVID infection, with symptoms that can last weeks, months or even years.
Now it appears that "long flu"is also possible, with some patients developing long-lasting health problems following a severe infection, a new study finds.
But before panicking, know that "long flu"isn't as bad as "long COVID,"as it doesn't pose nea...
Sore throats are commonplace during cold and flu season, but luckily there are lots of home remedies that can help ease your misery, doctors say.
These remedies "aren't quick fixes for an illness,"but they can help ease discomfort, said Dr. Heidi Hutchison, a family practice physician at Penn State Health Medical G...
MONDAY, Dec. 4, 2023 (Healthday News) -- While flu and COVID cases are now on the rise, RSV infections may soon peak and level off, U.S. health officials report.
COVID-19 continues to fuel the most hospitalizations and deaths among all respiratory illnesses -- about 15,000 hospitalizations and about 1,000 deaths every week, Dr. M...
FRIDAY, Dec. 1, 2023 (Healthday News) -- In testimony provided Thursday to members of Congress, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that a surge in respiratory illnesses in China is not being fueled by a new virus.
Instead, the spike can be linked to existing viruses and bacteria, including COVID-19, the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Mycop...
Air filters might help keep the air in your home fresh, but a new review finds they don't appear to reduce your risk of catching an airborne virus.
Technologies designed to make indoor spaces safer from infection are not effective in the real world, researchers from the University of East Anglia in the UK argue.
The team analyzed data from 32 prior studies in which air treatment tec...
Children stricken with influenza aren't receiving the flu-busting antiviral drug Tamiflu even though it's recommended for them, a new study says.
Three of five children with the flu aren't prescribed Tamiflu, researchers report online Nov. 13 in the journal
Health care workers at America's nursing homes are woefully under-vaccinated for both flu and COVID-19, threatening their own health and that of the frail elderly patients under their care, a new report finds.
Looking at 2023 data collected at nearly 14,000 nursing homes nationwide, researchers found that that fewer than one in every four (22.9%) health care workers had received up-to-dat...
Getting a yearly flu shot is one of the best ways to protect yourself from infection or severe illness, but not everyone likes shots.
Now, there is some potentially good news for those who fear needles: A nasal spray flu vaccine that you can take or give at home is on the horizon.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reviewing an application for the at-home use of a nasal spray ...
A cheap, do-it-yourself air purifier is powerful enough to effectively protect a home from free-floating flu and COVID-19 viruses, according to test results from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The filter, crafted with common hardware store supplies costing $60, outperformed pricey off-the-shelf air filters in
It has long been believed that the 1918 flu pandemic disproportionately affected healthy young adults, but a study of human remains tells a different story.
Together, Canadian and American researchers found that preexisting medical conditions like asthma and lower income increased the likelihood of death, just as in other pandemics, including COVID-19.
"Our circumstances -- soc...
Just 23% of American adults say they 'definitely' will get the new COVID-19 vaccine, while another 23% say they will 'probably' get it, according to a new poll, which also finds interest in the shot falls along partisan lines.
More people plan to get seasonal flu shots and the new vaccine to help prevent severe symptoms for respiratory syncytial virus or RSV.
The poll -- by the nonp...
President Joe Biden has been freshly vaccinated for three major respiratory viruses that could spread widely this fall and winter.
Biden got both the updated COVID booster and his annual flu shot on Friday, White House physician Kevin O'Conno...
Kids are back in school and it's time to think about viruses, for both yourself and them.
It could be an early flu season in the United States, if what happened in the Southern Hemisphere offers any insight, according to Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles.
The flu vaccine is now available in some locations. A new COVID-19 booster has been approved by federal health officia...
In a finding that should ease the minds of Americans ahead of another flu season, this year's vaccines have already cut the risk of hospitalization in half during the South American winter, health officials report.
Even better, the flu virus strains that have been detected in the United States have so far shown a similar pattern to those in South America, although that could still change....
Two new studies looked to explain an increased risk of respiratory infections like coughs and colds in babies and young children, finding city living to be among the culprits.
Young children who grow up in towns and cities instead of the countryside suffer more respiratory infections, according to research presented Monday at a meeting of the European Respiratory Society, in Milan, Italy....
Bringing a professional sports team to a new city often includes a big taxpayer-funded stadium subsidy, but new research shows that has a health downside: a spike in flu deaths.
"Most, if not all, of the sports venues in the cities we studied received direct and/or indirect public financing,"said researcher Brad Humphreys<...
It's well known that some viruses make the leap from animals to humans, but a new study shows the influenza strain responsible for the 2009 H1N1 pandemic has been particularly prolific in hopping between species.
That strain, called pdm09, has passed from humans to swine about 370 times since the pandemic, researchers report. Further, subsequent circulation in swine prompted the evolution...
Results from more than 26,000 respiratory tests in late 2022 found simultaneous infections with COVID-19, influenza or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in more than 1% of positive tests.
Co-infections were especially widespread in children and teens. In people under age 21, researchers saw a 6% co-infection rate of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A.
"With changing behaviors as the COVID p...
Genetic mutations caused this latest bird flu season to become more severe, increasing the risk it poses to humans and other mammals, a new study finds.
The H5N1 avian influenza virus gained the ability to severely infect the brains of mammalian test subjects like ferrets, researchers with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found.
That's a notable departure from previous strains ...
Researchers are reporting progress on the path to a "universal" flu vaccine -- one that would battle all strains of the virus and give the world a weapon against future flu pandemics.
In an early clinical trial, U.S. government scientists found that their experimental flu vaccine was able to coax recipients' immune systems to produce "cross-reactive" antibodies. That is, they made antibod...
Despite the proven safety and effectiveness of COVID and flu vaccines during pregnancy, many young women are still doubtful, a new survey shows.
Compared with older women and adult men, the poll found higher percentages of women ages 18 to 49 doubting that vaccination against these viruses during pregnancy is safe.
The survey of 1,600 U.S. adults was conducted in January. Res...
Getting the flu isn't fun for many reasons, but it can also trigger a heart attack, a new study suggests.
A heart attack is six times more likely in the week after a person is diagnosed with flu than in the year before or after, according to Dutch researchers.
This emphasizes the need for flu patients and those caring for them to be aware of heart attack symptoms. It also underscore...
A new at-home test will help people struggling with upper respiratory symptoms figure out whether they have COVID-19 or the flu.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lucira under an emergency use authorization (EUA) on Friday.
"Today's authorization of the first OTC [over-the-counter] test that can detect influenza A and B, along with SARS-CoV-2, is a major milestone ...
A highly infectious strain of avian influenza is tearing through commercial and backyard poultry flocks, causing egg prices to rise as sick chickens are culled across the United States.
Now, some experts are worried that the H5N1 avian flu might become humankind's next pandemic-causing pathogen, if the raging virus makes the leap from birds to humans.
That's because other mammals ha...
The U.S. flu season is expected to extend into spring, and experts say it's not too late to get a flu shot.
Last year's flu season was mild, but this season has already seen triple the number of flu-related deaths in the United States.
"Even a minor respiratory virus can be hard on someone with lung disease, and the flu is especially challenging,"said