Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest COVID-19 booster halves risk of moderate or severe disease in adults

The most recent COVID-19 booster shot reduces adults' risk of moderate or severe COVID by more than half, according to a new nationwide data study from September 2023 through January 2024, a period of JN.1 variant dominance.

1 Mar 2024

How a friend’s death turned Colorado teens into anti-overdose activists

Gavinn McKinney loved Nike shoes, fireworks, and sushi. He was studying Potawatomi, one of the languages of his Native American heritage.

1 Mar 2024

U.S. flu vaccines expected to shift from quadrivalent to trivalent, researcher says

U.S. flu vaccines are likely to move from quadrivalent to trivalent due to a change in circulating influenza viruses, says a University of Michigan researcher.

29 Feb 2024

Higher COVID-19 death risk found in sickle cell disease and trait patients

UdeM's Stéphanie Forté and co-researchers in Canada and Brazil have shown how people with sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait have a higher chance of dying from COVID-19 than the general population.

29 Feb 2024

New approach detects T cells in "cold" tumors, paves way for broader immunotherapy

Most cancers are thought to evade the immune system. These cancers don't carry very many mutations, and they aren't infiltrated by cancer-fighting immune cells. Scientists call these cancers immunologically "cold."

29 Feb 2024

H5N1 variant spreads between species, endangering wildlife

The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 has adapted to spread between birds and marine mammals, posing an immediate threat to wildlife conservation, according to a study from the University of California, Davis, and the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) in Argentina.

29 Feb 2024

Plant-based diets trigger remission in Sjögren's syndrome and lupus cases

Three case studies show women with autoimmune diseases achieving symptom remission through plant-based diets, suggesting potential for dietary interventions in chronic disease management.

28 Feb 2024

Uncovering the role of mucus in pancreatic cancer transformation

Knowing exactly what's inside a tumor can maximize our ability to fight cancer. But that knowledge doesn't come easy. Tumors are clusters of constantly changing cancer cells.

28 Feb 2024

Scientists uncover a new doorway for SARS-CoV-2 into human cells

Research identifies the human transferrin receptor as an alternative pathway for SARS-CoV-2 infection, offering potential new targets for COVID-19 therapies.

27 Feb 2024

Understanding giggle incontinence: Causes, symptoms, and management

Giggle incontinence, a unique form of laughter-induced urinary incontinence, primarily affects children without other urological disorders, with treatment options including urotherapy, biofeedback, and methylphenidate.

27 Feb 2024

Second-line treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis is as effective as first-line medicines

Patients who have drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) have a similar microbiological response to bedaquiline-based second-line medications as patients with drug-sensitive TB taking first-line regimens, according to researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York and GHESKIO Centers in Haiti.

27 Feb 2024

Aston University and PDA collaboration to examine pharmacists' expanded duties in healthcare

A partnership between Aston University and the Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) is to examine the feasibility of extending pharmacists' duties to include more healthcare interventions, such as blood pressure checks and cholesterol screening.

27 Feb 2024

Spirulina shows promise in battling heart disease and diabetes

Researchers show Spirulina's therapeutic benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic properties, can significantly lower cardiovascular disease risk.

26 Feb 2024

Study finds October-born kids less likely to catch flu post-vaccination

Study shows October as the optimal month for influenza vaccination in young children, aligning with CDC guidelines to maximize protection against seasonal flu.

26 Feb 2024

Study reveals BCG vaccine's unexpected role in fighting influenza

As Canada's flu season collides with record strep A cases and ongoing COVID-19 concerns, a new study is shedding light on our understanding of respiratory immune responses.

26 Feb 2024

Healthcare leaders advocate for restoring Canada's hypertension control program

A passionate plea for the re-establishment of Canada's health coalition focused on hypertension prevention and control appears as an editorial in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, published by Elsevier.

26 Feb 2024

California Gov. Newsom wants voters to approve billions more to help the homeless. Will it help?

California voters will decide March 5 whether to pump billions more dollars into combating the nation's worst homelessness crisis, an investment Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom argues will finally provide the housing and treatment so badly needed by tens of thousands of homeless people.

26 Feb 2024