Influenza News and Research

Latest Influenza News and Research

Study: Twitter could be used to track HIV incidence and drug-related behaviors

Real-time social media like Twitter could be used to track HIV incidence and drug-related behaviors with the aim of detecting and potentially preventing outbreaks, a new UCLA-led study shows.

3 Mar 2014

Scientists develop new anti-viral drugs that may be effective against flu virus

New analysis of the influenza A virus by scientists at the University of Hertfordshire shows potential for developing new anti-viral drugs which are more likely to be universally effective against the flu virus originating from avian, swine or human virus strains.

28 Feb 2014

TSRI scientists describe severe immune overreaction caused by flu infections

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have mapped key elements of a severe immune overreaction—a “cytokine storm”—that can both sicken and kill patients who are infected with certain strains of flu virus.

28 Feb 2014

Researcher uses computational approach to speed up process of drug discovery

OIST researcher uses a computational approach in identifying proteins that will interact with potential drugs to speed up the process of drug discovery.

24 Feb 2014

CDC report reveals that younger age group is mostly hit by flu this season

This influenza season was particularly hard on younger- and middle-age adults, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in today's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

21 Feb 2014

Research shows that seasonal flu vaccination may reduce risk of stroke

Having the seasonal flu jab could reduce the risk of suffering a stroke by almost a quarter, researchers have found.

20 Feb 2014

Upstream interventions may provide options to contain emerging pathogens at source

While many endemic infectious diseases of humans have been largely contained, new microbes continue to emerge to threaten human and animal health.

18 Feb 2014

New approach for delivering vaccines and for stimulating body's immune system to attack tumors

Many vaccines, including those for influenza, polio, and measles, consist of a killed or disabled version of a virus. However, for certain diseases, this type of vaccine is ineffective, or just too risky.

18 Feb 2014

Study provides comprehensive analysis of the evolutionary relationships of influenza virus

A new study reconstructing the evolutionary tree of flu viruses challenges conventional wisdom and solves some of the mysteries surrounding flu outbreaks of historical significance.

17 Feb 2014

Henry Schein net sales increase 4.9% to $2.5 billion in fourth quarter 2013

Henry Schein, Inc., the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners, today reported record financial results for the quarter ended December 28, 2013.

11 Feb 2014

Unvaccinated flu patients need more intensive care

A snapshot of patients who required care at Duke University Hospital during this year's flu season shows that those who had not been vaccinated had severe cases and needed the most intensive treatment.

11 Feb 2014

Triple-S announces consolidated revenues of $587.7 and net loss of $1.7 million for Q4 2013

Triple-S Management Corporation (NYSE: GTS), the leading managed care company in Puerto Rico, today announced consolidated revenues of $587.7 million and a consolidated net loss of $1.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2013.

11 Feb 2014

Long-distance signaling molecules tell brain to produce anti-viral interferon

The brain contains a defense system that prevents at least two unrelated viruses-and possibly many more-from invading the brain at large. The research is published online ahead of print in the Journal of Virology.

11 Feb 2014

Scientists identify factors that predict flu severity in patients

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have identified a signature immune response that might help doctors identify which newly diagnosed influenza patients are most likely to develop severe symptoms and suffer poor outcomes. The findings also help explain why infants and toddlers are at elevated risk for flu complications. The research appears in the upcoming issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

10 Feb 2014

New study tracks spread of H5N1 variant in Egypt recently identified as major epicenter for virus

Since its first identification in Asia, highly pathogenic avian influenza-H5N1-has caused significant alarm in the scientific community. While the virus' primary target is birds-tens of millions have already died from it-it is capable of infecting mammals, including humans, causing serious illness and a frightening rate of mortality.

10 Feb 2014

Finding could lead to first effective vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus

Vanderbilt University scientists have contributed to a major finding, reported today in the journal Nature, which could lead to the first effective vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a significant cause of infant mortality.

9 Feb 2014

Maternal influenza link to bipolar disorder refined

Research suggests that maternal influenza during pregnancy may increase the risk for bipolar disorder with psychotic features in offspring, rather than being associated with bipolar disorder per se.

6 Feb 2014

TSRI scientists design artificial proteins as a candidate vaccine against RSV

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have invented a new method for designing artificial proteins, and have used it to make key ingredients for a candidate vaccine against a dangerous virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a significant cause of infant mortality.

6 Feb 2014

Researchers design new vaccine for human-infecting respiratory syncytial virus

Vaccines are the safest, cheapest and most effective way to protect against infectious diseases. But to make a good one is still a challenge, and traditional approaches are now stretched to the limit while fatal diseases, like HIV and malaria, remain without vaccine.

6 Feb 2014

Chinese scientists confirm world’s first case of human infection with new avian influenza virus

Scientists from China report in The Lancet on the world’s first confirmed case of human infection with a new avian influenza A H10N8 virus in a 73-year-old woman who died from the infection.

6 Feb 2014