Disease/Infection News

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Flu vaccines protect children well across Europe, but H3N2 remains harder to stop

Influenza vaccination provided strong real-world protection for children in European primary care across two seasons, with overall vaccine effectiveness of 68% in 2022–2023 and 71% in 2023–2024. Protection was highest against influenza B and H1N1, while H3N2 showed lower and more variable effectiveness, supporting the need for higher uptake and continued monitoring.

8 Apr 2026

New monoclonal antibody shows promise for preventing Lyme disease

A Phase I clinical trial of a human monoclonal antibody discovered and developed at UMass Chan Medical School for the prevention of Lyme disease in the U.S. was well tolerated and showed lasting serum concentrations in participants, according to data presented by Mark Klempner, MD, at the World Vaccine Congress 2026 in Washington D.C.

8 Apr 2026

Antiviral drugs and shingles vaccines tied to lower dementia risk

New evidence links viral infections to dementia risk, suggesting vaccines and antiviral therapies may offer preventive pathways against cognitive decline.

8 Apr 2026

Waterfowl movement patterns influence spread of avian influenza outbreaks

The movement patterns of waterfowl, including ducks, swans and geese, may affect the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza in bird populations, according to a new study from the University of Georgia.

7 Apr 2026

New blood test spots four cancers and other diseases by stripping away healthy DNA noise

MethylScan is a new low-cost cell-free DNA methylome test that removes much of the healthy blood DNA background, helping rare disease signals stand out more clearly. In more than 1,000 people, it showed strong performance for detecting four cancers, classifying liver diseases, and identifying organ-specific damage.

7 Apr 2026

High-resolution model identifies nationwide plague risk zones in Madagascar

Announcing a new article publication for Zoonoses journal. Plague (Yersinia pestis) remains endemic in Madagascar and causes recurrent outbreaks leading to substantial mortality.

7 Apr 2026

HIV funding cuts could increase infections by 10% in the U.S.

Timely HIV diagnosis and treatment are critical to preventing transmission. To help make this happen, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides funding for HIV testing to local health departments and community organizations.

7 Apr 2026

Declining booster uptake after vaccine schedule change in England

The change to a 1+1 pneumococcal vaccine schedule in England highlights rising inequalities in booster uptake, threatening protection for at-risk children.

7 Apr 2026

Novel screening method boosts early diagnosis of leprosy

A new blood test combined with a standardized questionnaire and artificial intelligence may transform the way leprosy is diagnosed in Brazil. Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) tested the new test in Brazil using blood samples collected during a COVID-19 population survey.

6 Apr 2026

Fecal microbiota transplant can improve survival in severe C. difficile infection

A new study from the University of Minnesota Medical School demonstrated that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) can rapidly reverse systemic inflammation and improve survival in patients with fulminant Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection - a life-threatening condition characterized by a sepsis-like state.

6 Apr 2026

Flu vaccination may cut heart attack and stroke risk after infection

In Danish adults aged 40 years or older, laboratory-confirmed influenza was linked to a sharp short-term rise in first-time heart attack and stroke risk, especially in the first 7 days after infection. Prior same-season influenza vaccination was associated with about half the excess cardiovascular risk among infected individuals, suggesting possible protection even in breakthrough cases.

6 Apr 2026

Requests for “unvaccinated” blood lead to delays and patient harm

The trend for unvaccinated blood donations raises concerns about patient safety and resource efficiency, emphasizing the need for better transfusion protocols.

6 Apr 2026

Inuit communities urge policy changes to address tuberculosis epidemic

Tuberculosis rates for Inuit living in Nunavik, the Inuit lands in northern Quebec, are 1000 times greater than among non-foreign-born Quebeckers, and underresourcing of local health care adds to hardship from the disease, found new research published in CMAJ.

6 Apr 2026

Organ-on-chip model advances study of sexually transmitted infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) not only impact an individual's health but also result in multibillion-dollar economic losses worldwide.

3 Apr 2026

Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.3.2 shows no signs of greater danger

The Global Virus Network (GVN), representing eminent human and animal virologists from more than 90 Centers of Excellence and Affiliates in over 40 countries dedicated to advancing research, collaboration, and pandemic preparedness, is monitoring the SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.3.2, sometimes informally referred to in media reports as the "cicada" variant, and emphasizes that current evidence does not indicate cause for alarm or heightened public concern.

3 Apr 2026

Novel mucosal vaccine offers broad protection against diverse influenza viruses

A novel vaccine platform has been developed to induce broad, protective immunity against numerous influenza virus infections, showing promise as an effective mucosal vaccine strategy, according to a study published by researchers in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University.

3 Apr 2026