Cold, Flu & Cough

What is the Common Cold?

The common cold, also known as rhinopharyngitis, is a type of respiratory tract infection caused by a virus.

Influenza Infection in Animals

Does the 'Stomach Flu' Vaccine Prevent Type I Diabetes?

Walking Pneumonia Versus Common Cold

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Risk Factors and Walking Pneumonia Prevention

Walking Pneumonia Versus Common Cold

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Foodborne threats demand stronger pandemic planning, review says

A Perspective review in npj Science of Food argues that pandemics can weaken food safety systems even when the pathogen is not foodborne. The authors call for One Health planning that integrates food safety into pandemic preparedness, surveillance, laboratory capacity, workforce readiness, and regulation.

2 Jul 2026

Mexico's infant mortality remains stubborn despite healthcare access gains

Over the decade from 2014 to 2023, Mexico's infant death rate barely budged, suggesting the country hit a wall in saving babies' lives-even as official paperwork claimed that almost all babies had a medical professional present when they died.

2 Jul 2026

Lung tumors hijack nervous system to drive cancer-related cachexia

According to the Cleveland Clinic, a quarter of cancer deaths can be attributed to one source: cachexia. Cachexia is a syndrome that accompanies underlying chronic illness and causes unwanted muscle and fat loss, reducing quality of life and sometimes even limiting treatment options.

2 Jul 2026

KFF poll finds vaccine myths reach many Americans but convince few

KFF’s 2026 tracking poll found that many U.S. adults have heard common vaccine myths, including false claims about MMR, COVID-19, mRNA vaccines, and measles vaccines. Fewer adults strongly believe these myths, but a large, uncertain “malleable middle” remains, especially among those without a trusted health care provider, frequent social media users, some AI health-information users, and parents who delayed or skipped childhood vaccines.

1 Jul 2026

New labeling scheme could reduce Listeria infections from ready-to-eat foods

Listeria infections are on the rise, and around 15% of people in the EU who contract the infection die from it.

1 Jul 2026

Novel biomimetic peptide actively rebuilds damaged tooth dentin

Dentin hypersensitivity affects millions of people worldwide, yet existing treatments often provide only temporary relief.

1 Jul 2026

Review highlights strong safety and effectiveness of mRNA vaccines

A comprehensive new review published in The Lancet affirms that currently approved mRNA vaccines are safe and highly effective at preventing infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

30 Jun 2026

Altering gut microbes could improve immunotherapy responses in liver cancer

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has reshaped the treatment landscape for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), offering new hope where few options existed.

30 Jun 2026

Nerve stimulation methods provide safe relief for oropharyngeal dysphagia

Dysphagia, a severe comorbidity of many neurological diseases, often lacks targeted therapies. This critical review assessed the clinical effectiveness and safety of electrical stimulation of cranial nerves for treating dysphagia, including implantable (direct nerve stimulation), minimally invasive (pharyngeal electrical stimulation, PES), and non‑invasive (transcutaneous) approaches.

30 Jun 2026

Cryo-EM microscopy uncovers structure of bacteria behind gum disease

Periodontal (gum) disease is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, caused by the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). In Japan alone, approximately 80% of adults over 30 years old are affected or considered at risk.

30 Jun 2026

High HPV vaccine uptake cuts cervical cancer deaths in women

A national HPV vaccination program in England is associated with a dramatic decline in cervical cancer deaths, reinforcing the vaccine's life-saving potential.

30 Jun 2026

New strategy restores vancomycin effectiveness against resistant bacteria

Antibiotic resistance is one of the most urgent threats to global health, linked to an estimated 4.7 million deaths worldwide in 2019 alone.

29 Jun 2026

Extreme heat and cold threaten health of people with dementia

Exposure to extreme heat and cold is associated with an increased risk of emergency department (ED) visits among people living with dementia, according to preliminary research presented today at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2026.

29 Jun 2026

Scientists discover 70 existing drugs that block deadly hantavirus infections

Researchers screened over 5,000 compounds and successfully pinpointed 70 existing drugs, including unexpected beta-lactam antibiotics, that effectively suppress Puumala orthohantavirus infection in human cells. This milestone drug-repurposing study provides an immediate, fast-tracked pipeline for developing the first approved treatments against life-threatening hantavirus diseases.

28 Jun 2026

Yale study offers critical clues for future norovirus treatments

As the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis worldwide, norovirus is an all too familiar ailment. Its telltale digestive upset — not to mention its reputation for being notoriously contagious — has earned it the nicknames "winter vomiting bug" and "stomach flu."

26 Jun 2026

Spermidine supplement improves COVID 19 vaccine response in older adults

As we age, the immune system gradually declines and becomes less effective at responding to infections and vaccines.

25 Jun 2026

US study shows updated COVID vaccines cut hospitalization odds by 55%

The 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines were associated with 50% estimated effectiveness against COVID-19-associated emergency department and urgent care encounters among immunocompetent US adults. They were also linked to an estimated 55% effectiveness against COVID-19-associated hospitalization, providing added protection beyond existing immunity from prior infection or vaccination.

24 Jun 2026

Swedish scientist wins prestigious award for sickness behavior research

David Engblom, Professor of Neurobiology at Linköping University, Sweden, is awarded the 2026 Onkel Adam Prize for outstanding research at the Faculty of Medicine at Linköping University.

24 Jun 2026

Microbes trigger cell death to boost cancer immunotherapy effectiveness

Traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy can induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), but their efficacy is often limited by drug resistance, severe off-target toxicity, and immune-related adverse events.

24 Jun 2026

Cambridge researchers discover three distinct severe pneumonia biological subtypes

Cambridge researchers have shown that severe pneumonia has three different subtypes, helping explain why some patients in intensive care units (ICUs) recover from their illness faster than others, while for other patients the disease can be life-threatening.

23 Jun 2026