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.

Walking Pneumonia Versus Common Cold

Influenza Infection in Animals

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

Risk Factors and Walking Pneumonia Prevention

Walking Pneumonia Versus Common Cold

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Safety perceptions of major vaccines show significant drop over the past three years

In a winter marked by flu outbreaks, the persistence of Covid-19, and surges of measles cases across the United States, an Annenberg survey finds that a sizable majority of Americans think the three vaccines that combat these potentially deadly illnesses are safe to take, although perceptions of the safety of all three vaccines showed a statistically significant drop over the past three years.

10 Feb 2026

Researchers uncover mechanisms of three mismatch repair deficient high-grade glioma subtypes

Researchers have uncovered the mechanisms behind three unique subtypes of mismatch repair deficient high-grade gliomas.

10 Feb 2026

Microbial generalists form planet-wide networks across ecosystems

In a new study published in Cell, scientists in the Bork Group at EMBL Heidelberg reveal that microbes living in similar habitats are more alike than those simply inhabiting the same geographical region.

10 Feb 2026

New at-home tests accurately detect deadly pet parvoviruses

Pet owners want quick answers when their beloved cat or dog is sick. And if these furry friends are experiencing digestive distress, lethargy and fever, it's important to rapidly rule out serious illnesses like feline panleukopenia (also called feline parvovirus) and canine parvovirus.

10 Feb 2026

Preexisting flu immunity may offer baseline protection against avian influenza

Are seasonal flu antibodies also effective against avian flu? A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has shown that a specific type of antibody associated with the former virus—already present throughout the population—may offer baseline protection against the latter.

10 Feb 2026

Mindfulness enables unsedated endoscopy with higher patient satisfaction

A new study has shown that mindfulness helps patients to relax during an endoscopy, allowing doctors to carry out detailed examinations without the need for sedation or general anesthesia.

10 Feb 2026

Study identifies neural mechanism underlying chills during infection

When running a fever during infection, we often feel chills, which prompt us to take action to warm ourselves, such as turning on a heater or adding layers of clothing.

10 Feb 2026

Influenza viruses can directly impair heart function

Mount Sinai researchers have identified a cellular mechanism linking infections from influenza A viruses (IAVs) to cardiovascular disease, providing critical insights on how influenza can damage the heart and increase the risk of a heart attack or other major cardiovascular event.

9 Feb 2026

Medical AI can repeat false claims in clinical contexts

Medical artificial intelligence (AI) is often described as a way to make patient care safer by helping clinicians manage information. A new study by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and collaborators confronts a critical vulnerability: when a medical lie enters the system, can AI pass it on as if it were true?

9 Feb 2026

Obesity drives one in ten infectious disease deaths

Just over one in 10 deaths from a wide range of infectious diseases can be attributed to obesity worldwide, finds a major new study led by a University College London (UCL) researcher.

9 Feb 2026

Nervous system actively promotes pre-cancerous pancreatic lesions

Pancreatic cancer has a lot of nerve. Notoriously tricky to detect, the disease also often resists traditional therapy. So, researchers are urgently looking for new ways to disrupt tumor formation.

9 Feb 2026

Binghamton University receives $2.5 million to develop a next-generation avian flu vaccine

Outbreaks of avian flu at U.S. poultry farms led to more than $1.5 billion in losses over the last two years and drove egg prices to all-time highs in 2025.

6 Feb 2026

European collaboration transforms immune cell data into cancer biomarkers

World Cancer Day, marked on 4 February, is an international day dedicated to raising awareness of cancer, and to encouraging its prevention, detection and treatment.

6 Feb 2026

New DNA-based vaccine scaffolds boost targeted immune responses to HIV

One of the biggest hurdles in developing an HIV vaccine is coaxing the body to produce the right kind of immune cells and antibodies. In most vaccines, HIV proteins are attached to a larger protein scaffolding that mimics a virus.

6 Feb 2026

Inhibiting PTP1B protein improves memory in Alzheimer’s disease models

Alzheimer's disease is often measured in statistics: millions affected worldwide, cases rising sharply, costs climbing into the trillions.

5 Feb 2026

Artificial lung keeps patient alive after lung removal

Researchers evaluate the effectiveness of a novel extracorporeal total artificial lung system to enable bilateral pneumonectomy in patients with severe ARDS.

5 Feb 2026

Influenza D virus and canine coronavirus pose human risks

Two emerging pathogens with animal origins - influenza D virus and canine coronavirus - have so far been quietly flying under the radar, but researchers warn conditions are ripe for the viruses to spread more widely among humans.

5 Feb 2026

Five mutation patterns shape how cancers evade immunity

Cancer cells carry thousands of mutations, but not all mutations are created equal. Some make tumors highly visible to the immune system, while others help cancers hide.

4 Feb 2026

Why did influenza fail to spread in a crowded indoor setting?

The EMIT-2 trial shows zero influenza transmission despite ideal conditions, suggesting a perfect storm is needed for the virus to spread effectively.

4 Feb 2026

Australian researchers develop a new way to target deadly, drug-resistant bacteria

Australian researchers have developed a powerful new way to target deadly, drug-resistant bacteria by designing antibodies that recognize a sugar found only on bacterial cells – an advance that could underpin a new generation of immunotherapies for multidrug resistant hospital-acquired infections.

4 Feb 2026