Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Australia's Long COVID response falling behind global standards, research finds

New research by RMIT University and Northern Health has examined Australia's Long COVID services, guidelines and public health information, compared with international standards.

4 Oct 2023

Record uptake of HIV testing among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men

2022 saw the highest ever uptake of HIV testing among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), with diagnoses in this group continuing to fall, according to the latest HIV surveillance update for the UK.

3 Oct 2023

New meningitis vaccine safe and effective for infants in Africa

University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers, as part of the Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Consortium (IDCRC), provided an interim analysis showing that the pentavalent (NmCV-5) meningitis vaccine is safe for use in 9-month-old infants in the meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa.

3 Oct 2023

Pharmacists can play key role in boosting HPV vaccination rates

HPV, or human papillomavirus, is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It is also the leading cause of cervical cancer.

3 Oct 2023

SARS-CoV-2 infection in coronary vessels linked to cardiovascular complications

Researchers reported that the increased long-term risk of acute cardiovascular complications associated with COVID-19 is linked to SARS-CoV-2 infecting coronary vessels and inducing the formation of plaques.

3 Oct 2023

How does Christmas impact eating behaviors and obesity?

Changes in nutritional patterns and eating behavior during the winter holiday season and its association with obesity.

3 Oct 2023

Is climate change turning up the heat on China's aging population?

Rising temperatures and an aging population in China exacerbate heat-related mortality risks, new study finds. The research highlights the urgent need for policies that address both cold and heat-related health risks among the elderly.

2 Oct 2023

New study reveals alarming cardiovascular risks from COVID

The study published in Nature Cardiovascular Research reveals that SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, can directly infect coronary vessels and arterial plaques, heightening the risk of cardiovascular complications like heart attacks and strokes. These findings offer critical insights into the increased long-term cardiovascular risks for COVID-19 survivors and open new avenues for targeted therapies.

1 Oct 2023

Killer T cells in older adults found to be less effective at fighting influenza viruses

A world-first discovery has revealed special immune cells called ‘killer T cells’ in older adults, directed against influenza viruses, closely resemble those found in newborns and children, but struggle to recognise infected cells – a finding that unlocks the potential for the development of better vaccines and therapies tailored to different age groups.

30 Sep 2023

Brigham researchers quantify the burden of SARS-CoV-2-associated sepsis

Using data from Mass General Brigham's electronic health records, Brigham researchers quantified the burden of SARS-CoV-2-associated sepsis early in the pandemic.

29 Sep 2023

Researchers develop an improved way to test potential vaccines against bird flu

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Vaccine Research Center have developed an improved way to test potential vaccines against bird flu. The report was published this week in the journal iScience.

29 Sep 2023

What are the pharmacological properties of black goji berries?

The pharmacological effects of the components of Lycium ruthenicum Murray fruits.

29 Sep 2023

Sushi and other raw seafood can spread antibiotic-resistant bacteria, study warns

Bacteria in raw seafood can make you sick. Seafood can also spread bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

28 Sep 2023

Commonly used anti-viral drugs reduce risk of hospitalization, death in patients with mild COVID-19

New Cleveland Clinic-led research shows commonly used COVID-19 anti-viral drugs Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir) and Lagevrio (molnupiravir) reduce risk of hospitalization and death in high-risk patients with mild disease, even with Omicron subvariants.

28 Sep 2023

Hospitalized COVID patients displayed multiple organ abnormalities five months after infection

A study looking at the longer-term impact of COVID-19 has found that nearly a third of patients displayed abnormalities in multiple organs five months after infection, some of which have been shown through previous work to be evidence of tissue damage.

28 Sep 2023

Hotter days in New York linked to spike in substance abuse hospital visits

New study finds a positive correlation between rising temperatures and increased hospital visits for alcohol and substance-related disorders in New York State. The research suggests that climate change could exacerbate negative outcomes related to substance abuse.

27 Sep 2023

Researchers develop new way to boost immune cells' ability to fight TB

Tuberculosis is old - ancient even. The infectious bacterial disease that plagued Old Testament Israelites and took down pharaohs was eventually stunted by vaccinations, antibiotics, and public health measures like isolation, but it hasn't been cured yet.

27 Sep 2023

As covid infections rise, nursing homes are still waiting for vaccines

"Covid is not pretty in a nursing home," said Deb Wityk, a 70-year-old retired massage therapist who lives in one called Spurgeon Manor, in rural Iowa. She twice contracted the disease and is eager to get the newly approved vaccine because she has chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which weakens her immune system.

27 Sep 2023

Surrey researchers develop new rapid electronic diagnostic test for infectious diseases

A new molecular test for bacteria and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 has been developed by scientists at the University of Surrey, as they warn that the world needs to be prepared for the next pandemic.

27 Sep 2023