Influenza News and Research

Latest Influenza News and Research

Wild bird surveillance reveals how H5Nx flu keeps returning to China

Long-term wild bird surveillance across China revealed shifting H5Nx avian influenza patterns, with H5N1, H5N8, and clade 2.3.4.4b viruses changing over time and across migratory flyways. Genomic analyses suggest recent H5Nx detections in China largely reflect repeated reintroductions through migratory birds rather than sustained local circulation.

26 Jul 2026

Survey finds widespread uncertainty over pregnancy vaccine recommendations

Most Americans are unaware or unsure of which vaccines the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends during pregnancy, according to a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania.

22 Jul 2026

ddPCR and NGS for viral surveillance in antiviral drug development

hVIVO explains how ddPCR and NGS support viral surveillance in antiviral trials, from detection and quantification to resistance sequencing.

From hVIVO 20 Jul 2026

Mapping how influenza virus rewires human host cells

Researchers at EMBL Hamburg and collaborators at the Leibniz Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology (FMP) have mapped how the influenza A virus rewires infected human cells in unprecedented detail.

20 Jul 2026

Study identifies immune response causing severe COVID-19 susceptibility

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has largely subsided, scientists continue to investigate why the virus proved so deadly, causing at least three million deaths worldwide, according to the latest estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO).

19 Jul 2026

New viral library helps scientists study thousands of proteins

To prevent viruses from sickening or killing us - whether it's an individual case of hepatitis B or a COVID pandemic - it's crucial to understand how the proteins they make initiate changes in our bodies that allow them to flourish.

11 Jul 2026

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

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

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

50-year review shows global Ebola spread remains rare despite outbreak fears

Researchers reviewed Ebola disease cases outside Africa from 1976 to May 2026 and found only 28 confirmed epidemic-linked cases, most involving medical evacuation or occupational exposure. Only four latent travelers were diagnosed after border screening, suggesting that undetected intercontinental spread remains rare when outbreaks are controlled at source.

23 Jun 2026

Scientists find mechanism behind bird flu infections in dairy cattle

When H5N1 bird flu first began infecting U.S. cattle in early 2024, diagnosis was elusive, because in cows, the disease looked completely different.

19 Jun 2026

Breast milk nutrient boosts long-term immune system development

Trans-vaccenic acid (TVA), the most abundant trans fatty acid found in human breast milk, helps boost immune system development and has long-lasting effects on immune system health in mice, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Chicago.

18 Jun 2026

Emergency departments could help boost annual flu vaccination rates

A University of California, Riverside-led study of more than 3,200 emergency department (ED) patients across the United States found that while awareness of influenza vaccination is widespread, most adults seen in EDs are not up to date on their annual flu vaccine.

17 Jun 2026

Wastewater analysis offers novel approach to track HIV burden

Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) detection in wastewater offers a novel approach to monitor the virus in communities.

15 Jun 2026

Just ten viral particles can infect cows with bird flu

Just 10 viral particles of the H5N1 bird flu that caused hundreds of influenza outbreaks in U.S. dairy cattle can cause infection in cows, a new study shows.

15 Jun 2026

New mRNA flu vaccine offers broader protection against influenza strains

A new study led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has found that an investigational mRNA influenza vaccine helps the immune system recognize a wider range of influenza viruses than today's standard flu shot, offering stronger and potentially longer-lasting protection.

15 Jun 2026

Leading AI models ace many vaccine questions but falter on clinical rules

A multilingual benchmark of 1,886 vaccine-related questions found that large language models answered most items accurately across English, Spanish, and Chinese. However, performance varied by vaccine type, language, and prompting method, with persistent errors in dosing, contraindications, age eligibility, and other clinically sensitive guidance.

11 Jun 2026

Study reveals how germinal centers consistently produce antibodies

A new study tracking thousands of B cells across more than 100 germinal centers in mice reveals how the system consistently produces highly effective antibodies.

7 Jun 2026

Flu drugs may reduce cognitive decline in people with HIV

A class of flu drugs may reduce cognitive decline and premature aging in people living with chronic viral infection, reports a new study led by Northwestern University that began with blood samples from people with HIV and extended into preclinical drug trials.

5 Jun 2026