Influenza News and Research

Latest Influenza News and Research

Study reveals how cigarette smoke weakens immune cells in the lungs

Cigarette smoking is widespread and deadly, yet our understanding of how cigarette smoke actually causes serious respiratory illnesses is incomplete, which has severely hampered the development of effective treatments.

15 Jan 2025

UQ and Vaxxas win global prize to accelerate patch-based mRNA vaccine for COVID-19

The University of Queensland's BASE facility – within the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) – and Brisbane-based biotechnology company Vaxxas have been announced as stage winners of a prestigious global prize to accelerate a patch-based mRNA vaccine for COVID-19.

13 Jan 2025

Study finds certain H5N1 strains in cattle linked to milder human illness; other variants remain a concern

Study reveals that contemporary HPAI H5N1 viruses show reduced replication and immune activation in human lung organoids, potentially explaining milder disease in humans compared to historic strains.

13 Jan 2025

$20 million grant to explore the role of viruses in human health

For over a decade, scientists have studied the microbiome, the environment of microorganisms that live on and in the body, and how it affects health and disease.

9 Jan 2025

New molecule shows promise in protecting mice from influenza

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, in collaboration with colleagues in China, have discovered an antibody-like molecule that can protect mice from various influenza viruses.

9 Jan 2025

Novel hMPV strains linked to rising respiratory infections in young children

Researchers in India discovered novel hMPV lineages A2.2.1 and A2.2.2, emphasizing their role in pediatric respiratory infections and potential public health implications.

6 Jan 2025

H5N1 bird flu spillover to horses, raises fears of new viral strains

Researchers report the first confirmed cases of H5N1 bird flu in horses, highlighting their role as potential reservoirs for viral reassortment. This groundbreaking study urges increased surveillance to prevent novel influenza epidemics.

5 Jan 2025

Human protein MxA restricts H5N1, but virus mutations raise alarms

Human MxA protein suppresses mammalian H5N1 virus replication, but emerging mutations may enable partial evasion, raising concerns for human transmission.

5 Jan 2025

From ducks to detection: Revolutionizing surveillance in the fight against HPAI

Vaccination drastically reduces avian influenza outbreaks in ducks, but enhanced passive surveillance is crucial for timely and effective detection of the virus.

5 Jan 2025

Study highlights the importance of diagnostic tests in pandemic response

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how crucial testing is for disease preparedness and response, and new research from the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) and a team of collaborators underscores that principle.

3 Jan 2025

Predicting H5N1 disease severity based on T cell responses

New research led by scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) suggests that many people already have immune cells on "stand by" to fight the H5N1 virus, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza.

2 Jan 2025

Mild avian flu cases in US spark safety warnings for poultry and dairy sectors

Researchers identify 46 mild cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) in U.S. poultry and dairy workers, highlighting low PPE adherence and potential outbreak risks.

2 Jan 2025

Blood cells linked to long-lasting vaccine immunity

When children receive their second measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, around the time they start kindergarten, they gain protection against all three viruses for all or most of their lives.

2 Jan 2025

Public health experts outline critical steps in handling HPAI H5N1 spread

Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza A virus (HPAI H5N1) remains a low risk to the general public, and public health experts in the United States believe that available treatments and vaccines, as well as those in development, are sufficient to prevent severe disease.

2 Jan 2025

AI-driven surveillance system to combat emerging infectious diseases

Researchers have come up with a new way to identify more infectious variants of viruses or bacteria that start spreading in humans - including those causing flu, COVID, whooping cough and tuberculosis.

2 Jan 2025

Scientists pinpoint regions and species fueling coronavirus evolution in bats

Study uncovers the evolution, transmission, and geographic spread of bat coronaviruses in China, revealing key insights into hotspots and the origins of SARS-CoV-2.

1 Jan 2025

RSV vaccine acceptance grows amidst rising flu concerns

A year after becoming available, vaccines to protect against RSV in newborns and older adults are being more widely accepted by the American public, according to a new Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) health survey conducted in November 2024.

23 Dec 2024

Shiitake-based supplement may help prevent liver damage progression

AHCC demonstrates potential in preventing liver fibrosis progression by inhibiting HSC activation and regulating key pathways involved in liver injury.

20 Dec 2024

A scaffolded vaccine approach for broader influenza protection

Most people who get the seasonal influenza vaccine – which contains strains of viruses from distinct virus subtypes – mount a strong immune response to one strain, leaving them vulnerable to infection by the others, and researchers have long wondered what impacts such variable responses more – host genetics or prior exposure to virus strains.

19 Dec 2024

Pregnant women must be prioritized in pandemic vaccination programs

The vast majority of women who contract bird flu during pregnancy and their unborn baby will die from the virus, according to a new study. And the findings stress the importance of early inclusion of pregnant women in public health vaccination programs during pandemics.

19 Dec 2024