Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Study confirms flu vaccine effectiveness against A H1N1 in young children

A study published on Eurosurveillance has demonstrated that Spain's influenza vaccination campaign for children aged 6-59 months during the 2023/24 season was effective in preventing acute respiratory infections (ARI) and hospitalization, as vaccination was recommended for this age group at the national level for the first time.

4 Oct 2024

Houston Methodist researchers join national consortium to develop herpesvirus vaccine

Houston Methodist researchers will be part of a national consortium funded by an up to $49 million award from the U.S. Government's Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to develop a vaccine against two of the most common and destructive strains of herpesviruses that latently infect a majority of Americans and can lead to acute infections, multiple forms of cancer, autoimmune disease and birth defects.

3 Oct 2024

WHO unveils comprehensive strategy to combat dengue and Aedes-borne arboviruses

Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Global Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan (SPRP) to tackle dengue and other Aedes-borne arboviruses.

3 Oct 2024

New pathway linking neuron selectivity to cognitive disorders uncovered

Neuroscientists from Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have determined how a brain cell surface molecule shapes the way certain neurons behave.

3 Oct 2024

New insights into the link between respiratory infections and chronic lung diseases

A 3D reconstruction of a mouse lung four days after infection with fluorescent Sendai virus reveals widespread virus presence (red) and active replication (green).

3 Oct 2024

Emergency response underway as Rwanda battles deadly Marburg virus

The World Health Organization (WHO) is readying emergency supplies to send to Rwanda following the country's first outbreak of the highly contagious Marburg virus, as authorities attempt to trace people who may be at risk.

1 Oct 2024

New humanized mouse models created to study COVID-19

Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have developed six lines of humanized mice that can serve as valuable models for studying human cases of COVID-19.

1 Oct 2024

Macrophage memory following COVID infection provides cross-virus protection

More than 200 viruses can infect and cause disease in humans; most of us will be infected by several over the course of a lifetime.

30 Sep 2024

Advanced brain mapping reveals neuronal subtypes and their connections

Scientists at the Salk Institute are unveiling a new brain-mapping neurotechnology called Single Transcriptome Assisted Rabies Tracing (START). The cutting-edge tool combines two advanced technologies - monosynaptic rabies virus tracing and single-cell transcriptomics - to map the brain's intricate neuronal connections with unparalleled precision.

30 Sep 2024

Over 80% of women are iron deficient by their third trimester

Iron deficiency is prevalent among pregnant women, impacting health outcomes. This study emphasizes the importance of monitoring and nutrition during pregnancy.

30 Sep 2024

How viral persistence and immune dysfunction drive long COVID

Study explores the biological drivers and mechanisms of long COVID, shedding light on its epidemiology and potential therapeutic interventions. It emphasizes the role of viral persistence, immune dysfunction, and coagulation in the development of this condition.

29 Sep 2024

WHO announces recommended viral composition for 2025 influenza vaccines

The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced the recommendations for the viral composition of influenza vaccines for the 2025 influenza season in the southern hemisphere.

27 Sep 2024

Study shows gradual waning of MMR vaccine effectiveness over time

The MMR vaccine remains the best protection against measles, according to a modelling study in England which suggests the level of protection decreases slightly over time.

27 Sep 2024

Study: MMR vaccine remains the most effective measure to prevent measles infection

Most measles cases in England are among unvaccinated individuals. But, between 2011 and 2019, the proportion of measles cases in adults who received two doses of the MMR vaccine in England increased from 1.9% (20/1064) to 7.2% (57/790), however the cause of this increase remains unclear.

26 Sep 2024

Japanese bats found carrying high levels of novel viruses, raising concerns about zoonotic outbreaks

Researchers identified over 60% of bats in Japan's Yamaguchi prefecture carrying multiple zoonotic viruses, including 10 novel herpesviruses, highlighting rapid viral evolution and migration risks.

26 Sep 2024

Rise in SUID and SIDS during COVID-19 pandemic linked to respiratory viruses

The risk of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) increased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period, especially in 2021, according to a new study led by researchers at the Penn State College of Medicine.

26 Sep 2024