Bird flu shuffle probes viral compatibility
(Emory Health Sciences) Emory scientists have been probing the RNA packaging factors that limit reassortment between avian H7N9/H5N8 strains and a well-known strain (H3N2) that has been dominating the last few human flu seasons in the United States. Mix and match still occurred at a low level, particularly with H5N8. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - February 12, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news

Surveillance Report: Annual Epidemiological Report for 2017; Zoonotic Influenza
Source: European Union, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Published: 2019. This five-page report is based on data on zoonotic influenza for 2017 retrieved from Epidemic Intelligence on May 18, 2018. No human cases of avian influenza were reported in the European Union/European Economic Area. Sporadic cases were reported from Africa and Asia. Influenza viruses A(H1N1)v, A(H1N2)v, and A(H3N2)v of swine origin caused human cases in Switzerland and the United States. (PDF) (Source: Disaster Lit: Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health)
Source: Disaster Lit: Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health - January 8, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news

Surveillance Report
Source: European Union, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Published: 2019. This five-page report is based on data on zoonotic influenza for 2017 retrieved from Epidemic Intelligence on May 18, 2018. No human cases of avian influenza were reported in the European Union/European Economic Area. Sporadic cases were reported from Africa and Asia. Influenza viruses A(H1N1)v, A(H1N2)v, and A(H3N2)v of swine origin caused human cases in Switzerland and the United States. (PDF) (Source: Disaster Lit: Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health)
Source: Disaster Lit: Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health - January 8, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news

Flu Season Got Off to a Slow Start. But Now It ’s Widespread in Almost Half the Country
After a relatively slow start to flu season, influenza activity is now widespread in nearly half of U.S. states. Twenty-four states and Guam were reporting widespread influenza activity — meaning the virus has spread to many parts of the state, regardless of severity — as of Dec. 29, the latest date included in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) weekly flu report. Meanwhile, 19 states and New York City were reporting high levels of influenza-like illness activity, meaning a much higher-than-average proportion of doctor’s visits could be attributed to the flu. Nationally, about 4%...
Source: TIME: Health - January 7, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Jamie Ducharme Tags: Uncategorized healthytime public health Source Type: news

Most US Adults Have Not Gotten A Flu Shot For This Mild Season
(CNN) — Most US adults have not gotten a flu shot this season, according to a new survey from NORC, a research organization at the University of Chicago. As of mid-November, only 43% of surveyed people 18 or older said they had gotten vaccinated against the flu, according to NORC, which has conducted the National Immunization Survey for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since 2005. Another 14% who remain unvaccinated claim that they will get the shot, the survey indicates. Even if they do as they intend, that leaves considerably more than a third of adults (41%) who have not — and will not ̵...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - December 7, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Health – CBS Boston Tags: Health News Flu Flu Shot Local TV Source Type: news

Influenza A(H3N2) Variant Virus Outbreak at Three Fairs Influenza A(H3N2) Variant Virus Outbreak at Three Fairs
This report highlights the potential of variant influenza outbreaks associated with agricultural fair settings in the United States, especially after direct or indirect swine contact.Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - November 19, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Infectious Diseases Journal Article Source Type: news

The Critical Role EMS Plays in Fighting the Flu
Influenza has been impacting public health on a global scale since the beginning of recorded history. Influenza, also known as the “flu,” has numerous organizations committed to public health research, developing vaccines, and educating on best practices to prepare for the upcoming flu season. By gaining an understanding of the flu through history, virology, and how it impacts our society, we can have a better appreciation for the commitment that’s involved with combating the flu. What Is Influenza (and What’s Not)? The eyes of an epidemiologist can twitch for a variety of reasons, one of them being when someone sa...
Source: JEMS Special Topics - November 8, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Morgan K. Anderson, MPH Tags: Exclusive Articles Operations Source Type: news

Influenza A(H3N2) Variant Virus Outbreak at Three Fairs --- Maryland, 2017
On September 17, 2017, the Maryland Department of Agriculture was notified by fair and 4-H officials of ill swine at an agricultural fair held September 14-17. (Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)
Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report - October 25, 2018 Category: American Health Tags: MMWR Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report Outbreaks Swine Influenza Variant Influenza Source Type: news

Novel DNA vaccine design offers broad protection against influenza-A H3N2
(Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News) Researchers developed a novel DNA influenza vaccine based on four micro-consensus antigenic regions selected to represent the diversity of seasonal H3N2 viruses across decades. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - October 18, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: news

Yes, You Should Get a Flu Shot in 2018. Here ’s Everything to Know
The 2017-2018 flu season was a bad one. The dominant viral strain, H3N2, was a particularly severe form of influenza, leading to widespread and serious illness across the country. The flu and its complications killed around 80,000 people last year, the CDC estimates, including 180 children. That’s the highest flu death toll in four decades. Experts say early indications suggest that this year’s flu season will be milder, but the memory of last winter should still serve as motivation to get the flu shot this fall. Here’s what you need to know about the 2018 flu shot. When should I get the flu shot? The CD...
Source: TIME: Health - October 5, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Jamie Ducharme Tags: Uncategorized healthytime onetime public health Source Type: news

Synthetic DNA vaccine effective against influenza A virus subtype
(The Wistar Institute) Currently available vaccines for the prevention of seasonal influenza virus infection have limited ability to induce immunity against diverse H3N2 viruses, an influenza A subtype that has led to high morbidity and mortality in recent years. Now, Wistar scientists have engineered a synthetic DNA vaccine shown to produce broad immune responses against these H3N2 viruses. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - September 6, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: news

First Case Of Dog Flu Confirmed In Massachusetts
BOSTON (CBS) – Dog owners are being urged to vaccinate their pets as the first case of canine flu this year has been confirmed in Massachusetts. A six-month-old poodle was treated and released on Aug. 14 after a two-day stay at the MSPCA’s Angell Animal Medical Center. The MSPCA is urging owners of at-risk dogs to consider vaccinating their pets against the highly contagious virus for added protection. Veterinarians estimate that the the vaccine is about 60 percent effective. Dr. Virginia Sinnott of Angell’s Emergency & Critical Care Unit examines a dog after Massachusetts saw its first confirmed case of dog ...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - August 23, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Health – CBS Boston Tags: Boston News Health Syndicated Local Angell Animal Medical Center dog flu MSPCA Source Type: news

Aussie flu - flu jab did NOT protect against deadly winter H3N2 virus admits PHE
AUSSIE flu swept across the UK in January this winter, with thousands admitted to hospitals over the deadly H3N2 virus symptoms. But Public Health England has revealed the flu jab provided “no significant effectiveness” against the influenza virus. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Source: Daily Express - Health - July 19, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Aussie flu - flu jab failed to protect against deadly winter H3N2 virus admits PHE
AUSSIE flu swept across the UK in January this winter, with thousands admitted to hospitals over the deadly H3N2 virus symptoms. But Public Health England has revealed the flu jab provided “no significant effectiveness” against the influenza virus. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Source: Daily Express - Health - July 19, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Flu vaccines offered no protection against killer 'Aussie' strain
Public Health England today admitted the jab had 'no significant effectiveness ’ in stopping people being struck down by H3N2, which was blamed for adding to the pressure on the NHS. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - July 18, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news