Cold and Flu News

March 30, 2016

Closing in On a Universal Flu Vaccine?

New SARS-Like Virus Poised to Infect Humans

Having Kids: Huge Challenge to Immune System

Estrogen Protects Women Against the Flu: Study

Latest Headlines

updated 2:52am EDT

Abandoned Drug Resurrected, Found Effective Against Human Viruses

Mar. 28, 2016 — Scientists have resurrected a discarded drug that helps human cells in a lab dish fight off two different viruses. Based on what they learned about how the drug works, it might also help fight the ... read more

Breastfeeding, Vaccinations Help Reduce Ear Infection Rates in Babies

Mar. 28, 2016 — In what would be considered good news for many parents, a new study finds the rates of ear infections during a baby's first year have declined; the investigators suggested that higher rates of ... read more

Identifying Threats Before They Spread

Mar. 23, 2016 — If an infectious disease outbreak or an attack using an agent such as anthrax were to occur in Chicago, it most likely first will be noticed in emergency rooms throughout the city. Swift ... read more

Assay Developed to Find a Cure for Zika Virus

Mar. 23, 2016 — Researchers report the development of a unique antiviral assay - a test that can be used by researchers worldwide to detect the Zika virus in infected cell ... read more

Stronger Measures Needed to Deter Use of Cough and Cold Medicine in Young Children

Mar. 16, 2016 — About 18 percent of children still received cough and cold medications despite label warnings advising against their use in children under age 6, a ... read more

Research Will Guide Development of New Anti-Influenza Drugs

Mar. 14, 2016 — Scientists have revealed new details about how a promising class of anti-influenza drugs blocks the virus from replicating. Developing new anti-influenza drugs is critical because they are the only ... read more

No Increased Risk in Providing Flu Vaccine to Surgical Patients, New Study Finds

Mar. 14, 2016 — Surgical patients who received the flu vaccine during their hospital stay did not have an increased risk of emergency department visits or subsequent ... read more

Potential Antibody Treatment for H7 Avian Flu

Mar. 9, 2016 — Researchers have isolated human antibodies against a type of bird flu that has killed more than 200 people in China since 2012 and which may pose a worldwide pandemic ... read more

Omalizumab Decreases Colds in Inner-City Children With Asthma

Mar. 6, 2016 — Treatment with omalizumab significantly decreases the number of colds in inner-city children with allergic asthma, researchers report. Omalizumab, sold under the brand name Xolair, is an injectable ... read more

State Laws Boost Flu Vaccination Rates in Health Care Workers

Mar. 2, 2016 — State laws mandating influenza immunization for people who work in health care increase their vaccination rates, according to new research. From 2000 to 2005, only Maine and New Hampshire had flu ... read more

Ebola Virus Found In Semen 9 Months After Initial Symptoms

If Avian Flu Returns, Egg Prices Could Increase To $6

Millions of Hens Euthanized in Midwest Bird Flu Outbreak

Detecting Diabetes in Children Before Symptoms Appear

Simulation Study Shows That Pandemic Swine Flu Had a Minor Impact in Finland

Mar. 24, 2016 — Researchers have used modeling to estimate the true impact of infectious diseases, such as swine flu, when underreporting can mean the surveillance from time of the pandemic can miss the vast ... read more

Computer-Assisted Approaches as Decision Support Systems Serving to Combat the Zika Virus

Mar. 18, 2016 — No drug is known to treat ZIKV infection; neither do we have any vaccine which can prevent the spread of it. While scientists are trying to cope with the situation, computer-assisted approaches may ... read more

Novel Nano Biosensor Developed for Rapid Detection of Flu Virus

Mar. 14, 2016 — A novel nano biosensor for rapid detection of flu and other viruses has been developed by researchers. The new invention utilizes an optical method called upconversion luminescence resonance energy ... read more

How Does COPD Care by Physicians Compare With Nurse Practitioners/physician Assistants?

Feb. 24, 2016 — Researchers investigated differences in care given to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients by medical doctors compared with nurse practitioners and physician assistants, and report their ... read more

Experimental Ebola Vaccines Well Tolerated, Immunogenic in Phase 2 Study

Feb. 24, 2016 — Two investigational vaccines designed to protect against Ebola virus disease were well-tolerated and induced an immune response among 1,000 vaccinated participants in the Phase 2 randomized, ... read more

Influenza Viruses Can Hide from the Immune System

Feb. 23, 2016 — Influenza is able to mask itself, so that the virus is not initially detected by our immune system, a new study shows. The researchers behind the study hope that the discovery can be used to develop ... read more

Parents Rate Flu Vaccine Less Important, Effective, Safe Than Other Childhood Vaccines

Feb. 22, 2016 — Parents who do not get their children flu shots rate flu vaccine less favorably than other childhood vaccines, a national poll finds. Fifty-nine percent of parents whose child did not receive the flu ... read more

A Shot in the Arm for Flu Vaccine Distribution

Feb. 18, 2016 — Each fall, doctors stress the importance of getting a flu shot: influenza is the most frequent cause of death from a vaccine-preventable disease in the United States. But on-time delivery of the ... read more

Link Between Intensive Post-Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery Demonstrated in Rats

Feb. 18, 2016 — Researchers have demonstrated a causal relationship between rehabilitation-induced change of brain circuits and functional recovery through forced limb use in rats with stroke, providing crucial ... read more

Scientists Discover Bird Blood Cell Which Destroys Fatal Fungal Infection

Feb. 17, 2016 — Scientists reveal how birds can carry potentially fatal infections to humans but not get ill. They say that the white blood cell in birds blocks growth of fatal infection, adding that this discovery ... read more

Immune Response to Flu Vaccine Linked to Recipients' Ethnic Background

Feb. 16, 2016 — How well a flu shot protects you from the virus can depend on your ethnic background and other inherited factors, report scientists. Results suggest future "universal" vaccines could be ... read more

Gut Environment Could Reduce Severity of Malaria

Feb. 8, 2016 — Microorganisms in the gut could play a role in reducing the severity of malaria, according to a new study. Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease, and those with the illness often experience fever, ... read more

Common Colds at School a Primary Driver of Asthma Hospitalizations for Children

Feb. 8, 2016 — Children with asthma tend to have the worst symptoms at the same times each year -- when school starts in the fall and after extended breaks such as Spring Break. Researchers previously speculated ... read more

Fighting Flu With Designer Drugs: A New Compound Fends Off Different Influenza Strains

Feb. 4, 2016 — A new study reports that a new antiviral drug protects mice against a range of influenza virus strains. The compound seems to act superior to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and independent of the host immune ... read more

For Pregnant Women With Flu, the Earlier the Better for Antiviral Treatment

Feb. 4, 2016 — Pregnant women are at higher risk for serious illness and complications, including death, from influenza. For expectant mothers hospitalized with flu, early treatment with the influenza antiviral ... read more

Flu Vaccine Shows Promise for Reducing Risk of Influenza-Associated Atrial Fibrillation

Feb. 2, 2016 — Influenza is significantly associated with an increased risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation, which could be reduced through influenza vaccination, according to new ... read more

Super Bowl Celebrations Spread Flu, According to Researchers

Feb. 1, 2016 — Cities with teams in the Super Bowl see a rise in flu deaths, new research shows. The effects are greater when the Super Bowl occurs close to the peak of flu season or when the dominant influenza ... read more

Researcher Warns US Could See Substantial Impact of Zika Virus

Feb. 1, 2016 — Zika virus could spread quickly to and potentially within the US, an expert warns. The mosquito-borne virus, which is believed to cause microcephaly in infants who are exposed in utero, causes rash ... read more

Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccine for Pregnant Women May Differ by Trimester

Feb. 1, 2016 — The Centers for Disease Control recommends that all pregnant women get a flu shot, unless they have already been vaccinated over the past year. Cautioning that "Flu is more likely to cause ... read more

Infectious Diseases Cause Significant Emergency Visits, Hospitalizations for Older Adults

Feb. 1, 2016 — In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers calculated that infectious diseases account for 13.5 percent of emergency room (ER) visits involving older adults -- a higher percentage than ER visits for ... read more

Thursday, March 24, 2016