Latest Swine influenza Stories

Researcher urges targeted vaccination of those under 65 in comparable scenarios As the world prepares for what may be the next pandemic strain of influenza virus, in the H7N9 bird flu, a new UC Irvine study reveals that the 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic was deadliest for people under the age of 65, while those 65 and over had greater immunity due to previous exposure to similar viruses. Deaths from flu pandemics tend to skew younger than those from seasonal flu because of "antigenic...

Brett Smith for redOrbit.com - Your Universe Online Swine flu can now officially be considered a misnomer for H1N1, as a team of American and Chilean scientists have identified it in a population of northern elephant seals living off the coast of central California, according to a new report in the journal PLOS ONE. In an attempt to understand how viruses surface and move among species, the study authors from the University of California, Davis have been investigating flu viruses in...

Brett Smith for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online By analyzing sewage, a group of European researchers was able to determine that about half of the Tamiflu prescribed during the 2009-2010 influenza pandemic went unused in England. The team’s findings, which were published in the open access journal PLOS ONE, could be used to inform the next pandemic reaction by health officials and served as validation for the novel method used to measure widespread prescription drug compliance....

redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports - Your Universe Online US health officials are reporting that this year’s flu season is winding down, but in its wake, it has resulted in more than 100 deaths among children – most of whom had not been vaccinated against the illness. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics, influenza has claimed the lives of 105 youngsters so far this season. That’s more than triple the number of children who died during last...

This year's unusually long and rocky flu season would be nothing compared to the pandemic that could occur if bird flu became highly contagious among humans, which is why UCLA researchers and their colleagues are creating new ways to predict where an outbreak could emerge. "Using surveillance of influenza cases in humans and birds, we've come up with a technique to predict sites where these viruses could mix and generate a future pandemic," said lead author Trevon Fuller, a UCLA...

Results consistent with findings from Finland and Sweden, but may still be overestimated The results are consistent with previous studies from Finland and Sweden and indicate that the association is not confined to Scandinavian populations. However, the authors stress that the risk may still be overestimated, and they call for longer term monitoring of the cohort of children and adolescents exposed to Pandemrix to evaluate the exact level of risk. In 2009, pandemic influenza A (H1N1)...

Brett Smith for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online Despite promoting its benefits, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the flu vaccine has been largely ineffective this season. The vaccine was mostly ineffective for people 65 and older, partially explaining why the season’s hospitalization and death rates have been near record highs. "We know that any vaccine, including flu vaccines, is less effective as you get older," Joe Bresee, chief of the...

Brett Smith for redOrbit.com - Your Universe Online Ever wonder why some people don’t get the flu even though everyone around them is getting sick? A group of Australian researchers believe they have found an important clue for solving this mystery. According to new research in the journal Nature Immunology, some T-cells found on exposed body surfaces help to ward off infection better than others due to the selective expression of a certain protein, IFITM3. When the body is exposed...

LANSING, Mich., Jan. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- With one of the worst flu seasons upon us - and the peak of the season yet to come - the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) is urging those who have not yet received the flu vaccine to do so soon. "It's absolutely not too late to get vaccinated against the flu virus this year," said Dr. Karen Mitchell, a family physician and MAFP Board member. "As long as the flu virus is circulating, it's never too late." Influenza seasons...

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, along with Kohl's Cares, today announced a call for entries for a flu prevention public service announcement (PSA) video contest. Students at all Minnesota middle and high schools are encouraged to enter for a chance to win a portion of $5,500 in prize money. This is the fourth consecutive year of the statewide contest. "Influenza is a very serious respiratory illness. With the influenza...