Articles tagged with Pandemic Influenza
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Comparing lockdowns across nations reveals no consistent advantage of extreme versus limited social distancing measures, highlighting the need for a standardized approach. The study emphasizes the importance of balancing public health and socio-economic costs in reopening strategies.
A survey of Michigan nursing homes reveals significant improvements in pandemic preparedness since the last study in 2007. Nearly all nursing homes now have a plan in place, staff trained on response protocols and communication lines established with hospitals and public health departments.
A study published in The Lancet Public Health found that Hong Kong successfully controlled the first wave of COVID-19 without resorting to a complete lockdown. By implementing measures such as border entry restrictions, quarantine, isolation, and social distancing, the city was able to contain the outbreak and reduce transmission rates.
A new modeling study projects that COVID-19 will persist in the human population after its initial pandemic stage, depending on human immunity. The study finds that social distancing measures may need to be maintained intermittently into 2022 to control the spread of the virus.
Researchers found baloxavir treatment reduced infectious viral shedding and transmission of the flu virus among infected ferrets. The study suggests antivirals could reduce community-based viral spread and support the idea that decreasing viral shedding could also reduce influenza transmission in humans.
A recent study suggests that those exposed to the novel coronavirus may face a range of brain diseases and disorders, including depression, psychosis, and immune complications. The authors warn that monitoring and investigations are needed to mitigate such outcomes.
Researchers found that four common human coronaviruses are sharply seasonal in Michigan, peaking between December and April/May. They also show similar transmission potential to the flu virus. The study's findings could help investigators prepare for SARS-CoV-2 behavior.
A University of Maryland and Hong Kong University study suggests that wearing surgical masks in public may reduce the spread of diseases including influenza, rhinoviruses, and coronaviruses. The study found that masks significantly reduced airborne viruses from infected patients in laboratory experiments.
Researchers will analyze samples from 1,300 Covid-19 patients in the UK to discover who is at higher risk of severe illness and what affects their immune systems. The study aims to improve treatment for patients and control the outbreak.
Researchers have developed a portable AI-powered surveillance device called FluSense that analyzes coughing sounds and crowd size to predict flu-like illnesses and trends. The device collects over 350,000 thermal images and 21 million audio samples from university clinic waiting rooms.
The HD-MAP vaccine shows significantly enhanced immune responses compared to standard intramuscular injection, with faster onset kinetics and higher overall immune responses. The patch is stable for up to 12 months at temperatures as high as 40°C, providing potential for easy distribution without refrigeration.
A new antiviral compound based on a protein found in bananas has been shown to safely protect against multiple strains of the influenza virus in mice, with over 80% survival rate. The compound also shows promise against Ebola, HIV and other deadly viruses, including a synergistic effect with Tamiflu.
A simple epidemiological model accurately predicts measles transmission dynamics in London over almost a century, accounting for historical events like the 1918 pandemic. The study's findings suggest long-term disease dynamics can follow simple rules, with implications for understanding other ecological phenomena.
Dr. Baozhong Wang is developing a multivalent layered nanocluster vaccine that can act against multiple influenza virus strains, using conserved antigenic proteins from both A and B viruses. The goal is to induce broadly reactive immune responses providing cross-protection against both influenza A and B viruses.
A new study suggests that the Spanish influenza may have emerged in 1915-1916, rather than 1918, and that a vaccine could have been effective in treating it. The study found that the virus likely originated from aquatic geese and ducks, and that it underwent significant mutations before becoming pandemic.
The FDA has cleared InDevR's FluChip-8G Influenza A+B Assay, enabling the detection of non-seasonal and seasonal influenza viruses in a single multiplexed assay. This technology can identify emerging strains like H7N9 and H5N1 with high accuracy.
Experts discuss ongoing research on improving seasonal influenza vaccines and developing a universal vaccine for long-term protection against multiple seasonal and pandemic influenza viruses. Recent scientific advances have provided unprecedented momentum toward this goal.
A researcher at Georgia State University has received a $3.86 million grant to develop a universal flu vaccine using a microneedle patch that can protect against any strain of the influenza virus. The vaccine aims to induce strong cross-immune protection and overcomes seasonal flu limitations, which have been ineffective in recent years.
A study by CDDEP researchers found that investing in an effective antibiotic for Staphylococcus aureus infections can save millions of lives during a pandemic. The value of such investment is estimated to be between $3 and $4 billion, highlighting the importance of conserving antibiotics in preparedness plans.
Researchers at LSTM and Imperial College London have designed drugs that target the receptors of human cells to combat flu pandemics. The engineered biologicals block interactions between influenza viruses and human cells, offering a potential solution to deadly strains.
A study recommends replenishing vaccine stocks in regions where they are being used up, rather than sending them to areas with low vaccination rates. This tweak could save thousands of lives in both regular flu seasons and pandemics, reducing the spread of the flu virus and secondary infections.
The IDSA guidelines emphasize testing and treatment for pregnant women and those at high risk of complications, such as the extremely obese. These individuals should be provided with antiviral treatment as soon as possible if they are sick enough to be hospitalized or have severe symptoms.
Researchers at Duke-NUS Medical School developed a method to non-invasively collect and identify three respiratory viruses from aerosol samples on Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) network. The study demonstrates the feasibility of using bioaerosol sampling for disease surveillance in crowded public areas.
Researchers have generated a new anti-flu antibody that offers long-lasting protection from various influenza viruses. The approach shows promise as a preventative measure for vulnerable populations like the elderly or immunocompromised.
A recent study by Imperial College London suggests that the flu virus can develop resistance to favipiravir, a potential pandemic drug, if it undergoes two specific genetic mutations. This finding highlights the need for close monitoring and surveillance to prevent the emergence of resistant strains.
InDevR's VaxArray Influenza Pandemic HA potency assay enables rapid assessment of vaccine potency, reducing bottlenecks in vaccine production and administration. The assay demonstrates high sensitivity, accuracy, precision, and detection of a large panel of influenza viruses with pandemic potential.
A new study on the 1918 flu pandemic reveals that a complex interplay of viral, host, and societal factors contributed to its severity. The researchers warn that future pandemics will face challenges such as changing population demographics, antibiotic resistance, and climate change.
Researchers developed an adjuvanted intradermal flu vaccine that protected ferrets and humans against lethal pandemic flu strains. The vaccine, which can be self-administered via a microneedle, shows promise for rapid production and distribution during pandemics.
A novel reassortant AIV, influenza A(H7N4), has been identified in a backyard poultry setting, leading to severe human infection. The virus originated from wild bird AIVs and was low pathogenic to avian species, susceptible to antivirals and binding to avian-like α2,3-linked sialic acid receptors.
Researchers have identified influenza viruses jumping from pigs into dogs, increasing the risk of a future pandemic. The study found that these viruses can reassort with existing canine influenza viruses, producing new strains.
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security have developed a forward-looking framework for identifying naturally occurring microorganisms that pose a global catastrophic biological risk (GCBR). The report outlines common characteristics of a potential GCBR-level pandemic pathogen, including respiratory mode of transmiss...
A Phase 2 clinical trial has started in the US to test an experimental universal influenza vaccine, M-001, for its safety and ability to produce broad protective immune responses. The trial aims to provide durable protection against multiple influenza strains, including those that might cause a pandemic.
Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles identified gaps in the US healthcare system that make it inadequately prepared for a surge in pediatric patients during a pandemic. The study proposes a structured and coordinated response with specific protocols addressing children's unique needs.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has unveiled a strategic plan to develop a universal influenza vaccine. The plan focuses on three key areas: improving understanding of influenza transmission, characterizing protective immunity, and designing universal vaccines.
The new test kit, developed with licensed monoclonal antibodies from the US FDA, offers a rapid and sensitive potency assay for dose-sparing and adjuvanted flu vaccines. This enables a faster vaccine response in severe outbreaks or pandemics, addressing the need for speed in combating deadly avian H7N9 viruses.
The new FluChip-8G technology uses microarray analysis and artificial intelligence to identify flu viruses, providing rapid and detailed information for enhanced influenza surveillance. This will enable early warning systems in remote locations to detect potential pandemic threats.
A new study at WashU Medicine identified specific features of the influenza virus genome that could improve surveillance for pandemic flu. The researchers found that certain strains of the virus require similar genetic material to recombine and create a new hybrid virus.
A study by McMaster University researchers found that people born during previous pandemics were at higher risk of dying during subsequent outbreaks. The analysis suggests exposure to pandemic influenza early in life may be a risk factor for mortality.
The article highlights the lessons learned from past infectious disease outbreaks, including HIV/AIDS and SARS, to inform current responses to emerging threats such as Zika. The NIAID Director emphasizes the importance of sustained support for scientific research and effective communication with policymakers and communities.
Researchers at the University of Bergen found no negative effects from annual influenza vaccination on developing natural immunity. Annual vaccination actually provides a better first line defence against infection, without preventing natural immunity.
The number of people with Parkinson's disease is expected to grow to 14.2 million by 2040 due to increasing life expectancy and population aging. The medical community must mobilize to respond to this growing public health threat, advocating for increased research funding, access to care, and affordable treatments.
Researchers found that flu pandemics are more likely to emerge in late spring and early summer due to the temporary immune protection provided by seasonal flu. This narrow window for pandemic emergence can help public health agencies detect and respond to new viral threats.
Researchers have developed a new influenza vaccine that uses a nanoscale, controlled-release capsule to provide quick and long-lasting protection against pandemic A strains. The vaccine is based on the M2 protein, which remains constant across different flu viruses.
A nationwide Norwegian study found that H1N1 infected individuals, especially children under 15, were twice as likely to develop type 1 diabetes than the general population. Infection with H1N1 influenza virus was linked to a doubled risk of T1D in Norwegians aged 30 or younger.
A microneedle patch vaccination with an influenza fusion protein improves the effectiveness of conventional flu vaccines by boosting humoral immunity and cellular immune responses in mice. The study offers a new perspective for universal influenza vaccines.
Researchers revamped a 50-year-old flu virus model, revealing loopholes that allow viruses to swap genetic material and give rise to new strains. This discovery could lead to better pandemic predictions and disruption of the flu virus.
Researchers developed a new technique to analyze influenza virus infections in cells and lung tissue, visualizing the delivery of viral genome segments. This approach revealed that productive cell co-infections only occur when both viruses enter the same cell within two hours.
Australian researchers have developed a world-first test to identify patients at risk of developing serious secondary infections. The High-risk Influenza Screen Test measures an early warning signal released by the patient's body, predicting potential complications with high accuracy.
Researchers have developed a transgenic mouse that can help identify new influenza virus strains with the potential to cause a global pandemic. The mouse expresses human MxA protein, which is thought to target influenza A viruses, and has shown resistance to avian but susceptibility to human flu viruses.
A study led by University of Nottingham researchers found that pandemic flu vaccines are effective in reducing the number of patients hospitalized due to the illness. However, vaccine effectiveness varies depending on age, with children being more protected than adults, especially those over 50 years old.
A new study shows that oseltamivir can reduce influenza infections and prevent deaths in a cost-saving manner. The antiviral drug is found to be effective and affordable under most pandemic scenarios, particularly in high transmissibility situations.
A study co-led by the University of Arizona found that a person's birth year can predict their odds of getting seriously ill in an outbreak of animal-origin influenza virus. This 'immunological imprinting' effect provides clues for developing a universal flu vaccine.
A new study found that exposure to influenza viruses during childhood gives people partial protection for life. The study's findings suggest that birth year may largely determine a person's risk for serious illness in an influenza pandemic, with certain age groups more susceptible to different strains of the flu.
A recent NIH-supported study pinpoints the origin of the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic in central Mexico, where it emerged from pigs before spreading to humans. The research highlights the importance of tracking swine populations and understanding how economic factors contribute to viral outbreaks.
Researchers found the 2009 swine H1N1 flu virus originated from pigs in a small region in central Mexico, with genetic analysis revealing its precise location and molecular transformations. This discovery sheds light on how animal influenza viruses infect humans and spread globally.
Researchers at UGA and Sanofi Pasteur have developed a vaccine that protects against multiple strains of seasonal and pandemic H1N1 influenza in mouse models. The COBRA vaccine was designed to recognize H1N1 viruses isolated within the last 100 years, offering broader cross-protection.
Researchers at Sanofi Pasteur have published pre-clinical data on a novel, computationally optimized broadly reactive hemagglutinin vaccine for H1N1 influenza viruses. The vaccine strategy elicited a broad antibody response against seasonal and pandemic isolates in mice, demonstrating its potential as a 'subtype universal' vaccine.
A simulation study published in PLOS Computational Biology estimated the true impact of infectious diseases like swine flu, which can be missed due to underreporting. The research shows that less than 10% of the Finnish population was infected with swine flu during the first two seasons in 2009-2011.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists identified a molecular property of the hemagglutinin protein that contributed to the emergence of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza virus. The study found that the adaptation increased the protein's stability in acidic conditions, allowing airborne transmission.
A modeling study finds that gradual and countywide closures are most effective strategies in reducing influenza transmission, with lower social costs than nationwide closures. These approaches can contribute to limiting the impact of future pandemics.