Cold and Flu News

July 19, 2024

Top Headlines

Study Shows Promise for a Universal Influenza Vaccine

July 19, 2024 — New research reveals a promising approach to developing a universal influenza vaccine -- a so-called 'one and done' vaccine that confers lifetime immunity against an evolving virus. The study tested a vaccine platform against the virus considered ...

Influenza Viruses Can Use Two Ways to Infect Cells

July 17, 2024 — Most influenza viruses enter human or animal cells through specific pathways on the cells' surface. Researchers have now discovered that certain human flu viruses and avian flu viruses can also use a second entry pathway, a protein complex of the ...

Receptors Make Dairy Cows a Prime Target for Influenza

July 15, 2024 — A study helps explain why dairy cows infected by highly pathogenic avian influenza are shedding the virus in their milk. Their findings could help develop biosecurity measures aimed at slowing the spread of the ...

Nanoparticle Vaccines Enhance Cross-Protection Against Influenza Viruses

July 10, 2024 — To offer cross-protection against diverse influenza virus variants, nanoparticle vaccines can produce pivotal cellular and mucosal immune responses that enhance vaccine efficacy and broaden protection, according to a new ...

Latest Headlines

updated 10:44pm EDT

Raw Milk Is Risky, but Airborne Transmission of H5N1 from Cow's Milk Is Inefficient in Mammals

July 8, 2024 — While H5N1 avian influenza virus taken from infected cow's milk makes mice and ferrets sick when dripped into their noses, airborne transmission of ...

New Bio-Based Tool Quickly Detects Concerning Coronavirus Variants

July 8, 2024 — Researchers have developed a bioelectric device that can detect and classify new variants of coronavirus to identify those that are most harmful. It has the potential to do the same with other ...

Think You Might Have COVID? Wait Two Days to Test, Research Suggests

June 25, 2024 — A new study provides insight on how to make a new generation of rapid tests, including COVID, flu, RSV, and all-in-one tests, work ...

Pasteurization Inactivates Highly Infectious Avian Flu in Milk, Study Suggests

July 3, 2024 — Researchers found no infectious virus in the sampled pasteurized milk products tested for ...

Low-Dose Aspirin Could Help Prevent Pregnancy Complications Caused by Flu Infections

July 2, 2024 — A world-first study has found low-dose aspirin may treat flu-induced blood vessel inflammation, creating better blood flow to the placenta during ...

Bird Flu Stays Stable on Milking Equipment for at Least One Hour

June 27, 2024 — H5N1 virus in unpasteurized milk is stable on metal and rubber components of commercial milking equipment for at least one hour, increasing its potential to infect people and other ...

Simple Test for Flu Could Improve Diagnosis and Surveillance

June 21, 2024 — Fewer than one percent of people who get the flu every year get tested, in part because most tests require trained personnel and expensive equipment. Now researchers have developed a low-cost paper ...

Infectious H5N1 Influenza Virus in Raw Milk Rapidly Declines With Heat Treatment

June 14, 2024 — The amount of infectious H5N1 influenza viruses in raw milk rapidly declined with heat treatment in laboratory research. However, small, detectable ...

N95 Masks Near-Perfect at Blocking Escape of Airborne COVID-19, Research Shows

May 30, 2024 — In a head-to-head comparison of masks worn by people with active COVID-19, the inexpensive 'duckbill' N95 came out on top, stopping 98% of COVID-19 ...

Antibodies May Aid Effort to Fight Influenza B

May 31, 2024 — Researchers have isolated human monoclonal antibodies against influenza B, a significant public health threat that disproportionately affects children, the elderly and other immunocompromised ...

Earlier Headlines

More Hospitals Than Ever Require Staff to Get Flu Shots, U.S. Study Finds

June 14, 2024 — As hospitals and health systems begin to prepare for flu vaccination campaigns, a new study shows that 96% of the hospitals that serve America's veterans, and 74% of hospitals serving the ...

The Protestant Work Ethic Could Explain a Liking for 'Natural' Healthcare

June 6, 2024 — A strong belief in the Protestant Work Ethic might underpin the decision-making of many people choosing 'natural' approaches to healthcare, new research suggests. Academics say their paper ...

Bird Flu: Diverse Range of Vaccines Platforms 'Crucial' for Enhancing Human Pandemic Preparedness

May 29, 2024 — Review of research to-date suggests vaccination remains the most effective strategy for avian influenza prevention and control in humans, despite varying vaccine efficacy across ...

High H5N1 Influenza Levels Found in Mice Given Raw Milk from Infected Dairy Cows

May 24, 2024 — Mice administered raw milk samples from dairy cows infected with H5N1 influenza experienced high virus levels in their respiratory organs and lower virus levels in other vital organs, according to ...

Century-Old Vaccine Protects Type 1 Diabetics from Infectious Diseases

May 23, 2024 — Researchers conducted a Phase III trial to test the 100-year-old Bacillus Calmette-Gu rin (BCG) vaccine in people with type 1 diabetes during the COVID-19 ...

Drug-Like Inhibitor Shows Promise in Preventing Flu

May 21, 2024 — Currently available flu medications only target the virus after it has already established an infection, but what if a drug could prevent infection in the first place? Now, scientists have designed ...

Repeat COVID-19 Vaccinations Elicit Antibodies That Neutralize Variants, Other Viruses

May 17, 2024 — A study has found that repeat vaccination with updated versions of the COVID-19 vaccine promotes the development of antibodies that neutralize a wide range of variants of the virus that causes ...

H5N1 Virus from 2022 Mink Outbreak Capable of Inefficient Airborne Transmission

May 15, 2024 — Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza was detected in dairy cattle for the first time in the United States in March, with nine states reporting outbreaks by May. While the method of transmission ...

Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu Detected in New York City Wild Birds

May 15, 2024 — A small number of New York City wild birds carry highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, according to a recent ...

First Case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Transmitted from Cow to Human Confirmed

May 13, 2024 — in March a farm worker who reported no contact with sick or dead birds, but who was in contact with dairy cattle, began showing symptoms in the eye and samples were collected by the regional health ...

Promising New Treatment Strategy for Deadly Flu-Related Brain Disorders

May 2, 2024 — Researchers have found that a brain disorder associated with flu (influenza-associated encephalopathy, or IAE) can be caused by the influenza virus entering the brain from the blood via endothelial ...

New Strategy Could Lead to Universal, Long-Lasting Flu Shot

May 1, 2024 — An experimental influenza vaccine carrying more than 80,000 variations of hemagglutinin antigens caused the immune system of mice and ferrets to respond more strongly to less variable portions of the ...

A Blood Test for Stroke Risk? Biomarker for Risk of Future Cerebrovascular Disease

May 1, 2024 — A simple blood test could allow doctors to determine whether a person may be at higher risk for stroke or cognitive decline during their lifetime, according to a new ...

Florida Dolphin Found With Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu

Apr. 26, 2024 — Report details first-ever finding of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in North American ...

Metabolic Health Before Vaccination Determines Effectiveness of Anti-Flu Response

Apr. 18, 2024 — The annual influenza vaccine has become less effective on average over time. One reason may be reduced vaccine efficacy in people with obesity than those with a healthier body mass index (BMI), while ...

Vaccine Breakthrough Means No More Chasing Strains

Apr. 15, 2024 — Scientists at UC Riverside have demonstrated a new, RNA-based vaccine strategy that is effective against any strain of a virus and can be used safely even by babies or the ...

New Drug Prevents Flu-Related Inflammation and Lung Damage

Apr. 10, 2024 — Findings show a newly created drug can prevent runaway inflammation while still allowing the immune system to handle the virus, even when given late into ...

Researchers Develop More Broadly Protective Coronavirus Vaccine

Apr. 1, 2024 — Researchers have developed a new vaccine that offers broad protection against not only SARS-CoV-2 variants, but also other bat sarbecoviruses. The groundbreaking trivalent vaccine has shown complete ...

Just Ask: Patients in the ER Are Willing to Get a Flu Shot

Mar. 26, 2024 — Simply asking patients to get the flu vaccine, and combining it with helpful video and print messages, is enough to persuade many who visit emergency departments to roll up their sleeves, according ...

Researchers a Step Closer to a Cure for HIV

Mar. 26, 2024 — A new study shows virus-like particle can effectively 'shock and kill' latent HIV reservoir in those living with chronic ...