#influenza

#influenza

The amount of flu circulating has started to fall in England, latest data suggests. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it was encouraging news heading into Christmas, but warned the virus could always bounce back in the new year. The UKHSA uses a range of different measures to monitor flu rates, including sample testing in hospitals and in GP practices. The latest data covers last week up to Sunday with the UKHSA concluding the virus was circulating "at medium levels".

Chief among them: Get a flu shot. No, the vaccine isn't a perfect match this year, but it can still help prevent severe illness and lessen the virus' impact. The most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that flu hospitalizations are climbing across all age groups in the U.S. Several states, including Colorado, New York, New Jersey and Louisiana, are being hit particularly hard.

When most people think of influenza, they imagine a few days of fever, body aches and bed rest. Flu is often regarded as a threat to the very old, the very young or those with compromised immune systems. The rest of us are reassured we'll recover quickly. After all, 'it's just the flu'. Seasonal influenza doesn't appear in the top ten causes of death in the United States. During the 2023-24 flu season, there were an estimated 28,000 flu-related deaths.

On the basis of surveillance data on which strains were circulating, the WHO selected four that would become the foundation of that year's vaccine. One was an H3N2 virus strain that was the most prevalent of that particular subtype, at that moment. But by the time the vaccine was making its way into people's arms that autumn, a different version of the virus had taken over - and the vaccine was only 6% effective at protecting against it.

Level of virus now circulating is 'unprecedented', says CHI clinical director An unprecedented surge in flu ­cases has plunged Children's Health Ireland (CHI) into crisis mode, with record numbers of children requiring admission to hospital. The paediatric hospital group held two crisis meetings on Friday to create bed space for the influx of sick children, as doctors warn that the worst of the flu crisis is yet to come.

Level of virus now circulating is 'unprecedented', says CHI clinical director An unprecedented surge in flu cases has plunged Children's Health Ireland (CHI) into crisis mode, with record numbers of children requiring admission to hospital. The paediatric hospital group held two crisis meetings on Friday to create bed space for the influx of sick children, as doctors warn that the worst of the flu crisis is yet to come.

The most recent data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which monitors the spread of winter viruses, found there were 107 acute respiratory incidents in educational settings in England between 24 and 30 November. An "acute respiratory incident" is defined for a school as two or more cases occurring among pupils within a five-day period. It could apply to a range of respiratory illnesses like influenza, RSV, covid or the common cold.

"As we are currently unable to open, we have implemented a plan for the effective continuation of learning. "Work will be set in accordance with the usual timetable, where staff are well enough to do so. "A range of learning activities will be set... any additional teacher support in lessons will take place via Teams message or school email."

Influenza is picking up in the U.S., and public health experts are bracing for signs of another brutal season with the virus. Last year one of the worst waves of flu in recent decades took the U.S. by surprise. Japan and the U.K. are currently grappling with an unexpectedly early uptick in severe flu cases. A mutated strain known to cause severe disease may be behind some of the unusual activity.

"There's no doubt this winter will be one of the toughest our staff have ever faced. "Since stepping into this role, the thought of a long, drawn-out flu season has kept me awake at night. And, unfortunately, it looks like that fear is becoming reality. "Australia has just endured its worst flu season on record over 410,000 cases and all the signs suggest the NHS will face similar challenges in the months ahead. From December through to March, our hospitals will be at capacity."

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Influenza infections trigger heart attacks by causing inflammation and plaque rupture, which increases the risk for those with existing heart disease.

Moderna's new mRNA-based flu vaccine, mRNA-1010, demonstrated a 27 percent higher efficacy rate in preventing influenza infections compared to the standard flu shot in a trial with nearly 41,000 participants aged 50 and older.

Former MLB pitcher Scott Sauerbeck, who died in February, passed away due to complications from the flu, an autopsy revealed.