The HCPLive influenza page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on the flu. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for influenza, and more.
May 16th 2024
An analysis of FDA Adverse Event Reporting System data suggests baloxavir marboxil has lower hepatic toxicity than oseltamivir and may be a safer option for patients with liver diseases.
FDA Grants Waiver for Wider Flu Test Use
The 2014-2015 flu season has been one of the worst on record in recent years and now the US Food and Drug Administration has approved a waiver allowing a test to be more widely when confirming a diagnosis of influenza virus infection.
Computerized Surveillance System Quickly Detects Disease Outbreaks among Preschoolers
October 12th 2014Online system that allows preschools and child care centers to report illnesses to local public health departments could improve the detection of disease outbreaks and allow resources to be mobilized more quickly.
Diseases With Similar Symptoms Pose Multitude of Problems for Doctors
Stephen Gluckman, MD, talks about the challenges facing doctors who treat patients infected with Ebola or Enterovirus D68. He also discusses issues facing clinicians as cold and flu season gets underway.
Older Folks and Influenza: High Dose Vaccine 24% More Effective
October 1st 2014Scientists from Sanofi Pasteur's Swiftwater, PA facility have published results of a study indicating that a high-dose, trivalent, inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV3-HD or high dose Fluzone®) improves antibody responses to influenza among adults 65 years of age or older.
No Absence of Key Antiviral Mechanism in Asthmatics
October 1st 2014Because a key antiviral defense mechanism is present in asthmatics, another defect in their immune system must explain their difficulty combating respiratory viruses, according to researchers from Washington University in St. Louis.
Research Shows Flu Shot Helps Keep Patients Safe and Healthy
The start of the fall season means that around the country children are settling into their school routines. It also means cold and flu season is just around the corner, and with a particularly harsh winter predicted for parts of the country that could mean bad news for the end of 2014.
Preventing the Spread of Vaccine-Preventable Disease Among Diabetic Patients
February 26th 2014While the dangers of influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia in patient with diabetes are well understood, less known is the fact that diabetics are at increased risk for contracting hepatitis B if they share blood glucose meters, finger stick devices, or other diabetes-care equipment.
Studies Underscore Deadly Risks of Flu, Highlight Benefits of School-based Vaccinations
October 20th 2012Researchers at IDWeek 2012 show that influenza can pose fatal health risks even to otherwise healthy children with no serious underlying medical conditions. They also revealed that children who were vaccinated at school were much less likely to get the flu, leading to fewer school absences.
Google Search Trends Successfully Predicts High Flu Volume in Hospitals
January 13th 2012Hospitals looking to be prepared for a sharp increase in patients during flu season may be better off monitoring trends in Internet search traffic than waiting for lagging government reports to arrive, Johns Hopkins University researchers report.
Advisory Board Recommends Withholding Bird Flu Research Details
December 28th 2011For the first time ever, a US government advisory board has asked several scientific journals to withhold details of experiments out of concern that terrorists could use the information in question to create deadly pathogens and trigger epidemics.
Humidifiers Decrease Levels of Flu Virus in Homes
November 22nd 2011Flu season is fast approaching, and as the weather outside gets frightful, more households will begin to utilize humidifiers as a temporary method to mitigate parched, stuffy air. According to a newly published study, however, this action could also help decrease the incident rates of influenza, as the flu virus floating around in the air can be killed with the aid of humid air.
New Technology Expedites Collection of Vaccination Data
November 17th 2011"Near real-time" data on whether people are having any side effects from vaccinations is now available, thanks to new technology and a study performed in Scotland. The researchers, who focused on recipients of the 2009/2010 swine flu vaccination in Scotland, reported that using this technology can aid future vaccination campaigns by increasing consumer and patient safety.