Category: Influenza
CDC Details Seasonal Trends for Respiratory Viruses in the United States
Infectious Disease Advisor In the United States, seasonal respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and SARS-CoV-2 continue to substantially impact younger children and older adults, according to study findings published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) detailed respiratory virus activity between July 2024 and […]
Mar 4, 2026
Flu was again worse than covid this winter. Is that pattern here to stay?
Washington Post Flu has overtaken covid in infections and hospitalizations during the winter respiratory virus season, and their virulence is becoming similar. Heard about a lot of people getting flu this winter but not much about covid? It’s not just you. For the second winter in a row, the United States has faced a punishing […]
Mar 4, 2026
Flu’s Seasonal Fury
Medpage Today Influenza can sicken and kill. Vaccines are our best defense. Why…? Why…? Why…? Jasper whimpered, not just once or twice, but repeatedly. It was January 2026. For one awful week, my friend’s 21-month-old grandson was practically inert, spiked fevers to 103o, and barely ate or drank, all the while voicing his single word of […]
Feb 18, 2026
7 states back in CDC’s worst tier for flu as influenza B spreads
The Hill As one variant of the flu virus starts to decline, another is rising to take its place. At the end of last year, when flu activity spiked amid the holidays, influenza A – specifically the subclade K variant of H3N2 – was dominant. It was making so many people sick, the variant was nicknamed “super flu.” Influenza A […]
Feb 11, 2026
Influenza epidemic declared in Puerto Rico
San Juan Star Island Health Secretary Víctor Ramos Otero announced on Tuesday the declaration of an influenza epidemic in Puerto Rico, after the established criteria for incidence and growth rate of cases were met during the 2025-2026 season. “An influenza epidemic has been declared,” Ramos Otero said at a press conference. “The region with the […]
Jan 28, 2026
How A Mutation Made This Year’s Flu Season So Bad
Science Friday A rogue strain of flu, subclade K, has sickened more than 19 million people in the US so far this season. And the flu shot hasn’t offered that much protection. What’s going on with this superflustorm? Joining Host Flora Lichtman with some answers is Jennifer Duchon, a pediatric infectious disease specialist. Audio File
Jan 28, 2026
New variant of the flu virus is driving surge of cases across the US and Canada
The Conversation After a sharp uptick in flu cases in mid-December 2025, flu activity across the U.S. and Canada remains high. Although cases are trending downward in Canada as of Jan. 9, 2026, the season has yet to peak in the U.S., according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As an emergency room pediatrician in central Massachusetts, […]
Jan 21, 2026
Why a flu transmission experiment didn’t spread the flu
The Conversation A group of volunteers spent days locked in a small hotel room with people actively infected with flu. They played games, shared objects and exercised together in conditions designed to help the virus spread. Yet not a single person caught influenza. The unexpected finding comes from a well-designed study that set out to […]
Jan 21, 2026
Got the flu? Here’s what to know about antivirals to fight it.
Washington Post This flu season is shaping up to be particularly bad. Here are antiviral medications to consider if you test positive. If you are sniffling, coughing and feeling feverish, you may have the flu. And you are not alone. There have been at least 15 million cases of the flu in the United States […]
Jan 21, 2026
Vitamin D deficiency linked to respiratory infection risk
University of Reading Severe vitamin D deficiency is associated with a higher rate of hospitalisation for respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, according to a new studyinvolving scientists from the University of Reading. Scientists found that those with a severe deficiency (below 15 nnmol/L) were 33 per cent more likely to be admitted to hospital for […]
Jan 21, 2026