All posts tagged: flu

If a bird flu pandemic starts, we may have an mRNA vaccine ready

If a bird flu pandemic starts, we may have an mRNA vaccine ready

Published by skeptic

A vaccine now in development could help in the event of a bird flu pandemic Weyo / Alamy It was roughly a year after the earliest cases of covid-19 before the first vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus were ready for roll-out. By then millions had died worldwide and economies were devastated. In the advent of a bird flu pandemic, we will be able to react more rapidly, because we should have an mRNA vaccine already approved and ready to go. A phase III trial of a such a vaccine is now getting under way in the UK and the US. “A flu pandemic is the most likely future pandemic. And it’s really critical that we ensure we’re properly prepared,” says Richard Pebody at the UK Health Security Agency. The main threat is a strain of H5N1 bird flu called clade 2.3.4.4b. It has spread globally in wild birds since evolving around a decade ago, even reaching the Antarctic. Many wild mammals have been infected by wild birds and it has often spread to poultry farms. …

Flu vaccine no longer mandatory for soldiers, says US military chief | Military News

Flu vaccine no longer mandatory for soldiers, says US military chief | Military News

Published by Sam Flores

Pete Hegseth says the decision is based on the principle of ‘medical autonomy’ and criticises the mandate as ‘overreaching’. Published On 21 Apr 202621 Apr 2026 United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said that the flu vaccine will no longer be obligatory for members of the country’s military, the latest step under President Donald Trump to shift vaccine policy in the federal government. Hegseth said in a video shared on social media on Tuesday that the decision was based on principles of “medical autonomy” and religious freedom. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list “We’re seizing this moment to discard any absurd, overreaching mandates that only weaken our warfighting capabilities. In this case, this includes the universal flu vaccine and the mandate behind it,” said Hegseth. “The notion that a flu vaccine must be mandatory for every service member, everywhere, in every circumstance at all times is just overly broad and not rational.” The Trump administration has framed vaccine refusal as a matter of personal moral and religious principle, rolling back some policies …

Scientists discover natural molecule in the human body that protects against the flu

Scientists discover natural molecule in the human body that protects against the flu

Published by Jenni Sidey

A different purpose has attracted attention for treating skin damage rather than simply preventing it. Dermcidin was previously known as a skin protector. This antimicrobial peptide produced by our bodies may perform additional functions beyond simply acting as an antimicrobial agent against fungi and bacteria. In addition, these functions may include potentially acting on the potential for viruses to enter the body and cause illness. Researchers at Fisabio have demonstrated that dermcidin can also protect against infection with the virus that causes the flu. It does this by interfering with its entry into the cell before it can infect the cell. A very interesting angle to consider is that people with high levels of dermcidin at baseline, as shown in this study, have a lower likelihood of developing flu-like symptoms than do those with low levels. In the participants in this study who had no flu-like symptoms after exposure to the virus, the levels of dermcidin present were at least six times higher. These levels were higher than the levels present in the subjects who …

Multipurpose anti-viral pill may treat colds, norovirus, flu and covid

Multipurpose anti-viral pill may treat colds, norovirus, flu and covid

Published by skeptic

Viral RNA relies on an enzyme to replicate, which offers up a target to protect against a range of pathogens Juan Gaertner/Science Photo Library/Alamy A single drug has been found to inhibit a range of common viruses in lab studies, including coronaviruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), norovirus, and influenza and hepatitis viruses. It will be tested in a clinical trial next year, raising hopes that the pill could one day be taken at home to relieve unpleasant symptoms or even limit infections if there were another viral pandemic. “As far as we can tell, this is the first drug that’s ever demonstrated activity across all these viral families,” says Daniel Haders, co-founder of Model Medicines, the California-based company leading its development. If it is approved, Haders envisages it being a pill that people could take if, for example, they have a flu-like illness but don’t know if it is influenza, covid-19, RSV or something else. The drug was originally developed as a breast cancer treatment named ERA-923, but it was abandoned in the early 2000s …

Do you have the flu, Covid or RSV? Look out for these symptoms

Do you have the flu, Covid or RSV? Look out for these symptoms

Published by Sam Flores

It may be spring, but virus season isn’t over yet. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. Flu and Covid, including a new variant called BA.3.2, nicknamed “cicada,” are still circulating, along with several other respiratory illnesses and a nasty stomach bug that are leaving many Americans feeling cruddy. The symptoms for most of the viruses are so similar — sniffles, cough, muscle aches, fever — that doctors say you really can’t tell what you’ve got without a test. Influenza A was really bad in the U.S. at the end of last year, driven by the H3N2 subclade K variant. As it began to peak in January, “we transitioned into seeing more of these other viruses,” said Marlene Wolfe, an assistant professor of environmental health at Emory University. “Every year we think of fall, winter and spring as this respiratory illness season,” she added, “but the reality is that there are different viruses that pop up throughout that season.” Arkansas, North Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming are still …

.9M grant set to deepen understanding of avian flu

$1.9M grant set to deepen understanding of avian flu

Published by skeptic

With support from a recent federal grant, a team of Montana State University microbiologists will spend the next three years expanding and deepening research on avian flu. One of the world’s most damaging agricultural viruses, avian flu, will be studied using cutting-edge technologies and facilities at the university. Assistant professor Emma Loveday of the College of Agriculture’s Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology is the lead investigator of the research. “Knowing how infection differentially impacts cells can help us understand how the flu viruses grow, spread and propagate, which could open doors for treatment or prevention,” she said. Avian flu strains are causing huge losses Avian flu viruses are very diverse and originate in wild aquatic birds. HPAI strains, such as H5N1, are responsible for extensive economic losses to poultry producers, who must cull their flocks to contain the virus’s spread. In addition to the agricultural impact, over the past four years, H5N1 has caused lethal disease in wildlife across North and South America, and has caused over 70 human cases, though these remain rare. …

Why flu vaccines didn’t work that well in the US this season

Why flu vaccines didn’t work that well in the US this season

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore The flu vaccine had one of its worst effectiveness rates in more than a decade this flu season, U.S. health officials say. A new strain that dominated the early winter was not well matched to the vaccine, leading to an intense early onslaught of flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted data Friday that showed a continued decline in doctor’s office and hospital visits for flu symptoms through last week as the U.S. flu season winds down. The number of states reporting high flu activity dropped to 16, many of them in a belt stretching from Colorado to Virginia. “The winter respiratory virus season is slowly coming to a close, and we’re all very grateful for that,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University vaccine expert. open image in gallery There have been 22,000 deaths from flu so far …