Influenza News

Senators questioned Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, about proposed NIH cuts to biomedical research, the safety of vaccines, and government transparency during his nomination hearing Wednesday to be the next director of the NIH.

Three bovine veterinary practitioners had evidence prior infection with highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza despite having no apparent contact with infected cows, according to a study published in MMWR.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that 15 more states have enrolled in a national H5N1 milk testing program, raising the number to 28 states, which represents roughly 65% of the nation’s milk production, the agency said.

A child in California suspected to have highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza consumed raw milk before experiencing symptoms, officials said.

The CDC on Friday confirmed that a child in California is the first known pediatric case of H5N1 avian influenza in the United States.

Vaccination reduced influenza-related hospitalizations by around one-third in the Southern Hemisphere this year, according to interim data published Thursday by the CDC.

The FDA on Friday approved the first ever influenza vaccine that does not have to be given by a health care professional.

Presence of a fever and time since symptom onset were two factors that affected whether providers prescribed oseltamivir to infants with influenza, according to findings published in Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.

There are several methods and tools clinicians can utilize to improve vaccine confidence and boost immunization rates as the respiratory virus season approaches, according to an expert panel.