Influenza News

Influenza viruses, including H1N1, H3N2 and H3N8, have spread from swine to pet dogs in the Guanxi Zhuag autonomous region in China, according to findings published in mBio. These viruses pose a potential risk to humans, researchers said.

Respiratory viruses, including influenza, were associated with an increased risk of treatment failure in children who presented to the ED with moderate or severe asthma exacerbations, according to recently published study results in Pediatrics.

The AAP has announced it will recommend that parents choose the inactivated influenza vaccine, or the flu shot, for children’s vaccinations this fall.

For a variety of reasons, including antiquated egg-based production methods, the seasonal influenza vaccine is rarely more than 50% effective, leaving even vaccinated patients potentially vulnerable to one of the world’s biggest infectious disease threats. According to early estimates, this season’s vaccine was just 36% effective overall, and only 25% effective against the predominant strain, H3N2 — an influenza A virus prone to mutation and difficult to target with the vaccine.

World Immunization Week is acknowledged each year during the last week of April to raise awareness of the importance of child and adult immunizations.

Fluzone, a quadrivalent influenza vaccine manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur, will undergo review by the FDA for a supplemental biologics license, according to a press release issued by the manufacturer.

Flublok Quadrivalent provided comparable safety and immunogenicity compared with Fluarix Quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in pediatric patients, particularly those aged 9 to 17 years, according to research published in Pediatrics.

Almost 2 million additional cases of influenza could have been averted last season if 70% of Americans got the vaccine — a national target for overall coverage.

Researchers have concluded that health care encounters for acute lower respiratory infections in young children, as well as in older children and adults, are associated with short-term exposure to elevated airborne fine particulate matter no larger than 2.5 m in diameter, or PM2.5.

Disinfecting pediatric long-term care facilities with ultraviolet-C can reduce the incidence of respiratory illnesses caused by viral pathogens — including influenza, rhinovirus, enterovirus and human metapneumovirus — by 44% when compared with traditional disinfection methods.