Influenza News

Three recent studies underscore the significant burden of severe influenza in developing countries compared with wealthier ones.

New data have affirmed what the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology said has been known for several years: There are no special precautions needed to dispense the influenza vaccine in people with egg allergy.

Researchers now estimate that between approximately 291,000 and 646,000 people die worldwide each year from seasonal influenza.

Influenza A(H3N2) — a strain known for evading the seasonal influenza vaccine and causing relatively severe illness — has been the predominant strain this year in the United States, according to nationwide surveillance data.

Immunization against influenza is effective in averting lab-confirmed influenza hospitalizations due to increased vaccine efficacy, according to a study published in PLoS ONE.

Since 2005, the CDC has dedicated 1 week in December to highlight the importance of influenza vaccination.

Johns Hopkins University researchers said they discovered a genetic mutation in the nasal spray influenza vaccine that could be altered to restore the vaccine’s effectiveness.

In a small survey conducted at a St. Louis hospital, many health care personnel could not describe the correct transmission-based precautions for patients with influenza, and some even said they had reservations about the safety and effectiveness of the influenza vaccine.

The CDC recommends influenza vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older. However, vaccination coverage in the 2016-2017 season fell below the Healthy People 2020 targets of 70%. According to the CDC, only 59% of children aged 6 months to 17 years and 43.3% of adults aged 18 years or older were vaccinated during the last influenza season.

Administering immunization against influenza in pediatric ED settings to all eligible patients demonstrates cost-efficacy and can reduce the number of infections by 27 cases per 1,000, according to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics.