Influenza News

Influenza vaccination coverage among those with asthma increased to 50% in 2010-2011, up from 36% during the 2005-2006 influenza season, according to the CDC.

The influenza vaccine administered during the 2011-2012 season had low effectiveness against influenza A(H3N2), the predominant strain seen that season.

Influenza vaccination coverage among children improved during the 2010-2011 influenza season compared with the 2009-2010 season, the CDC reported.

Neuraminidase inhibitors can help improve survival of children who are critically ill with influenza, according to recent study results published in Pediatrics.

State immunization registries can act as an effective tool to encourage influenza vaccination during a pandemic, according to recent study findings published in the American Journal of Public Health.

NEW YORK — Influenza vaccination remains the best way to prevent seasonal influenza, according to a presentation here at the 26th Annual Infectious Diseases in Children Symposium.

“When results of influenza tests are available to physicians at the ‘point of care,’ they use this information to provide more appropriate patient management,” Anne J. Blaschke, MD, PhD, of the University of Utah School of Medicine, said in a press release. “While other studies have shown that physicians can accurately diagnose influenza without testing, our results suggest that using an influenza test increases diagnostic certainty and leads to the physician providing more specific and appropriate care.”

In children younger than 2 years, the live-attenuated influenza vaccine is highly effective when compared with placebo and as effective as the inactivated influenza vaccine, according to recent study findings published in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.

WHO reported two additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in China, according to a press release.

WHO has been notified of a laboratory-confirmed case of influenza A(H7N9) in China, the first new case since August, according to a press release.