Influenza News

Influenza subtyping may help predict antiviral therapy effectiveness and may assist in treatment of influenza.

The pandemic strain of influenza, H1N1v2009, which was feared to cause severe respiratory distress and illness, did not have the severe effect as predicted on the pediatric population, according to study results.

BOSTON — Live-attenuated influenza vaccine significantly reduced the incidence of all-cause acute otitis media among infants and young children, according to findings presented here during the 2012 Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting.

BOSTON — Compared with family physicians, pediatricians offered influenza vaccine for a longer time during influenza season and administered the vaccine more frequently during sick visits, according to a study presented here.

Children aged younger than 10 years are less likely to develop cross-reactive antibodies to A(H3N2)v influenza virus, and the seasonal vaccine is unlikely to protect against this strain, according to data from the CDC.

According to a recent study, young people in a low-income, urban population had an increased rate of influenza vaccinations when they received text-message reminders vs. those assigned to usual-care alone.

School closures were associated with reduced transmission of infectious disease and should be considered as a control measure during pandemic influenza, according to study results published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Influenza activity has remained low for the 2011-2012 influenza season, with a slight increase in the first week of February, according to Lisa Grohskopf, MD, MPH, who presented data during this week’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting.

Rapid diagnosis and treatment of influenza are critical to reducing disease-related fatalities and hospitalizations, according to two studies published online this week.

Rapid diagnosis and treatment of influenza are critical to reducing disease-related fatalities and hospitalizations, according to two studies published online this week.