Influenza News

Certain 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) strains with genetic mutations emerged as the predominant viruses circulating in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore during their 2010 influenza seasons, according to recent data.

VANCOUVER — A recent outbreak in Tajikistan has highlighted the fact that challenges remain for the polio eradication effort, in addition to other initiatives, according to findings presented at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Medicaid use was associated with higher influenza vaccination rates, especially among poor children, according to published study results.

A secondary attack rate of nearly 50% was observed in a prospective observational study of patients with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) and their household contacts.

Data collected from eight Immunization Information System sites in the United States noted a 5.5% increase in complete coverage with seasonal influenza vaccine between 2008-2009 and 2009-2010, CDC researchers reported.

People aged 65 years and older remain at the highest risk of morbidity and mortality from seasonal influenza, according to the CDC.

WHO has released the names and affiliations of emergency committee members who convened to advise the agency in 2009 during the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic.

Hospitalized children with influenza-associated pneumonia had higher rates of intensive care unit admission, respiratory failure and death compared with hospitalized children with influenza who did not have the disease, according to recent study data.

The FDA recently announced its approval of the seasonal influenza vaccines for 2010-2011 in the United States.

The 2009 H1N1 pandemic caused the highest rates of influenza-related pediatric hospitalization and mortality recorded since 1997, according to data from the CDC.