News & Perspective

(CIDRAP News) – Influenza activity jumped in the United States last week along with other Northern Hemisphere locations, and an official from the World Health Organization (WHO) said it's not yet clear if this season will make its mark as a bad one.

(CIDRAP News) – The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) today said flu transmission is increasing across the European Union (EU), led by a spike in the United Kingdom, and warned people in recommended groups to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

(CIDRAP News) – With signs that the flu season is picking up momentum, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today unveiled a demonstration project to raise flu vaccination rates in minority groups, backed by $10 million worth of vaccine vouchers from Walgreens.

(CIDRAP News) – The United Kingdom is on the leading edge of an increase in influenza activity in Europe, with 57 respiratory disease outbreaks and an increase in critically ill patients and deaths reported in the country last week, according to the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA).

(CIDRAP News) – The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today published a detailed look at the early field and epidemiologic studies it used to guide its response to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, such as spread among household contacts, disease severity, and the impact on high-risk groups.