News & Perspective

(CIDRAP News) – The nation's flu markers show that the flu has probably peaked, though many states are still reporting plenty of infections and hospitalizations, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today.

Though the percentage of doctors' visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) is still above baselines in all regions of the country, the overall national level fell from 3.6% to 3.2% last week, according to the CDC.

(CIDRAP News) – Many Northern Hemisphere countries, from North America to temperate Asia, have seen rising flu activity in recent weeks, while cases ebbed or remained scarce in most of the rest of the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today.

(CIDRAP News) – BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Inc. signaled yesterday it will probably give up on seeking a US license for the influenza drug peramivir, a move that would reduce the already limited options for severely ill flu patients in need of an intravenous antiviral drug.

(CIDRAP News) – The 2011-12 flu season in most temperate countries of the Northern Hemisphere started later than usual, except for North Africa, and was mild in many countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today in a wrap-up report.

(CIDRAP News) – US influenza activity declined overall and in most regions last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today, while Northern Hemisphere flu activity in general continued to fall.