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An H3N2 mismatch may portend a tough season and raises vaccine questions.
The CDC has fielded Ebola questions about 650 people, with 61 (9%) tested for the disease.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a new MERS-CoV case today, bringing the country's total to 818 cases.
Influenza activity in the United States has picked up slightly but is still well below epidemic levels, while the mismatch between circulating H3N2 viruses and the vaccine strain rose to 58%, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in its weekly update today.
Canadan officials confirm high-path H5N2, while the Netherlands and India combat more H5 in birds.
Several early vaccine trials are under way, and another American is airlifted home.
A systematic review published today of data on 15,698 children found that premature birth may need to be added to the risk factors that place children at risk for serious complications from influenza, but an accompanying commentary advised not reading too much into the findings.
UK labs that handle the most dangerous pathogens have reported at least 116 accidents or other biosecurity breaches in the past 5 years—about one every 2 weeks—The Guardian reported today.
Ebola cases have now reached 17,145, and deaths total 6,070.
A fairly steady trickle of MERS-CoV cases in Saudi Arabia continued today with a report of two more, one of them fatal.
Egypt has announced another death from H5N1 avian flu, the fourth this week, Reuters reported today.
A 26-year-old man from Minya governorate in the north central part of the country who worked with birds has died, Egypt's health ministry reported. He came to a hospital after developing a fever, coughing, and shortness of breath.
Neuroepidemiologist calls evidence of a connection "pretty convincing," but proof is still being sought.
Foreign governments and aid groups need to show more flexibility, MSF leader says.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a new MERS-CoV case today as the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed 18 cases previously reported by the MOH.
Italian authorities have suspended 2 lots of a Novartis flu vaccine for elderly people following 13 recent deaths.
The Saudi MOH reports 3 new MERS cases, 2 deaths, and 1 recovery.
Strong international support is still needed, including treatment units, a top WHO official said.
Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has killed three people in Egypt, say media reports today. The three adult case-patients reportedly had contact with infected birds.
The WHO says Sierra Leone is likely to soon surpass Liberia's outbreak numbers.
The study yields more evidence that getting a flu shot 2 years in a row may lower effectiveness.
