Influenza Vaccines

Study reports superior efficacy of cell-cultured 4-strain flu vaccine

Seqirus's cell-cultured quadrivalent (four-strain) seasonal flu vaccine was about 36% more effective than a standard egg-derived equivalent during the 2017-18 US flu season, according to findings from a large study published today in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Guidelines aim to reduce surgical-site infections in lower-resource nations

An international team of surgeons this week released a set of recommendations for preventing surgical-site infections (SSIs) that aim to improve patient outcomes, reduce unnecessary antibiotic exposure, and curb antibiotic resistance in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

WHO to fund AMR research projects in 7 countries

The World Health Organization's (WHO's) Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) announced late last week that 13 projects from 7 countries have been awarded funding for research on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Studies show varying flu vaccine effectiveness in Europe

Analysis of six European studies on the 2019/2020 influenza season indicate the interim vaccine effectiveness (VE) against laboratory-confirmed influenza in the primary care setting ranged from 29% to 61% and from 35% to 60% in hospitalized older adults. The results appeared today in Eurosurveillance.

Dengue case recorded in Florida Keys, more cases in French Caribbean

Florida Health officials confirmed a case of locally acquired dengue in the Florida Keys, according to the Associated Press (AP), and said the patient is doing well. The Keys saw outbreaks of the mosquito-borne disease in 2009 and 2010.

Saudi health ministry reports new MERS case

Today Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a new MERS-CoV case in Unayzah, bringing the March tally to two infections, after the ministry reported 18 in February.

WHO advisors: Use 3 new strains for next Northern Hemisphere flu vaccine

The World Health Organization (WHO) flu vaccine strain selection committee met this week to assess what strains to include in the 2020-21 Northern Hemisphere flu season and today recommended swapping out three of the strains.

In their report, they recommend replacing egg-based flu vaccine strains:

One new MERS case reported in Saudi Arabia in Hail

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a new MERS-CoV case today. This raises the number of MERS cases recorded this month to 12.

Study ranks relative effectiveness of influenza vaccines in seniors

A study today in the Journal of Infectious Diseases found that egg-based adjuvanted and high-dose (HD) flu vaccines had slightly higher relative vaccine effectiveness (RVE) than egg-based quadrivalent (four-strain) vaccines in nearly 13 million Medicare beneficiaries 65 and older during the 2018-19 flu season.

One new MERS case reported in Saudi Arabia; WHO details recent cases

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a new MERS-CoV case today. This raises the number of MERS cases recorded this month to 11.