Influenza Vaccines

Study finds long-term treatment of Lyme disease symptoms provides little benefit

Long-term antibiotic therapy does not significantly improve quality of life in patients with persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme disease, according to a study today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Early Canadian flu vaccine estimate finds solid H1N1 protection

The Northern Hemisphere's 2015-16 flu vaccine has shown significant protection against circulating 2009 H1N1 strains in Canada, according to an interim report today from Canadian researchers in Eurosurveillance.

PulseNet may save $500 million a year in foodborne disease costs

PulseNet, the national lab network that links cases of foodborne disease by tracking genetic fingerprints of pathogens, saves an estimated $500 million and prevents 270,000 disease cases a year, according to an economic evaluation today in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Saudi Arabia reports 2 more MERS cases

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH) today confirmed two new MERS-CoV cases, both primary infections in men who had indirect contact with camels.

The first MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) case-patient is a 60-year-old Saudi man from the southern city of Najran. He is in stable condition and is not a healthcare worker, the MOH said.

Study: High-dose flu vaccine benefits seniors, regardless of prior-year dose

A new analysis of data from a large randomized trial suggests that the high-dose (HD) flu vaccine is more protective in seniors than the standard-dose (SD) vaccine, and this benefit is not affected by which formulation seniors received in the previous flu season.

Saudi Arabia reports two fatal MERS cases in Al-Kharj

Saudi Arabia today reported two fatal MERS-CoV cases in elderly men in the same city, Al-Kharj in the central part of the country, where two other cases were reported in recent weeks.

High poverty rates associated with higher rates of hospitalization for flu

Influenza-related hospitalization rates and high poverty levels showed a "robust" correlation, according to an analysis of data from 14 states during the 2010-11 to 2011-12 flu seasons published today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

Chinese surveillance reports reveal 17 more H7N9 cases

China has reported 17 more H7N9 avian influenza cases, at least three of them fatal, according to official reports from local, state, and federal government health departments.

Study: Flu vaccine coverage up in young kids but still below 50%

Although complete flu vaccine coverage increased dramatically from 2002-03 to 2011-12 in kids under 2 years old, it still falls well below 50% and is even lower in minority groups, according to a study yesterday in Pediatrics.