Pandemic Influenza

Two new MERS patients in critical condition

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) reported two new cases of MERS-CoV today in men from Buraydah, a city in the central part of the country.

Both men are Saudi nationals and described as having primary exposure to MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus), meaning they did not contract the virus from someone else. One man is 94 years old, and the other 61. Both remain in critical condition.

Outbreak H5N2 viruses from 2015 show increased adaptation to chickens

The highly pathogenic H5N2 avian flu virus strain that caused outbreaks in poultry flocks across the United States is better adapted to chickens than a precursor H5N2 virus and is highly adapted to wild ducks, according to a new study by US Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists published in Virology.

Study finds obesity not linked to ILI at end of 2009 H1N1 pandemic

A number of studies conducted at the time of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and shortly afterward reported a higher risk of severe disease in obese patients, while some did not. Today a study in Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses found that obesity was not a risk factor for the more general condition called influenza-like illness (ILI).

Study: 1918 pandemic flu survivors led average-length lives

Contrary to some hypotheses, 1918 pandemic flu did not shorten the lifespan of survivors, at least in male soldiers, New Zealand researchers reported today in Epidemiology and Infection.

Study: Prime-boost H5 vaccination strategy could help in pandemic

A dose of H5 avian influenza vaccine may set the stage for a stronger cellular immune response if a person later encounters a different strain of H5 virus, which suggests that this prime-boost strategy could be useful in fighting an H5N1 pandemic, according to a study reported Jul 20 in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.