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12-year study finds 42% of flu B cases involved strains not in vaccine

Researchers who sifted data from 12 recent influenza seasons in Finland concluded that about 42% of influenza B cases involved strains that were not targeted by the vaccine, which they say supports the inclusion of both influenza B lineages in seasonal flu vaccines.

Another MERS case reported in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia reported another MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) case today, the second in 2 days, following a 13-day spell without any cases.

The new case involves a 52-year-old Saudi woman in Dammam, the same location as the case reported yesterday in a 60-year-old man. The new patient, who is not a healthcare worker, is hospitalized and has a preexisting disease, the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) said.

Chinese researchers report new H7N2 avian flu virus

An H7N2 avian flu virus isolated from the farm of a Chinese man who had contracted H7N9 avian flu is a novel reassortant of H7N9 and H9N2 viruses, Chinese researchers reported yesterday in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Fed inspector finds DHS poorly prepared for flu pandemic

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has done a poor job of managing supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) and antiviral medications to protect its workforce during an influenza pandemic, the department's Office of Inspector General (OIG) has found.

Study suggests redundant antibiotic use is widespread in US hospitals

An analysis of 4 years of records from 505 US hospitals suggests that duplicative use of antibiotics is pervasive, leading to needless costs and potentially increasing resistance to the drugs, says a report yesterday in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology (ICHE).

USDA says H3N1 viruses with human flu genes found in swine

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has found rare H3N1 influenza viruses in swine in two states in recent months, and two of the isolates carry genes from human seasonal flu viruses. The developments are grounds for serious concern about the potential spread of disease at fairs this fall, according to one animal health expert.

Saudi audit finds 16 earlier MERS cases; 1 new case reported

An independent audit of MERS-CoV data in Saudi Arabia yesterday identified 16 more infections with illness onsets before Jun 3 and has reclassified a handful of previously reported cases, the country's Ministry of Health (MOH) announced yesterday.

It said the review is part of an ongoing effort to ensure that MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) data are accurate.

Vietnam reports two more H5N6 outbreaks in ducks

Two more outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N6 avian flu have occurred in central Vietnam, leading to the death of thousands of domestic birds, according to a Sep 20 report from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

Egypt reports H5N1 case in baby girl

Egypt's Minister of Health and Population, Dr. Adel Adawy, today announced a new case of H5N1 avian flu in a 3-month-old girl from Giza governorate, according to Outbreak News Today.

The girl became sick on Sep 22 with a fever, sore throat, cough, and vomiting. Her parents took her to a hospital, where she stayed for 3 days before being released. The child had been exposed to dead birds.

Federal contracts aim at faster flu testing, better pandemic response

Large contracts for developing improved diagnostics for influenza in point-of-care settings have been awarded to two companies by the federal government's Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today.

Though KP.3.1.1 variant levels continue to rise, the proportion of XEC viruses is also trending upward.

The test joins other over-the-counter COVID-19/flu tests already available under emergency use authorization.

CDC wastewater tracking shows SARS-CoV-2 detections are now at the low level nationally. 

Most of the kids who died were unvaccinated, and about half had no underlying health conditions.

Though the KP.3.1.1 variant is still dominant, levels of the newer XEC variant continue to rise.

Though the flu season is winding down, the CDC received 10 more reports of pediatric flu deaths, including one from a flu A/flu B coinfection.

Almost all index patients (98%) had influenza A infection.

On average, COVID-19 was tied to 2 more days of sick time than influenza.

Chicago, after recording 64 measles cases and administering more than 30,000 vaccine doses, has passed 2 incubation periods with no new infections.

Ebola ring vaccination expanded to Sierra Leone hot spot

The Guinea Ebola ring vaccination trial will be expanded to Sierra Leone and include contacts with the recently reported fatal case there, the World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday in a news release.

Study shows benefit of antivirals for hospital flu in elderly

Treatment with antiviral drugs early in the course of hospitalization for influenza in elderly patients is associated with a shorter hospital stay and a lower risk for extended care after discharge, according to a study yesterday in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Cucumber-linked Salmonella outbreak total climbs to 341

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today that 56 more illnesses have been reported in a multistate Salmonella Poona outbreak linked to cucumbers imported from Mexico, raising the total so far to 341 cases.

Fatal MERS case reported in Kuwait

Kuwaiti health officials have notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about a fatal MERS-CoV case, in a 78-year-old man from Kuwait City who owned camels and had frequent contact with them, according to a WHO statement today.

Heating the milk to 63°C (145°F) for at least 30 minutes and 72°C (162°F) for 15 seconds both inactivated all tested viruses.

US flu season continues slow start

US flu activity increased slightly again last week, reflecting a season that's off to a slower start compared with the previous year, according to the latest data today from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).