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Tests rule out imported plague cases in Seychelles

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced today that tests have ruled out plague in several patients in Seychelles under monitoring and treatment for probable or suspected pneumonic infections. The set of samples included one from a 34-year-old man who had returned from Madagascar and who was previously identified by the Seychelles health ministry as a probable imported case, based on a weakly positive result on a rapid test.

Study: IV zanamivir in kids is safe, yields clinical benefits

A phase 2 study of intravenous (IV) zanamivir in children hospitalized with severe influenza found that treatment was safe, reduced viral load, and was associated with clinical improvement, researchers reported yesterday in an early online edition of Pediatrics.

Antiviral drugs infrequently prescribed to high-risk flu patients, study finds

A US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–led study published yesterday in Clinical Infectious Diseases reveals that antiviral drugs are prescribed to only 15% of outpatients who have acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and a high risk for influenza.

The data underscore a need to increase appropriate prescribing, the authors said.

Saudi Arabia identifies 2 new cases of MERS, 1 death

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) reported two new cases of MERS-CoV infection yesterday and today and the death of a previously reported patient.  

A 49-year-old Saudi man from Unayzah is in critical condition after presenting with symptoms of MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus), the MOH reported yesterday. The man had indirect contact with camels, a known risk factor for MERS.

US flu activity low, with H1N1 back on the scene and 1 novel case

Though overall flu activity in the United States is still low, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today reported some new developments, including the 2009 H1N1 virus nudging ahead as the predominant strain for the week and the recent detection of a variant H1N1 (H1N1v) case in Minnesota.

US influenza activity is still low, flu vaccine protection is moderate, and WHO advisers only tweak the makeup of next year's flu vaccine.

The Department of Energy, with "low confidence," says SARS-CoV-2 may have come from a lab, and a controversial doctors groups touts ivermectin for the flu and RSV.

The company, however, recently filed for bankruptcy, citing the prolonged FDA authorization process.

Recently approved for emergency use, the first combo at-home test for COVID-19 also marks the first self-test for flu.

The new analysis includes death records and out-of-hospital heart attacks, finding a more robust connection than an earlier study.

The percentage of outpatient visits for influenza-like respiratory illness dropped to 3%, down from 4% the week before.

In North America, flu levels are now at or below levels typically seen at this time of the year.

The state will launch a pilot program to test wastewater for flu, hepatitis A, norovirus, and antimicrobial-resistance genes.

The percentage of outpatient visits for flulike illness remained just above the national baseline.

The first phase of work focuses on an antibody that broadly protects against circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants.

A few counties are reporting high levels of hospitalizations, especially in the Upper Midwest and West.

After peaking in late 2022, global flu activity continues to decline, with greater proportion of the H1N1 and influenza B viruses detected.

Officials are investigating a cluster of severe influenza B infections in kids and teens, some of whom had complications.

China is experiencing a surge in H1N1 activity, India is battling H3N2, and flu is still above baseline in the European region.

The Home Test to Treat program offers home COVID and flu testing, telehealth visits, and treatment—if needed—for uninsured and underinsured adults.

Flu levels continue to climb in North America, as well as other locations including China's northern provinces.

H9N2 infects four children in China

China recently reported four H9N2 avian influenza detections, all in children. The cases were noted yesterday in a report in Chinese from Taiwan's health ministry that was translated and posted by FluTrackers, an infectious disease news message board.

Wastewater testing rose in prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Study finds no link between flu in pregnancy, autism in babies

Researchers have found no elevated risk of autism in babies born to woman in Norway infected with influenza during pregnancy, a study yesterday in mSphere reported.

Two new MERS cases reported in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) updated its MERS-CoV statistics for the first time in more than a week, noting two new cases not related to current hospital outbreaks in Riyadh.