Influenza Virus Net is the web resource for anyone interested in influenza and flu pandemics. Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses), that affects humans, birds and other mammals. The virus spreads easily from person to person. Influenza circulates worldwide and can affect anybody in any age group. Influenza causes annual epidemics that peak during winter in temperate regions. Influenza is a serious public health problem that causes severe illnesses and deaths for higher risk populations. The most common symptoms of the disease are chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness/fatigue and general discomfort. Sore throat, fever and coughs are the most frequent symptoms. In more serious cases, influenza causes pneumonia, which can be fatal, particularly for the young and the elderly. An influenza epidemic can take an economic toll through lost workforce productivity, and strain health services. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection.

The objectives of Influenza Virus Net are to be the public and professional information resource for influenza and to serve as a network in the exchange of information and news related to influenza.

• Opinion | H5N1 Bird Flu is Causing Alarm. Here’s Why We Must Act. - The New York Times
  Fri, 03 Feb 2023 17:31 GMT
• Pennsylvania has first avian influenza cases of 2023 | Local News | lancasteronline.com - LNP | LancasterOnline
  Thu, 02 Feb 2023 18:00 GMT
• Flu levels fall further across the country: CDC - The Hill
  Fri, 03 Feb 2023 22:53 GMT
• COVID-19 persists while flu declines in Minnesota - Star Tribune
  Thu, 02 Feb 2023 20:41 GMT
• What doctors wish patients knew about the flu - American Medical Association
  Fri, 03 Feb 2023 13:00 GMT
• Should COVID Vaccines Be Given Yearly? - Scientific American
  Thu, 02 Feb 2023 13:00 GMT
• Pa’s first avian influenza cases in 2023 detected in central Pa. poultry flocks - PennLive
  Fri, 03 Feb 2023 13:17 GMT
• Experts Fear Bird Flu Outbreak Could Turn Into New Pandemic - HuffPost
  Sun, 05 Feb 2023 00:02 GMT
• Bird flu 'spills over' to otters and foxes in UK - BBC
  Thu, 02 Feb 2023 03:53 GMT
• ‘Pandemic potential’: bird flu outbreaks fuelling chance of human spillover - The Guardian
  Thu, 12 Jan 2023 08:00 GMT
• Pediatric Influenza: Managing the Comeback Kid - Healio
  Tue, 31 Jan 2023 17:56 GMT
• Here’s what you should know about flu season - PhillyVoice.com
  Fri, 03 Feb 2023 21:57 GMT
• Ask an Expert — Update on Avian Influenza in Utah - Utah State University
  Fri, 03 Feb 2023 22:22 GMT
• Avian Flu Jumps to Mammals: Could Humans be Next? - HS Today - HSToday
  Thu, 02 Feb 2023 13:28 GMT
• Flu continues decline in US, Missouri - Jefferson City News Tribune
  Sun, 05 Feb 2023 10:20 GMT

• PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (116): Europe (Russia) zoo, wild bird, backyard, HPAI H5N1, OIE
  Mon, 20 Sep 2021 15:46:50 -0400
  Avian Influenza H5N1 -- Russia
  Summary
  Report type: immediate notification
  Started: 27 Aug 2021
  Confirmed: 2 Sep 2021
  Reported: 15 Sep 2021
  Reason for notification: recurrence
  Last occurrence: 13 Dec 2020
  Causal agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
  Serotype: H5N1
  Nature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratory
  This event pertains to a defined zone within the country.
  New outbreaks (3)
  Summary of outbreaks
  Total outbreaks (3)
  Outbreak location 1: Zateryanny mir, Chelyabinsk gorsovet,


• PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (20): Cambodia (SI) H9N2
  Sun, 19 Sep 2021 19:23:42 -0400
  Avian Influenza -- Cambodia
  Abstract
  ---------
  In February 2021, routine sentinel surveillance for influenza-like illness in Cambodia detected a human avian influenza A(H9N2) virus infection. Investigations identified no recent H9N2 virus infections in 43 close contacts. One chicken sample from the infected child's house was positive for H9N2 virus and genetically similar to the human virus.
  --
  Communicated by:
  Jurre Siegers
  Institute Pasteur du Cambodge
  
  [ProMED thanks Jurre Siegers for sharing the early

• Determination of the synergistic anti-influenza effect of Huangqin Su tablet and Oseltamivir and investigation of mechanism of the tablet based on gut microbiota and network pharmacology Sat, 04 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500
  Huangqin Su (HQS) tablet is mainly composed of baicalein which has been evaluated for its ability to inhibit influenza. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of HQS and oseltamivir phosphate (OS) (single or combination therapy) on influenza-induced acute pneumonia in male and female ICR mice. The regulatory effect of HQS on gut microbiota was also studied by using 16 s rDNA sequencing, and the targets and mechanisms of HQS against influenza were comprehensively analyzed by network...
• The influenza imperative: we must prepare now for seasonal and pandemic influenza Sat, 04 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500
  No abstract
• Evaluation of the cobas Liat detection test for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses following the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant Sat, 04 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500
  CONCLUSIONS: The LiatCOVID/flu assay shows an acceptable performance in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses using NPS samples.
• SARS-CoV-2 elicits non-sterilizing immunity and evades vaccine-induced immunity: implications for future vaccination strategies Sat, 04 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500
  Neither vaccination nor natural infection result in long-lasting protection against SARS-COV-2 infection and transmission, but both reduce the risk of severe COVID-19. To generate insights into optimal vaccination strategies for prevention of severe COVID-19 in the population, we extended a Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Removed (SEIR) mathematical model to compare the impact of vaccines that are highly protective against severe COVID-19 but not against infection and transmission, with those...
• Targeting influenza A virus by splicing inhibitor herboxidiene reveals the importance of subtype-specific signatures around splice sites Sat, 04 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500
  CONCLUSIONS: The discrepancy in M2-dependence emphasizes the importance of M2 in human influenza A virus pathogenicity, which leads to subtype-specific evolution. Our findings provide insights into virus adaptation processes in humans and highlights splicing regulation as a potential antiviral target.
• Cost-effectiveness of monoclonal antibody and maternal immunization against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants: Evaluation for six European countries Fri, 03 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500
  CONCLUSION: The choice between a MI or mAb program depends on the level and duration of protection, price, availability, and feasibility of such programs, which should be based on the latest available evidence. Future research should focus on measuring accurately age-specific RSV-attributable hospitalizations in very young children.
• Antigen-specific memory TH17 cells promote cross-protection against Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae following mild influenza A virus infection Fri, 03 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500
  Secondary bacterial pneumonia following influenza A virus (IAV) infection is the leading cause of hospitalization and death associated with IAV infection worldwide. Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is one of the most common causes of secondary bacterial pneumonia. Current efforts to develop vaccines against NTHi infection focus on inducing antibodies but are hindered by antigenic diversity among NTHi strains. Therefore, we interrogated the contribution of the memory T-helper type 17...
• Decreased expression of surfactant Protein-C and CD74 in alveolar epithelial cells during influenza virus A(H1N1)pdm09 and H3N2 infection Fri, 03 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500
  The primary replication site of Influenza A virus (IAV) is type II alveolar epithelial cells (AECII), which are central to normal lung function and present important immune functions. Surfactant components are synthesized primarily by AECII, which play a crucial role in host defense against infection. The aim of this study was to analyze if the impact of influenza infection is differential between A(H1N1)pdm09 and A/Victoria/3/75 (H3N2) on costimulatory molecules and ProSP-C expression in AECII...
• Outcomes of meningococcal serogroup B disease in children after implementation of routine infant 4CMenB vaccination in England: an active, prospective, national surveillance study Fri, 03 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500
  BACKGROUND: In 2015, the UK included 4CMenB, a multi-component, recombinant protein-based vaccine against meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) disease, in the national infant immunisation programme. We aimed to assess the effect of 4CMenB vaccination on the severity of MenB disease presentation and outcomes.
• Development of Spectral Nano-Flow Cytometry for High-Throughput Multiparameter Analysis of Individual Biological Nanoparticles Fri, 03 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500
  Correlated analysis of multiple biochemical parameters at the single-particle level and in a high-throughput manner is essential for insights into the diversity and functions of biological nanoparticles (BNPs), such as bacteria and subcellular organelles. To meet this challenge, we developed a highly sensitive spectral nano-flow cytometer (S-nFCM) by integrating a spectral recording module to a laboratory-built nFCM that is 4-6 orders of magnitude more sensitive in side scattering detection and...