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.

• NIAID funds new influenza research network - EurekAlert
  Wed, 14 Apr 2021 20:43 GMT
• Traditional definition underestimates burden of health care-associated flu - Healio
  Wed, 14 Apr 2021 16:05 GMT
• Extremely Low Influenza Rates Challenge Next Season's Flu Shot - Bloomberg
  Fri, 19 Mar 2021 07:00 GMT
• Flu vaccination can protect adults and kids from influenza, lower respiratory disease burden - Firstpost
  Wed, 14 Apr 2021 10:45 GMT
• Repeated Influenza Vaccination Could Reduce Effectiveness - Infectious Disease Advisor
  Mon, 12 Apr 2021 15:30 GMT
• This year's flu season was virtually nonexistent. That could be bad news for next year. - The Daily Briefing
  Tue, 30 Mar 2021 07:00 GMT
• Colorado saw a nearly 'nonexistent influenza season' this year thanks to COVID-19 safety measures - 9News.com KUSA
  Mon, 12 Apr 2021 00:49 GMT
• Alberta flu season wraps up with zero reported cases - Global News
  Tue, 13 Apr 2021 22:25 GMT
• [Full text] Virus neutralization against influenza virus A/H5 and A/H7 | BTT - Dove Medical Press
  Mon, 12 Apr 2021 22:00 GMT
• Covid-19 Meant a Year Without the Flu. That’s Not All Good News - WIRED
  Tue, 16 Mar 2021 07:00 GMT
• J&J and Cidara to develop influenza therapy - Chemical & Engineering News
  Fri, 09 Apr 2021 23:55 GMT
• Spatial mapping of COVID-19 and H1N1 influenza show differential transcriptional signatures - The Mix
  Tue, 06 Apr 2021 07:00 GMT
• What strains should be in this year's seasonal influenza vaccines? - European Pharmaceutical Review
  Wed, 31 Mar 2021 07:00 GMT
• Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N8) Virus in Swans, China, 2020 - CDC
  Fri, 09 Apr 2021 13:18 GMT
• Influenza Vaccines Market Report 2020-2030 - Yahoo Finance
  Mon, 12 Apr 2021 10:17 GMT

• PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (59): Germany (BE) poultry, HPAI H5N8, OIE
  Mon, 12 Apr 2021 22:17:18 -0400
  Avian Influenza H5N8 -- Germany
  Summary
  Report type: immediate notification
  Started: 1 Mar 2021
  Confirmed: 2 Mar 2021
  Reported: 8 Apr 2021
  Reason for notification: recurrence
  Last occurrence: 11 Jun 2017
  Causal agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
  Serotype: H5N8
  Nature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratory
  This event pertains to a defined zone within the country.
  New outbreaks
  Summary of outbreaks
  Total outbreaks (1)
  Outbreak location 1: Berlin
  Started: 1 Mar 2021
  Epidemiological unit:


• PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (06): Laos, H5N6, first case
  Mon, 12 Apr 2021 21:51:28 -0400
  Avian Influenza H5N6 -- Laos
  The World Health Organization (WHO) reports the 1st human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) virus infection has been reported in Laos.
  A 5-year-old boy from Luang Prabang province in northern Laos developed symptoms on [28 Feb 2021], was hospitalized and tested positive for A(H5N6) on [8 Mar 2021]. The boy recovered. He had exposure to poultry, and the poultry tested positive for H5N6. None of the contacts at home or in the hospital had the disease.
  This is the 1st avian influenza A(H5N6)


• PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (58): India (HP) HPAI H5N8, goose, alert
  Mon, 12 Apr 2021 10:51:41 -0400
  Avian Influenza H5N8 -- India
  With the 2nd wave of avian influenza killing at least 110 migratory birds over the past 2 weeks at Pong Lake [Maharana Pratap Sagar] in Kangra district, Himachal Forest Department on Wednesday [7 Apr 2021] issued an alert in the state and directed all divisional forest officers to maintain active surveillance in their jurisdiction.
  Another 11 carcasses of migratory birds were found at Pong Lake on Wednesday [7 Apr 2021] taking the toll to 110 at the wetland due to bird flu. The H5N8 virus

• Infective endocarditis caused by HACEK group bacteria-a registry-based comparative study Wed, 14 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  Infective endocarditis (IE) caused by bacteria within Haemophilus (excluding Haemophilus influenzae), Aggregatibacter, Cardiobacterium, Eikenella and Kingella (HACEK) is rare. This study aimed to describe clinical features of IE caused by HACEK genera in comparison with IE due to other pathogens. Cases of IE due to HACEK were identified through the Swedish Registry of Infective Endocarditis (SRIE). Clinical characteristics of IE cases caused by HACEK were compared with cases of IE due to other...
• Modulation of gut microbiota protects against viral respiratory tract infections: a systematic review of animal and clinical studies Wed, 14 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  CONCLUSION: Modulation of gut microbiota represents a promising approach against viral RTIs via host innate and adaptive immunity regulation. Further research should focus on next generation probiotics specific to viral types in prevention and treatment of emerging viral RTIs.
• Deletion of ER-retention Motif on SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Reduces Cell Hybrid During Cell-cell Fusion Wed, 14 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  The novel SARS-CoV-2 has quickly become a global pandemic since the first reported case in December 2019, with the virus infecting millions of people to date. The spike (S) protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus plays a key role in binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a host cell receptor for SARS-CoV-2. S proteins that are expressed on the cell membrane can initiate receptor-dependent syncytia formation that is associated with extensive tissue damage. Formation of syncytia have been...
• Use of CytoSorb as a therapeutic option in a critically ill patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia: A case report Wed, 14 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  Acute respiratory distress syndrome is an acute inflammatory lung process, which leads to protein-rich nonhydrostatic pulmonary edema, refractory hypoxemia, and lung "stiffness". There are a number of therapies that are currently being investigated in the treatment of sepsis; one of the most promising treatment options at this moment is cytokine removal by hemoperfusion (CytoSorb^(®)). We present the case of a 29-year-old male patient who was admitted to the Medical Intensive Care Unit in a...
• Clinical analysis of seven pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Jingzhou, Hubei, China: a retrospective study Wed, 14 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  CONCLUSIONS: All children with COVID-19 who were included in this study in Jingzhou were infected via family clustering, and the laboratory examinations were not specific. Fever and cough were common symptoms, but all cases were mild and had good prognoses.
• Effectiveness of isolation policies in schools: evidence from a mathematical model of influenza and COVID-19 Wed, 14 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  CONCLUSIONS: Shortening the school week could be an important tool for controlling influenza and COVID-19 in schools and similar settings. Additionally, the CDC-recommended post-fever isolation policy for influenza could be enhanced by requiring two days of isolation instead of one.
• Quantifying the Evolutionary Constraints and Potential of Hepatitis C Virus NS5A Protein Wed, 14 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  RNA viruses, such as hepatitis C virus (HCV), influenza virus, and SARS-CoV-2, are notorious for their ability to evolve rapidly under selection in novel environments. It is known that the high mutation rate of RNA viruses can generate huge genetic diversity to facilitate viral adaptation. However, less attention has been paid to the underlying fitness landscape that represents the selection forces on viral genomes, especially under different selection conditions. Here, we systematically...
• Interferon-Independent Restriction of RNA Virus Entry and Replication by a Class of Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns Wed, 14 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  Mammalian cells detect microbial molecules known as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) as indicators of potential infection. Upon PAMP detection, diverse defensive responses are induced by the host, including those that promote inflammation and cell-intrinsic antimicrobial activities. Host-encoded molecules released from dying or damaged cells, known as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), also induce defensive responses. Both DAMPs and PAMPs are recognized for their...
• Healthcare providers' interpretations of product labelling information developed through a consensus stakeholder approach Wed, 14 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  CONCLUSIONS: The majority of participants demonstrated preferences for the revised IIV and Tdap product label statements over the existing statements. Comments suggested the revised statements include improvements to the evidence-base and readability. Involving stakeholders improved the development of product labelling information, but further improvement is needed to support the evidence-based use of vaccines in pregnancy.
• Polymerase acidic subunit of H9N2 polymerase complex induces cell apoptosis by binding to PDCD 7 in A549 cells Wed, 14 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the PA subunit of H9N2 virus bind with PDCD7 and regulated cell apoptosis, which provide new insights in the role of PA subunit during H9N2 influenza virus infection.