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.

• Owasso’s Bailey Medical Center meets 96% influenza vaccine challenge for 2020-21 flu season - Tulsa World
  Thu, 29 Jul 2021 15:01 GMT
• The Potential Role of Patient Portals to Improve Influenza Vaccination - American Academy of Pediatrics
  Thu, 01 Jul 2021 07:00 GMT
• How Vaccine Hesitancy Could Impact 2021 Flu Season - Healthline
  Thu, 29 Jul 2021 20:29 GMT
• Seqirus says it can supply 60 mln doses of influenza vaccines for U.S. flu season - Reuters
  Tue, 27 Jul 2021 21:11 GMT
• Patient Portal Reminders for Pediatric Influenza Vaccinations: A Randomized Clinical Trial - American Academy of Pediatrics
  Thu, 01 Jul 2021 07:00 GMT
• Into the Unknown: What Might a Combined Influenza/COVID-19 Season Look Like This Fall? - Pharmacy Times
  Thu, 22 Jul 2021 16:35 GMT
• Avian Influenza Vaccines Market: Growing prevalence of diseases to drive the market - BioSpace
  Thu, 29 Jul 2021 05:52 GMT
• UK doctors call for flu testing as Covid threatens to coincide with influenza epidemic - CNBC
  Thu, 15 Jul 2021 07:00 GMT
• Health experts are anxious to prevent a 'catastrophic' winter flu season - CNBC
  Wed, 07 Jul 2021 07:00 GMT
• Influenza viruses could bounce back, CDC warns; urges seasonal flu shot - MassLive.com
  Fri, 23 Jul 2021 13:49 GMT
• Influenza, Respiratory Virus Activity Fell During Height of Pandemic - AJMC.com Managed Markets Network
  Fri, 23 Jul 2021 16:13 GMT
• Wagoner Community Hospital recognized for meeting flu vaccine challenge - Tulsa World
  Thu, 29 Jul 2021 17:00 GMT
• China Confirms Three Human Cases of Avian Influenza A(H5N6) - PrecisionVaccinations
  Thu, 29 Jul 2021 17:13 GMT
• Equal but Not the Same—2021 Update on Influenza Vaccines - Pharmacy Times
  Wed, 14 Jul 2021 07:00 GMT
• Using patient portals to improve flu shot rates - Contemporary Pediatrics
  Thu, 29 Jul 2021 17:37 GMT

• PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (14): China (SC) H5N6
  Sat, 24 Jul 2021 16:17:46 -0400
  Avian Influenza H5N6 -- China
  The Center for Health Protection of the Department of Health today [23 Jul 2021] is closely monitoring 3 new cases of human infection with avian influenza (H5N6) in the Mainland, and once again urged the public to keep [good personal, food,] and environmental hygiene.
  The 1st case involved a 51-year-old woman living in Xuanhan, Sichuan Province, who had been in contact with live poultry before becoming ill. She developed symptoms on 25 Jun 2021 and was admitted to the hospital for treatment

• Incidence rates of influenza illness during pregnancy in Suzhou, China, 2015-2018 Thu, 29 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  CONCLUSIONS: Influenza illness in all trimesters of pregnancy was common. These data may help inform decisions regarding the use of influenza vaccine to prevent influenza during pregnancy.
• Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N2 (clade 2.3.4.4) challenge of mallards age appropriate to the 2015 midwestern poultry outbreak Thu, 29 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, adult mallards are viable hosts of HPAIV H5N2 regardless of prior exposure history and are capable of transporting the virus over short and long distances. These findings have implications for surveillance efforts. The capture and sampling of wild waterfowl in the spring, when most surveillance programs are not operating, are important to consider in the design of future HPAIV surveillance programs.
• Low Dose Hyperoxia Primes Airways for Fibrosis in Mice after Influenza A Infection Thu, 29 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  It is well known that supplemental oxygen used to treat preterm infants in respiratory distress is associated with permanently disrupting lung development and the host response to influenza A virus (IAV). However, many infants who go home with normally functioning lungs are also at risk for hyperreactivity after a respiratory viral infection. We recently reported a new, low-dose hyperoxia mouse model (40% for 8 days; 40x8) that causes a transient change in lung function that resolves, rendering...
• Clinical features of COVID-19 and SARS epidemics. A literature review Thu, 29 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the current pandemic, is a novel strain of the Coronaviridae family, which has infected humans as a result of the leap to a new species. It causes an atypical pneumonia similar to that caused by SARS-CoV in 2003. SARS-CoV-2 has currently infected more than 9,200,000 people and caused almost 480,000 deaths worldwide. Although SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV have similar phylogenetic and pathogenetic characteristics, they show important differences in clinical manifestations....
• COVID-19 emergency in Sicily and intersection with the 2019-2020 influenza epidemic Thu, 29 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  No abstract
• Influenza Vaccination Rates Among Patients With a History of Cancer: Analysis of the National Health Interview Survey Thu, 29 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  CONCLUSIONS: Influenza vaccination rates are higher in men and women with cancer but remain suboptimal, highlighting the need for additional measures to improve vaccine compliance and prevent complications from influenza across all cancer types.
• The Effects of Social Distancing Policies on Non-SARS-CoV-2 Respiratory Pathogens Thu, 29 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  CONCLUSIONS: This analysis investigated the effect of multiple social distancing policies implemented to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2 on non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory pathogens. These findings suggest that social distancing policies may be used as an impactful public health tool to reduce communicable respiratory illness.
• Prevalence and clinical presentation of sinusitis in pediatric age group in Aseer, Saudi Arabia Thu, 29 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the study revealed that CRS is a common disease in children at different ages, especially, maxillary and frontal sinuses. In most of the cases, medical treatment is highly appreciated; though, surgical intervention may be needed in a small percentage.
• Detection of Viral and Bacterial Respiratory Pathogens Identified by Molecular Methods in COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients and Its Impact on Mortality and Unfavorable Outcomes Thu, 29 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  CONCLUSION: A high frequency of respiratory pathogens was detected by molecular methods in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia but were not associated with unfavorable outcomes. No atypical agents or influenza virus were found. The high use antibiotics before admission is a concern. Our data suggest that the use of drug therapy against atypical bacteria and viruses would not be justified in patients hospitalized for COVID-19.
• Haemophilus influenzae Prevalence, Proportion of Capsulated Strains and Antibiotic Susceptibility During Colonization and Acute Otitis Media in Children, 2019-2020 Thu, 29 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of H. influenzae in the NP of young children is very low at times of health, but H. influenzae is highly prevalent in MEF at onset of AOM. Nontypeable H. influenzae accounts for >90% of all H. influenzae isolates. Type f predominated among encapsulated strains. β-lactamase production and antibiotic nonsusceptibility among H. influenzae strains isolated from the NP and MEF are common.