Influenza

The ongoing H5N1 avian flu outbreak has severely impacted U.S. poultry and dairy industries, prompting a $1 billion USDA response strategy that includes biosecurity, vaccination research, and innovation funding. With growing concern over viral mutations affecting humans and livestock, rapid, field-based diagnostic tools offer critical support in accelerating detection and containment efforts.

Despite the funding being terminated, the company said data from its phase 1/2 study of its investigational vaccine, mRNA-1018, demonstrated positive interim results.

Michigan dairy worker's infection is linked to widespread H5N1 outbreaks, as new findings suggest increased transmission risk and moderate disease in mammals.

Despite political restructuring and funding cuts, the NIH’s Generation Gold Standard vaccine platform offers a promising solution for pandemic preparedness and global health resilience.

This case represents the second reported human infection with avian influenza A(H5) in Mexico, and the first confirmed case of influenza A(H5N1) in the country. The patient was a child who died from respiratory complications.

Jeff Fischer, MBA, discusses promising preclinical data on a cross-species, cross-strain influenza candidate with pandemic potential at the 2025 Congress of the European Society of
Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

Investigational sa-mRNA vaccine advances to phase 1 trials for pandemic preparedness.

Key updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on influenza activity, hospitalizations, pediatric deaths, and current trends across the United States.

With the release of these guidelines and the US Health and Human Services canceling the mid-March FDA VRBPAC meeting to discuss these vaccine recommendations, Robert Hopkins Jr, MD, the medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), offers insight on these developments.

The most recent CDC report accounts for 33 million flu illnesses, 430,000 hospitalizations, and 19,000 deaths this flu season, with Influenza A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) as the primary strains.

The CDC tracks rising human infections linked to poultry and dairy exposure, while the USDA steps up with a comprehensive strategy to combat HPAI and stabilize egg prices.

Two cats became severely ill, and both owners declined to be tested.

A state official says the woman is hospitalized in another state, and had preexisting health conditions that can make people more vulnerable to illness.

The affected person had a mild case and is recovering.

The federal government is working on measures to mitigate the potential impact including looking at vaccines, therapies, and other strategies. Robert Hopkins, Jr, MD, medical director, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), provides some insights on our preparation now and lessons learned from the pandemic.

The federal agency is asking hospitalists and labs to accelerate this process in order to know if they are dealing with avian influenza.

The Louisiana Department of Health announced the news late yesterday, and it is the first death in the US associated with the H5N1 virus.

Older males who had these infections had a statistically significant higher risk for physical and cognitive impairments.

The federal health agency stresses the importance of finding the balance between vigilance and enjoying normal activities.

New approach targets multiple strains, promising broad protection against human, avian, and swine influenza viruses.

Veterinary and public health officials share the important roles of surveillance and prevention strategies, insights on the virus's transmission pathways, historical context, the One Health approach, and highlights effective precautionary measures to mitigate H5N1 risks.

Important vaccine updates, including a second COVID-19 vaccine dose for adults 65 and older and immunocompromised individuals, a pneumococcal vaccine for adults aged 50 and older, and more.

People can now take the Healgen Rapid Check COVID-19/Flu A&B Antigen Test in their homes without a prescription.

The findings are from a National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) survey showing many Americans are not thinking about flu, COVID-19, RSV, or pneumococcal disease, and many respondents do not plan to get vaccinated this fall.

The federal agency gave the nod to FluMist nasal spray to allows individuals to administer the vaccine themselves and as a caregivers to others.