Dec 06 U.S. flu season arrives early, driven by an unexpected virus By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press The U.S. winter flu season is off to its earliest start in more than 15 years. Continue reading
Jun 20 Watch 5:21 A universal flu vaccine could finally be within sight By William Brangham, Jason Kane Influenza is a shape-shifter virus that could spark a global pandemic. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health are working to deliver what is referred to as The Holy Grail in the fight: a universal flu vaccine that could protect… Continue watching
Jun 20 To fight the next major pandemic, flu hunters turn to these animals By Nsikan Akpan It takes 600,000 chicken eggs a day to supply the seasonal flu vaccine. That's just one of many ways that animals help fight the next pandemic. Continue reading
Jun 19 Watch 8:25 Why the race to stop the next flu outbreak starts at state fairs and the beach By William Brangham, Jason Kane Public health officials agree the constantly mutating influenza virus has the potential to cause a major outbreak and a deadly global crisis. For the second part of the NewsHour’s series on preparing for such a pandemic, we examine how research… Continue watching
Jun 18 Watch 9:04 Why another flu pandemic is likely just a matter of when By William Brangham, Rachel Wellford Despite the availability of vaccines, the flu still kills tens of thousands of people in the U.S. each year, and hundreds of thousands more worldwide. But public health officials fear that an even graver threat lies ahead: the emergence of… Continue watching
Dec 17 How long do cold and flu viruses stay contagious on public surfaces? By Julia Griffin, Nsikan Akpan These pathogens don’t actually last for days or weeks outside the body, but you should still be proactive in protecting yourself from their spread. Continue reading
Nov 01 How llamas could help us fight the flu By Vicky Stein Researchers now think they’re on the path to universal flu protection. The source of their new defense: llamas. Continue reading
Mar 10 Flu vaccine grown without eggs provided measurably better protection this season, FDA says By Helen Branswell, STAT The sole influenza vaccine made in cell culture in the United States may have worked about 20 percent better this flu season than the standard vaccines made in eggs, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said Thursday. Continue reading
Mar 09 Does Tamiflu work? We asked a scientist By Teresa Carey, Nsikan Akpan When the flu strikes, many rush to the doctor for Tamiflu, but there is debate over the complications it can treat. Continue reading
Feb 09 It’s really not too late to get your flu shot, and other flu myths debunked By Laura Santhanam Here's what you actually can (and can't) do to prevent flu this season. Continue reading