Influenza Virus Symptoms

In late 2019, the novel coronavirus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spread across the globe, causing the disease known as COVID-19. 1 A pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. 2 The CDC speculated that the mitigation measures (eg, stay-at-home orders, face masks, social distancing, hand cleaning protocols, improved building ventilation, and sharp travel declines) put in place to combat COVID-19 would lead to both a reduction in cases and a global decline in the number of influenza cases during the 2020- 2021 season. 3 Influenza Activiry Influenza viruses typically circulate in the Northern Hemisphere during the winter and spring, but they occasionally can circulate more during the summer months, as did the 2009 H1N1 pandemic strain. 4,5 So far, SARS-CoV-2 has been able to circulate and surge at different times of the year, primarily because new, more contagious variants have been introduced. 6 During the 2020-...

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Free flu shots for NSW residents will be extended until 17 July amid concerns vaccination rates are still not where they should be. Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the latest data shows only one in four children aged under five has had a flu shot, while the figures are even lower for kids aged five to 15. "It's really worrying that just over 18 per cent of children and teenagers have had a flu jab and for kids aged six months to five years, the figure is 25 per cent," Mr Hazzard said. "These numbers are particularly concerning given in the last month, four times as many kids have been admitted to Sydney's two children's hospitals with flu than with COVID." Mr Hazzard urged families to use the school holidays to book in for a free flu shot. "It only takes a few minutes to get a flu jab but that time could mean the difference between you or one of your loved ones ending up in ICU so please, book in today," Mr Hazzard said. The uptake of the inf...

Influenza: The Disease Influenza is a viral infection that produces fever, chills, sore throat, muscle aches, and cough that lasts between a few days to 2 weeks.     People tend to use the term "flu" to describe any kind of respiratory or gastrointestinal illness, such as colds or diarrhea and vomiting that resemble "influenza-like-illness" (ILI) symptoms. But influenza is usually associated with more severe illness and lasts longer than the common cold and, normally, influenza does not cause vomiting or diarrhea in adults.   The vast majority of people recover from influenza without any complications and develop immunity to future infection with the same strain or a related influenza strain that may prevent illness symptoms or make illness less severe. Learn more about influenza… Influenza Vaccine There are many kinds of influenza vaccines available in the U.S. NVIC encourages consumers to...

Danish company Bavarian Nordic A/S says the European Commission (EC) has extended the marketing authorization for the company's smallpox vaccine, IMVANEX, to include protection from monkeypox and disease caused by vaccinia virus.  The approval, which follows a positive opinion by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) on July 22, 2022, is valid in all European Union Member States as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. The label extension was approved after submission of a rolling type-II variation application in June 2022, in alignment between Bavarian Nordic and the European Medicines Agency's Emergency Task Force (ETF), Rapporteurs and the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA).  The EC approved the full IMVANEX indication as: Active immunization against smallpox, monkeypox and disease caused by vaccinia virus in adults.  Current cases The World Healt...

Influenza: The Disease Influenza is a viral infection that produces fever, chills, sore throat, muscle aches, and cough that lasts between a few days to 2 weeks.     People tend to use the term "flu" to describe any kind of respiratory or gastrointestinal illness, such as colds or diarrhea and vomiting that resemble "influenza-like-illness" (ILI) symptoms. But influenza is usually associated with more severe illness and lasts longer than the common cold and, normally, influenza does not cause vomiting or diarrhea in adults.   The vast majority of people recover from influenza without any complications and develop immunity to future infection with the same strain or a related influenza strain that may prevent illness symptoms or make illness less severe. Learn more about influenza… Influenza Vaccine There are many kinds of influenza vaccines available in the U.S. NVIC encourages consumers to...

Inadequate primary healthcare facilities, including lack of access to electricity and health personnel in rural areas, poverty and bad roads, are among the factors fueling maternal and infant mortalities across Nigeria. Samuel Ajala looks closely at the need to provide sustainable energy solutions in primary health centres.  Signpost of Bethesda Primary Health Centre, Utabiji Ainu, Benue State. (Photo by © Samuel Ajala) From dusk to dawn, when no sunlight was visible, Helen Ode, 34, a farmer who lives in Iga Village, Oju Local Government, Benue State, went into labour.  Fig. 1: Helen Ode with his son. © Samuel Ajala She was rushed to Bethesda primary health centre in her village for her child delivery. "I went into labour one night and was taken to the primary health centre." Mrs Ode was not attended to immediately because the midwife was not around. When the midwife came, she was delayed again for three hours because there was no mea...