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Influenza Prophylaxis Blog

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Flu Infections Continue to Decline

Posted 8 Mar 2013 by Drugs.com

FRIDAY, March 8 – The flu season may not be over, but the worst of it seems to be. Flu activity, although still elevated, declined in most parts of the United States during the week ending March 2, U.S. health officials reported Friday. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Four states experienced moderate flu activity: Illinois, Michigan, Vermont and Virginia. Thirteen states experienced low fIu activity: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas and Utah. New York City also experienced low activity. Thirty-three states experienced minimal activity: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, ... Read more

Related support groups: Influenza, Influenza Prophylaxis

Higher Indoor Humidity Levels Might Slow Flu's Spread

Posted 28 Feb 2013 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, Feb. 28 – As the flu season continues to pack a punch for some Americans, new research suggests there might be a simple way to reduce the risk for infection in an indoor setting: hike up humidity levels. By raising indoor relative humidity levels to 43 percent or above, investigators reported that they were able to quickly render 86 percent of airborne virus particles powerless. The finding is reported in the February issue of the journal PLOS One by a team led by John Noti, a senior service fellow with the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Health Effects Laboratory Division at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Morgantown, W.V. To assess the role of humidity in flu transmission, Noti and his colleagues relied on mechanized mannequins and tissue cultures rather than actual humans. Placed in a tightly sealed and disinfected model ... Read more

Related support groups: Influenza, Influenza Prophylaxis

H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine Tied to Sleep Disorder in British Children

Posted 26 Feb 2013 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, Feb. 26 – A British study finds that children and teens who were vaccinated during the 2009 swine flu outbreak are at increased risk for narcolepsy, a disorder that causes people to fall asleep during the day. The particular flu vaccine involved has never been licensed for use in the United States, according a statement on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Researchers looked at data from children and teens aged 4 to 18 who were treated at sleep centers and neurology centers in England, and concluded that receiving the Pandemrix vaccine was associated with a 14- to 16-fold increased risk of developing narcolepsy. They also determined that one in 52,000 to 57,500 doses of the vaccine are associated with narcolepsy, according to the study published online Feb. 26 in the journal BMJ. The findings are consistent with previous studies in other countries, ... Read more

Flu Shot May Not Work as Well for Seniors

Posted 6 Feb 2013 by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 6 – Seniors seem to get a weaker boost to their immune system following a flu shot than young people do, a small study shows. Experts say the findings essentially confirm what's been believed: The flu shot just doesn't work as well for older immune systems. But they also caution that the vaccine remains the best defense against flu misery. Older people are among those at greatest risk for flu complications, like pneumonia. Americans older than 65 have been hard-hit during the current, rough flu season: Late last month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that 98 of every 100,000 seniors were hospitalized with the flu for the week ending Jan. 19. So older adults should keep getting vaccinated every year, according to Nicholas Kelley, a research associate with the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, in ... Read more

Beware Fake Flu Treatments, FDA Warns

Posted 4 Feb 2013 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Feb. 4 – With the height of flu season here, the U.S Food and Drug Administration warns consumers to avoid fraudulent products that claim to prevent, treat or cure the flu. These products haven't been tested and are not approved by the FDA. They can be found online and in retail stores, and may be marketed as dietary supplements or conventional drugs, foods (such as herbal teas), nasal sprays and devices (such as air filters and light therapies), the agency said in a news release. "As any health threat emerges, fraudulent products appear almost overnight. Right now, so-called 'alternatives' to the flu vaccine are big with scammers," Gary Coody, the FDA's national health fraud coordinator, said in the news release. Mary Malarkey, director of the FDA's Office of Compliance and Biologics Quality, added: "These unproven products give consumers a false sense of security. There is no ... Read more

Related support groups: Influenza, Influenza Prophylaxis

People Can Emit Flu Germs in Air Up to 6 Feet Away, Study Finds

Posted 31 Jan 2013 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, Jan. 31 – People suffering from the flu can give off small virus particles into the air at greater distances than previously thought, putting the health care workers who treat these patients at increased risk for getting the virus themselves, researchers report. The investigators, from Wake Forest School of Medicine in North Carolina, suggest that more studies are needed on how the flu is spread. Infection-control guidelines for health care providers may also need to be updated to help these workers protect their health. The study was published in the current edition of the Journal of Infectious Diseases. "Our study offers new evidence of the natural emission of influenza and may provide a better understanding of how to best protect health care providers during routine care activities," the researchers, led by Dr. Werner Bischoff, wrote in the report. For the study, ... Read more

Related support groups: Influenza, Influenza Prophylaxis

Too Few Adults Get Recommended Vaccines: CDC

Posted 29 Jan 2013 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, Jan. 29 – Vaccines aren't just for kids, and most American adults aren't getting their recommended vaccinations, federal health officials said Tuesday. "In general, too few adults are taking advantage of the protection of vaccines, leaving themselves and those around them at greater risk of vaccine-preventable diseases," Dr. Howard Koh, assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said during a news conference. For example, Koh said, in 2011, the most recent year for which data are available, there were some 37,000 cases of preventable pneumococcal pneumonia that resulted in 4,000 deaths. The majority of deaths occurred among adults 50 and older, and the highest rates were seen among those 65 years and older. Almost everyone who gets invasive pneumococcal disease needs treatment in the hospital, and that's why people 65 and older should ... Read more

People With Egg Allergy Can Safely Get Flu Shot: Experts

Posted 23 Jan 2013 by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 23 – Flu vaccination is safe for children and adults with an egg allergy, according to new research that is especially timely in light of the current widespread flu. "The influenza vaccine is grown in chicken eggs; therefore, it contains trace amounts of egg allergen," Dr. James Sublett, chairman of the public relations committee at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, said in a college news release. "It has been long advised that children and adults with an egg allergy do not receive the vaccination; however, we now know administration is safe," Sublett said. "Children and adults should be vaccinated, especially when the flu season is severe, as it is this year." A study published in the December 2012 issue of the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology concluded that flu vaccine contains such a low amount of egg protein that it won't cause an ... Read more

Health Tip: Protect Against Flu During Pregnancy

Posted 22 Jan 2013 by Drugs.com

-- Changes in a pregnant woman's immune system put her at greater-than-average risk of getting the flu. The flu.gov website says if she gets the flu, it could pose lasting complications for her and baby. The site offers these recommendations for pregnant women: Get the seasonal flu shot (not the nasal spray vaccine, which is not approved for pregnant women) as soon as it is available. Wash your hands frequently. Breast-feed after delivery. If you have flu symptoms, contact your health care provider right away. Read more

Related support groups: Influenza, Influenza Prophylaxis

Study Finds Nearly Half of U.S. Kids Are Under-Vaccinated

Posted 21 Jan 2013 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Jan. 21 – In recent years, nearly half (49 percent) of U.S. children under the age of 2 did not receive all the recommended vaccinations or received some vaccinations late, a new study shows. All these children are considered under-vaccinated, according to the Kaiser Permanente researchers who analyzed the immunization records of more than 320,000 children born between 2004 and 2008. The investigation revealed a significant increase in the number of under-vaccinated children during the study period, and also found that one in eight under-vaccinated children's parents decided not to follow Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) childhood vaccination guidelines, according to a Kaiser news release. Those decisions meant that children went a longer time between vaccinations or received fewer vaccinations in a single office visit, leaving them under-vaccinated, ... Read more

Health Tip: Help Protect Kids from Flu

Posted 21 Jan 2013 by Drugs.com

-- The immune system of babies and young children is still developing, which puts them at increased risk of getting the flu. The flu.gov website offers these suggestions for protecting your child from flu's wrath: Make sure all kids aged 6 months and older get the annual flu vaccine. Children with a chronic health condition are at particularly high risk of getting the flu. For children under 6 months who are too young to get the vaccine, make sure parents are vaccinated. When possible, avoid exposing the child to the flu. If you suspect your child has the flu, contact a pediatrician without delay. Read more

Related support groups: Influenza, Influenza Prophylaxis

Doctor Explains Why Flu a Greater Threat to Seniors

Posted 17 Jan 2013 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, Jan. 17 – The nasty flu season in the United States this year poses a particular risk for people aged 65 and older, an expert warns. People's immune systems weaken as they age, explained Dr. Andrew Duxbury, an associate professor in the gerontology, geriatrics and palliative care division at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. "When older people get the flu and get knocked down further, they are more likely to get other infections, such as pneumonia," Duxbury said in a university news release. "Just being knocked into bed for as little as three or four days can, in a very frail older person, make it so they lose the ability to walk and do for themselves. It can cause a spiral in disabilities and increase chances of falls and injuries." Prevention is the best defense. Seniors and their caregivers should get a flu shot, wash hands regularly and avoid ... Read more

Related support groups: Influenza, Influenza Prophylaxis

Flublock Approved to Prevent Seasonal Flu

Posted 17 Jan 2013 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, Jan. 17 – Flublock, a new vaccine that uses recombinant DNA technology to prevent the flu, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for people aged 18 to 49. Flublock doesn't use traditional flu vaccine components – including the influenza virus or eggs – in its production. Instead, it uses an insect virus (baculovirus) to produce large amounts of the influenza virus protein, hemagglutinin (HA). Most antibodies that prevent flu infection are directed against HA, the FDA explained in a news release. "This approval represents a technological advance in the manufacturing of an influenza vaccine," Dr. Karen Midthun, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in the news release. "The new technology offers the potential for faster start-up of the vaccine manufacturing process in the event of a pandemic, because it is not dependent ... Read more

Related support groups: Influenza Prophylaxis

FDA Approves Flublok - a New Type of Flu Vaccine

Posted 17 Jan 2013 by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 16 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a novel type of flu vaccine, the agency announced Wednesday. Flublok, as the vaccine is called, does not use the traditional method of the influenza virus or eggs in its production. Instead, it is made using an "insect virus (baculovirus) expression system and recombinant DNA technology," the FDA said in a news release. This will allow vaccine maker Protein Sciences Corp., of Meriden, Conn., to produce Flublok in large quantities, the agency added. The vaccine is approved for use in those aged 18 to 49. "This approval represents a technological advance in the manufacturing of an influenza vaccine," said Dr. Karen Midthun, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. "The new technology offers the potential for faster start-up of the vaccine manufacturing process in the event of a pandemic, ... Read more

Related support groups: Influenza Prophylaxis

FDA Approves Flublok - New Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Made Using Novel Technology

Posted 16 Jan 2013 by Drugs.com

January 16, 2013 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that it has approved Flublok, the first trivalent influenza vaccine made using an insect virus (baculovirus) expression system and recombinant DNA technology. Flublok is approved for the prevention of seasonal influenza in people 18 through 49 years of age. Unlike current flu vaccines, Flublok does not use the influenza virus or eggs in its production. Flublok’s novel manufacturing technology allows for production of large quantities of the influenza virus protein, hemagglutinin (HA) – the active ingredient in all inactivated influenza vaccines that is essential for entry of the virus into cells in the body. The majority of antibodies that prevent influenza virus infection are directed against HA. While the technology is new to flu vaccine production, it is used to make vaccines that have been approved by the FDA ... Read more

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