All About The Flu & A Closer Look At Tamiflu

Thanks for stopping by, listen to Dr. William Schaffner answer your questions about the flu over at NPR's morning show, followed with news and research about this year's severe flu season.

NPR
February 25, 2018
The Call-In: All About The Flu
NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro poses listener questions about the flu to Dr. William Schaffner, infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University, and takes a closer look at Tamiflu.


News, Research & You 

Hep

Living Healthy with Hepatitis C
Over-the-Counter Remedies and Hepatitis C

Excessive acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the U.S. Because of this, many people avoid taking acetaminophen, sometimes following their doctor’s recommendations. The big problem with acetaminophen is that it is added to many medications, including remedies for colds, headaches, pain, sleep, sinus problems, cough and menstrual discomfort. People may not know that they are taking acetaminophen, let alone too much of it.

HealthDay 

Flu Season Shows More Signs of Slowing

Feb.23.2018
For the second week in a row, there was a drop in doctor visits for flu-like illness in the United States. And the latest drop was more pronounced than the one before, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday.

CDC
Latest FluView report: flu activity has declined, but remains high and will likely continue for several more weeks. All U.S. states but Hawaii and Oregon continue to report widespread flu activity.

Protect Yourself & Your Family Against Flu

Studies have shown that early treatment with a flu antiviral drug can shorten the duration of fever and illness symptoms, and can reduce the risk of serious flu complications.

NPR

How Long Are You Contagious With The Flu?

February 20, 2018
Madeline K. Sofia, Meredith Rizzo

Forbes

Japan's New Drug: One Pill May Stop The Flu in Just One Day
Bruce Y. Lee
One day, you may be able to stop flu viruses in your body in just one day with just one pill. Based on an announcement yesterday, that day may be someday very soon in May in Japan.

Press Release
Flu vaccines: ACIP brings back FluMist for the 2018-2019 flu season
February 22, 2018

AstraZeneca announced yesterday that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has voted in favor of a renewed recommendation for the use of FLUMIST® QUADRIVALENT (Influenza Vaccine Live, Intranasal) in the US for the 2018-2019 season.

Science Daily 

Past encounters with the flu shape vaccine response

Immune history influences vaccine effectiveness, interacting with other potential problems arising from the manufacturing process

Date: February 20, 2018

Source: University of Chicago Medical Center Summary: Researchers show that poor immune responses, not egg adaptions, may explain the low effectiveness of the vaccine that year.

Why do healthy children die from the flu? Study offers new insights

Date: February 15, 2018

Source: Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Summary: With this year’s severe flu season, one statistic is especially chilling. Each year, around 50 percent of all children under 5 years old who die from the flu were previously healthy. Adults who die from the flu, on the other hand, typically had a medical condition that increased their risk of mortality. A new study offers new insights as to why healthy children are much more vulnerable. It also opens new opportunities for treatment.

ContagionLive

CDC Reports That Flu Vaccine Has Been 36% Effective This Season
While a new report has found that the flu vaccine has been just 36% effective this year, a recent study suggests that history of exposure to flu may, in part, be to blame.

Influenza B Making a Surge in the United States

FEB 14, 2018 | EINAV KEET
Influenza A (H3N2) has caused most of the illnesses in this severe flu season, but influenza B is becoming increasingly responsible for more infections as the flu season continues to hit the United States.

The Atlantic

The Perfect Storm Behind This Year's Nasty Flu Season

Sarah Zhang
Jan 13, 2018
A strong virus, a less-than-effective vaccine, and an IV bag shortage that goes back to Hurricane Maria.

In The Journals

Published in the January 2018 issue of Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses

Annual estimates of the burden of seasonal influenza in the United States: A tool for strengthening influenza surveillance and preparedness

Estimates of influenza disease burden are broadly useful for public health, helping national and local authorities monitor epidemiologic trends, plan and allocate resources, and promote influenza vaccination. Historically, estimates of the burden of seasonal influenza in the United States, focused mainly on influenza-related mortality and hospitalization, were generated every few years.

Stay Healthy!
Tina