The prospect of the worrisome triple threat of COVID, RSV and flu was assuaged last year by the effectiveness of flu vaccines. Two recent studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's VISION Network have found that flu vaccines were effective for all ages against both moderate and severe flu in the U.S. during the 2022-2023 flu season.
Both the pediatric and adult VISION Network studies analyzed flu-associated emergency department (E.D.)/urgent care visits (indicative of moderate disease) and hospitalization (indicative of severe disease) from October 2022 through March 2023, a flu season in which far fewer individuals were social distancing or wearing masks than during the two previous flu seasons.
Vaccination reduced the risk of flu-related E.D./urgent care visits and hospitalization for those 6 months to 17 years by almost half. For adults, regardless of age, vaccination reduced the risk of E.D. urgent care visits by almost half and reduced the risk of hospitalization by slightly more than a third.
These results led the authors of both studies to conclude that flu vaccination is likely to substantially reduce illness, death and strain on healthcare resources.
We study the effectiveness of flu and other vaccines to ensure that our processes for forecasting the most effective vaccines are working well and therefore might potentially also be translatable to other diseases as well. Given influenza's significant disease burden -- for example the H1N1 (swine) flu killed over a quarter of a million people worldwide in 2009-2010 -- we want to make sure that we understand virus trends as well as other factors and that we're continuing to do as well as and as much as we can to reduce the flu disease burden."
Shaun Grannis, M.D., M.S., co-author of both the pediatric and adult VISION Network studies, Regenstrief Institute vice president for data and analytics and family practice physician
Both the pediatric and adult studies evaluated electronic health record (EHR) data from sites across three healthcare systems in California, Utah, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Vaccination reduced the risk of flu-related E.D./urgent care visits (moderate disease) by 48 percent and hospitalization (severe disease) by 40 percent overall across ages 6 months to 17 years. Broken down by age, risk reduction was greater for those age 6 months to 4 years than older children and adolescents.
Approximately 30 percent of E.D./critical care visits for acute respiratory illness in children and adolescents were positive for flu, as were 14 percent of hospitalizations.
"Vaccine Effectiveness Against Pediatric Influenza-A-Associated Urgent Care, Emergency Department, and Hospital Encounters During the 2022-2023 Season, VISION Network" is published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Vaccine effectiveness was 45 percent against E.D./critical care visits(moderate disease) for adults under age 65. Effectiveness against hospitalization (severe disease) was 23 percent.
Adults younger than 65 typically received standard-dose inactivated vaccines.
Vaccine effectiveness was 41 percent against both flu-associated E.D./urgent care visits (moderate disease) and hospitalization (serious disease) for this age group.
Adults age 65 and older typically received enhanced vaccine products.
"Influenza vaccine effectiveness against influenza-A-associated emergency department, urgent care, and hospitalization encounters among U.S. adults, 2022-2023" is published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
"As with COVID, the dynamics of flu differs between children and adults. But we found that for both children and adults, vaccination significantly reduced the need for trips to the E.D, or critical care center and for hospitalization for flu-related illnesses last flu season and this is encouraging," said Dr. Grannis. "I'm hopeful that we will see similar or even better vaccine effectiveness during the current flu season. Even if they do experience symptoms, people who are vaccinated typically tend to have milder, shorter cases of the flu, a viral illness which can carry a severe disease burden.
"The vaccine effectiveness we saw in last year's flu season is encouraging. As both a research scientist and a primary care physician, I urge everyone to be vaccinated for flu this year and every year it's good for each person's health and the health of your community."
Source:
Journal reference:
Tenforde, M. W.,et al.(2024) Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Against Influenza AAssociated Emergency Department, Urgent Care, and Hospitalization Encounters Among US Adults, 20222023.The Journal of Infectious Diseases.doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiad542.
The USDA says the United States is 18 months away from a vaccine for bird flu. That news comes as more than 81 million U.S. poultry and aquatic birds have been killed by avian flu across 47 states since January 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The U.S. has found bird flu this year in eight commercial flocks and 14 backyard flocks so far, affecting 530,000 poultry. During a Congressional hearing, Vilsack said, Were probably 18 months away from being able to identify a vaccine that would be effective for the particular flu were dealing with now. Forth News says the USDA plans to discuss poultry vaccinations with trading partners amid concerns that other countries could restrict imports of vaccinated U.S. poultry. In May, the World Organization for Animal Health said governments should consider flu vaccines in their poultry to prevent the spread of avian influenza.
Source: NAFB
(CONSUMER REPORTS) Winter is here, and as any parent knows its also sick kid season. Healthcare facilities are already being overwhelmed by sick kids, especially those with RSV, which causes cold-like symptoms and sometimes serious respiratory problems, especially in babies.
Keeping kids healthy comes down to the basics. Show them how to properly wash their handsscrubbing for 20 secondswhen they get home, after using the bathroom, and before eating.
While theres no magic way to keep your kids from ever getting sick, there are some other things you can do to better the odds, such as keeping their vaccinations up to date. That includes the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. For infants, its important to speak to your pediatrician about the new RSV shot, which may lessen the severity of an RSV infection.
If your child does end up getting sick, focus on making them as comfortable as possible. Kids generally need time to get better, so let your child rest (while watching some movies, perhaps). Its very important to keep them hydrated. And your grandma was right; research suggests that chicken soup may provide relief from common cold symptoms, easing a sore throat and preventing dehydration.
As for medication, check with your doctor first, but its usually okay to use childrens ibuprofen or acetaminophen. But steer clear of cough medicine because it doesnt really work well for them and can even be dangerous. Last fall, CVS pulled some cold medicines after the Food and Drug Administration said the active ingredient in them didnt work.
Never ignore the signs of an emergency. If your child has a fever of 105 degrees, is showing signs of dehydration, or is having trouble breathing, take them to an ER. Any fever in newborns under 2 months is also an emergency.
And dont forget: If you have a sick child, keep them home from school to keep others from getting sick. Parents and teachers everywhere will thank you!
Major disruption to global poultry and egg markets has been brought into sharper focus by US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsacks comments last week that the department is a year and a half away from finding a vaccine for avian flu.
The current strain of so-called bird flu, or avian influenza, has killed 82 million poultry and aquatic birds across 47 US states since January 2022.
Aside from drastically raising the prices of poultry and eggs for consumers and businesses, avian flu also poses a threat to humans.
In late January and early February, the first human cases of 2024 were identified in Cambodia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One was an adult and three were children, one of whom died.
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We are probably 18 months or so away from being able to identify a vaccine that would be effective for this particular [avian flu] that were dealing with now, Vilsack said at a congressional hearing in Washington D.C.
The USDAs Agricultural Research Service (ARS) began testing candidate vaccines in 2023, USDA press secretary Allan Rodriguez tells Just Food. The decision to proceed with vaccination is complex from vaccine development to production timelines, to dissemination to flocks, there are many factors that make implementing a vaccine strategy a challenge and it would take time to deliver an effective vaccine.
While Vilsacks approximate timeline shows progress in the US Department of Agricultures (USDA) efforts to contain avian flu, the 18-month delay in the vaccines rollout will wreak further havoc on US food supply chains, says Ramsey Baghdadi, consumer analyst at GlobalData, Just Foods parent company.
The inability to supply a vaccine immediately will cause challenges for US farmers, and chicken culls throughout the country will be forced to continue, Baghdadi tells Just Food.
Both Baghdadis comments and Vilsacks statements align with the World Organization for Animal Healths (WOAH) advice thatgovernments should consider bird flu vaccinations for poultry to prevent the spread of the virus from becoming a pandemic.
Vaccinating is not the end, it is just the beginning, disease expert David Swayne said at a WOAH forum addressing avian flu in June. Vaccination application needs to be managed along the supply chain including a surveillance programme which is able to detect active infection in vaccinated animals.
US egg prices peaked at a nationwide average of $4.82 per dozen in January 2023 more than double the $1.93 per dozen charged a year earlier before the US first avian flu case. The prices remained around $2.07 per dozen at the end of 2023.
Baghdadi also emphasises that the ethical requirements to vaccinate bird populations against avian flu correlate with and trump economic considerations.
Providing the appropriate medications for animal care is a vital aspect of an ethical supply chain, Baghdadi says. The most significant challenge in the wait for a bird flu vaccine is the threat of losing organic and free-range certifications from USDA, as chickens and pigs are forced into lockdown.
Government and consumer-driven demand for more stringent animal welfare has resulted in several US states adopting tighter regulation in meat and poultry supply chains.
In the same congressional hearing, Vilsack said that Californias Prop 12 law, which has tightened animal requirements for pork products sold in the state, is causing chaos in the marketplace.
Vilsack also highlighted differences between state and federal regulation as a disruptive factor.
When each state has the ability to define for itself and its consumers exactly what farming techniques or practices are appropriate, it does create the possibility of 50 different sets of rules and regulations, he said.
While state-by-state differences pose a logistical nightmare for nationwide distributors, the demand for ethically sourced poultry is evident.
55% of US consumers find organic products an essential or nice to have feature in their product decision-making, according to a survey by GlobalData in Q4 2023.
Loss of the [organic] claim could lead consumers to temporarily choose imported chicken products over local ones, says Baghdadi. In the long term, local US farmers should use traceable technology such as blockchain, which gives the end-consumer more information about the supply chain journey and where the product is sourced. Traceability will ultimately help consumers trust in times of bird flu, as consumers will be able to trace the products are not from a contaminated farm.
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A bill that would eliminate flu and whooping cough vaccine requirements for adoptive families and foster families caring for infants and medically fragile kids is advancing in the Tennessee legislature.
The bill, by Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, and Rep. Ron Gant, R-Piperton, would end current vaccine rules for families fostering or adopting babies under 18 months old and kids with significant medical needs, based on the families moral or religious objections.
Watson said the bill was intended to remove discriminatory requirements and expand Tennessees pool of foster and adoptive families.
Under the current law, it disqualifies families from fostering and/or adopting a child in state care based on their immunization status, which I find to be discriminatory and unfair Watson said during Tuesdays Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
Why would we in any way hinder good families, safe families, who desire to foster and/or adopt these babies, he said.
The measure has raised concerns within the Department of Childrens Services, whose deputy general counsel warned lawmakers about health repercussions for that vulnerable population should the measure become law.
Were not only talking about (children) under-18 months, said Sammi Mayfair, DCS attorney. This would also apply to children with special medical needs so immunocompromised children, children who are vulnerable anyway so being exposed to those diseases could be severely detrimental to that population particularly, she said.
DCS currently has no shortage in families who wish to adopt or foster infants and are willing to comply with current vaccine requirements, Jim Layman, executive director of legislation and policy for DCS, told lawmakers.
Sen. London Lamar, D-Memphis, noted she had received a whooping cough vaccine and flu shot while pregnant to protect her son.
Is there any accountability put in place if the child is severely sick or dies from either the flu or whooping cough that they contracted from a family who didnt get vaccinated? she asked.
Watson responded that the scenario would be the same as if a child is physically abused in foster care. I think the same kind of standards exist there that would exist under these statutes, he said.
The bill has potential to jeopardize federal funding. This Department of Childrens Services receives $252.5 million in federal foster care funding. As condition of receiving federal dollars is for the state to submit a foster care and adoption plan for approval by the U.S. Health and Human Services department. Those plans must meet guidelines by the Administration for Children and Families that say all caregivers must be up-to-date on whooping cough and annual influenza vaccines. States that wish to veer from those guidelines must get federal permission.
This would also apply to children with special medical needs so immunocompromised children, children who are vulnerable anyway so being exposed to those diseases could be severely detrimental to that population particularly.
Sammi Mayfair, Department of Children's Services
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a vaccine-preventable respiratory illness caused by bacteria and is extremely contagious, according to the Tennessee Department of Health. About a third of infants under a year old who get whooping cough will be hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While deaths are rare, they are most likely to occur in infants under 3 months old.
Flu, likewise, poses higher risks for infants and immunocompromised children. Children younger than 6 months old have the highest risk for being hospitalized from flu, according to the CDC.
Watson, the bills sponsor, noted that while foster and adoptive families may be available for healthy infants, there are challenges in finding families willing to take on babies exposed to drugs in utero or kids with disabilities.
Potential foster and adoptive parents opposed to vaccines are often well-suited to provide good homes to kids, according to Watson.
The demographic of this group of individuals that tend to, perhaps, view the world a little bit differently than the rest of usthey are highly educated and they are affluent. They have the resources to help care for these children and they are very well educated, Watson said.
The bill was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, with Lamar the only no vote. It will move onto a calendar committee before heading to a full vote on the Senate floor.
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A contagious stomach virus circulating in the Northeast has been on a steady rise since November and it's made its way to New Jersey.
While there are cases across the country of norovirus also known as the stomach flu or stomach bug the Northeast is the most affected, maintaining the highest positivity rate since the start of 2024, according to the CDC.
Earlier this month, Irving Primary School in Middlesex County closed for a day to conduct a deep cleaning because of a "gastrointestinal outbreak," the district announced on its website.
The virus might be gaining numbers in South Jersey, as doctors at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have been seeing several patients with the virus, and cases have been identified in Camden County, ABC reported.
The current norovirus outbreak doesn't seem to be more severe than any other previous outbreak, said Dr. Cristopher Freer, RWJBarnabas Health's Senior Vice President of Emergency and Hospitalist Medicine.
"We have outbreaks all the time. So it's not bad enough where I'm getting calls or it's changing any of our staffing or practices in the emergency department," Dr. Freer said. "So we are in pretty good shape, I would say. It's no different than any time of the year," he added.
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that irritates the stomach and intestines.
Even though it is commonly referred to as the stomach bug or stomach flu, norovirus is not a parasite and is not related to the respiratory flu.
The virus is common, causing close to 20 million cases of vomiting and diarrhea and over 100,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. each year, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
Norovirus infections tend to peak seasonally during the colder months of the year.
The illness often begins suddenly. It makes people feel sick, and symptoms usually last a few days. After symptoms fade, a person can remain contagious for more than two weeks, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
You can contract norovirus mostly through our fingers, Dr. Freer said. Once the virus is attached to our hand, it finds its way to our system when touch our mouth, eyes, or anything that we put in our mouths, like food and straws.
Having contact with an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces, increases the risk of contagion. Norovirus is also transmittable through the sharing of drinks and kissing, though wearing a mask is not necessary, Dr. Freer said.
The virus usually comes from sea animals, so eating raw seafood should be avoided to prevent contagion, Dr. Freer said. Norovirus also lives in feces, so washing your hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers is vital to prevent contagion.
The most common symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach cramping.
To prevent a norovirus infection the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases recommends:
Washing your hands thoroughly and often, especially when using the bathroom, changing diapers, eating or handling food.
Washing fruits and vegetables.
Cooking shellfish thoroughly.
Cleaning and disinfecting after somebody vomits.
Cleaning and disinfecting your bathroom if someone with diarrhea uses it.
Norovirus can be transmitted through saliva. So kissing and sharing drinks can lead to a norovirus transmission, Dr. Freer said.
Still, unlike airborne viruses, norovirus is not commonly transmitted through the tiny saliva droplets we expel when we talk. Therefore, wearing a mask is not considered a preventative measure, Dr. Freer said.
Dr. Freer from RWJBarnabas Health, recommends adults drink four to six 12-oz cups of water. He also recommends mixing the water with Gatorade, or any other type of drink high in electrolytes.
For pediatric patients, Dr. Freer recommends giving your child 2 ounces of water periodically throughout the day, as giving more than 2 ounces of liquid at once might induce vomiting.
The intake of salt also helps with recovery. Dr. Freer recommends eating saltines, or any sort of cracker high in sodium.
He stressed, that it is very important to watch how much liquid a patient is vomiting or expelling through diarrhea versus how much liquid a patient is drinking. If a person is letting more liquid out than they are intaking and is unable to drink water without vomiting, severe dehydration might occur and medical attention should be sought.
Currently, there is no approved vaccine for norovirus. However recent research trials have shown promise.
Recently, Vaxart, a biotechnology company, has been testing an oral pill to prevent norovirus. Trials on lactating mothers were done in November, but the pill hasn't yet passed through all trials.
Norovirus infection is usually diagnosed based on your symptoms. Nevertheless, the infection can be identified through a stool sample test.
Physicians might recommend a norovirus test on those with medical complications.
Typically, norovirus symptoms last from 1 to 3 days. Once symptoms fade, a person can remain contagious for more than two weeks.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Norovirus 2024: Stomach bug makes it's way to NJ
Feb 21, 2024 12:09 pm EST | Updated Feb 21, 2024 12:23 pm EST
CHARLES COUNTY, MD Maryland state health officials on Wednesday confirmed a case of avian influenza was detected in a backyard flock in Charles County.
Avian influenza is a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus that spreads among birds through manure and nasal and eye secretions. According to health officials, the virus spreads from flock to flock by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers.
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The virus affects chickens, ducks, and turkeys, in addition to wild bird species such as ducks, geese, shorebirds, and raptors.
Health officials said testing determined the case in Charles County was H5N1 avian influenza. Officials with the Maryland Department of Agriculture quarantined the affected areas, officials said in a news release, and euthanized several birds to prevent the spread of the disease.
Confirmation of the case by the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Veterinary Services Laboratory is pending, state officials said. Final test results are expected in the coming days.
"The latest non-negative result should serve as a reminder for all poultry growers, operators and backyard flock owners to remain vigilant when it comes to the threat of (avian influenza), especially as the spring migratory season begins," Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks said in a statement. "Regardless of flock size, biosecurity remains the most effective way to prevent the spread of this disease among poultry."
To reduce the risk of bird flu infection, owners should take the following precautions:
Possible cases of avian influenza can be reported to the Maryland Department of Agriculture at 410-841-5810. Commercial chicken growers and backyard flock owners can email questions to MD.Birdflu@maryland.gov.
Based on scientific evidence, six Portuguese medical societies prepared a consensus document that highlights best practices to promote increased vaccination in certain groups, such as people between 60 and 65 years old, people with comorbidities, pregnant women, and health professionals.
Influenza is one of the main causes of mortality worldwide. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates between three and five million cases of serious illness annually, with a special incidence on the most vulnerable people, such as the elderly, children under five years of age, pregnant women, and chronically ill people. The flu can result in serious health complications, leading to hospitalisations.
Annual vaccination is considered the most effective measure to prevent influenza and its complications. In this consensus, health professionals from different specialties also refer to the implications that influenza virus infection has on patients with different comorbidities, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (respiratory virus infections are the main cause of exacerbations in this disease), heart disease (causes an increased risk of myocardial infarction), and diabetes (diabetic patients have higher rates of hospitalisation, emergency room admission, and flu-related deaths).
Therefore, considering all the scientific evidence collected, medical societies present the following recommendations and conclusions:
For more information please contact Grupo HPA Saude on (+351) 282 420 400.
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this page are those of the author and not of The Portugal News.
This image illustrates the very beginning stages of an influenza (flu) infection in the respiratory tract. Credit: CDC
Researchers discovered that the sac around the lungs contains macrophages that fight flu infections by moving into the lungs, offering new insights into lung health and potential treatments that enhance the bodys immune response to combat drug-resistant infections.
Scientists have long thought of the fluid-filled sac around our lungs merely as a cushion from external damage. Turns out, it also houses potent virus-eating cells that rush into the lungs during flu infections.
Not to be confused with phages, which are viruses that infect bacteria, these cells are macrophages, immune cells produced in the body.
The name macrophage means big eater. They gobble up bacteria, viruses, cancer cells, and dying cells. Really, anything that looks foreign, they take it up and destroy it, said UC Riverside virologist Juliet Morrison, who led the discovery team. We were surprised to find them in the lungs because nobody has seen this before, that these cells go into the lung when theres an infection.
A paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences details how during an influenza infection, macrophages leave the exterior cavity and cross into the lungs where they decrease inflammation and reduce levels of disease.
This study shows its not just what happens in the lung that matters, but also whats outside of the lung. Cell types not normally connected to the lung can have outsized impacts on lung disease and health, Morrison said.
There are three main cavities in the body: one around the heart, the abdominal cavity, and the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs. Because it contains fluid, it prevents the lungs from collapsing. However, people have not thought much about the pleural cavity being a whole organ within itself. This research may change that perception, Morrison said.
Initially, the researchers set out to understand the more general question of what types of cells are present in the lungs during flu infections. They took existing data on lung-related genes from studies of mice that either died from the flu or survived. They then mined the data using an algorithm to predict cell types that change in the lungs during infections.
We took big data and broke it down to assign which potential immune cells are in the lung tissues. Thats where I got a hint that maybe we had a previously unknown external source of cells in the lung, Morrison said.
Next, using a laser-based technique, the team tracked macrophages going into the lungs of mice, and observed what happened if they took these cells out of the equation. When you take them out of the mouse you see more disease and more lung inflammation, Morrison said.
Morrison says she hopes this study will encourage other scientists to reevaluate data sets from older studies. Our approach was to take information already out there and put it to new use, and we were able to see something new, she said.
Moving forward, the research team is hoping to determine which proteins tell the macrophages to move into the lungs. Once the protein signals have been identified, it may be possible to create drugs that boost either the number of macrophages, or their activity.
The strategy of boosting human defenses to infection, rather than developing another antiviral, could offer people a flu treatment that would be more effective for much longer. Morrison became interested in host therapeutics because antibiotic and antiviral resistance to drugs is a growing problem.
This problem occurs when germs like bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them. Misuse and overuse of the drugs is accelerating the problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 2.8 million drug-resistant infections occur each year in the U.S., and more than 35,000 people die as a result.
If we can boost what resolves infection in us, we probably have a better shot. Were less likely to have resistance. The immune system is so complicated, but its our best bet in the long run to work with what we have rather than chase viruses that continue to escape our therapeutics, Morrison said.
Reference: Pleural macrophages translocate to the lung during infection to promote improved influenza outcomes by James P. Stumpff, Sang Yong Kim, Matthew I. McFadden, Andrew Nishida, Roksana Shirazi, Yael Steuerman, Irit Gat-Viks, Adriana Forero, Meera G. Nair and Juliet Morrison, 15 December 2023, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2300474120
