Influenza Virus Net is the web resource for anyone interested in influenza and flu pandemics. Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses), that affects humans, birds and other mammals. The virus spreads easily from person to person. Influenza circulates worldwide and can affect anybody in any age group. Influenza causes annual epidemics that peak during winter in temperate regions. Influenza is a serious public health problem that causes severe illnesses and deaths for higher risk populations. The most common symptoms of the disease are chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness/fatigue and general discomfort. Sore throat, fever and coughs are the most frequent symptoms. In more serious cases, influenza causes pneumonia, which can be fatal, particularly for the young and the elderly. An influenza epidemic can take an economic toll through lost workforce productivity, and strain health services. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection.

The objectives of Influenza Virus Net are to be the public and professional information resource for influenza and to serve as a network in the exchange of information and news related to influenza.

• Extremely Low Influenza Rates Challenge Next Season's Flu Shot - Bloomberg
  Fri, 19 Mar 2021 07:00 GMT
• Flu vaccination can help adults and kids stay safe from COVID-19 and influenza in 2021 - Firstpost
  Tue, 13 Apr 2021 11:16 GMT
• Repeated Influenza Vaccination Could Reduce Effectiveness - Infectious Disease Advisor
  Mon, 12 Apr 2021 15:30 GMT
• Colorado saw a nearly 'nonexistent influenza season' this year thanks to COVID-19 safety measures - 9News.com KUSA
  Mon, 12 Apr 2021 00:49 GMT
• [Full text] Virus neutralization against influenza virus A/H5 and A/H7 | BTT - Dove Medical Press
  Mon, 12 Apr 2021 22:00 GMT
• Alberta flu season wraps up with zero reported cases - Global News
  Tue, 13 Apr 2021 22:25 GMT
• This year's flu season was virtually nonexistent. That could be bad news for next year. - The Daily Briefing
  Tue, 30 Mar 2021 07:00 GMT
• J&J and Cidara to develop influenza therapy - Chemical & Engineering News
  Fri, 09 Apr 2021 23:55 GMT
• Covid-19 Meant a Year Without the Flu. That’s Not All Good News - WIRED
  Tue, 16 Mar 2021 07:00 GMT
• Spatial mapping of COVID-19 and H1N1 influenza show differential transcriptional signatures - The Mix
  Tue, 06 Apr 2021 18:07 GMT
• Influenza Vaccines Market Report 2020-2030 - Yahoo Finance
  Mon, 12 Apr 2021 10:17 GMT
• What strains should be in this year's seasonal influenza vaccines? - European Pharmaceutical Review
  Wed, 31 Mar 2021 07:00 GMT
• Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N8) Virus in Swans, China, 2020 - CDC
  Fri, 09 Apr 2021 13:18 GMT
• Association between asthma and influenza vaccine uptake among US adolescents: A retrospective survey study - MD Linx
  Mon, 12 Apr 2021 19:55 GMT
• Dramatic dive seen in influenza cases locally, statewide and nationally - Traverse City Record Eagle
  Thu, 01 Apr 2021 10:00 GMT

• PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (59): Germany (BE) poultry, HPAI H5N8, OIE
  Mon, 12 Apr 2021 22:17:18 -0400
  Avian Influenza H5N8 -- Germany
  Summary
  Report type: immediate notification
  Started: 1 Mar 2021
  Confirmed: 2 Mar 2021
  Reported: 8 Apr 2021
  Reason for notification: recurrence
  Last occurrence: 11 Jun 2017
  Causal agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
  Serotype: H5N8
  Nature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratory
  This event pertains to a defined zone within the country.
  New outbreaks
  Summary of outbreaks
  Total outbreaks (1)
  Outbreak location 1: Berlin
  Started: 1 Mar 2021
  Epidemiological unit:


• PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (06): Laos, H5N6, first case
  Mon, 12 Apr 2021 21:51:28 -0400
  Avian Influenza H5N6 -- Laos
  The World Health Organization (WHO) reports the 1st human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) virus infection has been reported in Laos.
  A 5-year-old boy from Luang Prabang province in northern Laos developed symptoms on [28 Feb 2021], was hospitalized and tested positive for A(H5N6) on [8 Mar 2021]. The boy recovered. He had exposure to poultry, and the poultry tested positive for H5N6. None of the contacts at home or in the hospital had the disease.
  This is the 1st avian influenza A(H5N6)


• PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (58): India (HP) HPAI H5N8, goose, alert
  Mon, 12 Apr 2021 10:51:41 -0400
  Avian Influenza H5N8 -- India
  With the 2nd wave of avian influenza killing at least 110 migratory birds over the past 2 weeks at Pong Lake [Maharana Pratap Sagar] in Kangra district, Himachal Forest Department on Wednesday [7 Apr 2021] issued an alert in the state and directed all divisional forest officers to maintain active surveillance in their jurisdiction.
  Another 11 carcasses of migratory birds were found at Pong Lake on Wednesday [7 Apr 2021] taking the toll to 110 at the wetland due to bird flu. The H5N8 virus

• Constrained Optimization for Pneumococcal Vaccination in Brazil Tue, 13 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  CONCLUSION: The study shows that with 4 constraints on budget, time horizon, vaccine coverage, and cost efficiency, a CO analysis could identify the most cost-efficient overall pneumococcal vaccination strategy for Brazil, allowing for limited vaccine budget increase while obtaining appropriate health gain.
• Prospective assessment of smell and taste impairment in a South-American coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cohort: Association with the need for hospitalization and reversibility of dysfunction Tue, 13 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  No abstract
• Influenza vaccination uptake and factors influencing vaccination decision among patients with chronic kidney or liver disease Tue, 13 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  CONCLUSION: While influenza vaccination willingness in patients with CKLD is increasing in the 2020/2021 season, vaccination rates may still remain <50%. Novel co-operations with primary health care, active vaccination surveillance and financial reimbursement may substantially improve vaccination rates in high-risk CKLD patients.
• Influenza Antiviral Subversion: Now the Host is in on the Act Tue, 13 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  No abstract
• Is Viral Coinfection A Risk Factor For Severe Lower Respiratory Tract Infection? A Retrospective Observational Study Tue, 13 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  CONCLUSION: Children with viral coinfection, particularly with rhinovirus, RSV, influenza-A, PIV3, and bocavirus, may be followed closely regarding the clinical changes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
• Metabolic and functional impairment of CD8(+) T cells from the lungs of influenza-infected obese mice Tue, 13 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  Obesity is an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality in response to influenza infection. However, the underlying mechanisms by which obesity impairs immunity are unclear. Herein, we investigated the effects of diet-induced obesity on pulmonary CD8^(+) T cell metabolism, cytokine production, and transcriptome as a potential mechanism of impairment during influenza virus infection in mice. Male C57BL/6J lean and obese mice were infected with sub-lethal mouse-adapted A/PR/8/34...
• The role of host cell Rab GTPases in influenza A virus infections Tue, 13 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  Influenza A virus (IAV) is a crucial cause of respiratory infections in humans worldwide. Therefore, studies should clarify adaptation mechanisms of IAV and critical factors of the viral pathogenesis in human hosts. GTPases of the Rab family are the largest branch of the Ras-like small GTPase superfamily, and they regulate almost every step during vesicle-mediated trafficking. Evidence has shown that Rab proteins participate in the lifecycle of IAV. In this mini-review, we outline the regulatory...
• SARS-CoV-2 spike E484K mutation reduces antibody neutralisation Tue, 13 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  No abstract
• Reciprocal regulation of RIG-I and XRCC4 connects DNA repair with RIG-I immune signaling Tue, 13 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  The RNA-sensing pathway contributes to type I interferon (IFN) production induced by DNA damaging agents. However, the potential involvement of RNA sensors in DNA repair is unknown. Here, we found that retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I), a key cytosolic RNA sensor that recognizes RNA virus and initiates the MAVS-IRF3-type I IFN signaling cascade, is recruited to double-stranded breaks (DSBs) and suppresses non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Mechanistically, RIG-I interacts with XRCC4, and...
• Attitudes towards influenza and uptake of the flu vaccine: A survey of pharmacy staff working in English hospitals Tue, 13 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400
  CONCLUSIONS: This is the first survey to focus on vaccine behaviours of all pharmacy staff groups working in hospitals. Current uptake of the influenza vaccine may be increased through engagement of senior pharmacy colleagues and providing education on influenza, vaccines, and vaccination. Similar studies should be undertaken on a larger scale to fully interrogate the differences between pharmacy staff groups.