Flu season worst in years, vaccine ineffective

siemens submitted, created time 7 months 1 week (edition.cnn.com)

This year's flu season has shaped up to be the worst in three years, partly because the vaccine didn't work well against the viruses that made most people sick, health officials said Thursday.

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Lessons from the past: Familial aggregation analysis of fatal pandemic influenza (Spanish flu) in Iceland in 1918

davidd submitted, created time 9 months 4 weeks (www.pnas.org)

The pandemic influenza of 1918 (Spanish flu) killed 21–50 million people globally, including in Iceland, where the characteristics and spread of the epidemic were well documented. It has been postulated that genetic host factors may have contributed to this high mortality. They identified 455 individuals who died of the Spanish flu in Iceland during a 6-week period during the winter of 1918, representing >92% of all fatal domestic cases mentioned by historical accounts.

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Researchers warn about overprescribing Tamiflu

Reviver submitted, created time 1 year 1 month (www.reutershealth.com)

Swedish researchers said on Wednesday: Sewage systems do not break down Tamiflu, which means the main weapon against bird flu could seep into natural waters and make certain viruses resistant to the drug during a pandemic.

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Four Indian children test negative for bird flu

DanyC submitted, created time 1 year 3 months (www.reutershealth.com)

India has completed health checks on thousands of people after an outbreak of bird flu in the remote northeast, and cleared four boys who had been suffering from fever after handling dead or sick poultry.

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Do flu vaccines really protect the elderly?

saury submitted, created time 1 year 4 months (www.newscientist.com)

A new analysis has revealed that elderly people are still dying of flu, but far fewer than 30 years ago - and those who are dying are older. This has not only muddied the waters in determining the effectiveness of vaccinations programmes, but it suggests they are due for another flu pandemic.

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