A new set of swine flu viruses have been discovered that are highly adapted to infecting humans – and they’re already spreading among farm workers in China.
Emergency hospital during influenza epidemic at Camp Funston in Kansas around 1918.
National Museum of Health and Medicine
A century ago, the influenza pandemic killed about 50 million people. Today we are battling the coronavirus pandemic. Are we any better off? Two social scientists share five reasons we have to be optimistic.
Backyard chickens may seem free and happy, but are at increased risk of contracting diseases from wild birds.
Bruce Turner/Flickr
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, some critics say livestock farms promote diseases that spread from animals to humans. An animal scientist explains how well-run farms work to keep that from happening.
COVID-19 cases as of March 22 2019.
The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at John Hopkins University
The government’s “whatever it takes” promise to NHS is all very well, but UK healthcare is a long way from being ready to deal with a major outbreak.
A security guard wears gloves while holding a basketball during halftime of an NBA game in Houston on March 5, 2020. The NBA has told players to avoid high-fiving fans and to avoid taking any item for autographs.
AP Photo/David J. Phillip
Initial data from the outbreak in China did not reveal as much information as scientists needed to assess the epidemic. Now, more accurate data suggest an epidemic worse than some previously thought.
Researchers Tian Xia and Zijie Lin test a plasma prototype for preventing airborne transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus at a Michigan pig farm.
Robert Coelius/Michigan Engineering, Communications & Marketing
Viruses are small enough to pass through filters, including face masks. Disabling viruses with electrically charged gases could be a better way to curb airborne transmission.
The new approach to keep research ready to go could be useful for other health emergencies, including other infectious diseases.
from www.shutterstock.com
Colin Simpson, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
All too often, researchers around the world act in competition when trying to answer research questions in an emergency situation, such as outbreaks of the flu. The UK is trialling a new approach.
Important research questions can almost always be answered better with a combination of methods – where both quantitive and qualitative data play a role.
Congolese health workers prepare equipment before the launch of vaccination campaign against the deadly Ebola virus.
REUTERS/Samuel Mambo
Research shows for every 100 healthy adults vaccinated against influenza, 99 get no benefit.
Every year in Canada, there is an average of 23,000 cases of lab-confirmed influenza, 12,000 people who need to be admitted to hospital and 3,500 flu deaths.
(Shutterstock)
As influenza season begins in North America, many people wonder whether to get a flu shot. Our expert delves into the pros and cons of the vaccine and how it works.
Those keypads are teeming with microbes.
AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
It took a computer to discover the potential threat of a drug-resistant strain of swine flu that was about to spread from New South Wales. So how close did we come to a global pandemic?
As part of pandemic preparation, in the early 2000s many countries amassed large stockpiles of the influenza neuraminidase inhibitor Tamiflu.
Tony Hisgett/Flickr
One of the biggest recent controversies in medicine involves the effectiveness of the antiviral drug Tamiflu. Governments have stockpiled the drug but many have raised doubts about its usefulness.
Predicting the severity of the flu season based on one data set paints an unnecessarily scary picture.
Sabbhat Sabacio Striges/Flickr
Australia’s in the middle of the annual flu season and once again, it’s claimed to the worst on record. But why is it that every season seems to outdo previous ones and how bad is this year, really?