flu

People of color are hospitalized with the flu at far higher rates than white Americans, according to a large multi-year study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The CDC study, published Tuesday, looked at flu hospitalizations among adults from 2009 through last year using data from its flu surveillance network that includes more than 70 counties across 14 states.Hospitalizations were 80% higher among Black adults than white adults, 30% higher among Native Americans, and 20% higher among Hispanics,…

As the weather cools in the Northern Hemisphere, and people increasingly mix indoors, we can expect cases to rise, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the WHO, told journalists at a press briefing on Wednesday. It’s not just the UK—several countries in Europe are already seeing increases in covid-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.Another cause for concern stems from the virus’s ability to evolve. The omicron variant is still responsible for the vast majority of cases globally. But the WHO is monitoring…

The past two years have seen relatively quiet flu seasons — a welcome development as hospitals and the public health system focused on managing waves of COVID-19. But experts are expecting flu to make a comeback this winter, and people will need to differentiate between the two illnesses with very similar symptoms. At-home testing companies are asking the Food and Drug Administration to authorize combination tests that can scan for both COVID-19 and influenza in a single sample. Lucira Health asked the agency to sign off…

…

After flu hit historically low levels during the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be poised for a comeback. The main clue: A nasty flu season just ended in Australia. While there’s no way to predict if the U.S. will be as hard-hit, “last year we were going into flu season not knowing if flu was around or not. This year we know flu is back," said influenza specialist Richard Webby of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. Annual flu shots are…

…

The study found that people who got a flu shot had a 12% lower risk of stroke.Annual flu shots are linked to a lower risk of stroke.According to research recently published in the journal Neurology getting an annual flu vaccination may reduce the risk of stroke.“Studies have shown that getting the flu increases your risk of having a stroke, but research is still being collected on whether getting the flu vaccine can help protect against a stroke,” said study author Francisco J. de Abajo, MD, MPH, Ph.D., of the University…

Good evening. I’m Karen Kaplan, and it’s Tuesday, Sept. 27. Here’s the latest on what’s happening with the coronavirus in California and beyond.With the rollout of bivalent boosters, the fight against COVID-19 took a big step toward looking like the fight against seasonal flu. Every year, the vaccine experts who advise the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examine the influenza strains in circulation around the world and recommend shots (and sometimes nasal sprays) that target those most likely to sicken…

Can you get the COVID booster and flu shot at the same time? For Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, the answer is simple. “I really believe this is why God gave us two arms — one for the flu shot and the other one for the COVID shot,” he quipped during a recent briefing. As public health officials prepare for a possible rebound of the coronavirus this fall and winter, they’re also urging people to get vaccinated against the familiar, if recently quiet, foe of influenza. But busy residents need…

The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research. At this point in the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly everyone has experienced the panic and uncertainty that come with having mild COVID-like symptoms—such as a cough and sore throat—only to test negative day after day. With cold and flu season just around the corner, that state of frustrating uncertainty is likely to strike most of us again. Both COVID-19 and the flu are contagious respiratory illnesses…