flu

From the widespread outbreak of mpox (formerly called monkeypox) in 2022, to the evolving bird flu situation, to recent cases of Marburg virus in Equatorial Guinea, COVID isn't dominating the headlines as much as it used to.Instead, we've been regularly hearing about outbreaks of newly emerging or re-emerging viruses.So, is the incidence of virus outbreaks increasing? Or, have we just become better at detecting outbreaks thanks to improved technology developed during the COVID pandemic? The answer may be a bit of…

When you come down with the flu, your body lets you know. You lose your appetite, you feel sluggish, and your mood takes a hit. The infection itself doesn’t cause these symptoms—your brain does. Now, scientists may have figured out a key part of how this happens. Studying mice with influenza, they found a cluster of nerve cells in the back of the throat that detects a virus’ presence and sends signals to the brain, triggering symptoms that respond to the…

The wave of avian influenza H5N1—which so far has hit 76 countries, triggered national emergencies, and created the worst animal-disease outbreak in US history—keeps roaring through wild birds and commercial poultry. More than 140 million poultry worldwide have died from the virus or were slaughtered to keep it from spreading, according to the World Organization for Animal Health. And though they are harder to count, the die-offs among wild birds have been catastrophic. Something has to put the brakes on. In the US, where…

Minks in Spain, seals in Scotland, sea lions and dolphins in South America: a number of mammal species have recently been found to be infected with H5N1, a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza. Avian flu is not new; epidemiologists have been studying it for decades. But the detection of the virus in mammals has many concerned about the potential that it could spill over to humans and cause a larger outbreak. As the world enters the fourth year of a global pandemic caused by a virus that likely came from an animal,…

THE LARGEST-EVER recorded outbreak of avian influenza is tearing…

Vaccination of domesticated birds can provide a new line of defense. The world has had a vaccine available to help stop the spread of the virus since at least 2003. Its use in other countries, especially in Asia, has proven it effective at halting outbreaks. The most recent wave of the disease has prompted more countries to move toward vaccinating their flocks. Yet despite the massive loss of life, the financial toll on farmers and the spiraling cost of eggs and other…

Royal Palace in Phnom PenhPhoto: James Merluzzi (Shutterstock)An 11-year-old girl in Cambodia has reportedly died after contracting H5N1 avian influenza, also known as bird flu, while her father has also tested positive for the virus. It appears to be the second confirmed human death linked to a surge in cases among birds and mammals since 2020, and this is the first documented human outbreak of H5N1 in the country in nearly a decade. Officials are now testing the family’s close contacts, some of whom have shown symptoms,…

Computer simulation of H1N1 influenza virus at 160 million atom resolution. Credit: Lorenzo Casalino / Amaro Lab / UC San DiegoThe dynamic movement of H1N1 proteins exposes previously unknown vulnerabilities.The World Health Organization reports that there are approximately 1 billion cases of influenza annually, with 3-5 million severe cases and as many as 650,000 influenza-related respiratory fatalities worldwide. To be effective, seasonal flu vaccines must be updated each year to align with the predominant strains of…

This week, Argentina and Uruguay declared national health emergencies following outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, the fast-moving virus that destroys poultry flocks and wild birds, and for decades has been feared as a possible spark for a pandemic among people. That makes 10 South American countries that have recently marked their first-ever encounter with the virus, including Peru—where more than 50,000 wild birds died last fall, and more than  600 sea lions in January. Combine the sea lion infections…

If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that vigilance is crucial. We do need to closely observe how viruses in animals are developing, and be prepared to tackle a jump to humans. We don’t need to panic, though. Not yet, anyway. Read more from Tech Review’s archive We’ve been here before. Scientists were trying to work out how bird flu might make the jump to humans back in the 2000s, as Emily Singer wrote.  Close monitoring of viruses’ ever-changing genomes has helped us navigate the covid-19 pandemic. It…