Category: Flu Virus

The FDA is reviewing an application from AstraZeneca to allow its nasal spray flu vaccine, FluMist, to be self-administered. If approved, it could be available for home use during the 2024-25 flu season. Plus, updates on RSV, strep, and covid.

CNN: Next Season, You May Be Able To Take Your Flu Vaccine At Home The US Food and Drug Administration is reviewing an application for the nasal spray flu vaccine FluMist to be able to be self-administered at home, drugmaker AstraZeneca said Tuesday. The vaccine, the only nasal spray option against flu, has been on the market in the United States since 2003. AstraZeneca has asked the FDA to allow adults ages 18 to 49 to be able to give themselves the vaccine, or to give it to children as young as age 2, citing a usability study showing people can do it properly without a health care provider present. If approved, it would be the first flu vaccine cleared for self-administration. (Tirrell, 10/24)

Reuters: US FDA Accepts AstraZeneca's Self-Administered Flu Vaccine For Review The company said it expects the FDA to decide on the vaccine by the first quarter of 2024, adding that it expects the vaccine to be made available for self-administration in the United States during the 2024-2025 flu season, if approved. (10/24)

On RSV

CNN: Demand Outstrips Supply For Some Doses Of New Shot That Protects Babies Against RSV In the latest headache for parents hunting for a new shot to protect babies against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, this winter, the manufacturer says it has stopped taking orders for some doses because they are unable to keep up with unprecedented demand. (Goodman, 10/23)

NBC News: As RSV Cases Tick Up, CDC Warns That A Key Drug To Keep Babies Safe Is In Short Supply The Food and Drug Administration approved the antibody drug, called Beyfortus, in July. ... Newborns and infants can get doses of Beyfortus during their first RSV seasons, and children up to age 2 who are at high risk for severe illness from the virus can get second doses during their second RSV seasons. According to the CDC alert, the highest dosage, 100 milligrams, is in limited supply. The agency told doctors to prioritize getting those doses to infants at the highest risk of severe RSV, including infants younger than 6 months and those with underlying conditions. The CDC also advised doctors to preserve 50 mg doses for infants who weigh less than 11 pounds. (Miller and Edwards, 10/23)

On strep

Becker's Hospital Review: Henry Ford Hospital Sees Highest Strep Rate In 25 Years Officials at Henry Ford Medical Center Fairlane in Dearborn, Mich., thought they may have had faulty testing swabs for strep throat when rates were so high, but the swabs are accurate, radio station WWJ reported Oct. 23.Strep throat rates are currently the highest Jennifer Stevenson, DO, director of the medical center's emergency department, has seen in her 25 years of practice.(Carbajal, 10/23)

On covid

Nature: Inflammation In Severe COVID Linked To Excess Gut Fungi An imbalance of fungi in the gut could contribute to excessive inflammation in people with severe COVID-19 or long COVID. A study found that individuals with severe disease had elevated levels of a fungus that can activate the immune system and induce long-lasting changes. The work, published on 23 October in Nature Immunology1, raises the possibility that antifungal treatment could provide some relief to people who are critically ill with COVID-19. (Prillaman, 10/23)

Nature: Anti-COVID Drug Accelerates Viral Evolution Molnupiravir, an antiviral drug used to treat COVID-19, induces numerous mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome that can increase the rate at which the virus evolves yielding viral variants that might survive and be passed on. (Pond and Martin, 10/24)

CIDRAP: Study: Kids With COVID Shed Virus For Median Of 3 Days, Supporting School-Isolation Policies Children who tested positive for COVID-19 in 2022 were contagious for a median of 3 days, regardless of vaccination status, suggesting that 5-day school isolation policies are sufficient amid Omicron variant predominance, University of Southern California (USC) and Stanford University researchers report today in JAMA Pediatrics. The study included 76 children aged 7 to 18 years infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Los Angeles County from April to September 2022. (Van Beusekom, 10/23)

Stat: Covid Vaccine During Pregnancy Offers Infants Immunity For Up To 6 Months The risks of severe neonatal morbidity, neonatal death, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit were all significantly lower during the first month of birth in infants whose mothers were vaccinated against Covid-19, and protection against the virus continued for up to six months after birth, according to a new study published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics. (Balthazar, 10/23)

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Next Year, You Might Be Able To Take Your Own Flu Vaccine At Home - KFF Health News

AstraZenecas Supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for the approval of a self- or caregiver-administered option for FluMist Quadrivalent, a needle-free nasal spray, has been accepted for review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If approved, FluMist will be the first flu vaccine available to be self-administered by eligible patients or administered by caregivers, adding an additional option to be vaccinated against influenza.

The sBLA is supported by a usability study which confirmed that individuals over 18 years of age could self-administer or administer FluMist to eligible patients 2-49 years of age when given instructions for use without any additional guidance. FluMist, which is sprayed into the nose, has extensive data demonstrating comparable effectiveness and acceptable safety relative to other flu vaccines.

The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date, the FDAs date for a regulatory decision, is expected during the first quarter of 2024. If approved at that time, FluMist is anticipated to be available for self-administration in the US for the 2024/2025 flu season.

Ravi Jhaveri, MD, Division Head, Infectious Disease; Virginia H. Rogers Professor in Infectious Diseases, Professor of Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases), Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago, USA said: A self-administered option for FluMist Quadrivalent would leverage the unique attributes of the product, providing a convenient new choice for individuals and families who want to protect their loved ones against flu. Vaccination rates for children and adults under 50 years of age declined in the 2022-2023 flu season, highlighting a need for more accessible solutions. The ability for individuals and parents to choose where to administer an injection-free flu vaccine could help increase access and, subsequently, vaccination rates, and greatly benefit those most impacted by this serious and contagious respiratory illness.

Iskra Reic, Executive Vice President, Vaccines and Immune Therapies, AstraZeneca, said: For more than 20 years, FluMist Quadrivalent has served as a critical public health tool as the only intranasal flu vaccine providing protection to communities around the world. FluMist now has the potential to be the first and only self-administered flu vaccine, which could revolutionise flu vaccination. Our ambition is for FluMist to be ordered directly to peoples homes, providing an innovative, more accessible option for individuals, families and communities.

Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus, which can cause serious complications to some groups, such as people 65 years and older, young children, and people with certain health conditions.

Notes

Influenza On average, about 8% of the US population gets sick from flu each season, with a range of between 3% and 11%, depending on the season.1 Children 5 to 17 years of age represent 39% of acute respiratory infection medical visits, even though they only make up about 22% of the US population.2 The impact of influenza extends to work and school, as 47% of days of school missed are due to the illness and working caregivers miss 1-2 days of work to care for household members.3

FluMist Quadrivalent Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine FluMistQuadrivalentis a quadrivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), which is administered as a nasal spray for the prevention of influenza. FluMist Quadrivalent can be used in appropriate children and adults 2 through 49 years of age. FluMist Quadrivalent is an Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended flu vaccine option. FluMistQuadrivalent was originally approved in the US in 2003 and since then almost 200 million doses have been distributed around the world.

AstraZeneca AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visitastrazeneca.comand follow the Company on social media@AstraZeneca.

Contacts For details on how to contact the Investor Relations Team, please clickhere. For Media contacts, clickhere.

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US Food and Drug Administration accepts for review AstraZeneca's ... - AstraZeneca

If theres one positive that came out of the pandemic, it could be our heightened awareness of how viruses, particularly the respiratory kind, can spread from one person to another. The super-sick person who insists on toughing it out and coming into the office or school (and getting several other people sick as a result) has fortunately fallen out of favor.

At this point its clear that no one wants to be the bearer of bad germs, but there's no consensus on when to return to civilization and what precautions, such as masking, may be necessary.

Keep reading to find out how long youre contagious if you have a cold, the flu, COVID-19, or RSV, and how factors like vaccination status, medications, or symptom severity play a role.

The common cold is a mild upper respiratory illness thats relatively contagious, says Dean Winslow, MD, a professor of medicine and an infectious-disease physician at Stanford Medicine in California.

Colds are caused by many different viruses, and rhinovirus (which has many types) is the most common cause, he says. Other common cold viruses include adenoviruses and coronaviruses.

Thats why you can get multiple colds in one season because they can be caused by different viruses or strains, explains Dr. Winslow.

Colds are spread from person to person through the air and from close personal contact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The most common symptoms are sneezing, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, and (rarely) fever.

You can actually be contagious for up to a day or so prior to onset of your symptoms, and then usually you're most contagious for about 24 to 48 hours after onset of symptoms, says Winslow.

For people with upper respiratory symptoms, Winslow recommends wearing a mask for about five or six days after your symptoms begin, in order to protect other people. By that time, the amount of the virus youre shedding is a lot less and youre unlikely to pass the cold on to someone else, he says.

Most human flu illnesses are caused by influenza A and B viruses, which can infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs, according to theCDC.

Symptoms of the flu can range from mild to severe, and include:

Flu is mostly spread through the air by tiny droplets generated when infected people cough, sneeze, or talk, which can then go on to land in the mouths or noses of others. It can also be spread by contact with objects if a person touches something with the flu virus on it and then touches their nose or mouth though thats less common.

As with a cold, you can shed the flu virus and infect other people up to 24 hours prior to onset of symptoms, says Winslow. Youre most contagious the first day or two after the onset of symptoms, he says.

By day three or four, you may still have a lot of symptoms as a result of your immune system being activated, but the amount of virus that you're shedding is lower, he says. Even though its less likely to spread by that point, you are still potentially contagious. To be safe, I would recommend that people wear a mask pretty much the whole time they have upper respiratory symptoms, says Winslow.

The flu shot can reduce your chances of getting the flu. If you do get the flu even after getting immunized, its less likely that youll become severely ill.

There isnt enough evidence to show that already being vaccinated against the flu influences how long youll be contagious if you do still get the virus, says Winslow.

But a medication such as Tamiflutaken within the first 48 hours after onset of symptoms probably does make you less contagious, says Winslow. It definitely reduces the duration of symptoms and also very likely has at least a modest effect on reducing viral shedding because it is an antiviral, he says.

RSV is a highly contagious virus that causes inflammation of the respiratory tract and usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, according to Yale Medicine. It can be hard to tell the difference between a cold and RSV, though the latter usually involves more mucus production (meaning you go through a lot of tissues).

People infected with RSV usually show symptoms within four to six days after infection, per the CDC.

Symptoms of RSV infection usually include runny nose, decrease in appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever, and wheezing, according to theCDC.

RSV is spread through droplets released into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, direct contact (like kissing someone with RSV), or from touching a contaminated surface (like a doorknob) and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes, according to Yale Medicine.

Again, you can spread RSV a day or two before your symptoms show up, and then typically for about three to eight days after your exposure, per theCDC. After the first few days of symptoms, the amount of virus you shed decreases dramatically unless your immune system is compromised, says Winslow.

Some infants and adults with weakened immune systems cant eliminate the virus as well as healthy adults, and remain contagious for as long as four weeks, according to the CDC.

The RSV vaccine is relatively new, and it isnt known whether it can affect how long you are contagious, says Winslow.

At this point, COVID-19 is very contagious, says Winslow. The way the virus has evolved is that its tended to become more contagious and cause less disease, which is a common strategy that most pathogens take in terms of their evolution, he explains.

COVID-19 symptoms can range from mild to severe, and can include:

The virus spreads via droplets and very small particles exhaled by people with COVID-19. Others can then catch the virus if these particles are breathed in or land on peoples eyes, noses, or mouth. More rarely, virus particles can land on surfaces and be spread that way.

Research has confirmed that you can be contagious up to 24 hours prior to onset of symptoms and then you are most contagious one to two days after the onset of symptoms, says Winslow.

The severity of your illness impacts how long you are contagious. People who are infected but dont have symptoms or people with mild COVID-19 should isolate through at least day 5 (day 0 is the day symptoms appeared or the date you tested positive), per the CDC. The agency recommends continuing masking through day 10, or once you test negative.

People with moderate or severe COVID-19 should isolate through at least day 10. Those with severe COVID-19 can remain infectious beyond 10 days and may need to extend isolation for up to 20 days.

Moderately or severely immunocompromised people may be contagious longer and should isolate through at least day 20, per the agency. Use of serial testing and consultation with an infectious-disease specialist is recommended to determine when to end isolation.

If you are vaccinated for COVID-19 but get the infection anyway, you can still spread the virus, but may be less contagious because you shed the virus for a shorter period, according to a Harvard study.

It has been shown that symptom severity generally correlates with the viral load, and so it makes sense that if you have some preexisting immunity from the vaccine, youre less likely to be shedding the virus, says Winslow.

Antiviral drugs (such as Paxlovid) taken shortly after symptoms start may reduce viral shedding, but the recommendations on masking and isolating should still be followed, he says.

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Contagious Periods for Colds, Flu, COVID-19 and RSV: Factors and ... - Everyday Health

From a New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOT) Press Release:

Flu season is underway, and to combat the virus, MountainView Regional Medical Center and Three Crosses Regional Hospital are teaming up with the New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) and community partners to host 'Boo to the Flu'. The yearly Las Cruces flu vaccination event is scheduled at both hospitals Saturday, Oct. 28 from 8 a.m. to noon or while vaccine supplies last. No appointment is necessary.

With flu vaccine provided by DOH, both hospitals will be dispensing drive through flu shots for adults ages 18 and over. One hospital will also be providing vaccinations for children ages six months and over.

Yearly flu vaccines help everyone defend themselves against the flu virus, said Travis Leyva, Interim Director for DOHs Southwest Region Public Health Division. Flu vaccines can reduce peoples chances of serious flurelated complications.

There is no charge for the vaccinations, but anyone with insurance should bring their insurance card, including Medicaid or Medicare, with them.

At MountainView Regional Medical Center:

Adults 18 and children six months and over can receive drive through vaccinations at the hospitals Medical Plaza, east of the main hospital, at 4351 E. Lohman Ave. Follow the signs and MountainView personnel for instructions.

"We are proud to be a part of the Boo to the Flu event again this year, as it aligns with our commitment to the health and well-being of our community, said Mountain View Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Matt Conrad. By providing free flu shots and promoting preventive measures, we are taking proactive steps to prevent the spread of flu and protect the well-being of our neighbors."

At Three Crosses Regional Hospital:

Vaccinations are available for adults only. Three Crosses Regional Hospital is located at 2560 Samaritan Drive just off North Main St. Signs will be posted on both sides of North Main to let you know where to turn. Once on Samaritan Drive, additional signs will clearly mark where on campus to find the drive-thru.

This is our first year participating in Boo to the Flu, and we couldnt be more excited, said Three Crosses Regional Hospital Chief Executive Officer John Lanning. This unique collaboration reflects our mission and commitment to putting the community first as we provide everyone every day the high-quality patient-centered care they deserve.

Flu vaccines are updated every year, which is why the New Mexico Department of Health recommends yearly vaccinations for everyone six months of age and older each flu season - running from October to May - especially people in the following groups who are at high risk or live with and care for people at high risk for developing serious flurelated complications, such as hospitalization and death:

'Boo to the Flu' is created in partnership with the DOH Public Health Division, MountainView Regional Medical Center, Three Crosses Regional Hospital, the United Way of Southwest New Mexico, the Las Cruces Fire Department, American Medical Response Ambulance Service, Las Cruces Public Schools, and nursing students from New Mexico State University and Doa Ana Community College. David Morgan, Public Information Officer| david.morgan@doh.nm.gov | (575) 649-0754

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Say 'Boo to the Flu' - No cost drive-thru vaccinations for children and ... - KRWG

simonapilolla/ iStock

Over half of US state and territorial public health preparedness directors (PHPDs) surveyed said they experienced shortages of flu antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) during the 2022-23 respiratory virus season, forcing many to turn to national or state stockpiles, according to a research letter published late last week in JAMA.

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials surveyed 38 PHPDs from states, territories, and large independent metropolitan health departments from January to August 2023.

The 38 PHPDs represented all 10 US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regions, although the anonymous nature of the survey precluded identifying specific jurisdictions.

In December 2022, the CDC issued a public health advisory encouraging prioritization of oseltamivir for hospitalized flu patients, as well as outpatients at increased risk for severe illness. HHS's Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response for the first time allowed jurisdictions to access Tamiflu from state, territorial, or national stockpiles.

Twenty respondents (52.6%), including at least one in each HHS region, said certain formulations of oseltamivir, baloxavir, and zanamivir were in limited supply.

Sixteen respondents (42.1%) said that, amid the shortages, local clinicians and public health officials promoted flu vaccination. Thirteen PHPDs (34.2%) reported flu outbreaks in long-term care facilities, with no access to oseltamivir for symptomatic residents or prevention in those exposed to the virus.

It is possible that local antiviral shortages were due to earlier and higher than expected influenza activity in the 2022-2023 influenza season compared with the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 influenza seasons,

Of 22 PHPDs in states or territories with stockpiles for pandemic flu, 10 (45.5%) reported obtaining stockpiled oseltamivir in response to shortages. Seven of 15 respondents (46.7%) in jurisdictions with no stockpile said they requested oseltamivir from the Strategic National Stockpile.

"It is possible that local antiviral shortages were due to earlier and higher than expected influenza activity in the 2022-2023 influenza season compared with the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 influenza seasons, with consequent higher demand for oseltamivir," the study authors wrote, adding that the results highlight the need to monitor local and national antiviral supply distribution.

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Avian flu strikes more turkey farms in the Midwest - University of Minnesota Twin Cities

With winter rapidly approaching, Brandeis has begun preparations for flu season. To combat the spread, the Golding Health Center is administering flu vaccinations to all undergraduate and graduate students. According to its website, the flu outbreak typically peaks in January or February, with outbreaks occurring through May.

In a Sept. 15 email, the Health Center announced that it will be hosting flu clinics every Wednesday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., effective Sept. 27 until Dec. 20. Students can schedule appointments on their online patient portals or call the Health Center at 781-736-3677. The online portal displays a calendar with all the available dates and times. The Health Center also sends communication for seasonal vaccines to students through the Electronic Health Record, a repository of electronic records with patient health information.

The Health Center is also hosting flu vaccine pop-ups on Oct. 17 in the International Lounge from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.; Oct. 24 in the Shapiro Campus Center from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.; Oct. 26 in Gosman Sports and Convocation Center from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.; and Oct. 31 in Feldberg Lounge from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Although registration is recommended, walk-ins are welcome while supplies last.

Massachusetts State Regulations 105 CMR 220.600 requires students to have documentation of required vaccinations or proof of immunity through antibody blood titers prior to coming to campus. Examples of required vaccinations include MMR, Hepatitis B, and polio. The influenza flu vaccine is not mandatory but recommended.

The Health Center states that approximately 5% to 20% of the U.S. population is infected with the Influenza virus every year. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that people with the flu are most contagious in the first three to four days after they initially contract the virus. According to the World Health Organization, there have been multiple influenza pandemics throughout history, with the four most recent ones occurring in 1918-1919, 1957-1958, 1968-1969, and 2009-2010.

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Health Center offers free flu vaccines - The Justice

October 23, 2023 By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Health Department will participate in the statewide Fight Flu 23 effort on Nov. 1, 2023, and provide free flu shots to all Tennesseans who are eligible, six-months and older.

We want to protect as many people as we can in our communities from the flu, County Director, Michael Railling, MPH, CPH said. Getting an annual flu shot is the best way to protect yourself and everyone around you.

DeKalb County Health Department will provide free flu shots on Nov. 1, 2023, at the DeKalb County Health Department, 254 Tiger Drive, Smithville, from 9:00 AM 5:00 PM

An appointment is not needed to receive a free flu vaccine at the DeKalb County Health Departments Fight Flu 23 event.

Also, the flu vaccine will remain free to anyone eligible to receive it at all local health departments across the state throughout flu season.

The flu vaccine is safe and effective and can protect individuals against the most common types of flu, and the viruss worst symptoms and outcomes.

The flu virus is very contagious. Pregnant women, infants, the elderly, and people with certain medical conditions are at the highest risk of severe complications from the flu. Annually, more than 7.5 million illnesses, 400,000 hospitalizations, and 22,000 deaths could be prevented in the U.S. if more people chose to get the flu vaccine.

To prevent spreading the flu virus to others, follow precautions such as proper hygiene and handwashing, cover your coughs or sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, and stay home if you are sick.

For more information about the flu virus and Fight Flu 23, visit tn.gov/health/fightflu. For information about getting a free flu shot, contact the DeKalb County Health Department at 615-597-7599.

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DeKalb County Health Department has Free Flu Shots Starting ... - wjle.com

In a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers used blood and airway sampling of morbidly obese individuals and murine models to elucidate the mechanisms underpinning severe cases of influenza among the obese population.

Study:Obesity dysregulates the pulmonary antiviral immune response. Image Credit:Jarun Ontakrai/Shutterstock.com

Their findings reveal that obesity induces deficits in pulmonary antiviral responses and airway metabolomes, thereby increasing leptin concentrations.

The overexpression of leptin incapacitates antiviral type 1 interferon, increasing severe influenza risk. This study may provide insights into therapeutic interventions, such as leptin manipulation, that may benefit higher-risk obese individuals in the future.

Overweight and obesity present some of the world's biggest clinical and economic burdens today. Over 13% of the world's adult human population and over 1 billion people are estimated to suffer from obesity, problems which today's sedentary lifestyle and overconsumption of the Western diet are compounding.

The 2009 swine flu (H1N1) pandemic highlights obese individuals' heightened risk of developing severe respiratory tract infections, contributing to increased hospitalizations and mortalities.

Seasonal influenza research has corroborated these findings, with the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic providing the final evidence that obesity is associated with adverse viral outcomes.

Scientists have hypothesized that obesity may function via altered lung mechanics, cardiovascular disease and other comorbidities, and immunometabolic effects. However, studies have not confirmed the mechanical influences of abnormal body weight on viral susceptibility.

In the present study, researchers employ a multi-compartment sampling strategy of the peripheral blood and airways of morbidly obese patients with ongoing bariatric surgery.

The cross-disciplinary approach combines in vitro metabolomic investigations with in vivo functional murine models and clinical case-control human studies to elucidate the association between obesity and perturbed viral immunity in these patients.

The study's participants (N = 30; 15 cases and 15 controls) were recruited from the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Morbidly obese patients with body mass index (BMI) greater than 35 kg/m2 and normal body weight controls (BMI = 20-25 kg/m2) were age, gender, and ethnicity matched and underwent anthropometric characterization.

Clinical sampling involving blood, nasal synthetic absorptive matrix (SAM) sampling, and bronchoscopy were conducted.

For ex vivo virus infection experiments, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), bronchial epithelial cells (BECs), or plasmacytoid dendritic cells (DCs) were infected with select influenza virus strains - A/Eng/195, A/Eng/691/10 or B/Florida, following which RNA extraction and protein quantification were carried out.

In vivo, experiments were conducted on 6-8 week-old female BALB/c mice and comprised intranasal administration of recombinant mouse leptin followed by intranasal infection with influenza virus strain X31.

In vitro experiments included protein assays, RNA and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), flow cytometry, and metabolomics.

Statistic analyses used Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Dunn's multiple correction test for evaluating human obesity data retrieved from the Mechanisms of Severe Acute Influenza Consortium (MOSAIC) study. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests were used to compare case-control data across human and animal evaluations.

Initial author hypotheses regarding bronchial epithelial cell responses altered by obesity-mediated effects were proven incorrect, as findings revealed no statistically significant differences between case and control participants.

Interleukin (IL) response experiments corroborated these findings in airway inflammation experiments pro-inflammatory cytokine responses were found to be uniform between obese cases and normal controls, suggesting unaltered epithelial inflammation during influenza infection of overweight individuals.

In contrast, BAL macrophages did show significant perturbations in their antiviral responses. BAL cells infected with H1N1/09, H3N2, and B/Florida influenza strains depicted reduced interferon-alpha (IFN-) induction in obese patients compared to their control counterparts.

Similarly, IFN- and IFN- induction was severely hampered in obese individuals, impairing type I and III IFN antiviral protection. BAL cell pro-inflammatory cytokine production of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF also showed reduced efficiency in obese versus normal adults.

Evaluations of BECs revealed that these cells are not affected by obesity, with no differences in cell activation patterns between normal and obese individuals.

Ultrahigh Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) analyses of BAL fluid metabolite abundances presented that 15 metabolites were significantly downregulated in obese patients, and two adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and glycerol were upregulated in this cohort.

"bronchosorption concentrations of leptin negatively correlated with the magnitude of BAL cell IFN- responses to all three influenza strains tested in our ex vivo experiments, with greater concentrations of leptin being significantly associated with weaker induction of IFN- by each virus strain. This indicated a possible causal link between raised leptin concentrations and impaired antiviral immunity in obesity, potentially through perturbed fatty acid metabolism."

In vivo, exogenous leptin administration experiments in mice revealed that the obese mice models presented upregulated suppressors of cytokine signaling 3 (Socs3) mRNA.

SOCS-3 is a known negative modulator of type I IFN signaling, severely impacting obese individuals' early response to viral infection. These results were corroborated when analyzing results from both whole lung expression and BAL macrophages.

Analyses of MOSAIC cohort data elucidate that immune dysregulation in obese patients is restricted to the upper airway mucosa without any significant perturbation within the systemic circulatory system.

The present study utilizes ex vivo experiments and in vivo murine models to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the increased susceptibility of obese individuals to severe influenza infections.

The results of these cross-disciplinary analyses comprising metabolomics, RNA sequencing, HPLC, and flow cytometry reveal that obesity significantly alters the upper airway mucosa of overweight individuals versus their normal BMI counterparts.

This results in upregulated SOCS-2 production and correspondingly attenuated IFN production. Type I and III IFN regulation perturbs normal early infection responses, allowing influenza to present more severe infections in obese individuals.

"In conclusion, our study uncovers insight into mechanisms driving susceptibility to severe influenza infections in obese individuals. Future work should focus on whether sustained weight loss leads to a restitution of this impaired antiviral immunity, especially given that epidemiological evidence indicates that the clinical risk of influenza infection diminishes following bariatric surgerand impaired mononuclear cell type II IFN responses in obese individuals can be corrected by weight loss."

These findings may form the basis for research into leptin manipulation or IFN administration interventions that help obese individuals better cope with influenza and other viral respiratory tract infections in the future.

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New insights into why obesity puts individuals at risk for severe ... - News-Medical.Net

Torontos Board of Health is asking the province for an additional $5.1 million to add to their budget in order to prepare for the fall and winter virus season as COVID-19, RSV and flu cases are already popping up.

Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, said the extra annual funding would be used for Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) hubs that help prevent and mitigate the impacts of outbreaks, particularly in long-term care and retirement homes, shelters and group homes.

[The hubs] are absolutely crucial to the response particularly within congregate settings congregate living settings like long-term care homes, where people live together and where you have people who are at higher risk and how those hubs work, said Dr. de Villa.

She said they are expecting the extraordinary COVID-19 funding provided by the province for the last few years to wrap up despite the city still facing challenges.

This is the kind of thing that we anticipate is going to be needed on an ongoing basis. We certainly have seen the value. What were seeking is funding to ensure that that value is still in place and that we protect health as best as possible, Torontos top doctor said.

I hope the province recognizes the importance of this and puts their money where their mouth is and provides the $5.1 million that were asking for, added city councillor and member of the Board of Health Chris Moise.

The Ministry of Health tells CityNews since 2020, the government has invested over $100 million in IPAC hubs and has increased funding to public health units by 16 per cent.

The government has also provided a one per cent increase in base funding per year for Torontos Public Health Unit beginning in 2024.

Vaccines are currently available for the RSV virus for those 60 years of age or older. The flu vaccine is being administered to high-risk individuals and will soon become available to the general public.

The updated COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech has been approved by Health Canada and is expected to be released across pharmacies on Oct. 30.

Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch said its always hard to predetermine what flu season will be like in Canada.

The key with the flu is we always say its predictably unpredictable.I think the truth is that yes,were going to have one.Yes, vaccines are going to roll out soon.Its not quite clear how severe its going tobe, butwe know what we can do to protect ourselvesagainst this threat thats going to be coming, he said.

Dr. Bogoch said to expect cases to start to trickle up this week, but vaccines are essential.

Its hard to know what level of protection the influenza vaccine is going to provideagainst getting the infection.But we know from decades of experience thatinfluenza can impact every single age and cohort, the youngest and the oldest are moresignificantly impacted, but the flu can reallypack a punch, he said.

The flu shot, while notperfect, still provides decent protectionagainst infection. [It offers] decent protection against moremanifestations of the virus, including hospitalization and death.Its really important for people to get the flushot.

He adds strong community outreach and access to these vaccines is key.

People have to know whats going on,its massive.You can have all the vaccines in the world.But if people dont know theyre around or have difficulty accessing them,were obviously going to get low uptake.

We know that lowering these barriersto vaccination and improving the vaccine ratedoes tremendous good, he added.

As for masking without mandates, its up to the individual person to make that decision for themselves.

Theyre not perfect,but they certainly can help reduce ones riskof getting infected if theyre in an indoor setting where we know the vast majority ofthese respiratory viruses are transmitted.

If you want to reduce your risk of infection,you can put on a mask.Its really as simple as that, said Bogoch.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) Last year, hospitals saw a surge in the number of children with RSV, also known as respiratory syncytial virus. Lexington health officials say the new vaccines could have a big impact on the upcoming cold-weather virus season. For children, elderly adults, and infants, it can be a difficult time of year.

Professor and chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics at the College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Dr. Ilhem Messaoudi, said, Weve known for a long time that RSV can impact really young children and older adults and cause severe disease, especially in premature infants. But for decades, we did not have a vaccine that was efficacious against RSV.

In July and September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended two new RSV vaccinations for adults ages 60 and older and for women 32 to 36 weeks pregnant, to protect their babies. In August, the CDC also recommended Nirsevimab; an antibody as a vaccine to prevent severe RSV in babies and toddlers.

Its an exciting time to have not one but two vaccines, especially after the last year that we had where we saw record numbers of children present to the emergency departments really sick, said Dr. Massoudi. The monoclonal antibody is equally exciting because its approved for really young infants between zero and six months of age and can be used up to infants that are under two years of age.

Massoudi agreed that the new RSV vaccines could make a huge impact this cold and flu season.

I saw numbers released by the CDC recently and flu, COVID, and RSV account for about 40% of all respiratory illness in this country that we measure. So thats a big chunk of it and I think having these vaccines is going to make a really big difference for those populations that are most at risk, Massoudi said.

Massoudi said the new vaccines are widely available but there is a shortage of the ones used to protect toddlers and babies.

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Lexington health officials say new RSV vaccines could make a big difference this cold and flu season - Fox 56 News