Category: Flu Virus

The gene edit also helped limit the spread of the virus. Four ordinary chickens were placed in the same incubator with the gene-edited birds that had already been exposed to high levels of the virus. Out of the four, only one became infected.

Researchers monitored the gene-edited birds over the course of two years and found that the gene changes had no adverse effects on their health or egg production.

This is showing a potential mechanism for reducing the susceptibility of chickens to avian flu, says Carol Cardona, a veterinarian and professor of avian health at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, who wasnt involved in the study. But even if we protected every single chicken on the globe, flu wouldn't go anywhere. Avian influenza has been identified in more than 100 different species of birds.

The fact that some breakthrough infections occurred means that the virus still has a chance to infect other birds, and could escape the vaccines effects by mutating away from using the ANP32A protein to reproduce. In fact, when the UK researchers took samples of the virus from the infected gene-edited chickens, they found some mutations in the part of the virus that this protein interacts with.The flu virus replicates rapidly, and every time it enters a new host, there's an opportunity for that virus to adapt and change, Cardona says.

During the press briefing, Barclay said those viral mutations didnt make the chickens any sicker. The team also wanted to make sure those changes wouldnt cause more severe infection in people, so they added the mutated viruses to human airway cells that had been cultivated in a dish. They found that the mutations didnt help the virus grow in a way that would pose an increased risk to people.

Its also not known how the gene-edited chickens will fare against the much more aggressive bird flu strains such as H5N1, which werent tested in the study. Barclay said they chose H9N2, considered a low pathogenicity virus that causes little to no signs of disease, in part because its more common. Also, deliberately infecting chickens with H5N1 raises animal welfare concerns, since it causes serious illness and is often fatal.

The authors identified two other related proteins, ANP32B and ANP32E, that they think would prevent virus replication. In chicken cells grown in the lab, they edited the genes that code for all three proteins and exposed them to the flu virus. The edits successfully blocked growth of the virus in the cells, but the researchers have not yet bred chickens with all three edits.

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These Gene-Edited Chickens Were Made to Resist Bird Flu - WIRED

Humanity is facing the worst bird flu crisis on record. Since the diseases resurgence in the 2020-2021 season, at least 250 million poultry have been culled around the world to nip outbreaks in the bud, according to data from epidemiologist Vijay Dhanasekaran of the University of Hong Kong. The figures are unprecedented: during this period, over 100,000 wild birds of 400 different species have died, with the disease making worrisome jumps to mammals, such as the one observed at an American mink fur farm in Galicia, Spain, and the massive deaths of sea lions on the beaches of Peru. The new avian influenza virus subtype is everywhere. Dhanasekarans team has investigated the pathogens evolution. On Wednesday, he warned that the epicenter of the crisis has shifted from Asia to Europe and Africa. Experts are bracing for the imminent onset of the typical November outbreaks caused by the arrival of migratory birds from the Arctic.

The current viruss lineage was detected in geese in Chinas Canton province in 1996. Avian influenza viruses have two characteristic proteins on their surface: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). There are 18 types of H and 11 types of N, with a multitude of possible combinations. The Guangdong Goose virus was an H5N1 that could be transmitted rapidly among poultry, causing a hemorrhagic disease with a very high mortality rate of over 40%.

Two different subtypes of influenza can coincide in the same cell of an animal, giving rise to a phenomenon called genetic reassortment, which generates a third subtype, a mixture of the previous ones. Dhanasekarans group has detected key episodes in the viruss evolution. In 2016, a particularly virulent strain of H5N8 originated in ducks in China. In 2020, a subtype of H5N8 classified as 2.3.4.4b emerged in African poultry. In 2021, the H5N1 2.3.4.4b subtype emerged through genetic reassortment in wild birds in Europe; since November of that year, it has caused unprecedented outbreaks in wild animals on five continents, according to Dhanasekarans study in the journal Nature.

The shift of the epicenter of these highly pathogenic viruses to new regions has increased the chances of them infecting a wider range of animals, including mammals, epidemiologist Dhanasekaran warns. The avian flu virus has already been detected in seals, foxes, raccoons, cougars, lynxes and bears, among other species. Exceptionally, humans have also been infected, as in the case of a 9-year-old girl who nearly died after living with sick chickens in a village in Ecuador in late 2022. Repeated infections in mammals, and in humans, increase the chances of the virus adapting, increasing the likelihood of a pandemic, Dhanasekaran warns.

The team analyzed the genomes of 10,000 viruses and investigated outbreaks recorded by the World Organization for Animal Health and the United Nations since 2005. The authors note that the viruss ubiquity in wild birds has accelerated the speed of the pathogens spread and multiplied the risk of genetic reassortment. There is a perpetual threat of the virus jumping to humans. This is mainly due to the viruss ability to evolve rapidly. It can acquire mutations that help it better attach to receptors on human cells, or it can acquire the ability to transmit via aerosols, Dhanasekaran explains. The biggest concern is the genetic reassortment of an H5 [bird] virus with human influenza viruses, which is what happened in previous pandemics, such as the ones in 1957 and 1968.

Ornithologist Victor Gamarra notes that the current panzootic the animal equivalent of a pandemic has affected hundreds of thousands of wild birds around the world. The first case of H5N1 in Peru was detected in a pelican on November 13, 2022. The outbreak spread quickly along the coast and by mid-March at least 100,000 wild birds belonging to 24 species, some of which are endangered had been found dead, as Gamarras team described in a recent study. The pathogen killed 20% of the pelicans in Perus protected marine areas. The ornithologist emphasizes that the total numbers are much higher, because his estimates do not include what happened outside protected areas, where half a million birds could have died.

The virus has spread throughout South America. And its no longer just birds, but thousands and thousands of dead sea lions from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic, laments Gamarra, a researcher at the Natural History Museum of the National University of San Agustn in Arequipa, Peru. The situation could become even worse when the new bird migration begins soon. A recombination of the virus could occur, and we could possibly be talking about a second wave in South America, he warns. This virus spreads fairly quickly, so studies like Dhanasekarans may become outdated. Thats this viruss major threat: we are not prepared to be able to counteract how fast it [spreads].

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The epicenter of the worst bird flu crisis in history, with 250 million birds culled, shifts to Europe - EL PAS USA

An outbreak of avian flu a highly contagious viral infection that affects wild birds as well as poultry has hit poultry farms in South Africa. Two different strains are causing outbreaks in the country A(H5N1) and influenza A(H7N6). A specialist in poultry health, Shahn Bisschop, answers some questions put to him by The Conversation Africa.

The outbreak caused by a highly pathogenic (HPAI) strain of H7N6 avian influenza is causing the most concern at present. The strain was first confirmed in chickens near Delmas north of Johannesburg at the beginning of June 2023.

This virus is a novel mutation of a strain which originated from wild birds at or near the location of the original outbreak.

The strain is well-adapted to chickens it infects them easily and replicates effectively in them, in preference to other avian species and spreads very easily between birds and farms. An estimated 10 million have become infected while 6 million died from the H7N6. A further 1.7 million died from H5N1 earlier in the year.

The conventional control measures (collectively known as biosecurity) have been less effective than usual in limiting the spread of the disease. The main measures taken on poultry farms include strictly limiting human and vehicle movement. People entering farms will typically take further measures to limit disease transmission such as showering, changing clothes and disinfecting footwear when moving between different parts of the farm.

Because wild birds are associated with the spread of avian flu, measures are taken to ensure they are completely excluded from all chicken sheds.

For at least the past nine years, HPAI H5 viruses of the 2.3.4.4 clade have been spread across the globe principally by wild bird migrations and infect a range of avian and mammalian species. The first recorded cases caused by viruses belonging to this clade were reported in South Africa in 2017. A second outbreak occurred in 2020. It was anticipated that the next outbreak would probably also be caused by these viruses and indeed the first reported cases of HPAI in 2023 in the coastal regions were associated with H5 strains.

Local experts are working on the theory that the present outbreak of H7N6 HPAI was created when a low pathogenicity AI (LPAI) virus circulating without causing disease in wild birds underwent a mutation to become an HPAI strain adapted to causing serious disease in chickens. This mutation occurred locally.

Mutation from LPAI to HPAI has been described in poultry in various parts of the world but was considered less likely than the return of the H5 clade 2.3.4.4 viruses previously encountered.

Avian influenza is a controlled disease. That means its placed under strict government control with the aim of eradication as quickly as possible when outbreaks are detected. All outbreaks on farms are immediately reported to the state veterinary service, which takes responsibility for the disease.

The protocol for HPAI control is that all affected farms are placed under strict quarantine and all surviving birds are destroyed and disposed of as quickly as possible in order to limit the further spread of the disease.

But there are weaknesses in the system.

The biggest is that the state veterinary services dont have sufficient resources to manage the outbreaks effectively.

Secondly, because the state doesnt compensate farmers for their losses, they have difficulty getting farmers to comply with orders to cull. This has meant that outbreaks have spread out of control. Infected birds have been moved off infected farms for sale taking the disease with them.

Farmers in the EU and US are compensated when culling happens. This used to be the case in South Africa but no longer happens.

As a result, South Africa has struggled to contain HPAI outbreaks. In 2017 and 2020/21 the outbreaks gradually slowed and eventually stopped.

HPAI outbreaks tend to be seasonal. In Europe, they occur principally in winter months. In South Africa, there is a similar but less clear trend to more cases in the winter and fewer in summer. This may be related to reduced viral survival in hotter summer weather.

New and innovative thinking is needed to deal with the reality on the ground in South Africa.

One possible solution is the introduction of appropriate vaccines. This would reduce the losses associated with outbreaks and would slow the spread of the disease between farms. Like all vaccines, they cant prevent birds from becoming infected but they can manage the level of infection and spread. But they cant eradicate the disease.

But there are limited options in terms of available vaccines. And South Africa would need to ensure that the vaccines registered for use in the country were effective against the local strain. If vaccines are poorly matched to outbreak strains, they wont be effective.

All of this will take time, even with the best effort of government and industry.

The South African Poultry Association has made it clear that poultry products are safe for consumption. It has been collaborating with the University of Pretoria to make sure poultry products are indeed safe. Together with leading scientists they have sequenced the current field strain of H7 avian influenza virus. In a recent paper scientists reported that none of the amino acid markers were present that afford the virus the ability to bind to mammalian cells.

This shows that infection of humans with the current virus is highly unlikely.

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Bird flu in South Africa: expert explains what's behind the chicken ... - The Conversation Indonesia

Last year, New Hampshire hospitals saw a surge of young children with the respiratory illness RSV. Now, local health care workers and state officials say new vaccines could make a big difference heading into another cold-weather virus season.

For the first time, we have safe and updated vaccines to protect us for all three winter and fall respiratory illnesses COVID-19, flu and RSV, said Patricia Tilley, director of New Hampshires Division of Public Health Services.

RSV short for respiratory syncytial virus circulates every fall. For most people, it causes a mild cold. But it can be more risky for infants and older adults. Its the leading cause of hospitalization for infants in the U.S.

This year, federal regulators approved the first RSV vaccines for people over 60. People who are pregnant can also now get vaccinated between their 32nd and 36th weeks, in order to protect their child against RSV.

Theres also a new monoclonal antibody treatment for infants up to 8 months, as well as children up to 19 months who are at higher risk for severe disease. The shot boosts immunity against RSV through whats known as passive immunization providing virus-fighting antibodies directly, rather than spurring the body to produce its own antibodies as a traditional vaccine does.

Martha Wassell, the director of infection prevention at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, said older children typically have some protection against RSV already, from being exposed to the virus in a previous season.

But for the very youngest children, she said these new immunizations could be a game-changer.

Hundreds in the U.S. in this age group die of RSV every year, she said. And now we have made it a preventable disease.

She encouraged new and expecting parents to talk to their doctors about their options.

Dr. Michael McLeod, the associate chief clinical officer for Concord Hospital Primary Care, said the RSV vaccines are also important for older adults.

We know that there's an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 deaths a year from RSV in adults older than 65, he said. So having a preventative vaccine, especially for individuals at high risk, can be an important tool in helping to prevent illness.

He said the CDC recommends that people older than 60 talk to their doctors about whether an RSV vaccine makes sense for them, based on their underlying health issues and other factors.

Major insurers including Aetna, Harvard Pilgrim and UnitedHealthcare said they are covering RSV vaccines and antibody treatments in full, as preventive care. New Hampshire Medicaid is also covering the shots. Many pharmacies in the state are now offering RSV vaccines.

State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan told health care providers last week that RSV activity nationally was still low but starting to tick up consistent with a typical season, where RSV infections begin increasing around October.

Wassell said people who are eligible should talk to their health care providers sooner rather than later, and get a vaccine if appropriate.

I recommend not waiting a day longer than you need to, she said. We are into the viral respiratory season.

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New RSV vaccines could make a big difference this cold and flu ... - Connecticut Public

With latex gloves on and syringes at the ready, Bryants Health Services staff spent last Thursday administering flu shots in the Unistructures Mezzanine. Rolling up one sleeve and experiencing a quick pinch, students, faculty, and staff walked away with more than just a Band-Aid they now had a strategy to fight the flu.

The virus loves communities where people are close together because it's easier to jump from one person to the next. Think classrooms, sports teams, locker rooms, concerts, or living spaces, says Biological and Biomedical Sciences Lecturer Stephanie Mott, M.S.

Flu season, which begins in early fall, can leave people sick for 10 to 14 days. With peak infection rates occurring between late-November and March, health officials recommend individuals receive an annual flu shot in September or October; those who receive a shot any earlier could experience waning antibodies during the virus active periods.

RELATED ARTICLE: 'Protection is vital': New RSV vaccines could save lives and healthcare costs, says expert

You really don't want to get sick, Mott says. If you have the flu, you're more susceptible to other infections. A lot of people who have the flu will then get an ear infection, eye infection, or pneumonia, so if you can eliminate the first infection, then you won't get the second.

School of Health and Behavioral Sciences Director Kirsten Hokeness, Ph.D., notes that the flu vaccine seeks to prevent full-scale versions of the infection and reduce hospitalizations and deaths. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccinations during the 2019-2020 flu season prevented approximately 7.5 million influenza illnesses, 3.7 million influenza-associated medical visits, 105,000 influenza-associated hospitalizations, and 6,300 influenza-associated deaths.

While the vaccines core stays the same each year, there are aspects that change depending on the seasonal variant.

You have to predict in advance what virus strains are going to be heavily dominant in that seasonal flu wave, so you're constantly using analytics to look at across the globe of what's happening, says Hokeness, adding that scientists use dominant strains to make the vaccine.

Variant predictions occur a year in advance; it takes that much time to grow the virus, produce the vaccine, and distribute it to the public. Hokeness says the vaccine manufacturing process begins with growing the flu virus in eggs and incubating the eggs before extracting the virus; this method has been used for more than 70 years. The vaccine can also be created through recombinant technology and a cell culture-based production process.

If the strain circulating the population and the vaccine are a match, the vaccine should prove effective. Hokeness notes that problems occur when there's a diversion during the seasonal flu cycle and newer or different variants arise these are the years where the vaccine's not as effective.

RELATED ARTICLE: Public has more concerns, questions about COVID-19 vaccine, less angst over other vaccines

Flu symptoms often include respiratory congestion, coughing, and fevers, and those who are most impacted are young children, those over 65, and the immunocompromised. Mott explains that as the virus circulates the population, humans develop immunity against the infective process, which stops the virus in its tracks and forces it to change itself to sneak around the immunity. Vaccine side effects should be minimal and may include soreness from the needle prick and tiredness the following day.

The vaccine exposes a person to a small part of the virus that cannot make you sick. By giving the body a portion of the virus, youre telling it, Okay, this is coming your way, Mott says.

Vaccine protection kicks in two weeks after the injection since the body needs time to build antibodies. Hokeness adds that as infections are encountered, the immune system mounts a fighting response; the body will remember this virus exposure causing it to have a quicker and more vigorous response the next time.

Bryants Health Services will hold a flu clinic on Nov. 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in MRC 3.

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Flu shot: Bryant experts explain how it's made, why it works, when to ... - Bryant University

Flu is a common illness during the winter. But it can be severe, especially in children younger than age 5 and adults ages 65 and older, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems and chronic conditions, such as diabetes or asthma. It attacks the respiratory system, causing fever, body aches, cough, headache, and sore throat.

How to prevent the flu: Get the annual flu shot, which is available to everyone ages 6 months and older. Although it can be given throughout the flu season, the CDC recommends getting the shot by the end of October for peak protection. While the timing of the flu season can vary from year to year, activity often starts to increase in October and peaks between December and February (although it can extend until May).

Most people ages 6 months and older need only one dose of the flu vaccine; however, some children, ages 6 months through 8 years, may require two doses for the best protection. Pregnant women in their third trimester can consider getting the shot in July or August to protect their infants in the first several months after birth (when they are too young to be vaccinated).

Some people will still get the flu after getting the vaccine, Dr. Gleeson says. But data suggests that if you do, the vaccine decreases the risk of severe disease and hospitalization. You might feel bad, but not as dramatically ill as you would have been if you didn't get the vaccine.

This year, special measures for flu vaccination are no longer recommended for people with egg allergies, regardless of the severity of a previous reaction to egg. This is based on studies that show those severe allergic reactions are rare, according to the CDC, which also recommends all vaccines be given in settings where allergic reactions can be recognized and treated quickly. People with allergies to other vaccine ingredients should talk to their providers.

If you get the flu: The CDC recommends staying home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. The fever should go away on its own without over-the-counter medication, according to the CDC. Also, children and teenagers should not take aspirin or products that contain salicylate to treat flu symptoms, since that ingredient can cause a rare condition called Reyes syndrome in people 18 and younger.

You can talk to your doctor about getting a prescription for an antiviral drug, such as Tamiflu, especially if you are 65 or older, pregnant, or have a medical condition such as asthma or heart disease. Children can take these medications as well. Antiviral drugs, including pills, inhaled powders, and solutions delivered intravenously, fight the flu virus in your body, and they work best when you start taking them early, one or two days after symptoms start. Antivirals can help reduce symptoms, shorten your illness by one or two days, and prevent pneumonia and other serious complications, including death.

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Can RSV and COVID Vaccines Prevent Another 'Tripledemic'? - Yale Medicine

For most of the millions of people who get the flu each year in the U.S., the virus brings a few days of fever, body aches and weakness before it goes away.

But for some, the influenza virus can lead to severe illness, hospitalization even death.

Allison Miller knows these risks all too well. This year marks a decade since serious complications from the flu led to a life-changing loss for the Virginia-based communications director.

HAVE A COLD OR FLU? HERE'S HOW TO KNOW IF YOU CAN STILL WORK OUT: USE THE NECK CHECK

At age 33, Miller was a healthy young woman when she came down with a sore throat and headache.

When her symptoms got worse, she went into urgent care for a chest X-ray, but it showed nothing alarming.

A decade ago, Allison Miller (pictured) experienced serious complications from the flu, which led to a life-changing loss. (Allison Miller/iStock)

"It looked like it was just some sort of run-of-the-mill stuff they gave me some prescription cough syrup and said to let them know if it got worse," she said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

Back at home that night, Miller started feeling worse and began having intense back pain.

"Thinking it was the flu or something I could get over, I kept waiting to turn the corner like, this is the worst of it. It'll get better. And clearly that wasn't the case," she said.

SKELETONS FROM 1918 FLU PANDEMIC REVEAL CLUES ABOUT THOSE MOST LIKELY TO DIE, STUDY FINDS

The next morning, when the back pain was causing her to have periodic blackouts, Miller managed to call a friend, who came over and called an ambulance.

Thats where Miller's memory stops.

"I remember being loaded into the ambulance and then I really don't remember a whole lot after that for about three weeks to a month thereafter," she said. "It just escalated very quickly."

Today, in what Miller refers to as her "new normal," she wears a prosthesis and with the help of "very qualified people" has learned to walk again and to "navigate the world and all of its terrain." (Allison Miller)

As Miller would later learn, her influenza had caused bilateral bacterial pneumonia which affects both lungs and is more severe than viral pneumonia.

This led to sepsis, which quickly turned to septic shock.

"All of my organs were shutting down," Miller said. "Within a short amount of time, I was in the ICU and they were doing everything they could. But ultimately, my last best chance was to be put on life support."

"I had missed the memo that flu vaccines were for everyone, and being 33 at the time and otherwise healthy, it didn't even register as something I should consider doing."

After five days, Miller experienced a rare complication.

"A known complication of that form of life support is amputation," she told Fox News Digital. "Some patients lose blood circulation, and that's what happened to me."

Ultimately, doctors had to amputate Millers left leg above the knee all while she was still in a medically induced coma.

Miller has been able to get back to the things that she loves to do, such as traveling the world and not feeling limited by her disability. (Allison Miller)

"By the time I came out of it, it had been three weeks. I awoke in a very hazy position and I didnt have a left leg," she recalled.

She spent another two months in the hospital and then had to do weeks of inpatient rehabilitation.

Today, in what Miller refers to as her "new normal," she wears a prosthesis and with the help of "very qualified people" has learned to walk again and to "navigate the world and all of its terrain."

DOCTORS URGE VACCINATIONS AHEAD OF THIS YEAR'S FLU SEASON, WHICH COULD BE 'FAIRLY BAD,' EXPERTS SAY

Miller has been able to get back to the things that she loves to do, such as traveling the world, without feeling limited by her disability.

"It's just different, and I have learned to adapt and adjust," she said.

In addition to the amputation, Miller still suffers from permanent lung damage and below-average heart function.

The more severe complications of flu are often markedly reduced for those who get an influenza vaccine, a doctor told Fox News Digital. (Nicolas Maeterlinck/Belgia/AFP via Getty Images)

"There was some permanent organ damage because of the strain of the virus, as it was such a severe case of pneumonia," she said. "I have a terminal lung condition that needs regular treatment."

She added, "It's manageable, but it's something I will forever deal with."

The experience has given Miller a "renewed sense of how quickly things could change" and has taught her to be as proactive as possible about her health to prevent a terrible outcome.

"A viral illness like influenza can set you up for something more serious further on."

Overall, Miller said she thinks most people dont understand how severe the flu can be so they dont recognize the signs that they need immediate medical attention.

"In my case, it was very quick it was within 24 to 48 hours that it went from just coming on, to me being in the hot seat."

Now, Miller is looking to spread awareness of the importance of getting the flu vaccine, which she did not get that year.

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine every season, with rare exceptions. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo)

"I had missed the memo that flu vaccines were for everyone, and being 33 at the time and otherwise healthy, it didn't even register as something I should consider doing," she said.

"If there's anything you can do proactively to minimize the risk of something that severe happening to you, you absolutely should do it, I think."

FLU PREVENTION TIPS FROM FLORIDA'S SURGEON GENERAL: A 'DAY-TO-DAY HEALTHY LIFESTYLE IS KEY

Miller acknowledges that the vaccine doesnt guarantee that someone won't get the flu, but noted that "it's more of a continuum, rather than either you're sick or you're not."

She said, "You still might get it, but you may not end up in the ICU like I did Considering the benefits that you could get and what the extreme, worst outcome could be, it is an easy thing to do that is proven to make a tremendous difference for people," she added.

In addition to getting yearly vaccines, Miller takes steps to minimize her exposure and makes healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating nutritious foods and exercising.

During the 2021-2022 influenza season, the CDC estimates that there were nine million illnesses, four million medical visits, 10,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths related to the flu. (iStock)

Dr. Gregg Sylvester, chief health officer at CSL Seqirus, a New Jersey biopharmaceutical company, noted that while Millers experience is not typical of most women in her age range, "it probably occurs more often than we know."

The flu triggers inflammation of the respiratory tract, Sylvester said, which causes it to become irritated and can allow secondary or bacteria to enter.

COVID-19, FLU AND RSV VACCINES ARE ALL AVAILABLE THIS FALL: SEE WHAT SOME DOCTORS RECOMMEND AND WHY

"A viral illness like influenza can set you up for something more serious further on," he warned. "That's why it's so important to get a vaccine."

The more severe complications of flu often are markedly reduced for those who get an influenza vaccine, according to the doctor.

"It's important to seek care early, especially if symptoms start to change dramatically," a doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

"You still may end up getting infected, but your symptoms will be milder," he said. "And hopefully, your respiratory tract will be in a little bit better shape."

Mid-October is the "perfect time" to get a flu vaccine, Sylvester said, as he noted that the U.S. is starting to see an upswing in cases.

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"It's never too late, but it is important to be vaccinated before the season really gets started," he said.

Overall, Miller urged, "don't dismiss the flu as just the flu. It's so much more than that. And it can be life-altering."

She continued, "If you're sick and the symptoms are severe, don't waste time wondering if you should seek medical attention. Listen to your body its better to go in proactively, rather than regret it later."

Miller's influenza caused bilateral bacterial pneumonia, which affects both lungs and is more severe than viral pneumonia. (iStock)

Sylvester agreed, stressing the need for people to be their own patient advocates.

"It's important to seek care early, especially if symptoms start to change dramatically," he said.

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During the 2021-2022 influenza season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there were nine million illnesses, four million medical visits, 10,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths related to the flu.

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine every season, with rare exceptions.

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After losing her leg to the flu, Virginia woman urges people to get vaccinated: Dont waste time - Fox News

Whittier Street Health Center clinic on Tremont Street in Roxbury. BANNER PHOTO

Officials at Bostons community health centers, taking their message deep into the neighborhoods, are encouraging residents to get vaccinated as flu season begins and before they get sick.

They are urging residents to get the annual flu vaccine, newly approved COVID-19 shots or the respiratory syncytial virus vaccine for older residents and infants.

The best way to stay healthy is prevention, said Cyril Ubiem, who heads the COVID-19 and infectious disease teams at Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center.

People should get vaccinated as temperatures drop and the holidays approach, said Melissa Leaston, director of nursing and infection control officer at Whittier Street Health Center.

Now is the time to protect yourself so when you are at those family gatherings, youve added a measure of safety for you as well as your loved ones, Leaston said.

The vaccinations help decrease the severity of the disease and reduce spread.

We often look at vaccines as a way that we care for each other, said Renee Crichlow, chief medical officer at Codman Square Health Center in Dorchester. Reducing the spread of viruses within the community helps keep us all stronger, and it protects our most vulnerable.

With the release of an RSV vaccine in May, this year marks the first time that vaccinations for all three major respiratory viruses flu, COVID-19, and RSV are available in the United States.

Staying up to date with these vaccinations is the best way to prevent serious complications and hospitalization from respiratory viral illness, which is important for everyone, said Bisola Ojikutu, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission, in a statement.

Community health centers are focusing efforts on getting the vaccines out into neighborhoods.

For instance, Whittier Street operates mobile health care units where residents can get vaccinated. They can also go to the main clinic in Roxbury. Leaston recommends making an appointment. They can get vaccinated at churches and other faith-based organizations as was possible during the pandemic.

Were getting out into the community, getting to our elder population and just making sure that people are aware of whats going on, Leaston said.

Ubiem said Harvard Street has been using social media and on-the-ground outreach to let people know that their clinic is open for vaccinations five days a week.

Codman Square Health Center plans to run nursing vaccine clinics, Crichlow said. Residents can see their primary care physicians about getting the shots.

The new COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and Moderna were approved last month. An updated Novavax shot was approved earlier this month. The vaccines target a subvariant of the Omicron strain of the disease.

The vaccines come as Boston sees an increase in hospitalizations for the disease and concentrations of the virus in wastewater tracking, matching expected seasonal trends as the respiratory viruses generally spread more in the later year.

Throughout the fall and winter, the viruses that cause respiratory disease circulate widely in our communities, Ojikutu said in her statement. We anticipate that cases of respiratory viral illness, including COVID-19, will continue to increase throughout the fall and will peak in the winter. Hospitalizations may be high this season and cause similar strain within our hospitals similar to last year.

Leaston said shes encountered hesitancy around the COVID-19 vaccines that hindered earlier vaccination efforts, but that reluctance has decreased.

She said some people see lower infection rates as an indicator that they dont need to get the vaccine right away but encouraged people to get protected.

This is the time to get it, when youre not sick, Leaston said.

Residents with reservations about the vaccine should speak with their primary care provider, Crichlow said.

We want them to feel its totally safe and reasonable for them to come and have those conversations directly, Crichlow said. Their questions and their concerns are valid, and we want to make sure that we can address them.

Health care officials also recommend vaccination against RSV, another virus that is often no more harmful than a cold but could be more dangerous for patients.

Infants under 6-months-old, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk, said Ojikutu.

Cost should not be a barrier for people seeking vaccination, health care center staff said.

The new COVID-19 shots and the annual flu vaccine are free with most medical insurance.

The new RSV vaccine is covered by Medicare Part D, though others may have to pay out of pocket.

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Health centers urge residents to get their flu and COVID shots - BayStateBanner

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) cases resurfaced in Montanas domestic birds this October, ending the summertime break in cases as the outbreak continues into its 18th month and state officials adjust their response.

Last week in Glacier County, a poultry flock intended for sale and consumption was confirmed to have bird flu by Montana officials. Per federal guidelines, officials killed the flocks some 50,300 birds to prevent the virus from spreading.

The same week a backyard flock in Flathead County tested positive for HPAI and eight birds were culled. On Tuesday evening, another backyard flock in Park County was confirmed to have bird flu, the Montana Department of Livestock said.

The three instances are the first HPAI cases Montana has seen since April. Experts attribute the uptick to the fall migrations of waterfowl and other wild birds that spread the virus to farm-raised, or domestic, birds.

We knew that this fall migration was a potential risk period for seeing additional cases, Tahnee Szymanski, state veterinarian for the Montana Department of Livestock, said in an interview Wednesday. Generally speaking, this virus survives better in cool and wet conditions than it does in hot and dry ones. So fall weather right is much more conducive to virus survivability.

While the uptick in cases was expected, this HPAI outbreak is different from previous ones in terms of severity and ability to infect more wild birds. The last national outbreak in 2014-2015 lasted seven months and in Montana, infected just one backyard flock and a single captive wild bird.

Comparatively, the Park County flock is Montanas 20th flock impacted since the state recorded its first case of this HPAI strain (H5N1) in April 2022.

Tahnee Szymanski, state veterinarian for the Montana Department of Livestock, said in an interview Wednesday that the infections are still from the same strain, but it has genetically mutated since it started spreading a year and a half ago.

As the bird flu outbreak has continued, the state has adapted its response, Syzmanski said. Depopulation requirements have loosened and quarantine times have been shortened.

Producers have been rigorous with their biosecurity to limit interactions between wild and domestic birds, Syzmanski said.

Most of the cases are transmitted from wild to domestic flocks rather than the virus bouncing from domestic to domestic flock, which is a testament to the work that all of our poultry producers are doing, Szymanski said.

Some of the successes there as far as biosecurity have allowed us to do things like not require depopulation of some small backyard flocks, Szymanski said. And when we started this process, the duration that affected premises had to be under quarantine was longer.

Once a flock is confirmed positive for bird flu and animals are culled the federally-approved methods include CO2 gassing and cervical dislocation the premises have to be disinfected and quarantined before birds can be raised there again. That quarantine period used to be 150 days or more, and is now 120 days, Szymanski said.

Its still a huge blow to producers who lose out on months of income. The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers some indemnity payments to producers, but they rarely cover the full costs of the impact, Szymanski said.

We would like to find the means to not have to depopulate so many birds, which has had so much disruption to the industry, Szymanski said. Last year, as we were entering the fall months, based upon the number of depopulations that had occurred, we were seeing increases in egg prices, and the price of poultry at the grocery store, and we would like to not have those repercussions.

Still, animal health officials say depopulation is often the most humane route for suffering birds and that its an important method to reduce viral spread. The virus has killed more species of wild birds than HPAI ever has before, and has also spread to an array of mammals and two known human infections, though Syzmanski said the risk to people is still low.

Vaccinating domestic birds for HPAI would be logistically complicated and disrupt international trade agreements, Szymanski said. She added the only species approved for emergency HPAI vaccination is condors in California.

Producers can take steps to limit the risk of bird flu, including keeping birds, feed troughs, and watering stations indoors and changing clothes and shoes when entering poultry birds to avoid biocontamination. The most common symptom of HPAI is sudden death of multiple birds in a flock, which producers should report to the livestock department immediately, Szymanski said.

Biosecurity feels like a really hollow talking point at this time weve been saying it for so long now but it really is the key piece, Szymanski said. If you have birds and want to keep them safe, think about ways to minimize exposure to wild birds.

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Montana sees first bird flu infections since April, officials adapting ... - Montana Right Now

The state Department for Public Health has launched a new website for information on COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus.

As we continue into the fall and winter cold and flu season, this site, and a new Respiratory Virus Data Dashboard that is part of this site, will provide awareness of where Kentucky stands with regard to spikes and decreases in these viruses to help inform personal decisions, Health Commissioner Steven Stack said in a news release.

CoverYourCough.ky.gov joins the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other states in putting all of this information in one location, the release said.

The state site includes a Respiratory Virus Data Dashboard, with data starting the first week of October, which marked the official start of flu season, which runs through mid-May.

Data will be updated on Thursdays and will replace the states previous weekly flu report and COVID-19 dashboard. Weekly reports will be archived.

The dashboard will provide the number of positive laboratory tests for COVID-19 that have been reported to the state; the percentage of outpatient medical visits attributed to flu-like illness in the Sentinel Health Care provider network; the number of emergency department visits and hospitalizations associated with COVID-19, the flu and/or RSV; the number of reported deaths associated with COVID-19 and/or influenza; and pediatric deaths attributed to COVID or the flu.

The provider network includes doctors offices, hospitals and health departments that voluntarily submit their flu data.

The health department cautions that while anyone can get a respiratory infection, some people are at high risk for serious illness, so its important for Kentuckians to follow tips listed on the site to protect themselves and others this fall and winter. The advice includes stay home when sick, cover coughs and sneezes, consider wearing a mask if you are high-risk for serious illness and stay up to date on vaccines including the flu shot.

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New state website monitors flu, other respiratory viruses - Pmg-ky2.com