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The Latest Breaking News from Influenza

When is the best time to get your flu shot? 2 infectious diseases experts explain

We usually have to wait until winter approaches before we see an increase in cases of influenza, or the flu. But we have already seen a lot of flu this year, with 25,000 cases reported from January to March – and that’s only a fraction of actual case numbers.

The Conversation

A high-risk bird flu strain is circling the globe. How prepared is NZ?

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 – particularly the 2.3.4.4b lineage – has transformed the global disease landscape over recent years.

The Conversation

First European case of H9N2 bird flu reported in Italy – what you need to know

The first human case of H9N2 influenza virus (bird flu) has been reported in Europe. A human infection was recorded by the Italian Ministry of Health on March 25, 2026.

The Conversation

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Italy confirms first European human H9N2 avian flu case

The first human case of H9N2 avian flu in Europe has been detected in Italy in a person who travelled from outside the continent.

Euronews

Number of children who died from flu this season hits 115 as six states remain on high alert

Oregon, Idaho, New Mexico, Colorado, Missouri and Ohio still have high levels of flu activity

The Independent UK

What is Flumist, the new flu vaccine for kids that’s sprayed in their noses?

Many kids are scared of getting needles, and this can stop them getting vaccinations that protect that against the flu. Less than one in four Australian children were vaccinated against influenza in 2025.

The Conversation

NZ’s 9th COVID-19 wave: why infections are rising – and how booster shots still help

Six years after COVID-19 first reached New Zealand, the country is experiencing its ninth wave of infections.

The Conversation

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Bird flu kills dozens of elephant seal pups at California state park

About 30 seals had died as of Thursday, nearly all of them weaned pups, amid the rise of avian influenza

The Guardian - US

Saudi Arabia bans poultry imports from 40 countries including India amid health concerns

Saudi Arabia has implemented extensive import bans on poultry and table eggs from 40 countries due to ongoing disease concerns, primarily avian influenza. An additional 16 nations face regional import restrictions. Exemptions are available for heat-treated products meeting strict health and certification requirements.

The Times of India

Flu kills five more children in a week as doctors brace for influenza surge across nation

Around 90 percent of child flu deaths this year have been in children who were not fully vaccinated against the virus

The Independent UK

Moderna Jumps Above 20-Day Moving Average on FDA Flu Vaccine Review. Should You Buy MRNA Stock Here?

Moderna shares extend gains as FDA reverses its refusal-to-file decision on the firm’s influenza vaccine. Here’s why MRNA shares still aren’t attractive to own in 2026.

Barchart

Clinical Trials Show Moderna's New mRNA Flu Vaccine Is Safe and Effective. FDA Won't Even Consider It.

An overzealous government agency suppresses medical innovation yet again.

Reason

A new flu strain is rising around the US – and it’s more severe for children

At least 60 children have died so far this flu season, 90 percent of whom were unvaccinated

The Independent UK

The unexpected benefit of getting your annual flu shot

The number of Americans who are getting vaccinated for any respiratory illness is falling

The Independent UK

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The Independent UK

Breakthrough nasal spray found to protect against all forms of flu

Such sprays could provide short-term protection during a pandemic for healthcare workers

The Independent UK

Two viruses emerging from animals could be the next ‘major’ public health threats to American families, scientists warn

One has already spread in humans in Arkansas and across Asia

Budget and the Bees

The So‑Called “Superflu”: What to Know About the H3N2 Subclade K Surge

The flu season arrived with intensity this year, bringing an unwelcome guest to communities across the country. A specific strain, scientifically known as H3N2 subclade K, is circulating widely. Media outlets sometimes refer to it as a ‘Superflu,’ but it remains a variation of the seasonal influenza we face annually.

The Conversation

Why a flu transmission experiment didn’t spread the flu

A group of volunteers spent days locked in a small hotel room with people actively infected with flu. They played games, shared objects and exercised together in conditions designed to help the virus spread. Yet not a single person caught influenza.

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The Conversation

The flu is everywhere. So why aren’t Canadians getting vaccinated for viral illnesses?

The death of Prashant Sreekumar made headlines across Canada when the 43-year-old father of three died in the emergency room of Edmonton’s Grey Nuns hospital after waiting for eight hours with chest pains.

LiveScience

Why is flu season so bad this year?

Flu season in the U.S. is particularly bad this year, and a new branch of the flu family tree may be to blame.

The Conversation

New variant of the flu virus is driving surge of cases across the US and Canada

After a sharp uptick in flu cases in mid-December 2025, flu activity across the U.S. and Canada remains high.

The Conversation

Colorado ranks among the highest states in the country for flu – an emergency room physician describes why the 2025-26 flu season is hitting hard

Colorado is in the midst of a record-breaking flu season. In the week ending Dec. 27, 2025, 831 people were hospitalized with influenza – the most since the state started tracking flu cases two decades ago. Hospitalizations eased the following week to 737 but still remain higher than prior years.

The Independent UK

This year’s flu shot may be more effective than researchers thought - even as cases across the US are rising

This is America’s worst flu season in more than two decades with more than 15 million illnesses and 7,400 deaths reported

The Guardian - AU

Highly transmissible flu strain Super-K infects more than 2,500 Australians

Unseasonably high rate of influenza comes as vaccination rates plummet among those most vulnerable, GPs say

The Conversation

Viral outbreaks are always on the horizon – here are the viruses an infectious disease expert is watching in 2026

A new year might mean new viral threats.

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