influenza

It can be hard to find children's fever-reducing medication in some areas. At a Bed Bath & Beyond in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, a few products were in stock while others were sold out.

Thanks to the 'tripledemic,' it can be hard to find kids' fever-reducing medicines

5:00am December 03, 2022

by Laurel Wamsley

Makers of products like Children's Tylenol say they're trying to keep up with big demand as RSV, flu, and COVID spread. But medical experts note that kids' fevers don't always call for medicine.

From left: 1) Colored scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a human cell infected with H3N2 flu virus (gold filamentous particles). 2) Scanning electron micrograph of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) virions (colorized blue) that are shedding from the surface of human lung epithelial cells. 3) Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron virus particles (gold).

Health & Safety

Experts are concerned Thanksgiving gatherings could accelerate a 'tripledemic'

11:07am November 22, 2022

by Rob Stein

As the holiday approaches, infectious disease specialists are bracing for the possibility that big family get-togethers and travel will propel the spread of RSV, flu and COVID-19.

Health experts agree that the unseasonably early surges of RSV cases, especially among children, are a consequence of lifting COVID-19 precautions, which served to protect the public from a variety of viruses.

RSV is surging. Here's what to watch for and answers about treatment options

10:42am November 02, 2022

by Vanessa Romo

Doctors say they are seeing an unprecedented number of cases. How concerned should parents be? Why are young children so vulnerable? What's causing this year's outbreak? We offer some answers.

Gustavo Perez got his influenza vaccine from pharmacist Patricia Pernal in early September during an event hosted by the Chicago Department of Public Health at the city's Southwest Senior Center. This year's flu season may strike earlier and harder than usual, experts warn. A flu shot's your best protection.

Health & Safety

How to time your flu shot for best protection

7:01am October 01, 2022

by Rob Stein

Some flu experts are urging many people to get their shots earlier than usual this year because of the potential for an early, possibly severe flu season. But what's the best timing for you?

Health officials are predicting this winter could see an active flu season on top of potential COVID surges. In short, it's a good year to be a respiratory virus. Left: Image of SARS-CoV-2 omicron virus particles (pink) replicating within an infected cell (teal). Right: Image of an inactive H3N2 influenza virus.

Health & Safety

Flu is expected to flare up in U.S. this winter, raising fears of a 'twindemic'

1:13pm September 23, 2022

by Rob Stein

After virtually disappearing for the last two years, there are troubling clues that the flu could come roaring back this year, to cause trouble alongside COVID.

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A pharmacy in New York City offers vaccines for COVID-19 and flu. Some researchers argue that the two diseases may pose similar risks of dying for those infected.

Scientists debate how lethal COVID is. Some say it's now less risky than flu

4:19pm September 16, 2022

by Rob Stein

They argue the threat posed by COVID has lessened because of preexisting immunity and access to treatment. Plus, some deaths may be incorrectly blamed on COVID. Others caution it's too soon to tell.

Waterfowl and the raptors that dine on them, like this bald eagle and snow goose, have both been killed by the new bird flu virus.

A worrisome new bird flu is spreading in American birds and may be here to stay

3:09pm April 09, 2022

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Scientists are tracking a deadly bird flu outbreak that has infected wild birds in more than 30 states. Purging the nation's poultry supply may not be enough to keep the virus from sticking around.

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Reporter and parent Selena Simmons Duffin checked with infectious disease experts to learn how strategies from the coronavirus pandemic can be adapted to help parents keep their little ones and the whole family from sharing cold and flu viruses.

5 Ways To Stop Summer Colds From Making The Rounds In Your Family

10:14am June 16, 2021

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

Run-of-the-mill runny noses and coughs are back, after a break during the pandemic's height, when so many of us were circulating less and wearing masks. Here's how to keep household viruses at bay.

Is that sneezing or coughing fit a sign of allergies, a cold, the flu or COVID-19? If you also have a fever — a temperature above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher — those symptoms probably signal infection and not just allergies acting up. (Wait 30

Health & Safety

Allergies, Colds, Flu And COVID-19: How To Best Prep For Fall's 'Sick Season'

1:20pm October 04, 2020

by Kristen Kendrick

Coughs, sore throats and runny noses are common in fall and winter, and they rarely signal dire disease. But with COVID-19 a threat this year and flu an annual hazard, here's what you need to know.

This negative-stained transmission electron micrograph depicts the ultrastructural details of an influenza virus particle, or virion.

Flu Season Looms And Scientists Wonder How Flu And COVID-19 Might Mix

7:55pm September 03, 2020

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

There's a lot that scientists don't know about how viral infections can interact. But researchers are eager to figure out how coronavirus infections might affect flu infections and vice versa.

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