influenza

The United Kingdom has confirmed its first case of equine influenza in a Thoroughbred horse. The diagnosis is significant for the racing and breeding industry, where outbreaks can force the suspension of meetings and movement restrictions on horses. Vets and racing authorities are expected to monitor the situation closely for further spread.

Health officials in Japan are warning that influenza can lead to serious complications even after fever subsides. TBS News reports that symptoms such as chest pain and breathlessness severe enough to keep people awake can signal conditions like myocarditis or pneumonia, and says anyone experiencing these after recovering from the flu should seek medical care, noting the risk applies to everyone.

Italians are searching for information about influenza ahead of the September 2026 season. Italian media report that around 262 respiratory viruses are expected to circulate this autumn, with advice on how to strengthen the immune system and protect against infection. Coverage focuses on which viruses are arriving, symptoms to watch for and prevention measures as the new season begins.

Health experts in Wisconsin are encouraging residents to get their flu shots as the season approaches. Officials stress that vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent influenza and reduce strain on local hospitals. The reminder comes as part of routine seasonal health messaging aimed at boosting vaccination rates across the state.

The New Jersey Department of Health has issued executive directives aimed at guaranteeing residents' access to influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and routine childhood vaccines. The move is intended to remove barriers to immunisation and maintain vaccination coverage across the state. The directives underline the state's push to keep seasonal and childhood immunisations available despite shifting federal guidance.

A Hamburg resident is publicly searching for a place offering a combined Covid-19 and influenza vaccination, saying their previous provider is no longer offering it. They note they do not fall under the standing vaccination recommendations of STIKO, Germany's immunisation commission, raising the question of access for people outside the recommended groups.

The Medicines Patent Pool has signed several regional agreements aimed at expanding access to an antiviral medicine for influenza. The deals are intended to broaden availability of the flu treatment across multiple regions, though details on the specific drug, partner manufacturers and countries covered have not yet been widely reported.

Health authorities in Japan have declared a nationwide flu outbreak, with influenza cases spreading across the country. A nationwide epidemic designation indicates infections have exceeded alert thresholds across most regions, prompting renewed attention on hospitals, vaccination and public health measures during the season.

The Caldwell County Health Department in North Carolina has announced it will hold a flu clinic, offering residents seasonal influenza vaccinations. Local health officials are encouraging community members to attend and get protected ahead of the flu season. No further details about dates or eligibility have been released in the announcement.

Lincoln County Public Health in Oregon is encouraging residents to get vaccinated against influenza ahead of the 2026-27 flu season. The health department's message is a routine seasonal push to get people immunized early, protecting vulnerable residents and reducing strain on local healthcare as flu activity typically rises in the fall and winter months.

Japan's health ministry says the average number of influenza patients per monitored medical institution has surpassed 1.0 in all 47 prefectures, the threshold that signals a nationwide flu outbreak. It is unusual for every prefecture to cross the marker at the same time, prompting attention to the early and unusually widespread start of the season.

The World Health Organization is holding an EPI-WIN webinar under its Health Emergencies programme to explain its 2027 Southern Hemisphere influenza vaccine recommendations and the science behind them. The session is aimed at health professionals and public health networks who need to understand how the strains are selected and what changes, if any, the recommendations introduce for vaccine composition.

Indonesian health authorities have stated there is no 'super flu' outbreak in the country and cautioned the public against stockpiling oseltamivir, the antiviral used to treat influenza. The announcement aims to calm concerns and prevent shortages of the medication. Officials stress that circulating flu strains remain normal and urge people not to hoard medicines unnecessarily.

Researchers at WashU Medicine say influenza, like COVID-19, can produce lasting symptoms that persist for months after infection, a condition being called 'long flu'. They are advising people on ways to lower their risk, including vaccination and prompt treatment. The findings add flu to the growing list of viruses linked to prolonged illness.

The World Health Organization is holding a Health Emergencies EPI-WIN webinar on preparing for respiratory virus circulation in the northern hemisphere winter season. The session, the first in a series, covers the current epidemiological situation and efforts to strengthen surveillance and vigilance ahead of the winter months, as health authorities brace for seasonal increases in influenza, COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.

The World Health Organization's European office is holding a Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework meeting. The gathering brings regional health officials together under the WHO framework designed to improve the sharing of influenza viruses and pandemic vaccines. Further details on participants or outcomes have not been made public, but the meeting underlines ongoing efforts to strengthen readiness for future flu pandemics across Europe.

A new study in Communications Medicine examines how the nonpharmaceutical interventions used against COVID-19 — lockdowns, masking and distancing — produced pathogen-specific ripple effects in other endemic diseases, disrupting their usual transmission patterns. The findings suggest these measures left lasting, uneven imprints on diseases such as influenza and other common infections, with some pathogens rebounding differently than expected after restrictions eased.

The Cattaraugus County Health Department in western New York will begin running influenza and Covid-19 vaccination clinics for residents. The announcement signals the start of the respiratory illness season vaccination push, giving residents local access to both seasonal flu shots and updated Covid vaccines as health officials prepare for fall and winter illness.

Japan is experiencing a widespread flu outbreak, with health authorities reporting influenza activity in all 47 prefectures. The nationwide spread has prompted warnings for precautions such as masking and vaccination as cases climb during the season. Observers are watching whether the outbreak will continue intensifying and strain medical services in the coming weeks.