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Children in the UK may be more at risk of infections and other health complications this winter compared with previous years

Flu, RSV and cost of living will all harm UK child health this winter

23 November 2022

Seasonal infections are set to spike, while the cost-of-living crisis is also expected to affect some children’s mental and physical health

A coloured scanning electron micrograph of a cell (green) infected with the omicron variant of the coronavirus (purple)

The omicron coronavirus variant may protect against flu

19 September 2022

In a laboratory study, the H1N1 seasonal flu virus didn't take hold in bronchial cells containing the omicron coronavirus variant, but the flu virus did replicate in cells containing the delta variant

Exercising before or after a flu vaccine may make it work better

15 June 2022

People who are usually physically active had increased antibody levels if they exercised around the time they received their flu shot

Flu vaccine cuts risk of heart attack in following year by 34 per cent

12 May 2022

A meta-analysis of studies involving 9000 people suggests those who receive a flu vaccine also gain some protection against heart attacks

Two multiethnic pregnant women enjoying tea time at home. Smiling pregnant women talking and looking at each other. Happy girls both with a baby bump relaxing on couch and have a friendly conversation; Shutterstock ID 1773304790; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Flu vaccines during pregnancy protect babies for 6 months after birth

14 January 2022

Evidence shows that getting a flu jab during pregnancy provides substantial protection to young babies, but uptake in many countries is still concerningly low

First human case of H10N3 bird flu strain reported in China

2 June 2021

A man has been infected with the H10N3 strain of bird flu in China, but the risk of the virus spreading between people is thought to be low

Ambulance crews treat a patient with possible COVID-19 symptoms

A bad UK winter could cause 120,000 hospital deaths linked to covid-19

13 July 2020

The UK has three months to avoid a potential second wave of infections in the winter that could lead to 120,000 hospital deaths, finds a report requested by the government’s chief scientific adviser

Australia sees huge decrease in flu cases due to coronavirus measures

1 May 2020

Australia recorded just 229 flu cases this April, compared with 18,705 last April, probably due to lockdown measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus

Masked workers wait at the entrance after a group of people formerly under quarantine from swine flu leave a holiday centre turned into quarantine center in Hong Kong on May 7, 2009. Twenty-eight people were released from the centre after seven days of quarantine as they had arrived in Shanghai on a flight with an infected Mexican who had swine flu

A pill that mimics natural antibodies could fight many kinds of flu

7 March 2019

An experimental drug that mimics the effect of antibodies produced by the immune system has saved animals given lethal doses of flu viruses

Why air travel makes deadly disease pandemics less likely

1 November 2018

Air travel may actually be reducing the risk of a deadly pandemic. This is because its harder for new microbes to stay isolated and become incredibly lethal