Latest news with #InfluenzaB
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Ernakulam witnesses spike in influenza cases
Ernakulam has recorded a spike in cases of infection caused by influenza viruses. Over 250 influenza cases had been reported over the past month, according to data provided by the Department of Health. Two students of Union Christian College, Aluva, tested positive for H1N1 influenza as of Friday (July 18). The college authorities said necessary control measures had been initiated on the instructions of the Health authorities. A total of 194 influenza cases were reported in the district between July 1 and July 17. On July 8, as many as 31 cases were recorded. A 12-year-old girl from Ayyapmpuzha had succumbed to fever on July 8, though the authorities are yet to confirm the exact reason for the death. On July 15, 32 influenza cases were reported in Ernakulam. The common strains of the influenza virus seen included H1N1, H3N2, and Influenza B. Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, convenor of the research cell of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Kerala, said that influenza is caused by several viruses, which circulate seasonally. 'In Kerala, the monsoon season brings two factors together. First, people crowd indoors and also travel in vehicles with windows closed due to rain. This allows respiratory viruses to spread easily. Secondly, the humid weather allows the virus to stay alive longer in the air, that is, without the tiny cough droplets drying out,' he said. He added that wearing masks in crowded indoor spaces and avoiding social visits at hospitals are two easy ways to reduce risk. 'The flu vaccine protects from severe disease. In addition, unlike COVID-19, there are effective antiviral agents available which reduce the severity of the disease if the diagnosis is made early,' he said. Some of the main symptoms include cough, tiredness, fever, runny nose, body aches, sore throat, breathlessness, and wheezing. Doctors usually advise patients to stay hydrated and to cover their mouths while coughing and sneezing. However, elderly persons with co-morbidities must take extra care.
The Spinoff
6 days ago
- Health
- The Spinoff
When immunisation is a health target, why isn't the flu vaccine free for kids?
Although it's a common illness, the flu can be very serious – even in healthy and active young people. Many adults can access the vaccine for free, or have it reimbursed by their employer. Why don't we offer the same for pēpi and tamariki? On a Saturday in the July school holidays, Katie Iti died at Hutt Hospital from complications of Influenza B. Katie was 15 years old, in year 10 at Naenae College and loved drag racing. Speaking to Radio New Zealand, her dad Shayne described Katie as a 'sister to everyone' in the close-knit drag racing community. He said her flu symptoms were routine – body aches, a runny nose and a cough. He also urged whānau to get vaccinated against the flu. Immunisation is a health target and has been in the sights of the coalition government since the beginning of the term. The ink was drying on the coalition agreement in December 2023 when then minister of health Shane Reti announced $50 million to help Māori health providers lift immunisation rates. He noted that low immunisation rates put pēpi and tamariki at particular risk of life-threatening illnesses. 'It protects them from serious but preventable disease and reduces the risk of hospitalisation or worse – something that no parent wants to face.' In Aotearoa, the National Immunisation Schedule details the vaccines babies and children receive through infancy and childhood, and boosters available for adults. The schedule includes vaccines against serious infectious and life-threatening illnesses such as pneumococcal disease, diphtheria and measles. Schedule immunisations and their administration are free, regardless of visa or citizenship status, given the benefits of high herd immunity within populations. Despite being listed on the schedule and recommended annually for anyone aged over six months, the flu vaccine is less accessible. The flu vaccine is not free for babies and children unless they meet certain criteria for being at higher risk of serious illness. This includes having a long-term health condition like asthma, diabetes or a heart condition, or having been hospitalised previously for a respiratory illness like pneumonia, bronchiolitis or Covid-19. There are clear and obvious benefits to providing free vaccines to those most at risk. However, there are also clear and obvious benefits to providing a vaccine to anyone who wants it, if vaccination can prevent serious and life-threatening complications should a person contract an infection. The flu vaccine falls into this category. It is recommended by the immunisation schedule and strongly supported by clinical evidence. Many adults can access it for free, or have it reimbursed by their employer. Why don't we offer the same for pēpi and tamariki? For a brief two-year period recently – we did. Uptake of the flu vaccine for under-fives tripled once universal funding was introduced in 2022. Writing in May 2024, once the funding was cut, authors Samantha Marsh, Janine Paynter, Peter McInytre and Rajneeta Saraf noted: 'Focusing flu vaccination funding only on those at the highest risk is a step backwards for New Zealand and will likely reduce uptake. In contrast, Australia has funded flu vaccines for all children aged six months to five years since 2019.' Marsh et al go on to cite a report from the Child and Youth Epidemiology Service that influenza accounted for 56% of all preventable hospitalisations in children in Aotearoa – more than varicella, measles, whooping cough and meningococcal disease combined. Knowing that influenza can be serious, I had decided my son should receive the flu vaccine prior to starting daycare earlier this year. I had thought we could receive our shots at the same time from our local pharmacy – perhaps the start of an annual tradition. I was aware he would require two doses, four weeks apart, as it was his first flu vaccine. I wasn't aware that our local pharmacy didn't have a vaccinator who could vaccinate a baby under one, meaning we would have to make an appointment with the GP nurse instead. I also wasn't aware that each dose of the vaccine would cost $45. The Kids Health website advises each shot could be between $25 and $45, depending on the clinic – similar to the price for an adult, but $50-$90 in total if it is your child's first vaccine. Multiple children requiring two initial doses would quickly add up – putting this very basic protective health measure out of reach for many whānau. Although it is a common illness, the flu can be very serious, requiring hospitalisation, and in rare and tragic cases, cause death – even in healthy and active young people. If a vaccine is clinically sound, evidence-based, and recommended by the Ministry of Health in the National Immunisation Schedule – such as in the case of the influenza vaccine – it should be free for everyone, especially pēpi and tamariki.
New Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Influenza cases on the rise in Kerala; 19 deaths so far in 2025
KOCHI: With 19 deaths and 1,857 cases reported so far this year, the state is witnessing a surge in influenza virus infection. In the first nine days of July, the state reported 382 cases and six deaths. Influenza is a seasonal disease caused by environmental and other factors, with fever and body pain being the common symptoms. However, a high proportion of elderly population and youngsters with lifestyle diseases, cancer, and obesity poses a threat. According to Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, convenor of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) research cell, there are three strains of influenza viruses in circulation now. 'H1N1, H3N2 (both of which come in the Influenza A category), and Influenza B strains are circulating. Also, a vast majority of cases go undiagnosed as the symptoms are often indistinguishable from other common viral infections,' Dr Rajeev said. The reason why fever and flu-related mortality is on the rise is the prevalence of comorbidities, pointed out Dr B Ekbal, a public health expert. 'Among the elderly and youngsters, more people are suffering from lifestyle diseases including diabetes, hypertension, and even cancer. In Kerala, only 40% of the people control diabetes properly. Obesity is also a major factor,' Dr Ekbal said. The severity of the disease varies as per the patient profile. 'Those with comorbidities and among elderly, the condition can even cause death. If the host is weak, the impact will be greater,' Dr Rajeev said. Unlike Covid, influenza has effective treatment, and if symptoms are present, it is better to conduct a flu test, Dr Ekbal said. 'The number of people who undergo flu tests is low in the state. Antivirals, if taken within 48 hours, are effective too,' he said. An expert panel led by Dr Ekbal — entrusted with formulating a new immunisation policy in November 2023 — had proposed a mandatory administration of flu jabs to those aged 65 and above, but no action has been taken. The data on seasonal flu released by the National Centre for Disease Control revealed that Kerala reported the highest number of deaths due to influenza A till April 30 this year. Precautions
Eyewitness News
11-06-2025
- Health
- Eyewitness News
Doctors reporting a range of flu infections this winter season
CAPE TOWN - The winter season in 2025 has brought with it more than just icy cold and rainy conditions. Doctors are reporting a range of flu infections, which include Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Influenza A, better known as swine flu and Influenza B types. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NCID) said there has been an increase in these types of infections this winter season. The institute's Anne von Gottberg explained: 'Most predominantly, it's been H1N1, which is not unexpected, we've had one or two other types, and there's three types that we would be expecting - two Influenza A types and one influenza B type - and at the moment, its exactly as expected.' Gottberg said flu vaccines are assessed each year to make sure they are still a good preventative measure. 'Well, they are slightly different, which is why we need to give the influenza vaccine each year. So, the influenza virus drifts a little. It has small changes in its genome, in its genetic background, and that makes it slightly different each year and that's the reason for reviewing the vaccine and making sure that we have updated influenza virus components in the Influenza vaccine.'
Business Upturn
06-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
LEX Diagnostics Submits Dual Applications for FDA 510(k) Clearance and CLIA Waiver for Groundbreaking LEX VELO System
CAMBRIDGESHIRE, United Kingdom, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LEX Diagnostics, a leading innovator in molecular diagnostics, has submitted dual applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking 510(k) clearance and CLIA waived status for its VELO system, an ultra-fast point-of-care molecular diagnostics platform designed to deliver highly sensitive PCR results for key respiratory pathogens directly from a swab sample in under ten minutes.1 The FDA submission represents a pivotal step in LEX Diagnostics' strategy and underscores the company's commitment to advancing point-of-care testing with accurate, timely, and clinically actionable results. 'This milestone reflects the strength of our R&D and clinical validation programs, as well as our broader mission to make molecular diagnostics faster, simpler, and more accessible,' said Ed Farrell, Chief Executive Officer of LEX Diagnostics. 'We believe the LEX VELO system will redefine point-of-care testing by equipping healthcare providers with lab-quality results in minutes, enabling faster clinical decisions and improved patient outcomes without compromising quality while improving workflow—an achievement that will set us apart in the marketplace.' The LEX system supports multiplex testing for key respiratory pathogens, including Influenza A, Influenza B, and COVID-19, and is engineered to deliver PCR results in six to ten minutes, easily integrating into clinical workflows across primary care settings, urgent care clinics, pharmacies, physician office laboratories and decentralized acute settings. Its proprietary cartridge-based design eliminates the need for external liquid handling, promoting ease of use and reliability. LEX recently completed clinical studies in the United States with the VELO system and the Influenza/Covid assay during the 2024/2025 respiratory season. LEX Diagnostics anticipates U.S. market clearance in late 2025 or early 2026, in alignment with expected FDA review timelines. About Lex Diagnostics LEX Diagnostics, a TTP Group Company, is a molecular diagnostics company transforming point-of-care testing through its proprietary ultra-fast thermal cycling technology. Designed to deliver lab-quality PCR results directly from a swab sample in minutes, the VELO system bridges the gap between accuracy and accessibility, empowering healthcare professionals to make informed clinical decisions faster. LEX Diagnostics is headquartered in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. Learn more at and follow us on LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, statements regarding product development, regulatory timelines, market potential, and expected outcomes. These statements are based on current assumptions and expectations that are subject to risks, uncertainties, and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including regulatory decisions, market conditions, and operational challenges. LEX Diagnostics undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein, except as required by law. Media Contacts LEX Diagnostics Chris Hole [email protected] Scius Communications Katja Stout+44 778 943 5990 [email protected]
