It has long been believed that the 1918 flu pandemic disproportionately affected healthy young adults, but a study of human remains tells a different story.

Together, Canadian and American researchers found that preexisting medical conditions like asthma and lower income increased the likelihood of death, just as in other pandemics, including COVID-19.

“Our circumstances -- s...

Just 23% of American adults say they 'definitely' will get the new COVID-19 vaccine, while another 23% say they will 'probably' get it, according to a new poll, which also finds interest in the shot falls along partisan lines.

More people plan to get seasonal flu shots and the new vaccine to help prevent severe symptoms for respiratory syncytial virus or RSV.

The poll -- by the nonp...

President Joe Biden has been freshly vaccinated for three major respiratory viruses that could spread widely this fall and winter.

Biden got both the updated COVID booster and his annual flu shot on Friday, White House physician Kevin O'Conno...

Kids are back in school and it's time to think about viruses, for both yourself and them.

It could be an early flu season in the United States, if what happened in the Southern Hemisphere offers any insight, according to Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles.

The flu vaccine is now available in some locations. A new COVID-19 booster has been approved by federal health officia...

In a finding that should ease the minds of Americans ahead of another flu season, this year's vaccines have already cut the risk of hospitalization in half during the South American winter, health officials report.

Even better, the flu virus strains that have been detected in the United States have so far shown a similar pattern to those in South America, although that could still change....

Two new studies looked to explain an increased risk of respiratory infections like coughs and colds in babies and young children, finding city living to be among the culprits.

Young children who grow up in towns and cities instead of the countryside suffer more respiratory infections, according to research presented Monday at a meeting of the European Respiratory Society, in Milan, Italy....

Bringing a professional sports team to a new city often includes a big taxpayer-funded stadium subsidy, but new research shows that has a health downside: a spike in flu deaths.

“Most, if not all, of the sports venues in the cities we studied received direct and/or indirect public financing,” said researcher Brad Humph...

It's well known that some viruses make the leap from animals to humans, but a new study shows the influenza strain responsible for the 2009 H1N1 pandemic has been particularly prolific in hopping between species.

That strain, called pdm09, has passed from humans to swine about 370 times since the pandemic, researchers report. Further, subsequent circulation in swine prompted the evolution...

Results from more than 26,000 respiratory tests in late 2022 found simultaneous infections with COVID-19, influenza or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in more than 1% of positive tests.

Co-infections were especially widespread in children and teens. In people under age 21, researchers saw a 6% co-infection rate of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A.

“With changing behaviors as the COVID...

Genetic mutations caused this latest bird flu season to become more severe, increasing the risk it poses to humans and other mammals, a new study finds.

The H5N1 avian influenza virus gained the ability to severely infect the brains of mammalian test subjects like ferrets, researchers with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found.

That's a notable departure from previous strains ...

Researchers are reporting progress on the path to a "universal" flu vaccine -- one that would battle all strains of the virus and give the world a weapon against future flu pandemics.

In an early clinical trial, U.S. government scientists found that their experimental flu vaccine was able to coax recipients' immune systems to produce "cross-reactive" antibodies. That is, they made antibod...

Despite the proven safety and effectiveness of COVID and flu vaccines during pregnancy, many young women are still doubtful, a new survey shows.

Compared with older women and adult men, the poll found higher percentages of women ages 18 to 49 doubting that vaccination against these viruses during pregnancy is safe.

The survey of 1,600 U.S. adults was conducted in January. Res...

Getting the flu isn't fun for many reasons, but it can also trigger a heart attack, a new study suggests.

A heart attack is six times more likely in the week after a person is diagnosed with flu than in the year before or after, according to Dutch researchers.

This emphasizes the need for flu patients and those caring for them to be aware of heart attack symptoms. It also underscore...

A new at-home test will help people struggling with upper respiratory symptoms figure out whether they have COVID-19 or the flu.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lucira under an emergency use authorization (EUA) on Friday.

“Today's authorization of the first OTC [over-the-counter] test that can detect influenza A and B, along with SARS-CoV-2, is a major mileston...

A highly infectious strain of avian influenza is tearing through commercial and backyard poultry flocks, causing egg prices to rise as sick chickens are culled across the United States.

Now, some experts are worried that the H5N1 avian flu might become humankind's next pandemic-causing pathogen, if the raging virus makes the leap from birds to humans.

That's because other mammals ha...

The U.S. flu season is expected to extend into spring, and experts say it's not too late to get a flu shot.

Last year's flu season was mild, but this season has already seen triple the number of flu-related deaths in the United States.

“Even a minor respiratory virus can be hard on someone with lung disease, and the flu is especially challenging,” said