News Related to Cold & Flu

1. Flu Vaccine Worst in 10 Years
   

   April 17, 2008 -- This year's flu shot was only 44% effective, a new study suggests -- the least effective flu vaccine in a decade. The findings come from a study of 616 Wisconsin residents who came down with flu-like illnesses during the peak of the flu season. Study findings appear in today's issu

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2. New Warnings for Flu Drug Relenza
   

   April 2, 2008 -- The flu drug Relenza has new warnings about reported neurologic and psychiatric problems that could lead to self-injury and, in some cases, death. Those problems -- which include delirium and abnormal behavior -- "appear to be uncommon but may result in accidental injury to the pati

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3. Antibiotics No Help for Sinus Cold
   

   March 13, 2008 -- Even after suffering 10 days with a head cold, antibiotics won't help your stuffy sinuses get better. Antibiotics don't help virus infections, the cause of most head colds. But after an adult patient has suffered stuffy sinuses for a week to 10 days, most doctors offer antibiotic t

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4. Cold Remedy Airborne Settles Lawsuit
   

   March 4, 2008 -- If you bought Airborne, the popular herbal and vitamin formula originally touted as a cold preventive, you're due for a refund. The makers of Airborne have agreed to refund money to consumers as part of a $23.3 million settlement of a class-action lawsuit for false advertising. It d

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5. Stronger Psychiatric Warning on Tamiflu
   

   March 4, 2008 -- The FDA today announced that the flu drug Tamiflu now has a stronger warning about rare reports of delirium and abnormal behavior leading to self-injury, and, in some cases, death. Tamifu's label continues to stress the importance of watching flu patients for signs of unusual behavi

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6. Why Flu Virus Thrives in Winter
   

   March 3, 2008 -- Scientists may have found a chink in the armor of the flu virus. Their discovery may lead to new flu treatments. Researchers today reported that in winter, even the flu virus wears a coat, and it's a coat that helps the virus spread through the air. Tinkering with that coat might di

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7. Panel: All Kids Should Get Flu Vaccine
   

   Feb. 27, 2008 -- Every child aged 6 months to 18 years should get a yearly flu vaccine, the CDC's immunization advisory panel said today. What's more, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) panel sent a strong signal that it is ready to recommend annual flu vaccination for everyone.

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8. Panel: Overhaul Next Year's Flu Vaccine
   

   Feb. 22, 2008 -- A government scientific advisory board recommended for the first time this week a complete overhaul of the makeup of the flu vaccine for next year. The move would replace all three flu virus strains in this year's vaccine with three new strains for next year. The shift could complic

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9. Most Flu Bugs Don't Match Flu Vaccine
   

   Feb. 8, 2008 -- As the U.S. flu season soars, the CDC says this year's flu vaccine doesn't match two of the three main types of flu bugs now in circulation. That doesn't mean the vaccine won't work. Vaccinated people who catch the flu get a much milder disease. This can make a life-or-death differen

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10. Some Flu Cases Resist Flu Drug Tamiflu
    

    Jan. 31, 2008 -- The World Health Organization and European health officials note cases, mainly in Norway, of a flu virus that resists the flu drug Tamiflu. Keep these three points in mind: Tamiflu still works against other flu viruses. Other drugs can prevent or treat Tamiflu-resistant flu. Tamiflu

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