Influenza

Abstract

Influenza continues to baffle humans by its constantly changing nature. The twenty-first century has witnessed considerable advances in the understanding of the influenza viral pathogenesis, its synergy with bacterial infections and diagnostic methods. However, challenges continue: to find a less expensive and more reliable point-of-care test for use in developing countries, to produce more efficacious antiviral drugs, to explore ways to combat emerging antiviral resistance and to develop vaccines that can either be produced in a shorter production time or can overcome the need for annual matching with the circulating influenza strains. Most importantly for India, as a nation that suffered the highest mortality in the influenza pandemic 1918, there is an urgent need to gear up our existing preparedness for the next pandemic which is capable to hit at any moment in time.

Influenza Vaccination Strategies in Healthcare Workers: A Cohort Study (2018–2021) in an Italian University Hospital

“…Indeed, influenza viruses have a major epidemiological, social, and economic impact on industrialised countries [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Currently, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the number of influenza-related deaths worldwide ranges from 250,000 to 650,000, while according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), between 4 and 50 million people contract symptomatic influenza in Europe every year, resulting in 15,000 to 70,000 deaths [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. In Italy alone, 5 to 8 million people are affected every year, with a case fatality rate of 8000 deaths/year [ 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”

“…Currently, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the number of influenza-related deaths worldwide ranges from 250,000 to 650,000, while according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), between 4 and 50 million people contract symptomatic influenza in Europe every year, resulting in 15,000 to 70,000 deaths [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. In Italy alone, 5 to 8 million people are affected every year, with a case fatality rate of 8000 deaths/year [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Ninety percent of deaths occur in subjects over 65 years of age, in particular among those with co-morbidities [ 7 ].…”

Factors Associated with a Positive Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Testing in Suspected Cases Presenting with Pneumonia: A Retrospective Cohort Study in a Single Medical Center

“…A study found patients with COVID-19 pneumonia presented remarkably with more abnormal laboratory tests including AST, alanine aminotransferase, LDH, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT), and α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase(α-HBDH) compared to those with other pneumonia [22]. However, the differences are hard to distinguish, because the symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, or sore throat) and laboratory indices due to SARS-CoV-2 infection are similar to those of influenza [23], and the outbreak occurred during seasons when influenza, respiratory syncytial viruses, and other respiratory viruses are highly prevalent. Therefore, early identification of infected patients is very important for clinicians.…”

Metal Nanoparticles: a Promising Treatment for Viral and Arboviral Infections

“…Influenza, commonly known as the flu, consists of three types of viruses (A, B, and C) that belong to the Orthomyxoviridae family. These are enveloped and negative-strand RNA viruses [139]. Influenza occurs globally as local outbreaks or seasonal epidemics [140].…”