Flu News & Spotlights
This page highlights new and noteworthy influenza-related developments and feature stories by influenza season.
See What’s New on this Site for a comprehensive list of all new posting and updates to content on this site!
News and Spotlights by Season and Flu Type
Seasonal Influenza
CDC: Reported Flu Deaths in Children Surpass 100 for 2016-17 June 23, 2017
New CDC Study Shows Flu Vaccine Reduces Severe Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients May 25, 2017
CDC Study Finds Flu Vaccine Saves Children’s Lives April 3, 2017
CDC Reports This Season’s Flu Vaccine Reducing Risk by Nearly Half February 16, 2017
Flu Activity on the Rise; CDC recommends vaccination and appropriate use of antivirals December 29, 2016
New Flu Activity Forecasts Available for 2016-17 Season; CDC Names Most Accurate Forecaster for 2015-16 December 9, 2016
CDC: Flu Vaccine Protected Millions Last Season; Vaccine Coverage Remains Low December 9, 2016
CDC Director Kicks Off 2016-2017 Flu Vaccination Campaign September 29, 2016
New CDC Study: Influenza Vaccination Reduces Risk of Hospitalization By More Than Half Among Seniors August 2, 2016
CDC’s Vaccines Advisory Committee Recommends Against Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine for 2016-2017 June 22, 2016
Seasonal Influenza
New CDC Observational Study: The Effect of Influenza Vaccination on Birth Outcomes June 29, 2016
CDC Collaborative Study: Improved Global Capacity for Influenza Surveillance May 20, 2016
A 2014-2015 Vaccine Effectiveness Study Uses Innovative Approach May 10, 2016
CDC Collaborative Study: Influenza Seasonality in the Tropics and Sub-tropics April 27, 2016
CDC Collaborative Study: Influenza Important Cause of Respiratory Hospitalizations Worldwide March 24, 2016
Global Health Experts Meet to Encourage Influenza Research and Assess Tools for Building Efficient, Standardised Surveillance Systems March 9, 2016
Flu Vaccine Nearly 60 Percent Effective February 24, 2016
For Pregnant Women with Flu, the Earlier the Better for Antiviral Treatment February 4, 2016
CDC Health Advisory: Flu Season Begins: Severe Influenza Illness Reported February 1, 2016
Flu Activity Forecasting Website Launched January 19, 2016
Study Looks at Flu Vaccine Dosing in Children December 11, 2015
Fewer Than Half of Americans Report Having Gotten A Flu Vaccine this Season December 10, 2015
Patients With Flu-Associated Pneumonia Less Likely to Have Received Flu Vaccine October 5, 2015
Early Flu Treatment Reduces Hospitalization Time, Disability Risk in Older People September 2, 2015
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) reaffirms recommendation for annual influenza vaccination February 26, 2015
Seasonal Influenza
Sanofi Pasteur Reports Flu Vaccine Recall for Three Lots of Vaccine from 2014-2015 Season May 1, 2015
2014-15 Flu Season Drawing to a Close April 28, 2015
GlaxoSmithKline Reports Flu Vaccine Recall April 17, 2015
CDC Study: Flu Vaccine Saved 40,000 Lives During 9 Year Period March 30, 2015
CDC Presents Updated Estimates of Flu Vaccine Effectiveness for the 2014-2015 Season March 2, 2015
Flu Antivirals Drugs continue to be Under-utilized in High-Risk Patients February 26, 2015
New CDC study highlights burden of pneumonia hospitalizations on U.S. children February 25, 2015
Flu Season Continues; Severe for People 65 and Older February 6, 2015
Protection from Flu Vaccination Reduced This Season January 15, 2015
CDC: Flu Activity Expands; Severity Similar to Past H3N2 Seasons January 5, 2015
New CDC Reports Shows Benefits of Flu Vaccine Last Season But Fewer Than Half of Americans Say They Have Been Vaccinated this Season December 11, 2014
Early Data Suggests Potentially Severe Flu Season December 4, 2014
CDC Statement on LAIV Effectiveness and Vaccination of Children November 6, 2014
Seasonal Influenza
New Study Shows Clinicians Under-Prescribing Flu Antiviral Drugs and Possibly Overprescribing Antibiotics July 17, 2014
CDC’s Global Flu Work Detailed in New Annual Report July 10, 2014
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends a preference for using the nasal spray flu vaccine June 26, 2014
CDC Announces Winner of the ‘Predict the Influenza Season Challenge’ June 17, 2014
World Cup 2014: Travelers to Brazil Urged to Get Flu Vaccine May 23, 2014
CDC Study Concludes Flu Vaccination Prevents Hospitalizations in Older People May 9, 2014
New CDC Study Compares Severity of Illness Caused by Flu A and B viruses May 5, 2014
CDC Recommendations for Influenza Antiviral Medications Remain Unchanged April 10, 2014
USGS Newsroom: Sea Otters Can Get the Flu, Too April 8, 2014
New Study Shows Flu Vaccine Reduced Children’s Risk of Intensive Care Unit Flu Admission by Three-Fourths March 27, 2014
CDC Reports Flu Hit Younger People Particularly Hard This Season February 20, 2014
Flu Season Continues; Severity Indicators Rise January 17, 2014
Study Finds Flu Vaccine Reduces Risk of Flu Illness in Pregnant Women by Half January 16, 2014
U.S. Flu Season Is Here, CDC Urges Vaccination January 6, 2014
New Report Cites Benefits of Flu Vaccine Yet More Than Half of Americans Remain Unvaccinated December 12, 2013
CDC Competition Encourages Use of Social Media to Predict Flu November 25, 2013
CDC Research Confirms Benefits of Flu Antiviral Drugs, Even Beyond 2 Days After Symptoms Start November 22, 2013
Seasonal Influenza
Study of Flu Related Deaths in Children Shows Even Healthy Children at Risk October 28, 2013
CDC Study Shows Flu Vaccination Prevents Significant Flu Illness, Doctor’s Visits and Hospitalizations June 24, 2013
Laos and Nicaragua Protect High-Risk Persons from Influenza, with Help from Donor Coalition and CDC June 14, 2013
2012-2013 Flu Season Drawing to a Close March 29, 2013
CDC Reports About 90 Percent of Children Who Died From Flu This Season Not Vaccinated March 22, 2013
Study Shows Flu Vaccination Prevents Hospitalizations in Older Adults March 8, 2013
Flu Season Continues; Seniors Hit Hard. CDC Urges People 65 and Older to Seek Treatment for Flu Symptoms Promptly January 25, 2013
Flu Activity Picks Up Nationwide, CDC recommends vaccination and antiviral treatment against influenza January 4, 2013
African Countries Gain Ground in Fight Against Influenza December 14, 2012
U.S. Flu Season Off To Early Start, CDC Urges Vaccination December 3, 2012
Key Findings: Autism after Infection, Febrile Episodes, and Antibiotic Use during Pregnancy: an Exploratory Study November 20, 2012
CDC Releases First FluView Report for 2012-2013 Influenza Season October 12, 2012
Children with Neurologic Disorders at High Risk of Death from Flu August 29, 2012
Variant Influenza
H1N2 Variant Virus Detected in Minnesota September 7, 2012
H3N2v Update: CDC Reports More Cases, Hospitalizations and Nation’s First H3N2v-Associated Death August 31, 2012
New H3N2v Cases Reported, Limited Person-to-Person Transmission Detected August 24, 2012
More H3N2v Cases Reported, Still Linked to Pig Exposure August 17, 2012
CDC Reports Cases 18-29 of H3N2v Virus Infection; Continues to Recommend Interim Precautions When Interacting with Pigs August 3, 2012
CDC Reports Cases 14-17 of H3N2v Infection; Shares Advice for Safe Fair-Going July 26, 2012
First H3N2 Variant Virus Infection Reported For 2012 April 12, 2012
CDC Confirms Detection of A Different Influenza A Variant Virus December 23, 2011
CDC Confirms Two Human Infections with Novel Influenza Viruses December 9, 2011
Iowa Reports Novel Influenza Infections in Three Children November 22, 2011
CDC Confirms the 6th and 7th Cases of Swine-Origin Influenza A H3N2 Virus with 2009 H1N1 M Gene November 4, 2011
CDC Confirms 5th Case of New Swine-Origin H3N2 Reassortant in Maine October 21, 2011
Number of Swine Origin H3 Infections in Pennsylvania Rises to Three September 6, 2011
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Study of Flu Related Deaths in Children Shows Even Healthy Children at Risk October 28, 2013
CDC Study Shows Flu Vaccination Prevents Significant Flu Illness, Doctor’s Visits and Hospitalizations June 24, 2013
Laos and Nicaragua Protect High-Risk Persons from Influenza, with Help from Donor Coalition and CDC June 14, 2013
2012-2013 Flu Season Drawing to a Close March 29, 2013
CDC Reports About 90 Percent of Children Who Died From Flu This Season Not Vaccinated March 22, 2013
Study Shows Flu Vaccination Prevents Hospitalizations in Older Adults March 8, 2013
Flu Season Continues; Seniors Hit Hard. CDC Urges People 65 and Older to Seek Treatment for Flu Symptoms Promptly January 25, 2013
Flu Activity Picks Up Nationwide, CDC recommends vaccination and antiviral treatment against influenza January 4, 2013
African Countries Gain Ground in Fight Against Influenza December 14, 2012
U.S. Flu Season Off To Early Start, CDC Urges Vaccination December 3, 2012
Key Findings: Autism after Infection, Febrile Episodes, and Antibiotic Use during Pregnancy: an Exploratory Study November 20, 2012
CDC Releases First FluView Report for 2012-2013 Influenza Season October 12, 2012
Children with Neurologic Disorders at High Risk of Death from Flu August 29, 2012
H1N2 Variant Virus Detected in Minnesota September 7, 2012
H3N2v Update: CDC Reports More Cases, Hospitalizations and Nation’s First H3N2v-Associated Death August 31, 2012
New H3N2v Cases Reported, Limited Person-to-Person Transmission Detected August 24, 2012
More H3N2v Cases Reported, Still Linked to Pig Exposure August 17, 2012
CDC Reports Cases 18-29 of H3N2v Virus Infection; Continues to Recommend Interim Precautions When Interacting with Pigs August 3, 2012
CDC Reports Cases 14-17 of H3N2v Infection; Shares Advice for Safe Fair-Going July 26, 2012
First H3N2 Variant Virus Infection Reported For 2012 April 12, 2012
CDC Confirms Detection of A Different Influenza A Variant Virus December 23, 2011
CDC Confirms Two Human Infections with Novel Influenza Viruses December 9, 2011
Iowa Reports Novel Influenza Infections in Three Children November 22, 2011
CDC Confirms the 6th and 7th Cases of Swine-Origin Influenza A H3N2 Virus with 2009 H1N1 M Gene November 4, 2011
CDC Confirms 5th Case of New Swine-Origin H3N2 Reassortant in Maine October 21, 2011
Number of Swine Origin H3 Infections in Pennsylvania Rises to Three September 6, 2011
Study of Flu Related Deaths in Children Shows Even Healthy Children at Risk October 28, 2013
CDC Study Shows Flu Vaccination Prevents Significant Flu Illness, Doctor’s Visits and Hospitalizations June 24, 2013
Laos and Nicaragua Protect High-Risk Persons from Influenza, with Help from Donor Coalition and CDC June 14, 2013
2012-2013 Flu Season Drawing to a Close March 29, 2013
CDC Reports About 90 Percent of Children Who Died From Flu This Season Not Vaccinated March 22, 2013
Study Shows Flu Vaccination Prevents Hospitalizations in Older Adults March 8, 2013
Flu Season Continues; Seniors Hit Hard. CDC Urges People 65 and Older to Seek Treatment for Flu Symptoms Promptly January 25, 2013
Flu Activity Picks Up Nationwide, CDC recommends vaccination and antiviral treatment against influenza January 4, 2013
African Countries Gain Ground in Fight Against Influenza December 14, 2012
U.S. Flu Season Off To Early Start, CDC Urges Vaccination December 3, 2012
Key Findings: Autism after Infection, Febrile Episodes, and Antibiotic Use during Pregnancy: an Exploratory Study November 20, 2012
CDC Releases First FluView Report for 2012-2013 Influenza Season October 12, 2012
Children with Neurologic Disorders at High Risk of Death from Flu August 29, 2012
H1N2 Variant Virus Detected in Minnesota September 7, 2012
H3N2v Update: CDC Reports More Cases, Hospitalizations and Nation’s First H3N2v-Associated Death August 31, 2012
New H3N2v Cases Reported, Limited Person-to-Person Transmission Detected August 24, 2012
More H3N2v Cases Reported, Still Linked to Pig Exposure August 17, 2012
CDC Reports Cases 18-29 of H3N2v Virus Infection; Continues to Recommend Interim Precautions When Interacting with Pigs August 3, 2012
CDC Reports Cases 14-17 of H3N2v Infection; Shares Advice for Safe Fair-Going July 26, 2012
First H3N2 Variant Virus Infection Reported For 2012 April 12, 2012
CDC Confirms Detection of A Different Influenza A Variant Virus December 23, 2011
CDC Confirms Two Human Infections with Novel Influenza Viruses December 9, 2011
Iowa Reports Novel Influenza Infections in Three Children November 22, 2011
CDC Confirms the 6th and 7th Cases of Swine-Origin Influenza A H3N2 Virus with 2009 H1N1 M Gene November 4, 2011
CDC Confirms 5th Case of New Swine-Origin H3N2 Reassortant in Maine October 21, 2011
Number of Swine Origin H3 Infections in Pennsylvania Rises to Three September 6, 2011