Content about Influenza

The March/April 2013 Allergy Relief Ingredient Guide breaks down the indication, ingredients, purpose and dosage of Claritin-D, Allegra-D, Zyrtec-D, Benadryl-D, Advil Allergy and Congestion Relief, UrgentRx Allergy Attack, Hyland's Seasonal Allergy Relief, Similasan's Nasal Allergy Relief and Boiron's Sabadil.

ATLANTA — An early look at this season’s reports indicates that about 90% of flu-related pediatric deaths occurred in children who had not received a flu vaccination this season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday. 

The number of influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported to the CDC during the current season surpassed 100 as an additional 6 deaths were reported in FluView last week. To date, this brings the total number of influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported to the CDC to 105 for the 2012-2013 season.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Heel on Thursday announced the launch of the Reboost cold and flu product line and new packaging for the Traumeel pain relief product line. The Reboost product line brings together four of the company’s cold, cough and flu products under a single brand that has been specifically designed to speak to the consumer in a retail environment. 

ATLANTA — The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness was 2.8% for the week ended Feb. 16, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday, a strong indicator that the 2012-2013 flu season is on its way out. Nevada, New Jersey and Vermont were still reporting high ILI activity; while 13 states and New York City reported moderate activity; 11 states reported low activity; and 23 states reported minimal activity.

Sore throats and dry coughs are more prevalent symptoms associated with the flu. With the severe 2012-2013 flu season to date, that means a healthy amount of lozenge sales. One of the bigger winners across the top 10 vendors is Reckitt Benckiser, which launched Cepacol Sensations this fall. The product line contains a lower amount of numbing medication than traditional Cepacol products, yet still provides either an instantly cooling, warming or refreshing sensation. Sales of all Reckitt Benckiser lozenges totaled $10.9 million, up 67.6%.

ATLANTA — For the week ended Feb. 9, influenza activity decreased to 3.2% — still above the baseline of 2.2%, but an indicator this year's flu season is on its way out. 

Eleven states and New York City were still experiencing high influenza-like illness activity, while 10 states reported moderate activity.

NEW YORK — Google seems to have found a nifty niche for itself with Google Flu Trends, which seeks to track the influenza outbreak by monitoring Web searches for flu-related topics, but its accuracy may be in doubt, according to published reports.

Nature reported that a comparison between data from Google Flu Trends and official surveillance data found that the Google tool had overestimated peak flu levels. Nevertheless, according to Nature, the problem is minor, and the Internet services giant will probably be able to fix it.

ATLANTA — For the week ended Feb. 2, influenza activity remained elevated in the United States but decreased in most areas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday. According to CDC's activity level map, it appears most incidence is concentrated across the central United States, including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. 

TEMECULA, Calif. — While this season's flu epidemic maintains its strength across the West Coast, one vaccine distributor announced Wednesday they still have vaccine on hand. 

"FFF is prepared to respond to the unpredictable nature of flu season. And our secure supply chain can always be counted on to deliver safe products — even in times of limited supply," stated Patrick Schmidt, CEO FFF Enterprises. "We purchase direct from manufacturers and sell only to licensed hospitals, pharmacies and clinics."

Good, but it could be better.

I’m talking about the results of a nationwide survey of Americans who were vaccinated against influenza for the 2012-2013 flu season. Based on an online poll of nearly 1,100 adults in mid-January, researchers for Ipsos Public Affairs found a solid majority of Americans still rely on their family physician for their flu shots, but that retail pharmacies and walk-in clinics are making significant progress in their campaign to shift the center of gravity for immunizations away from the doctor’s office.

WASHINGTON — Most Americans who reported getting a flu shot in the past season received that vaccination in their physician's office. However, about 20% received their flu shot at a retail pharmacy and 12.6% at a walk-in clinic, according to an Ipsos Public Affairs poll released Friday. That suggests that as many as 18.5 million flu shots were administered to adults at retail pharmacy and another 11.7 million to adults at walk-in clinics.