Slowly but surely several governments are coming around to the idea that Covid may be endemic like the flu and asking people to live with it.&nbsp;While WHO is warning against such a conclusion, Spain became the first European country to move towards ending mask mandates.&nbsp;

Experts in the US say that most of the population will be infected with the Omicron variant, and WHO itself said more than half of Europe will have the virus in coming days, both pointing towards it becoming as common as the flu.

It may still be early days but admittedly, neither lockdowns nor vaccinations are completely preventing the spread. This much was expressed by Israel's prime minister whose country was among the few who vaccinated most of its adult population, rolled out the third, and is even mulling a fourth dose.

Switzerland’s interior minister Alain Berset has said that the transition from pandemic to a stage like the flu may be considered. While speaking at a media conference, he said, “We may be on the eve of a watershed, the transition from a pandemic phase to an endemic phase."

Britain’s Education Secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, told the BBC that the UK is “on a path towards transitioning from pandemic to endemic."&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-economy-reaches-back-above-pre-covid-level-for-first-time-444788">Also read |&nbsp;British economy reaches back above pre-COVID level for first time</a>

This comes in after the UK economy was seen returning to pre-pandemic levels for the first time. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 0.9 per cent in November, compared to 0.1 per cent in October. The holiday season made a significant contribution to the economy's rebound.

Travel restrictions may also be eased in several European nations. Many countries have shortened their quarantine time. In Estonia and Iceland, quarantine time has been reduced to seven days.

Slovenia has also shortened its quarantine time to five days.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-spawned-20-new-pandemic-billionaires-in-asia-says-oxfam-report-444734">Also read |&nbsp;Covid spawned 20 new ‘pandemic billionaires’ in Asia, says Oxfam report</a>

Norway, also, is looking forward to relaxing some Covid restrictions. The Scandinavian country will partly reverse a ban on serving alcohol in bars and restaurants, reports Reuters. Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Stoere, while speaking at a news conference said, "We can ease some restrictions, but not all."

Restrictions in the Netherlands will also be eased starting from Saturday. Non-essential stores, hairdressers and gyms will now be allowed to reopen. However, only a limited number of customers will be permitted.

Students will also be allowed to attend their colleges and universities. Bars, restaurants,&nbsp;museums and other public places will remain closed.

(With inputs from agencies)

Slowly but surely several governments are coming around to the idea that Covid may be endemic like the flu and asking people to live with it. While WHO is warning against such a conclusion, Spain became the first European country to move towards ending mask mandates.

Slowly but surely several governments are coming around to the idea that Covid may be endemic like the flu and asking people to live with it. While WHO is warning against such a conclusion, Spain became the first European country to move towards ending mask mandates. Experts in the US say that most of the population will be infected with the Omicron variant, and WHO itself said more than half of Europe will have the virus in coming days, both pointing towards it becoming as common as the flu. It may still be early days but admittedly, neither lockdowns nor vaccinations are completely preventing the spread. This much was expressed by Israel's prime minister whose country was among the few who vaccinated most of its adult population, rolled out the third, and is even mulling a fourth dose. Switzerland’s interior minister Alain Berset has said that the transition from pandemic to a stage like the flu may be considered. While speaking at a media conference, he said, “We may be on the eve of a watershed, the transition from a pandemic phase to an endemic phase." Britain’s Education Secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, told the BBC that the UK is “on a path towards transitioning from pandemic to endemic." Also read | British economy reaches back above pre-COVID level for first time This comes in after the UK economy was seen returning to pre-pandemic levels for the first time. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 0.9 per cent in November, compared to 0.1 per cent in October. The holiday season made a significant contribution to the economy's rebound. Travel restrictions may also be eased in several European nations. Many countries have shortened their quarantine time. In Estonia and Iceland, quarantine time has been reduced to seven days. Slovenia has also shortened its quarantine time to five days. Also read | Covid spawned 20 new ‘pandemic billionaires’ in Asia, says Oxfam report Norway, also, is looking forward to relaxing some Covid restrictions. The Scandinavian country will partly reverse a ban on serving alcohol in bars and restaurants, reports Reuters. Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Stoere, while speaking at a news conference said, "We can ease some restrictions, but not all." Restrictions in the Netherlands will also be eased starting from Saturday. Non-essential stores, hairdressers and gyms will now be allowed to reopen. However, only a limited number of customers will be permitted. Students will also be allowed to attend their colleges and universities. Bars, restaurants, museums and other public places will remain closed. (With inputs from agencies)

Are we ready to treat Covid like the flu? Some nations are increasingly thinking so

At a time when the world is grappling with Delta and Omicron variants, and the combination of both called ‘Delmicron’ variant of coronavirus, Israel has reported its first case of 'flurona'— a simultaneous coronavirus and flu infection.

The first 'flurona' virus was found in a woman who recently gave birth in a hospital in Petah Tikva city, in central Israel, Ynet news portal reported on Thursday.

According to reports, the young woman was unvaccinated and results from the hospital detected the co-presence of both the flu and the COVID-19 pathogens.

The woman has presented with relatively mild symptoms of the disease and will be discharged soon.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-hospitalisation-among-us-children-sees-sharp-uptick-as-omicron-fuels-new-wave-of-infections-441465">Covid hospitalisation among US children sees sharp uptick as Omicron fuels new wave of infections</a>

The Israeli Health Ministry is presently examining the case, having yet to determine whether the two viruses combined may cause more severe illness.

Meanwhile, Israel has announced that the country is in the midst of a “fifth wave”, with the country logging more cases due to the Omicron variant.

On Thursday, the health authorities reported more than 4,000 new cases, a high not seen since September.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-omicron-cases-could-peak-by-january-end-says-top-medical-chief-fauci-441062">US Omicron cases could peak by January-end, says top medical chief Fauci</a>

Anticipating more cases, the country authorised a fourth vaccine shot as a booster dose for people with weakened immune systems to help confront rising Covid cases.

Prime minister Naftali Bennett said Israel, which was among the first countries in the world to offer a booster shot to the public, would “lead the way” in offering a fourth jab.

Booster shots have been administered to 4.2 million people out of a population of 9.4m Israelis.

Till Tuesday, 1,741 Omicron cases have been detected in Israel, of which 1,004 of the carriers recently returned from abroad.

(With inputs from agencies)

At a time when the world is grappling with Delta and Omicron variants, and the combination of both called ‘Delmicron’ variant of coronavirus, Israel has reported its first case of 'flurona'— a simultaneous coronavirus and flu infection.

At a time when the world is grappling with Delta and Omicron variants, and the combination of both called ‘Delmicron’ variant of coronavirus, Israel has reported its first case of 'flurona'— a simultaneous coronavirus and flu infection. The first 'flurona' virus was found in a woman who recently gave birth in a hospital in Petah Tikva city, in central Israel, Ynet news portal reported on Thursday. According to reports, the young woman was unvaccinated and results from the hospital detected the co-presence of both the flu and the COVID-19 pathogens. The woman has presented with relatively mild symptoms of the disease and will be discharged soon. Also read | Covid hospitalisation among US children sees sharp uptick as Omicron fuels new wave of infections The Israeli Health Ministry is presently examining the case, having yet to determine whether the two viruses combined may cause more severe illness. Meanwhile, Israel has announced that the country is in the midst of a “fifth wave”, with the country logging more cases due to the Omicron variant. On Thursday, the health authorities reported more than 4,000 new cases, a high not seen since September. Also read | US Omicron cases could peak by January-end, says top medical chief Fauci Anticipating more cases, the country authorised a fourth vaccine shot as a booster dose for people with weakened immune systems to help confront rising Covid cases. Prime minister Naftali Bennett said Israel, which was among the first countries in the world to offer a booster shot to the public, would “lead the way” in offering a fourth jab. Booster shots have been administered to 4.2 million people out of a population of 9.4m Israelis. Till Tuesday, 1,741 Omicron cases have been detected in Israel, of which 1,004 of the carriers recently returned from abroad. (With inputs from agencies)

After ‘Delmicron’, it's ‘flurona’: Israel reports first double infection of Covid and flu

As the world grapples with COVID-19, influenza is not getting much attention these days. But the flu’s global impact is staggering: 3 million to 5 million cases of severe illness every year and up to 650,000 deaths. Every few decades, a new flu strain spills over from animals and leads to a pandemic.

The deadly toll of influenza is all the more striking when you consider that we have had vaccines to fight it for eight decades. But they remain mediocre. A flu shot is good for only one flu season, and its effectiveness typically reaches somewhere between 40 per cent and 60 per cent. In some years, it is as low as 10 per cent.

But a new generation of highly effective flu vaccines may emerge in the next few years, based on the same mRNA technology that has protected hundreds of millions of people against COVID.

Although traditional influenza vaccines are grown for months in chicken eggs, mRNA vaccines are manufactured relatively quickly from scratch. In theory, their faster production may make them better matched to each season’s flu strains. And when they are injected into people, they may provoke a stronger immune response than traditional flu vaccines do.

Two companies — Moderna, the Massachusetts biotech company that produced one of the authorized mRNA vaccines for COVID, and Sanofi, a French maker of vaccines — began trials for mRNA flu vaccines this summer. Pfizer and BioNTech, the companies that produced the other mRNA COVID vaccine, started their own flu trial last month. And Seqirus, a vaccine producer based in England, is planning to test another mRNA vaccine for the flu early next year.

No one can say for sure how well any of these four seasonal flu vaccines will turn out, but many experts are optimistic. And further down the line, mRNA technology may be tailored to make vaccines that work for years against a wide range of influenza strains.

“I am beyond excited for the future of flu vaccination,” said Jenna Bartley, an immunologist at the University of Connecticut.

Not Good Enough

The 1918 influenza pandemic was the worst in modern history, killing between 50 million and 100 million people. As the death toll climbed, doctors responded by inoculating people by the thousands with an assortment of experimental vaccines. None of them worked.

Scientists at the time wrongly believed that disease was caused by bacteria, not viruses. That error led them to make vaccines from the microbes they gathered in the sputum of flu patients. The vaccines were useless at mounting an immune defense against the viral disease.

It was not until 1933 that British virologists isolated the influenza virus, finally making it possible to design an effective vaccine. Researchers injected influenza viruses into chicken eggs, where they multiplied. Once they had extracted and purified the new viruses, they killed them with chemicals and injected the inactivated viruses into people.

The United States licensed the first commercial influenza vaccine in 1945. The Nobel-prize-winning virus expert Wendell Stanley hailed the milestone, declaring that the vaccine would prevent influenza from ever again becoming “one of the great destroyers of human life.”

But the vaccine did not quite live up to Stanley’s hopes. Influenza outfoxed it with an awesome power to mutate.

During an influenza infection, cells in our airway begin copying the virus’s genome, allowing it to proliferate. The copying process results in lots of genetic errors. Sometimes these mutations will enable the virus to escape the body’s immune response spurred by a vaccine.

Flu viruses also have another route to rapid evolution. If two types of flu viruses infect the same cell, it can produce a genetic hybrid, which may evade vaccine-triggered immunity even more successfully.

This extraordinary capacity for change also explains why several strains of flu may circulate in a single flu season and new strains may rise to dominance the following year.

“The flu virus, for lack of a better word, is just kind of a jerk,” Bartley said.

Vaccine makers have responded by including up to four different strains in their annual formulations. But because producing vaccines in chicken eggs is such a slow process, scientists must choose which strains to include several months before a flu season, often leading to a mismatch when the shape-shifting virus actually arrives.

“It’s an educated guessing game,” said Dr. Alicia Widge, an immunologist at the National Institutes of Health’s Vaccine Research Center. “We’re always catching up with the virus.”

Between 2004 and 2019, the effectiveness of the flu vaccine ranged from as high as 60&nbsp;per cent to as low as 10 per cent. Even that modest protection translates into a lot of benefit, however, because so many people get the flu every year. In addition to lowering the odds of getting infected, the vaccine also lowers the chances that people sick with the flu have to go to the hospital.

In the 2018-19 flu season, the flu vaccine — with an effectiveness of just 29&nbsp;per cent — prevented an estimated 4.4 million illnesses in the United States alone, plus 58,000 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths, according to one study.

If scientists could make more robust flu vaccines, they could potentially save thousands of additional lives.

“The bottom line is that the flu vaccines we have aren’t good enough,” said Nicholas Heaton, a virus expert at Duke University School of Medicine.

Immune Factories

In the 1990s, a few researchers set out on an entirely new course, making flu vaccines from mRNA.

The idea behind the technology was radically different from the chicken egg approach. In effect, the new shots would turn people’s own cells into vaccine factories.

Scientists would create an mRNA molecule with the instructions for making an influenza protein, then deliver it into cells. Those cells would then make copies of the viral protein, some of which would end up on their surface. Immune cells passing by would detect the alien proteins and respond with a defense against the virus.

In 1993, a team of French scientists conducted the first experiments on an mRNA vaccine for the flu. The vaccines produced promising responses in mice but were still primitive. For one thing, the animal’s cells sometimes responded to the vaccine’s mRNA by destroying it, as if it belonged to a foreign enemy. It took more than two decades of additional lab work before mRNA vaccines were ready for human trials.

When Moderna formed in 2010 to bring mRNA vaccines to the clinic, influenza was one of the first diseases it tackled. The company started with vaccines for two flu strains that normally infected birds but sometimes sickened people — exactly the kind of viruses that might give rise to new pandemics.

Moderna's first clinical trial results, in 2016, were encouraging. The volunteers produced antibodies against the viruses, although they also had side effects such as fever and fatigue. The results spurred Moderna to build a new factory in Norwood, Massachusetts, where the company could make large quantities of mRNA for more clinical trials.

The company began developing a new flu vaccine, this one for seasonal influenza rather than for pandemics. And the researchers worked on making the side effects of the vaccine less severe.

“You want folks to feel comfortable strolling into CVS and getting their shot, and not be worried about adverse events,” said Rose Loughlin, vice president for research and development strategy at Moderna.

But then in early 2020, just as they were hoping to begin a new flu trial, the scientists had to shelve the plan. A new coronavirus was exploding in China.

Combo Shots

Over the next year, Moderna made and tested a COVID mRNA vaccine with record speed. And its shot, like that of its primary competitor, Pfizer-BioNTech, was remarkably protective, with an efficacy rate around 95 per cent.

The success of mRNA vaccines delivered huge revenues to both companies. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is on track to become the bestselling medicine of all time. And Moderna’s market cap since the beginning of the pandemic increased nineteenfold to around $123 billion.

Riding the mRNA wave, these companies, along with Sanofi and Seqirus, are moving on to seasonal flu projects.

Jean-François Toussaint, Sanofi Pasteur’s head of global research and development, cautioned that the success of mRNA vaccines against COVID did not guarantee similar results for influenza.

“We need to be humble,” he said. “The data will tell us if it works.”

But some studies suggest that mRNA vaccines might prove more potent than traditional ones. In animal studies, mRNA vaccines seem to provide a broader defense against influenza viruses. They prompt the animals’ immune systems to make antibodies against the virus and also train immune cells to attack infected cells.

But perhaps most importantly for the flu, mRNA vaccines can be made rapidly. The speed of mRNA manufacturing may allow vaccine makers to wait a few extra months before picking which influenza strains to use, potentially leading to a better match.

“If you could guarantee 80&nbsp;per cent every year, I think that would be a major public health benefit,” said Dr. Philip Dormitzer, Pfizer’s chief scientific officer.

The technology also makes it easier for mRNA vaccine makers to create combination shots. Along with mRNA molecules for different strains of influenza, they can also add mRNA molecules for entirely different respiratory diseases.

At a Sept. 9 presentation for investors, Moderna shared results from a new experiment in which researchers gave mice vaccines combining mRNAs for three respiratory viruses: seasonal flu, COVID and a common virus called respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. The mice produced high levels of antibodies against all three viruses.

Other researchers have been searching for a universal flu vaccine that could protect people for many years by fending off a broad range of influenza strains. Rather than an annual shot, people might need only a booster every few years. In the best-case scenario, one vaccination might even work for a lifetime.

At the University of Pennsylvania, a team of researchers led by Norbert Pardi is developing mRNA vaccines that encode proteins from influenza viruses that mutate only rarely. Experiments in animals hint that these vaccines could remain effective from year to year.

Although Moderna is not working on a universal flu vaccine at the moment, “it’s absolutely something we’d be interested in for the future,” said Dr. Jacqueline Miller, the company’s head of infectious disease research.

Even if mRNA flu vaccines live up to expectations, they will probably need a few years to gain approval. Trials for mRNA flu vaccines will not get the tremendous government support that COVID vaccines did. Nor will regulators be allowing them to get emergency authorization. Seasonal flu is hardly a new threat, and it can already be countered with licensed vaccines.

So the manufacturers will have to take the longer path to full approval. If the early clinical trials turn out well, vaccine makers will then have to move on to large-scale trials that may need to stretch through several flu seasons.

“It should work,” said Bartley of the University of Connecticut. “But obviously that’s why we do research — to make sure ‘should’ and ‘does’ are the same thing.”

As the world grapples with COVID-19, influenza is not getting much attention these days. But the flu’s global impact is staggering: 3 million to 5 million cases of severe illness every year and up to 650,000 deaths.

As the world grapples with COVID-19, influenza is not getting much attention these days. But the flu’s global impact is staggering: 3 million to 5 million cases of severe illness every year and up to 650,000 deaths. Every few decades, a new flu strain spills over from animals and leads to a pandemic. The deadly toll of influenza is all the more striking when you consider that we have had vaccines to fight it for eight decades. But they remain mediocre. A flu shot is good for only one flu season, and its effectiveness typically reaches somewhere between 40 per cent and 60 per cent. In some years, it is as low as 10 per cent. But a new generation of highly effective flu vaccines may emerge in the next few years, based on the same mRNA technology that has protected hundreds of millions of people against COVID. Although traditional influenza vaccines are grown for months in chicken eggs, mRNA vaccines are manufactured relatively quickly from scratch. In theory, their faster production may make them better matched to each season’s flu strains. And when they are injected into people, they may provoke a stronger immune response than traditional flu vaccines do. Two companies — Moderna, the Massachusetts biotech company that produced one of the authorized mRNA vaccines for COVID, and Sanofi, a French maker of vaccines — began trials for mRNA flu vaccines this summer. Pfizer and BioNTech, the companies that produced the other mRNA COVID vaccine, started their own flu trial last month. And Seqirus, a vaccine producer based in England, is planning to test another mRNA vaccine for the flu early next year. No one can say for sure how well any of these four seasonal flu vaccines will turn out, but many experts are optimistic. And further down the line, mRNA technology may be tailored to make vaccines that work for years against a wide range of influenza strains. “I am beyond excited for the future of flu vaccination,” said Jenna Bartley, an immunologist at the University of Connecticut. Not Good Enough The 1918 influenza pandemic was the worst in modern history, killing between 50 million and 100 million people. As the death toll climbed, doctors responded by inoculating people by the thousands with an assortment of experimental vaccines. None of them worked. Scientists at the time wrongly believed that disease was caused by bacteria, not viruses. That error led them to make vaccines from the microbes they gathered in the sputum of flu patients. The vaccines were useless at mounting an immune defense against the viral disease. It was not until 1933 that British virologists isolated the influenza virus, finally making it possible to design an effective vaccine. Researchers injected influenza viruses into chicken eggs, where they multiplied. Once they had extracted and purified the new viruses, they killed them with chemicals and injected the inactivated viruses into people. The United States licensed the first commercial influenza vaccine in 1945. The Nobel-prize-winning virus expert Wendell Stanley hailed the milestone, declaring that the vaccine would prevent influenza from ever again becoming “one of the great destroyers of human life.” But the vaccine did not quite live up to Stanley’s hopes. Influenza outfoxed it with an awesome power to mutate. During an influenza infection, cells in our airway begin copying the virus’s genome, allowing it to proliferate. The copying process results in lots of genetic errors. Sometimes these mutations will enable the virus to escape the body’s immune response spurred by a vaccine. Flu viruses also have another route to rapid evolution. If two types of flu viruses infect the same cell, it can produce a genetic hybrid, which may evade vaccine-triggered immunity even more successfully. This extraordinary capacity for change also explains why several strains of flu may circulate in a single flu season and new strains may rise to dominance the following year. “The flu virus, for lack of a better word, is just kind of a jerk,” Bartley said. Vaccine makers have responded by including up to four different strains in their annual formulations. But because producing vaccines in chicken eggs is such a slow process, scientists must choose which strains to include several months before a flu season, often leading to a mismatch when the shape-shifting virus actually arrives. “It’s an educated guessing game,” said Dr. Alicia Widge, an immunologist at the National Institutes of Health’s Vaccine Research Center. “We’re always catching up with the virus.” Between 2004 and 2019, the effectiveness of the flu vaccine ranged from as high as 60 per cent to as low as 10 per cent. Even that modest protection translates into a lot of benefit, however, because so many people get the flu every year. In addition to lowering the odds of getting infected, the vaccine also lowers the chances that people sick with the flu have to go to the hospital. In the 2018-19 flu season, the flu vaccine — with an effectiveness of just 29 per cent — prevented an estimated 4.4 million illnesses in the United States alone, plus 58,000 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths, according to one study. If scientists could make more robust flu vaccines, they could potentially save thousands of additional lives. “The bottom line is that the flu vaccines we have aren’t good enough,” said Nicholas Heaton, a virus expert at Duke University School of Medicine. Immune Factories In the 1990s, a few researchers set out on an entirely new course, making flu vaccines from mRNA. The idea behind the technology was radically different from the chicken egg approach. In effect, the new shots would turn people’s own cells into vaccine factories. Scientists would create an mRNA molecule with the instructions for making an influenza protein, then deliver it into cells. Those cells would then make copies of the viral protein, some of which would end up on their surface. Immune cells passing by would detect the alien proteins and respond with a defense against the virus. In 1993, a team of French scientists conducted the first experiments on an mRNA vaccine for the flu. The vaccines produced promising responses in mice but were still primitive. For one thing, the animal’s cells sometimes responded to the vaccine’s mRNA by destroying it, as if it belonged to a foreign enemy. It took more than two decades of additional lab work before mRNA vaccines were ready for human trials. When Moderna formed in 2010 to bring mRNA vaccines to the clinic, influenza was one of the first diseases it tackled. The company started with vaccines for two flu strains that normally infected birds but sometimes sickened people — exactly the kind of viruses that might give rise to new pandemics. Moderna's first clinical trial results, in 2016, were encouraging. The volunteers produced antibodies against the viruses, although they also had side effects such as fever and fatigue. The results spurred Moderna to build a new factory in Norwood, Massachusetts, where the company could make large quantities of mRNA for more clinical trials. The company began developing a new flu vaccine, this one for seasonal influenza rather than for pandemics. And the researchers worked on making the side effects of the vaccine less severe. “You want folks to feel comfortable strolling into CVS and getting their shot, and not be worried about adverse events,” said Rose Loughlin, vice president for research and development strategy at Moderna. But then in early 2020, just as they were hoping to begin a new flu trial, the scientists had to shelve the plan. A new coronavirus was exploding in China. Combo Shots Over the next year, Moderna made and tested a COVID mRNA vaccine with record speed. And its shot, like that of its primary competitor, Pfizer-BioNTech, was remarkably protective, with an efficacy rate around 95 per cent. The success of mRNA vaccines delivered huge revenues to both companies. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is on track to become the bestselling medicine of all time. And Moderna’s market cap since the beginning of the pandemic increased nineteenfold to around $123 billion. Riding the mRNA wave, these companies, along with Sanofi and Seqirus, are moving on to seasonal flu projects. Jean-François Toussaint, Sanofi Pasteur’s head of global research and development, cautioned that the success of mRNA vaccines against COVID did not guarantee similar results for influenza. “We need to be humble,” he said. “The data will tell us if it works.” But some studies suggest that mRNA vaccines might prove more potent than traditional ones. In animal studies, mRNA vaccines seem to provide a broader defense against influenza viruses. They prompt the animals’ immune systems to make antibodies against the virus and also train immune cells to attack infected cells. But perhaps most importantly for the flu, mRNA vaccines can be made rapidly. The speed of mRNA manufacturing may allow vaccine makers to wait a few extra months before picking which influenza strains to use, potentially leading to a better match. “If you could guarantee 80 per cent every year, I think that would be a major public health benefit,” said Dr. Philip Dormitzer, Pfizer’s chief scientific officer. The technology also makes it easier for mRNA vaccine makers to create combination shots. Along with mRNA molecules for different strains of influenza, they can also add mRNA molecules for entirely different respiratory diseases. At a Sept. 9 presentation for investors, Moderna shared results from a new experiment in which researchers gave mice vaccines combining mRNAs for three respiratory viruses: seasonal flu, COVID and a common virus called respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. The mice produced high levels of antibodies against all three viruses. Other researchers have been searching for a universal flu vaccine that could protect people for many years by fending off a broad range of influenza strains. Rather than an annual shot, people might need only a booster every few years. In the best-case scenario, one vaccination might even work for a lifetime. At the University of Pennsylvania, a team of researchers led by Norbert Pardi is developing mRNA vaccines that encode proteins from influenza viruses that mutate only rarely. Experiments in animals hint that these vaccines could remain effective from year to year. Although Moderna is not working on a universal flu vaccine at the moment, “it’s absolutely something we’d be interested in for the future,” said Dr. Jacqueline Miller, the company’s head of infectious disease research. Even if mRNA flu vaccines live up to expectations, they will probably need a few years to gain approval. Trials for mRNA flu vaccines will not get the tremendous government support that COVID vaccines did. Nor will regulators be allowing them to get emergency authorization. Seasonal flu is hardly a new threat, and it can already be countered with licensed vaccines. So the manufacturers will have to take the longer path to full approval. If the early clinical trials turn out well, vaccine makers will then have to move on to large-scale trials that may need to stretch through several flu seasons. “It should work,” said Bartley of the University of Connecticut. “But obviously that’s why we do research — to make sure ‘should’ and ‘does’ are the same thing.”

First, impressive vaccines for COVID. Next up: the flu.

The results of a clinical trial have concluded that flu jabs are safe to give at the same time as the Pfizer or AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines. The study discovered that while some people experienced more side effects with certain combinations of flu and COVID-19 shots, the ailments were mainly mild to moderate.

The most common side effects were pain at the injection site and temporary fatigue, headache or muscle pain.

The trial took place across 12 NHS sites in England and Wales and it looked at the side-effects and immune responses when 679 people had their second shot of Pfizer or AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in one arm followed by one of three flu vaccines in the other.

As a part of the study, the volunteers were divided into two age groups, the under-65s and the 65s and over.

At their first appointment, the volunteers were given either a COVID-19 shot and a flu shot, or a Covid shot and a placebo.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/transport-chiefs-warn-world-leaders-and-un-about-incoming-collapse-of-global-supply-chain-417077">Also read |&nbsp;Transport chiefs warn world leaders and UN about incoming collapse of global supply chain</a>

The older group received the FluAd jab made by Seqirus in the UK, while the younger group had either Flublok from Sanofi or Flucelvax, also from Seqirus.

As per the blood tests on the trial volunteers, there was no negative impact on the immune responses to either flu or COVID-19 vaccines when the shots were given one after the other, in opposite arms.&nbsp;

However, one of the flu vaccines, FluBlok by Sanofi, appeared to be more potent when it was given alongside the Pfizer jab.

Dr Rajeka Lazarus, who is the lead scientist on the trial and a consultant in infectious diseases and microbiology at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, said that the results, which are preliminary and not yet peer-reviewed, were “a really positive step”.

“We don’t expect, with booster doses, that there would be an impact on how well the Covid vaccine works,” she said.&nbsp;

The results of a clinical trial have concluded that flu jabs are safe to give at the same time as the Pfizer or AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines. The study discovered that while some people experienced more side effects with certain combinations of flu and COVID-19 shots, the ailments were mainly mild to moderate.

The results of a clinical trial have concluded that flu jabs are safe to give at the same time as the Pfizer or AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines. The study discovered that while some people experienced more side effects with certain combinations of flu and COVID-19 shots, the ailments were mainly mild to moderate. The most common side effects were pain at the injection site and temporary fatigue, headache or muscle pain. The trial took place across 12 NHS sites in England and Wales and it looked at the side-effects and immune responses when 679 people had their second shot of Pfizer or AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in one arm followed by one of three flu vaccines in the other. As a part of the study, the volunteers were divided into two age groups, the under-65s and the 65s and over. At their first appointment, the volunteers were given either a COVID-19 shot and a flu shot, or a Covid shot and a placebo. Also read | Transport chiefs warn world leaders and UN about incoming collapse of global supply chain The older group received the FluAd jab made by Seqirus in the UK, while the younger group had either Flublok from Sanofi or Flucelvax, also from Seqirus. As per the blood tests on the trial volunteers, there was no negative impact on the immune responses to either flu or COVID-19 vaccines when the shots were given one after the other, in opposite arms. However, one of the flu vaccines, FluBlok by Sanofi, appeared to be more potent when it was given alongside the Pfizer jab. Dr Rajeka Lazarus, who is the lead scientist on the trial and a consultant in infectious diseases and microbiology at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, said that the results, which are preliminary and not yet peer-reviewed, were “a really positive step”. “We don’t expect, with booster doses, that there would be an impact on how well the Covid vaccine works,” she said.

Flu and COVID-19 jabs safe when given at same time: Study

As many as 41 per cent of surveyed Delhi households say that they have one or more members who are currently down with flu-like symptoms. 
 
The findings of the survey by Local Circles also indicate that 22 per cent of Delhi households are fully impacted with it, which means all members are having such symptoms while 19 per cent have only 1 member so far and it is likely that more members may develop symptoms in the days to come. 
 
However, 59 per cent of citizens have indicated that they do not have anyone in their households with the flu-like symptoms, the survey said. 
 
Many Delhi residents in the last 7 days have reported that one or more members in their family are struggling with Covid-like symptoms i.e. fever, runny nose, fatigue. 
 
Many are also getting a RT-PCR test done only to find later post doctor consultation that they are Covid-negative and had gotten under the influence of some kind of viral infection or seasonal flu. 
 
Doctors across hospitals are saying that 80 per cent of such cases were seasonal flu and 20 per cent were of Swine Flu. The Covid-19 test positivity rate in the national capital is currently less than 0.1 per cent. 
 
Residents of NCR cities i.e., Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad have also reported rising instances of similar Covid-like symptoms.

As many as 41 per cent of surveyed Delhi households say that they have one or more members who are currently down with flu-like symptoms. The findings of the survey by Local Circles also indicate that 22 per cent of Delhi households are fully impacted with it, which means all members are having such symptoms while 19 per cent have only 1 member so far and it is likely that more members may develop symptoms in the days to come.

As many as 41 per cent of surveyed Delhi households say that they have one or more members who are currently down with flu-like symptoms. The findings of the survey by Local Circles also indicate that 22 per cent of Delhi households are fully impacted with it, which means all members are having such symptoms while 19 per cent have only 1 member so far and it is likely that more members may develop symptoms in the days to come. However, 59 per cent of citizens have indicated that they do not have anyone in their households with the flu-like symptoms, the survey said. Many Delhi residents in the last 7 days have reported that one or more members in their family are struggling with Covid-like symptoms i.e. fever, runny nose, fatigue. Many are also getting a RT-PCR test done only to find later post doctor consultation that they are Covid-negative and had gotten under the influence of some kind of viral infection or seasonal flu. Doctors across hospitals are saying that 80 per cent of such cases were seasonal flu and 20 per cent were of Swine Flu. The Covid-19 test positivity rate in the national capital is currently less than 0.1 per cent. Residents of NCR cities i.e., Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad have also reported rising instances of similar Covid-like symptoms.

41% households in Delhi report flu-like symptoms: Survey

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has banned the entry of poultry into the union territory following the outbreak of bird flu in neighbouring states.

An order issued by principal secretary, agriculture and animal husbandry department, said, "in the wake of the spread of bird flu in neighbouring states of J&amp;K as a measure of abundant precaution and view of the declaration of whole J&amp;K as 'controlled area' for bird flu disease, the government of UT of J&amp;K imposes complete ban on import of live birds, including poultry and unprocessed poultry meat for any purpose into the union territory of J&amp;K with immediate effect till 14-01-2021."

Although there have been no confirmed cases of bird flu in J&amp;K in the Rajouri district of the Jammu region, several crows were found the dead following which authorities have taken their samples for testing.

Every year thousands of migratory birds from Europe and other parts of the world make Kashmir their home and with the fresh snowfall, experts believe it’s hard for them to find survival food.

“We believe since marshy lands are frozen, waterbodies covered with snow, several migratory birds have moved to states like Punjab which could be troubling because they will return,” said an official adding that a close eye is being kept on the situation.

Experts have told WION that migratory birds cannot be a primary source of infection as they have arrived in September. “But with the snow and cold condition, mixing of these birds with local ducks and geese population in local waterways outside the protected zones can cause havoc among the migratory bird population,” he said adding that “worrying part is the illegal hunting of these birds which can transmit the disease.”

Four states in India have reported the outbreak of bird flu following which the Centre has also asked states to be prepared for any eventuality.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has banned the entry of poultry into the union territory following the outbreak of bird flu in neighbouring states. An order issued by principal secretary, agriculture and animal husbandry department, said, "in the wake of the spread of bird flu in neighbouring states of J&K as a measure of abundant precaution and view of the declaration of whole J&K as 'controlled area' for bird flu disease, the government of UT of J&K imposes complete ban on import of live birds, including poultry and unprocessed poultry meat for any purpose into the union territory of J&K with immediate effect till 14-01-2021.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has banned the entry of poultry into the union territory following the outbreak of bird flu in neighbouring states. An order issued by principal secretary, agriculture and animal husbandry department, said, "in the wake of the spread of bird flu in neighbouring states of J&K as a measure of abundant precaution and view of the declaration of whole J&K as 'controlled area' for bird flu disease, the government of UT of J&K imposes complete ban on import of live birds, including poultry and unprocessed poultry meat for any purpose into the union territory of J&K with immediate effect till 14-01-2021." Although there have been no confirmed cases of bird flu in J&K in the Rajouri district of the Jammu region, several crows were found the dead following which authorities have taken their samples for testing. Every year thousands of migratory birds from Europe and other parts of the world make Kashmir their home and with the fresh snowfall, experts believe it’s hard for them to find survival food. “We believe since marshy lands are frozen, waterbodies covered with snow, several migratory birds have moved to states like Punjab which could be troubling because they will return,” said an official adding that a close eye is being kept on the situation. Experts have told WION that migratory birds cannot be a primary source of infection as they have arrived in September. “But with the snow and cold condition, mixing of these birds with local ducks and geese population in local waterways outside the protected zones can cause havoc among the migratory bird population,” he said adding that “worrying part is the illegal hunting of these birds which can transmit the disease.” Four states in India have reported the outbreak of bird flu following which the Centre has also asked states to be prepared for any eventuality.

Bird flu: J&K government bans entry of poultry, experts say situation needs to be monitored

Roughly a year into the pandemic it is clear the new coronavirus is worse than seasonal flu, and a study released on Friday outlined just how much worse, showing a death rate almost three times higher among Covid-19 patients.

The research, using French national data and published in the journal The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, underscored the increased severity of illness for people with Covid-19.

Researchers compared data for 89,530 patients hospitalised with Covid-19 in March and April this year with 45,819 patients hospitalised with seasonal influenza between December 2018 and the end of February 2019.

Some 16.9 per cent of Covid-19 patients died during the period of study -- which was during a devastating first wave across Europe when doctors had few therapies to turn to for severely ill people.

This compares to a death rate of 5.8 per cent among those with influenza.

Catherine Quantin, a professor at the University Hospital of Dijon and the French national health institute INSERM who jointly led the study, said the difference in death rates was "particularly striking" given the 2018/19 flu season was the deadliest France had seen in five years.

The authors note that the difference in the number of hospitalisations -- which saw twice as many people admitted for Covid-19 than flu -- may be partly explained by existing immunity to influenza, either because of previous infection or vaccination.

Researchers found that more patients with Covid-19 needed intensive care -- 16.3 per cent compared with 10.8 per cent for influenza -- while the average stay in ICU was nearly twice as long (15 days compared to 8 days).

The study also reported far fewer children under 18 hospitalised with Covid-19 than with flu -- 1.4 per cent compared to 19.5 per cent.

Roughly a year into the pandemic it is clear the new coronavirus is worse than seasonal flu, and a study released on Friday outlined just how much worse, showing a death rate almost three times higher among Covid-19 patients.

Roughly a year into the pandemic it is clear the new coronavirus is worse than seasonal flu, and a study released on Friday outlined just how much worse, showing a death rate almost three times higher among Covid-19 patients. The research, using French national data and published in the journal The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, underscored the increased severity of illness for people with Covid-19. Researchers compared data for 89,530 patients hospitalised with Covid-19 in March and April this year with 45,819 patients hospitalised with seasonal influenza between December 2018 and the end of February 2019. Some 16.9 per cent of Covid-19 patients died during the period of study -- which was during a devastating first wave across Europe when doctors had few therapies to turn to for severely ill people. This compares to a death rate of 5.8 per cent among those with influenza. Catherine Quantin, a professor at the University Hospital of Dijon and the French national health institute INSERM who jointly led the study, said the difference in death rates was "particularly striking" given the 2018/19 flu season was the deadliest France had seen in five years. The authors note that the difference in the number of hospitalisations -- which saw twice as many people admitted for Covid-19 than flu -- may be partly explained by existing immunity to influenza, either because of previous infection or vaccination. Researchers found that more patients with Covid-19 needed intensive care -- 16.3 per cent compared with 10.8 per cent for influenza -- while the average stay in ICU was nearly twice as long (15 days compared to 8 days). The study also reported far fewer children under 18 hospitalised with Covid-19 than with flu -- 1.4 per cent compared to 19.5 per cent.

Coronavirus nearly three times more deadly than flu: Study

As influenza season approaches, some Americans, and especially parents, are worried that if they or their children should become ill, it may not be easy to know which disease they have — the flu or COVID-19.

They are correct. Most symptoms of the two diseases are so similar that short of a test — or two or three tests — it won’t be possible to know for sure. But there are some clues. (And it is possible to have both infections at the same time; some patients in China this year were found to have both.)

But first: Get a flu shot

It is not yet clear whether the United States will have much of a flu season this year. Flu activity in the Southern Hemisphere, which is often predictive of activity in the U.S., was 99% below normal during its winter. Epidemiologists believe that is because Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, Chileans and other residents of the southern half of the globe were wearing masks, staying several feet apart and washing their hands to prevent transmission of the coronavirus. Those same precautions also prevent flu transmission.

Because there are very few flights between the Southern Hemisphere and the U.S. right now, there may be no opportunity for the usual four seasonal influenza strains to “reseed” themselves among Americans. If they do, masks and social distancing should limit their spread.

Nonetheless, experts urge all Americans to get flu shots. Before it ended abruptly during lockdown, last year’s flu season was on track to be one of the worst in recent memory. The number of children who died was equal to that in the 2017-18 season, which was the worst since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began tracking flu-season deaths in 1976.

If you catch the flu, experts say, having had the shot makes it much less likely that you will be hospitalized or die.

Because of the fears of a “twindemic,” flu shots were made in large numbers this year and distributed to pharmacies and doctor’s offices beginning in August, which is early. As of late last month, some doctors reported difficulty ordering as many as they want, but pharmacy chains say they are getting steady supplies. To find a flu shot, try vaccinefinder.org or one of the chain pharmacy websites, such as CVS.com/immunizations/flu.

Assessing the difference between a cold and the flu

There are at least 100 viruses that can cause the common cold, but only four that cause seasonal flu. Many people who catch colds assume they have the flu, but experts consistently say the same thing about how to tell the difference: “Flu makes you feel as if you were hit by a truck.” The fever, aches and headaches of a bad case of influenza are generally worse than a case of respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus or other common cold viruses.

Everyone knows the symptoms of the flu: fever, headaches, body aches, sore throat, runny nose, stuffed sinuses, coughing and sneezing — and, for infants, ear infections. Some victims, especially children, get diarrhea or vomiting too.

In severe cases, the most common complication is pneumonia. The typical signs of a flu pneumonia are shortness of breath, especially when you exert yourself, and unusually rapid breathing — doctors typically look for that in children — and sometimes pain in the chest or back.

Identifying COVID-19 by its flulike and ‘wacky’ symptoms.

Knowing whether you have COVID-19 is much more complicated because there are so many different — and sometimes pretty wacky — symptoms, many of which echo those of the flu.

The most common symptoms are high fever, sometimes with chills, a dry cough and fatigue.

The one sign that really distinguishes the two infections is that many COVID-19 victims suddenly lose their sense of smell — not because they have a stuffy nose but because they don’t register even strong odors like onions or coffee. Not all virus victims get anosmia, the formal name for loss of smell, but one study found that 87% did.

Less common symptoms include a sore throat, congestion, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and feeling somewhat out of breath when exerting yourself. Some victims have red or itchy eyes, and some get redness or blisters on their fingers or toes — so-called COVID toes, which resemble chilblains.

More dangerous symptoms — which mean you should get immediate medical attention — include serious breathing difficulty; pain or pressure in the chest; blue lips or blue face; confusion or incoherent answers to simple questions; and collapsing or losing consciousness.

Adding to the disease’s fearsome nature is that it can cause blood clots that lead to heart damage, brain damage and lung damage. And even some cases that appear mild or asymptomatic create signs of what doctors believe may be long-lasting heart damage.

Another unusual aspect of COVID is that people sometimes develop pneumonia without realizing how sick they are. Doctors are unsure why; one theory is that the air sacs in the lungs are damaged in a way that does not cause the buildup of carbon dioxide, which creates that “desperate for air” feeling.

Many doctors recommend buying a pulse oximeter, a fingertip device that measures oxygen levels in the blood. Multiple readings below 92% should trigger a call to a doctor. The earlier pneumonia is caught, the better the outcome.

Understand that COVID-19 symptoms in children are similar to those in adults

Children generally get through COVID-19 with few problems; for the youngest ages, it is thought to be less dangerous than the flu.

Children have the same constellation of symptoms that adults do, although parents may be more likely to notice it when their youngsters have runny noses, red eyes and the exhausted crankiness that comes from just feeling terrible.

Dangerous symptoms include difficulty breathing, bluish lips, confusion or inability to wake up, and intense abdominal pains or inability to keep down any liquids. If there are any signs of these, it is important to get a child to a doctor or hospital quickly.

In very rare cases, children can get multisystem inflammatory syndrome, which is thought to be caused by an overactive immune response and can cause shock and organ failure.

But doctors emphasize that it is rare and that parents should realize it is highly unlikely their sick child has it.

Expect potential difficulties with testing

For COVID-19, symptoms can begin two to 14 days after exposure, but most begin five to seven days after it.

However, as with diseases like measles, you can start spreading the virus two days before you begin to feel sick. So if you think you might have been exposed, it is very important to warn others and isolate yourself from them as soon as you can, especially if they are older or medically fragile.

It is an axiom of general medicine that when one disease is sweeping through an area and a patient has its symptoms, it is usually safe to assume that’s what the patient has and begin treating it, rather than waiting for test results. So unless both the flu and the coronavirus begin circulating heavily at the same time in your city, do not be surprised if your doctor does not recommend a test.

And getting tested for the coronavirus can be tricky, especially with so many test delays. The PCR type is more accurate than 15-minute “rapid antigen tests,” but it can take hours or even days to return results, depending on whether it has to be sent away to a central lab.

One positive test probably means you are infected, but one negative test should not be trusted; too many things can go wrong. Two negative PCR tests taken at least 24 hours apart are a better indication of whether you are infection-free.

If your insurance company will pay for only one test, you might consider paying for the second one yourself for the peace of mind.

As influenza season approaches, some Americans, and especially parents, are worried that if they or their children should become ill, it may not be easy to know which disease they have — the flu or COVID-19.

As influenza season approaches, some Americans, and especially parents, are worried that if they or their children should become ill, it may not be easy to know which disease they have — the flu or COVID-19. They are correct. Most symptoms of the two diseases are so similar that short of a test — or two or three tests — it won’t be possible to know for sure. But there are some clues. (And it is possible to have both infections at the same time; some patients in China this year were found to have both.) But first: Get a flu shot It is not yet clear whether the United States will have much of a flu season this year. Flu activity in the Southern Hemisphere, which is often predictive of activity in the U.S., was 99% below normal during its winter. Epidemiologists believe that is because Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, Chileans and other residents of the southern half of the globe were wearing masks, staying several feet apart and washing their hands to prevent transmission of the coronavirus. Those same precautions also prevent flu transmission. Because there are very few flights between the Southern Hemisphere and the U.S. right now, there may be no opportunity for the usual four seasonal influenza strains to “reseed” themselves among Americans. If they do, masks and social distancing should limit their spread. Nonetheless, experts urge all Americans to get flu shots. Before it ended abruptly during lockdown, last year’s flu season was on track to be one of the worst in recent memory. The number of children who died was equal to that in the 2017-18 season, which was the worst since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began tracking flu-season deaths in 1976. If you catch the flu, experts say, having had the shot makes it much less likely that you will be hospitalized or die. Because of the fears of a “twindemic,” flu shots were made in large numbers this year and distributed to pharmacies and doctor’s offices beginning in August, which is early. As of late last month, some doctors reported difficulty ordering as many as they want, but pharmacy chains say they are getting steady supplies. To find a flu shot, try vaccinefinder.org or one of the chain pharmacy websites, such as CVS.com/immunizations/flu. Assessing the difference between a cold and the flu There are at least 100 viruses that can cause the common cold, but only four that cause seasonal flu. Many people who catch colds assume they have the flu, but experts consistently say the same thing about how to tell the difference: “Flu makes you feel as if you were hit by a truck.” The fever, aches and headaches of a bad case of influenza are generally worse than a case of respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus or other common cold viruses. Everyone knows the symptoms of the flu: fever, headaches, body aches, sore throat, runny nose, stuffed sinuses, coughing and sneezing — and, for infants, ear infections. Some victims, especially children, get diarrhea or vomiting too. In severe cases, the most common complication is pneumonia. The typical signs of a flu pneumonia are shortness of breath, especially when you exert yourself, and unusually rapid breathing — doctors typically look for that in children — and sometimes pain in the chest or back. Identifying COVID-19 by its flulike and ‘wacky’ symptoms. Knowing whether you have COVID-19 is much more complicated because there are so many different — and sometimes pretty wacky — symptoms, many of which echo those of the flu. The most common symptoms are high fever, sometimes with chills, a dry cough and fatigue. The one sign that really distinguishes the two infections is that many COVID-19 victims suddenly lose their sense of smell — not because they have a stuffy nose but because they don’t register even strong odors like onions or coffee. Not all virus victims get anosmia, the formal name for loss of smell, but one study found that 87% did. Less common symptoms include a sore throat, congestion, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and feeling somewhat out of breath when exerting yourself. Some victims have red or itchy eyes, and some get redness or blisters on their fingers or toes — so-called COVID toes, which resemble chilblains. More dangerous symptoms — which mean you should get immediate medical attention — include serious breathing difficulty; pain or pressure in the chest; blue lips or blue face; confusion or incoherent answers to simple questions; and collapsing or losing consciousness. Adding to the disease’s fearsome nature is that it can cause blood clots that lead to heart damage, brain damage and lung damage. And even some cases that appear mild or asymptomatic create signs of what doctors believe may be long-lasting heart damage. Another unusual aspect of COVID is that people sometimes develop pneumonia without realizing how sick they are. Doctors are unsure why; one theory is that the air sacs in the lungs are damaged in a way that does not cause the buildup of carbon dioxide, which creates that “desperate for air” feeling. Many doctors recommend buying a pulse oximeter, a fingertip device that measures oxygen levels in the blood. Multiple readings below 92% should trigger a call to a doctor. The earlier pneumonia is caught, the better the outcome. Understand that COVID-19 symptoms in children are similar to those in adults Children generally get through COVID-19 with few problems; for the youngest ages, it is thought to be less dangerous than the flu. Children have the same constellation of symptoms that adults do, although parents may be more likely to notice it when their youngsters have runny noses, red eyes and the exhausted crankiness that comes from just feeling terrible. Dangerous symptoms include difficulty breathing, bluish lips, confusion or inability to wake up, and intense abdominal pains or inability to keep down any liquids. If there are any signs of these, it is important to get a child to a doctor or hospital quickly. In very rare cases, children can get multisystem inflammatory syndrome, which is thought to be caused by an overactive immune response and can cause shock and organ failure. But doctors emphasize that it is rare and that parents should realize it is highly unlikely their sick child has it. Expect potential difficulties with testing For COVID-19, symptoms can begin two to 14 days after exposure, but most begin five to seven days after it. However, as with diseases like measles, you can start spreading the virus two days before you begin to feel sick. So if you think you might have been exposed, it is very important to warn others and isolate yourself from them as soon as you can, especially if they are older or medically fragile. It is an axiom of general medicine that when one disease is sweeping through an area and a patient has its symptoms, it is usually safe to assume that’s what the patient has and begin treating it, rather than waiting for test results. So unless both the flu and the coronavirus begin circulating heavily at the same time in your city, do not be surprised if your doctor does not recommend a test. And getting tested for the coronavirus can be tricky, especially with so many test delays. The PCR type is more accurate than 15-minute “rapid antigen tests,” but it can take hours or even days to return results, depending on whether it has to be sent away to a central lab. One positive test probably means you are infected, but one negative test should not be trusted; too many things can go wrong. Two negative PCR tests taken at least 24 hours apart are a better indication of whether you are infection-free. If your insurance company will pay for only one test, you might consider paying for the second one yourself for the peace of mind.

How to identify different symptoms of flu and COVID-19

The United States is losing on average over 800 people a day to the novel coronavirus -- compared with fewer than 15 a day on average in Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy and the United Kingdom. It is still reporting on average nearly 40,000 new infections a day -- although new cases are down about 50% from the peak in July, the United States -- the highest number in the developed world.

What poses a bigger challenge for the country now is the autumn season that often becomes the onset of the flu season. Experts fear that when colder weather forces more people inside, it could surpass the surge seen in the summer.

Top US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci has said he would like to see new cases below 10,000 per day before flu season starts in October.

“We need to hunker down and get through this fall and winter, because it’s not going to be easy,” Fauci said during a panel discussion with doctors at Harvard Medical School earlier this month.

“We’ve been through this before,” he said. “Don’t ever, ever underestimate the potential of the pandemic. And don’t try and look at the rosy side of things.”

Cases are trending upwards in about 20 out of 50 states, including former epicenters like New Jersey and New York that had seen cases decline for months.

Some of the biggest increases, on a percentage basis, are in North Dakota and Wisconsin, two states where cases have yet to peak and have steadily climbed since the pandemic started more than six months ago.

Other states like South Carolina and Utah peaked in July and cases have come down sharply only to recently rise again.

The epidemic first battered nursing homes in Washington state on the West Coast in January before quickly overwhelming New York City and Northeastern states in March and April.

The country enjoyed a reprieve during the early summer before seeing both cases and deaths spike in July. There is no clear consensus on what caused the spike but health officials point to Memorial Day parties, bars and other high-risk businesses reopening and the public being lulled into a false sense that the worst was over.

In the second wave during the summer, Arizona, California, Florida and Texas became the new epicenters - some of the most populous areas of the country.

Through a combination of more states requiring masks and new more targeted restrictions, that second wave has again ebbed. Still, the United States is reporting twice as many new cases each day as it did on its best days in the spring.

Experts are now concerned that a third wave could be more diffused and spread across a broader section of the country.

(with inputs from Reuters)

The United States is losing on average over 800 people a day to the novel coronavirus -- compared with fewer than 15 a day on average in Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy and the United Kingdom.

The United States is losing on average over 800 people a day to the novel coronavirus -- compared with fewer than 15 a day on average in Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy and the United Kingdom. It is still reporting on average nearly 40,000 new infections a day -- although new cases are down about 50% from the peak in July, the United States -- the highest number in the developed world. What poses a bigger challenge for the country now is the autumn season that often becomes the onset of the flu season. Experts fear that when colder weather forces more people inside, it could surpass the surge seen in the summer. Top US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci has said he would like to see new cases below 10,000 per day before flu season starts in October. “We need to hunker down and get through this fall and winter, because it’s not going to be easy,” Fauci said during a panel discussion with doctors at Harvard Medical School earlier this month. “We’ve been through this before,” he said. “Don’t ever, ever underestimate the potential of the pandemic. And don’t try and look at the rosy side of things.” Cases are trending upwards in about 20 out of 50 states, including former epicenters like New Jersey and New York that had seen cases decline for months. Some of the biggest increases, on a percentage basis, are in North Dakota and Wisconsin, two states where cases have yet to peak and have steadily climbed since the pandemic started more than six months ago. Other states like South Carolina and Utah peaked in July and cases have come down sharply only to recently rise again. The epidemic first battered nursing homes in Washington state on the West Coast in January before quickly overwhelming New York City and Northeastern states in March and April. The country enjoyed a reprieve during the early summer before seeing both cases and deaths spike in July. There is no clear consensus on what caused the spike but health officials point to Memorial Day parties, bars and other high-risk businesses reopening and the public being lulled into a false sense that the worst was over. In the second wave during the summer, Arizona, California, Florida and Texas became the new epicenters - some of the most populous areas of the country. Through a combination of more states requiring masks and new more targeted restrictions, that second wave has again ebbed. Still, the United States is reporting twice as many new cases each day as it did on its best days in the spring. Experts are now concerned that a third wave could be more diffused and spread across a broader section of the country. (with inputs from Reuters)

US, ravaged by coronavirus pandemic, to face 'worst' autumn as flu season begins

Global influenza vaccine makers, in view of the coronavirus pandemic, have seen almost an 11 per cent increase in production of doses for the coming flu season, as authorities try to ease the burden on hospitals ahead of an expected COVID-19 resurgence.

In the US, pharmaceutical companies plan to make around 196 million doses to serve the population of 330 million, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC estimates flu killed between 24,000 and 62,000 last year.

Sanofi, Seqirus and GSK are the three biggest companies in the market.

Major pharmacy chain CVS, which administers flu vaccines without prescription, is ordering 18 million doses, double the amount in 2019.

Vaccine maker Seqirus plans to increase production by roughly 15 percent in the US -- from 52 million to 60 million doses, as does Sanofi -- from 70 to 80 million.

Sanofi shipped its first batches on July 22, three weeks earlier than in 2019.

Widespread flu vaccination could thus help free up hospital beds, a vital public health measure to cushion the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Americans are already among the most vaccinated peoples against the flu in the world: vaccination is recommended from the age of six months.

Other countries, such as France, recommend it to people at risk of complications, including those 65 and older.

Global influenza vaccine makers, in view of the coronavirus pandemic, have seen almost an 11 per cent increase in production of doses for the coming flu season, as authorities try to ease the burden on hospitals ahead of an expected COVID-19 resurgence.

Global influenza vaccine makers, in view of the coronavirus pandemic, have seen almost an 11 per cent increase in production of doses for the coming flu season, as authorities try to ease the burden on hospitals ahead of an expected COVID-19 resurgence. In the US, pharmaceutical companies plan to make around 196 million doses to serve the population of 330 million, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC estimates flu killed between 24,000 and 62,000 last year. Sanofi, Seqirus and GSK are the three biggest companies in the market. Major pharmacy chain CVS, which administers flu vaccines without prescription, is ordering 18 million doses, double the amount in 2019. Vaccine maker Seqirus plans to increase production by roughly 15 percent in the US -- from 52 million to 60 million doses, as does Sanofi -- from 70 to 80 million. Sanofi shipped its first batches on July 22, three weeks earlier than in 2019. Widespread flu vaccination could thus help free up hospital beds, a vital public health measure to cushion the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Americans are already among the most vaccinated peoples against the flu in the world: vaccination is recommended from the age of six months. Other countries, such as France, recommend it to people at risk of complications, including those 65 and older.

Amid coronavirus crisis, flu vaccine makers see record US production

The coronavirus pandemic has pushed influenza infection rates to a record low, signalling that the social distancing measures are having an unprecedented impact on other communicable diseases.

In China, where the earliest wide-scale lockdown measures began, new reports of diseases including mumps, measles and some sexually transmitted diseases, have declined significantly, though influenza cases have seen the sharpest drop off.

Infections reported monthly by the county's health ministry have dropped by over 90% since the beginning of the lockdown, from an average of around 290,000 cases a month to 23,000.

New cases of mumps dropped by around 70% and measles by over 90% since the lockdown.

There was an average of around 7,500 gonorrhoea cases reported per month since the lockdown, down from 12,100 a month in 2019.

Hepatitis, which last year infected some 1.2 million Chinese people according to the reporting system, was down by over 20% in the same period.

Canada's flu surveillance system also reported "exceptionally low levels" of influenza in a recent report, as did other countries that report weekly flu surveillance statistics including the UK and Australia.

In its most recent weekly report, South Korea's infectious disease portal reported an 83% decrease in cases from the same period a year earlier.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates there are some 3-5 million severe illnesses and up to 500,000 deaths annually linked to seasonal influenza globally.

While experts say the drop in influenza infections has reduced the strain on healthcare systems and lowered the number of influenza fatalities, there's also concern that the unprecedented drop in cases could have a negative impact on immunity levels in following seasons.

Lower numbers of some infectious diseases could also be linked to reduced reporting rates.

The WHO said in a recent report that influenza surveillance figures should be "interpreted with caution," due to the limited capacity for reporting in some countries during the pandemic.

The impact of the lockdown on other diseases with a longer onset period, including HIV and Tuberculosis, may not be clear for years to come.

(with inputs from agencies)

The coronavirus pandemic has pushed influenza infection rates to a record low, signalling that the social distancing measures are having an unprecedented impact on other communicable diseases.

The coronavirus pandemic has pushed influenza infection rates to a record low, signalling that the social distancing measures are having an unprecedented impact on other communicable diseases. In China, where the earliest wide-scale lockdown measures began, new reports of diseases including mumps, measles and some sexually transmitted diseases, have declined significantly, though influenza cases have seen the sharpest drop off. Infections reported monthly by the county's health ministry have dropped by over 90% since the beginning of the lockdown, from an average of around 290,000 cases a month to 23,000. New cases of mumps dropped by around 70% and measles by over 90% since the lockdown. There was an average of around 7,500 gonorrhoea cases reported per month since the lockdown, down from 12,100 a month in 2019. Hepatitis, which last year infected some 1.2 million Chinese people according to the reporting system, was down by over 20% in the same period. Canada's flu surveillance system also reported "exceptionally low levels" of influenza in a recent report, as did other countries that report weekly flu surveillance statistics including the UK and Australia. In its most recent weekly report, South Korea's infectious disease portal reported an 83% decrease in cases from the same period a year earlier. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates there are some 3-5 million severe illnesses and up to 500,000 deaths annually linked to seasonal influenza globally. While experts say the drop in influenza infections has reduced the strain on healthcare systems and lowered the number of influenza fatalities, there's also concern that the unprecedented drop in cases could have a negative impact on immunity levels in following seasons. Lower numbers of some infectious diseases could also be linked to reduced reporting rates. The WHO said in a recent report that influenza surveillance figures should be "interpreted with caution," due to the limited capacity for reporting in some countries during the pandemic. The impact of the lockdown on other diseases with a longer onset period, including HIV and Tuberculosis, may not be clear for years to come. (with inputs from agencies)

Seasonal flu reports hit record lows amid coronavirus pandemic

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/namaste-coronavirus-outbreak-forces-change-in-social-interaction-by-world-leaders-285865">Coronavirus outbreak</a> a pandemic as, since its start in December, more than 4,500 people have been killed, over 1,00,000 people across 100 countries have been infected amid the outbreak.

The Indian government has taken a series of measures,&nbsp;including suspension of visas of all foreign nationals coming to the country till April 15.

Here we address&nbsp;frequently asked questions about coronavirus:

What are the Symptoms of the Disease?

Those who have been infected with coronavirus, suffer coughs, fever and breathing difficulties. The symptoms could take up to 14 days to appear. The coronavirus can also cause pneumonia.

Do Face Masks Help?

While they don't guarantee total protection, experts do recommend using one. The virus transmits through droplets when someone sneezes.

If you are close to someone who has been infected, the mask can stop the disease from being passed on. Similarly, if you are showing the symptoms, wearing a mask can protect others. 
 
Is There a Cure?

So far, there is none. There is no approved drug for the coronavirus, but several are being tested. According to reports from last month, the doctors are using a combination of drugs and methods to treat the patients.&nbsp;

When Can We Expect the Vaccination

The health ministry officials have said COVID-19 is difficult to isolate and at least one-and-a-half to two years will be needed to develop the vaccine.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-pandemic-india-reports-first-death-as-cases-reach-73-285995">Also read: Covid-19 pandemic: India reports first death as cases reach 73</a>

How Can you Protect Yourself?

Wash your hands with clean water and soap, meticulous hand washing is the best available option. If that is not possible, one may use wipes or hand sanitizers. Avoid touching your face, cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

If you are visiting any affected areas, avoid direct, unprotected contact with live animals, or surfaces that were under contact with animals. Avoid eating raw, undercooked animal products. 
 
Keep some distance from people who are obviously sick and avoid direct contact with them. Avoid public gatherings,&nbsp;wet markets or farms.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/soaps-or-sanitisers-which-is-best-to-fight-coronavirus-285925">Soap vs Sanitizers - What's Better?</a>

Soaps

Destroy outer limits of the virus&nbsp; 
Destroy internal bonds of virus 
Usually, entire hands are washed

Sanitisers

Needs to be used in enough quantity 
Needs to have enough alcohol content 
Not effective on hands covered in dirt

When Should You See a Doctor

Seek medical attention if you develop symptoms, especially fever or shortness of breath. Ensure you provide your travel history

Can You Get the Coronavirus Twice?

According to medical experts, those who have had the virus once will develop some immunity, and it is rare to get an infectious disease again. However, second positive tests of coronavirus have been reported in China and Japan and this could be because of a weak immune system. 
 
Should You Avoid Shipped Packages/Food Packages/Gas Pumps/Shopping Carts/ATMs?

No. Coronavirus surface survival is one thing; that surface causing an infection is another. Wash your hands as per the WHO instructions after touching the packages/surfaces.

 
Does Taking Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin Preemptively Prevent Covid-19?

These (experimental) drugs for coronavirus should only be used in selected Covid patients. They can sometimes cause fatal heart rhythm problems plus other side effects.

Does Garlic/Lemon With Hot Water Prevent or Cure Covid-19 ?

None of these substances has been scientifically tested against Covid-19

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Coronavirus outbreak a pandemic as, since its start in December, more than 4,500 people have been killed, over 1,00,000 people across 100 countries have been infected amid the outbreak.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Coronavirus outbreak a pandemic as, since its start in December, more than 4,500 people have been killed, over 1,00,000 people across 100 countries have been infected amid the outbreak. The Indian government has taken a series of measures, including suspension of visas of all foreign nationals coming to the country till April 15. Here we address frequently asked questions about coronavirus: What are the Symptoms of the Disease? Those who have been infected with coronavirus, suffer coughs, fever and breathing difficulties. The symptoms could take up to 14 days to appear. The coronavirus can also cause pneumonia. Do Face Masks Help? While they don't guarantee total protection, experts do recommend using one. The virus transmits through droplets when someone sneezes. If you are close to someone who has been infected, the mask can stop the disease from being passed on. Similarly, if you are showing the symptoms, wearing a mask can protect others. Is There a Cure? So far, there is none. There is no approved drug for the coronavirus, but several are being tested. According to reports from last month, the doctors are using a combination of drugs and methods to treat the patients. When Can We Expect the Vaccination The health ministry officials have said COVID-19 is difficult to isolate and at least one-and-a-half to two years will be needed to develop the vaccine. Also read: Covid-19 pandemic: India reports first death as cases reach 73 How Can you Protect Yourself? Wash your hands with clean water and soap, meticulous hand washing is the best available option. If that is not possible, one may use wipes or hand sanitizers. Avoid touching your face, cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. If you are visiting any affected areas, avoid direct, unprotected contact with live animals, or surfaces that were under contact with animals. Avoid eating raw, undercooked animal products. Keep some distance from people who are obviously sick and avoid direct contact with them. Avoid public gatherings, wet markets or farms. Soap vs Sanitizers - What's Better? Soaps Destroy outer limits of the virus Destroy internal bonds of virus Usually, entire hands are washed Sanitisers Needs to be used in enough quantity Needs to have enough alcohol content Not effective on hands covered in dirt When Should You See a Doctor Seek medical attention if you develop symptoms, especially fever or shortness of breath. Ensure you provide your travel history Can You Get the Coronavirus Twice? According to medical experts, those who have had the virus once will develop some immunity, and it is rare to get an infectious disease again. However, second positive tests of coronavirus have been reported in China and Japan and this could be because of a weak immune system. Should You Avoid Shipped Packages/Food Packages/Gas Pumps/Shopping Carts/ATMs? No. Coronavirus surface survival is one thing; that surface causing an infection is another. Wash your hands as per the WHO instructions after touching the packages/surfaces. Does Taking Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin Preemptively Prevent Covid-19? These (experimental) drugs for coronavirus should only be used in selected Covid patients. They can sometimes cause fatal heart rhythm problems plus other side effects. Does Garlic/Lemon With Hot Water Prevent or Cure Covid-19 ? None of these substances has been scientifically tested against Covid-19

Coronavirus outbreak: Symptoms and other important questions answered

The Odisha government on Tuesday extended the period of all regulations in force over the Covid-19 threat from March 31 to April 15, prompting panic-buying of essential items across the state. Taking to Twitter, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the decision was taken as part of his government’s efforts to prevent the spread of the disease.&nbsp;

“The regulation will be in force till 15th April which may be extended based on the situation. Appeal everyone to comply with the regulation and be part of Odisha’s efforts in protecting the people of the state from #COVID19,” the chief minister tweeted.

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Appeal everyone who comes to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Odisha?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Odisha</a> from abroad to register themselves through toll free number (104) or online portal <a href="https://t.co/dAGGzSp7jV">https://t.co/dAGGzSp7jV</a> to be part of Odisha’s effort in preventing spread of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoronaVirus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoronaVirus</a>. It will help us in protecting you &amp; your family from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a>. <a href="https://t.co/DtgmSz8Ih7">pic.twitter.com/DtgmSz8Ih7</a>
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) <a href="https://twitter.com/Naveen_Odisha/status/1239553532170080256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The government had on March 13 ordered the closure of all educational institutes, cinema halls, swimming pools and gymnasiums over the coronavirus threat. Officials said people were hoarding essential items, as administration in several districts has asked shopping malls and retail stores to down shutters. Sudhansu Sarangi, Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, however, appealed to people to refrain from panic-buying as small shops and grocery stores will remain open.

Prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC have come into force in several districts of the state, including Ganjam, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur, Angul and parts of Khurda and Puri, to prevent mass gathering of people, the officials said. Tourists have been discouraged from visiting popular destinations, with several shrines, including Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, restricting entry of visitors, they added.

All companies, including IT firms, have been asked to adopt special safeguards. According to a notification issued to IT companies by the Commissionerate of Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, employees who have been to a foreign country will have to be quarantined for 14 days, during which they may work from home or avail leave as per company policies.

Also, if any employee has family members who have recently travelled to a foreign destination, he or she would have to submit a declaration and stay home for 14 days.

The notification will come into effect from March 17, 2020, Sarangi said, adding that any firm failing to comply with the orders shall be liable for prosecution under section 100 of Odisha Urban Police Act. The first confirmed case of novel coronavirus was reported in Odisha on Monday after a researcher who recently returned from Italy tested positive for it. The 33-year-old is being treated at Capital Hospital here.

The Odisha government on Tuesday extended the period of all regulations in force over the Covid-19 threat from March 31 to April 15, prompting panic-buying of essential items across the state.

The Odisha government on Tuesday extended the period of all regulations in force over the Covid-19 threat from March 31 to April 15, prompting panic-buying of essential items across the state. Taking to Twitter, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the decision was taken as part of his government’s efforts to prevent the spread of the disease. “The regulation will be in force till 15th April which may be extended based on the situation. Appeal everyone to comply with the regulation and be part of Odisha’s efforts in protecting the people of the state from #COVID19,” the chief minister tweeted. Appeal everyone who comes to #Odisha from abroad to register themselves through toll free number (104) or online portal https://t.co/dAGGzSp7jV to be part of Odisha’s effort in preventing spread of #CoronaVirus. It will help us in protecting you & your family from #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/DtgmSz8Ih7 — Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) March 16, 2020 × The government had on March 13 ordered the closure of all educational institutes, cinema halls, swimming pools and gymnasiums over the coronavirus threat. Officials said people were hoarding essential items, as administration in several districts has asked shopping malls and retail stores to down shutters. Sudhansu Sarangi, Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, however, appealed to people to refrain from panic-buying as small shops and grocery stores will remain open. Prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC have come into force in several districts of the state, including Ganjam, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur, Angul and parts of Khurda and Puri, to prevent mass gathering of people, the officials said. Tourists have been discouraged from visiting popular destinations, with several shrines, including Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, restricting entry of visitors, they added. All companies, including IT firms, have been asked to adopt special safeguards. According to a notification issued to IT companies by the Commissionerate of Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, employees who have been to a foreign country will have to be quarantined for 14 days, during which they may work from home or avail leave as per company policies. Also, if any employee has family members who have recently travelled to a foreign destination, he or she would have to submit a declaration and stay home for 14 days. The notification will come into effect from March 17, 2020, Sarangi said, adding that any firm failing to comply with the orders shall be liable for prosecution under section 100 of Odisha Urban Police Act. The first confirmed case of novel coronavirus was reported in Odisha on Monday after a researcher who recently returned from Italy tested positive for it. The 33-year-old is being treated at Capital Hospital here.

Covid-19 scare: Odisha govt extends regulation period from March 31 to April 15

People infected with the coronavirus can remain contagious for a lot longer than the two-week-long quarantine period. According to a new study, patients can keep the pathogen in their respiratory tract for as long as 37 days.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/first-coronavirus-death-confirmed-in-indias-karnataka-285972">Also read: First coronavirus death confirmed in India's Karnataka</a>

An article published in The Lancet medical journal further says doctors in China detected the virus' RNA in survivours for a median of 20 days after they got the infection.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-coronavirus-is-leading-to-mass-purchase-of-toilet-papers-285979">Also read: Why coronavirus is leading to mass purchase of toilet papers</a>

The findings are being said to have significant implications for decision-making involving patient isolation, and subsequent treatment. The recommended isolation period, currently, after exposure is 14 days to avoid spreading the virus.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-effect-after-macron-trump-does-a-namaste-285974">Coronavirus effect: After Macron, Trump does a 'Namaste'</a>

"The shortest observed duration of viral shedding among survivours was eight days, whereas the longest was 37 days," the researchers said.

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, people are most likely to spread the virus when they are the sickest. However, there have been reports of some spreading the virus before showing symptoms.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/coronavirus-pandemic-these-are-no-go-zones-in-europe-285941">Coronavirus pandemic: These are 'no go' zones in Europe</a>

The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has so far infected more than 1,25,000 people and spread to 118 countries since its outbreak in Wuhan, China at the end of the last year.

A separate study in the New England Journal of Medicine had earlier suggested the coronavirus patients could be infected for up to 24 days before exhibiting actual symptoms. The average time is, however, much shorter — about three days.

People infected with the coronavirus can remain contagious for a lot longer than the two-week-long quarantine period. According to a new study, patients can keep the pathogen in their respiratory tract for as long as 37 days.

People infected with the coronavirus can remain contagious for a lot longer than the two-week-long quarantine period. According to a new study, patients can keep the pathogen in their respiratory tract for as long as 37 days. Also read: First coronavirus death confirmed in India's Karnataka An article published in The Lancet medical journal further says doctors in China detected the virus' RNA in survivours for a median of 20 days after they got the infection. Also read: Why coronavirus is leading to mass purchase of toilet papers The findings are being said to have significant implications for decision-making involving patient isolation, and subsequent treatment. The recommended isolation period, currently, after exposure is 14 days to avoid spreading the virus. Coronavirus effect: After Macron, Trump does a 'Namaste' "The shortest observed duration of viral shedding among survivours was eight days, whereas the longest was 37 days," the researchers said. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, people are most likely to spread the virus when they are the sickest. However, there have been reports of some spreading the virus before showing symptoms. Coronavirus pandemic: These are 'no go' zones in Europe The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has so far infected more than 1,25,000 people and spread to 118 countries since its outbreak in Wuhan, China at the end of the last year. A separate study in the New England Journal of Medicine had earlier suggested the coronavirus patients could be infected for up to 24 days before exhibiting actual symptoms. The average time is, however, much shorter — about three days.

Coronavirus can live in infected people for weeks longer than first thought

In a major revelation, the man who co-discovered the Ebola virus has warned that the new coronavirus is "much, much worse" than Ebola.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-coronavirus-case-traced-to-november-17-in-wuhan-report-286245">Also Read:&nbsp;First coronavirus case traced to November 17 in Wuhan</a>

Peter Piot said that unlike Ebola, which requires close contact with a victim, the new virus was "very infectious".

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/coronavirus-outbreak-total-infected-toll-leaps-to-15113-in-italy-286229/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Piot said the new coronavirus was more dangerous as the virus is literally something you can catch by just talking to somebody,

Professor Peter Piot co-discovered the Ebola virus in Zaire while working at the institute of tropical medicine in Antwerp, Belgium. Its average fatality rate is 50 per cent, although in some previous outbreaks it has been as high as 90 per cent.

"This is much, much worse than Ebola. Ebola requires very close contact for transmission. People are very scared of it but frankly, it is usually very contained. I mean, we have some exceptions,"&nbsp;Piot said.

"But it's because it (new coronavirus) is a respiratory transmitted virus that makes it so worrisome. And it's very infectious because there's so much virus in the throat. So this is literally something you can catch by just talking to somebody," he added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/100000-likely-coronavirus-cases-in-ohio-us-health-official-286226">Also Read:&nbsp;100,000 likely coronavirus cases in Ohio, says US health official</a>

Peter Piot, currently the director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, equated the coronavirus outbreak with the Spanish flu.

The influenza outbreak infected 500 million around the world in 1918 and killed an estimated 50 million people. However,&nbsp;he pointed out that at least this time around, the world was better equipped through antibiotics and specialist medical tools.

"It's like back to the times of the Spanish flu, 100 years ago, where that killed, you know, 50 million people. However, we have antibiotics that can treat pneumonia, there are respirators, we are better equipped," he asserted.

In a major revelation, the man who co-discovered the Ebola virus has warned that the new coronavirus is "much, much worse" than Ebola. Also Read: First coronavirus case traced to November 17 in Wuhan Peter Piot said that unlike Ebola, which requires close contact with a victim, the new virus was "very infectious".

In a major revelation, the man who co-discovered the Ebola virus has warned that the new coronavirus is "much, much worse" than Ebola. Also Read: First coronavirus case traced to November 17 in Wuhan Peter Piot said that unlike Ebola, which requires close contact with a victim, the new virus was "very infectious". Watch Video: Piot said the new coronavirus was more dangerous as the virus is literally something you can catch by just talking to somebody, Professor Peter Piot co-discovered the Ebola virus in Zaire while working at the institute of tropical medicine in Antwerp, Belgium. Its average fatality rate is 50 per cent, although in some previous outbreaks it has been as high as 90 per cent. "This is much, much worse than Ebola. Ebola requires very close contact for transmission. People are very scared of it but frankly, it is usually very contained. I mean, we have some exceptions," Piot said. "But it's because it (new coronavirus) is a respiratory transmitted virus that makes it so worrisome. And it's very infectious because there's so much virus in the throat. So this is literally something you can catch by just talking to somebody," he added. Also Read: 100,000 likely coronavirus cases in Ohio, says US health official Peter Piot, currently the director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, equated the coronavirus outbreak with the Spanish flu. The influenza outbreak infected 500 million around the world in 1918 and killed an estimated 50 million people. However, he pointed out that at least this time around, the world was better equipped through antibiotics and specialist medical tools. "It's like back to the times of the Spanish flu, 100 years ago, where that killed, you know, 50 million people. However, we have antibiotics that can treat pneumonia, there are respirators, we are better equipped," he asserted.

Coronavirus much, much worse, says Peter Piot, Ebola discoverer

The new coronavirus is "Much, much worse" than E bola.

A start-up firm in India's southern Kerala state has launched two robots to spread awareness about the fast-spreading coronavirus that has killed more than 4,000 people worldwide. 
 
More than 134,500 people have been infected globally and over 4,900 have died, according to a Reuters tally of government announcements. 
 
The robots, developed by Asimov Robotics, can be seen distributing face masks and sanitizers, giving information about the contagion and cleaning doors at a start-up complex in Kochi city. 
 
"They are actually crowd-pullers. So people will gather around the robot and we can very effectively communicate this to the public," said Jayakrishnan T, the brains behind the robots. 
 
The start-up is trying to put the robots into use at public places like airports and malls and have sought permission from authorities. 
 
With just 74 confirmed cases of the virus and a single death, India, a country of 1.3 billion people, has so far fared better than elsewhere in Asia, Europe and North America.

A start-up firm in India's southern Kerala state has launched two robots to spread awareness about the fast-spreading coronavirus that has killed more than 4,000 people worldwide.

A start-up firm in India's southern Kerala state has launched two robots to spread awareness about the fast-spreading coronavirus that has killed more than 4,000 people worldwide. More than 134,500 people have been infected globally and over 4,900 have died, according to a Reuters tally of government announcements. The robots, developed by Asimov Robotics, can be seen distributing face masks and sanitizers, giving information about the contagion and cleaning doors at a start-up complex in Kochi city. "They are actually crowd-pullers. So people will gather around the robot and we can very effectively communicate this to the public," said Jayakrishnan T, the brains behind the robots. The start-up is trying to put the robots into use at public places like airports and malls and have sought permission from authorities. With just 74 confirmed cases of the virus and a single death, India, a country of 1.3 billion people, has so far fared better than elsewhere in Asia, Europe and North America.

In Kerala, robots spreading awareness on Coronavirus pandemic

Thailand's health ministry claims that a Chinese woman infected with the new coronavirus showed dramatic improvement after getting treated by a cocktail of anti-viral used to treat flu and HIV.

Thai doctors claim to find 'curative drug' for Coronavirus

We may pass the flu to others just by breathing, according to a study which contradicts the popular belief that people can catch the influenza virus by exposure to droplets from an infected person&#39;s coughs or sneezes.

The study provides new evidence for the potential importance of airborne transmission because of the large quantities of infectious virus researchers found in the exhaled breath from people suffering from flu.

&quot;We found that flu cases contaminated the air around them with infectious virus just by breathing, without coughing or sneezing,&quot; said Donald Milton, from the University of Maryland in the US.

&quot;People with flu generate infectious aerosols (tiny droplets that stay suspended in the air for a long time) even when they are not coughing, and especially during the first days of illness. So when someone is coming down with influenza, they should go home and not remain in the workplace and infect others,&quot; said Milton, lead researcher of the study.

The researchers characterised influenza virus in exhaled breath from 142 confirmed cases of people with influenza during natural breathing, prompted speech, spontaneous coughing, and sneezing, and assessed the infectivity of naturally occurring influenza aerosols.

For the study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the participants provided 218 nasopharyngeal swabs and 218 half-an-hour samples of exhaled breath, spontaneous coughing, and sneezing on the first, second, and third days after the onset of symptoms.

The analysis of the infectious virus recovered from these samples showed that a significant number of flu patients routinely shed infectious virus, not merely detectable RNA, into aerosol particles small enough to present a risk for airborne transmission.

Surprisingly, 11 (48 per cent) of the 23 fine aerosol samples acquired in the absence of coughing had detectable viral RNA and eight of these 11 contained infectious virus, suggesting that coughing was not necessary for infectious aerosol generation in the fine aerosol droplets.

In addition, the few sneezes observed were not associated with greater viral RNA copy numbers in either coarse or fine aerosols, suggesting that sneezing does not make an important contribution to influenza virus shedding in aerosols.

&quot;The study findings suggest that keeping surfaces clean washing our hands all the time, and avoiding people who are coughing does not provide complete protection from getting the flu,&quot; said Sheryl Ehrman, from San Jose State University in the US.

&quot;Staying home and out of public spaces could make a difference in the spread of the influenza virus,&quot; Ehrman said.

The researchers characterised influenza virus in exhaled breath from 142 confirmed cases of people with influenza during natural breathing, prompted speech, spontaneous coughing, and sneezing.

We may pass the flu to others just by breathing, according to a study which contradicts the popular belief that people can catch the influenza virus by exposure to droplets from an infected person's coughs or sneezes. The study provides new evidence for the potential importance of airborne transmission because of the large quantities of infectious virus researchers found in the exhaled breath from people suffering from flu. "We found that flu cases contaminated the air around them with infectious virus just by breathing, without coughing or sneezing," said Donald Milton, from the University of Maryland in the US. "People with flu generate infectious aerosols (tiny droplets that stay suspended in the air for a long time) even when they are not coughing, and especially during the first days of illness. So when someone is coming down with influenza, they should go home and not remain in the workplace and infect others," said Milton, lead researcher of the study. The researchers characterised influenza virus in exhaled breath from 142 confirmed cases of people with influenza during natural breathing, prompted speech, spontaneous coughing, and sneezing, and assessed the infectivity of naturally occurring influenza aerosols. For the study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the participants provided 218 nasopharyngeal swabs and 218 half-an-hour samples of exhaled breath, spontaneous coughing, and sneezing on the first, second, and third days after the onset of symptoms. The analysis of the infectious virus recovered from these samples showed that a significant number of flu patients routinely shed infectious virus, not merely detectable RNA, into aerosol particles small enough to present a risk for airborne transmission. Surprisingly, 11 (48 per cent) of the 23 fine aerosol samples acquired in the absence of coughing had detectable viral RNA and eight of these 11 contained infectious virus, suggesting that coughing was not necessary for infectious aerosol generation in the fine aerosol droplets. In addition, the few sneezes observed were not associated with greater viral RNA copy numbers in either coarse or fine aerosols, suggesting that sneezing does not make an important contribution to influenza virus shedding in aerosols. "The study findings suggest that keeping surfaces clean washing our hands all the time, and avoiding people who are coughing does not provide complete protection from getting the flu," said Sheryl Ehrman, from San Jose State University in the US. "Staying home and out of public spaces could make a difference in the spread of the influenza virus," Ehrman said.

Flu may spread just by breathing: Study

The Philippines plans to cull 400,000 chickens, quails and ducks after confirming the country&#39;s first outbreak of bird flu, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol on Friday.

The avian flu outbreak was detected in a farm in a town in Pampanga province, north of the capital Manila, which later spread to neighbouring farms. There has been no case of human transmission so far, Pinol told reporters.

&quot;We will cull all 400,000 birds within a 1-km area. We don&#39;t want diseases to spread,&quot; Pinol said.

The source of the disease and the strain of avian flu were not immediately clear. There were indications as early as April of bird flu hitting one farm, but the situation worsened in July, with around 37,000 birds dying during the period, Pinol said.

He said he has informed President Rodrigo Duterte of the outbreak and a report will be submitted to the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health.

The Department of Agriculture will hold a briefing at 0800 GMT.

The Philippines is the latest country in Asia, Europe and Africa where the bird flu viruses have spread in recent months. Many strains only infect birds, but the H7N9 strain has led to human cases, including fatalities, in China. 
&nbsp;

The Philippines is the latest country in Asia, Europe and Africa where the bird flu viruses have spread in recent months.

The Philippines plans to cull 400,000 chickens, quails and ducks after confirming the country's first outbreak of bird flu, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol on Friday. The avian flu outbreak was detected in a farm in a town in Pampanga province, north of the capital Manila, which later spread to neighbouring farms. There has been no case of human transmission so far, Pinol told reporters. "We will cull all 400,000 birds within a 1-km area. We don't want diseases to spread," Pinol said. The source of the disease and the strain of avian flu were not immediately clear. There were indications as early as April of bird flu hitting one farm, but the situation worsened in July, with around 37,000 birds dying during the period, Pinol said. He said he has informed President Rodrigo Duterte of the outbreak and a report will be submitted to the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health. The Department of Agriculture will hold a briefing at 0800 GMT. The Philippines is the latest country in Asia, Europe and Africa where the bird flu viruses have spread in recent months. Many strains only infect birds, but the H7N9 strain has led to human cases, including fatalities, in China.

Philippines reports avian flu outbreak

The flu pandemic in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has caused over 320 deaths, according to the Center for Health Protection under the Department of Health in Hong Kong.

On Sunday, July 23, 5,562 people turned up at the accident and emergency department at mainstream public hospitals, The Straits Times reported.

The weekly number of severe cases has also jumped in the second half of June this year, from 17 to 33, the Straits Times said quoting the South China Morning Post.

There have been at least 456 reported cases of flu, with elderly people above the age of 65 the most common victims, Reuters reported.

From May 5th to Aug 6th, a total of 19 cases of the flu infection were found in child victims. In three of the 19 cases the victim&#39;s unfortunately died, news wire Reuters informed.

The death toll during this year&rsquo;s flu period is higher than last winter but lower than the winter of 2015, the Center for Health Protection stated.

There have been at least 456 reported cases of flu, with elderly people above the age of 65 the most common victims

The flu pandemic in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has caused over 320 deaths, according to the Center for Health Protection under the Department of Health in Hong Kong. On Sunday, July 23, 5,562 people turned up at the accident and emergency department at mainstream public hospitals, The Straits Times reported. The weekly number of severe cases has also jumped in the second half of June this year, from 17 to 33, the Straits Times said quoting the South China Morning Post. There have been at least 456 reported cases of flu, with elderly people above the age of 65 the most common victims, Reuters reported. From May 5th to Aug 6th, a total of 19 cases of the flu infection were found in child victims. In three of the 19 cases the victim's unfortunately died, news wire Reuters informed. The death toll during this year’s flu period is higher than last winter but lower than the winter of 2015, the Center for Health Protection stated.

Flu pandemic in Hong Kong, 320 dead

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A new range of universal flu vaccines have been developed by scientists which can protect against influenza virus.&nbsp;

They have developed two types of vaccines, a universal one which offers protecting against 88 per cent of know strains and another meant to tackle 95 per cent of recognised influenza strain in the US.&nbsp;

Influenza is contagious and usually spreads through coughing and sneezing. &nbsp;Children and elderly are severly affected and complications can also lead to death.&nbsp;

According to the World Health Organization, symptoms include: high fever, headache, muscle pain, sore throat and rhinitis.&nbsp;

(WION)

Two types of influenza vaccine is developed, one is universal and the other protects against influenza virus particular to the US

A new range of universal flu vaccines have been developed by scientists which can protect against influenza virus. They have developed two types of vaccines, a universal one which offers protecting against 88 per cent of know strains and another meant to tackle 95 per cent of recognised influenza strain in the US. Influenza is contagious and usually spreads through coughing and sneezing. Children and elderly are severly affected and complications can also lead to death. According to the World Health Organization, symptoms include: high fever, headache, muscle pain, sore throat and rhinitis. (WION)

Universal vaccine developed to protect against influenza

Sean Williams scored a maiden test century in vain as New Zealand clinched a comprehensive innings and 117-run victory over hosts Zimbabwe on day four of the first test on Sunday. 
 
Williams, who was battling flu, scored the quickest test ton by a Zimbabwean off 106 balls before becoming the ninth man out for 119 having smashed 21 fours. 
 
Zimbabwe were dismissed shortly before tea in their second innings for 295, with seamer Trent Boult the pick of the visiting bowlers as he picked up 4-52 on a flat batting track. 
 
&quot;The fight was excellent. After the first innings, I thought we were soft,&quot; Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer said at the post-match presentation, before highlighting his teams troubles in the test. &quot;We probably have 10 guys sick in the change room.&quot; 
 
Zimbabwe faced a mammoth task to make New Zealand bat again, having been skittled for 164 in their first innings and allowing the tourists to amass 576 for six declared in reply. 
 
New Zealand would have had thoughts of a quick finish on the fourth morning as Zimbabwe resumed on 121 for five, especially when Craig Ervine (50) was out in the second over soon after bringing up his maiden test half-century. 
 
But a magnificent 118-run seventh-wicket stand between Williams and Cremer (33) took the home side past lunch before the latter was trapped lbw by Ish Sodhi. 
 
Regis Chakabva (11), who missed the second and third days&rsquo; play with a virus, hung around for 41 balls before he was bowled by Tim Southee. 
 
A visibly wilting Williams then holed out to deep mid-wicket off Mitchell Santner after scoring 119 off 148 balls. 
 
The win was complete when Neil Wagner, who finished with match figures of 8-103, had Donald Tiripano (14) caught by wicketkeeper BJ Watling. 
 
&quot;The first innings bowling effort after [losing] the toss was outstanding, and it put us ahead in the game,&quot; New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said. 
 
&quot;To get the score we did and put Zimbabwe under pressure was outstanding. We&#39;re looking forward to the next match. 
 
Zimbabwe continued their dismal record against New Zealanders and are now winless in 16 meetings, this being their 10th loss. 
 
The second and final test starts on Saturday at the same venue. 
 
(Reuters)

Williams was battling flu, but managed to score the quickest test ton by a Zimbabwean off 106 balls

Sean Williams scored a maiden test century in vain as New Zealand clinched a comprehensive innings and 117-run victory over hosts Zimbabwe on day four of the first test on Sunday. Williams, who was battling flu, scored the quickest test ton by a Zimbabwean off 106 balls before becoming the ninth man out for 119 having smashed 21 fours. Zimbabwe were dismissed shortly before tea in their second innings for 295, with seamer Trent Boult the pick of the visiting bowlers as he picked up 4-52 on a flat batting track. "The fight was excellent. After the first innings, I thought we were soft," Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer said at the post-match presentation, before highlighting his teams troubles in the test. "We probably have 10 guys sick in the change room." Zimbabwe faced a mammoth task to make New Zealand bat again, having been skittled for 164 in their first innings and allowing the tourists to amass 576 for six declared in reply. New Zealand would have had thoughts of a quick finish on the fourth morning as Zimbabwe resumed on 121 for five, especially when Craig Ervine (50) was out in the second over soon after bringing up his maiden test half-century. But a magnificent 118-run seventh-wicket stand between Williams and Cremer (33) took the home side past lunch before the latter was trapped lbw by Ish Sodhi. Regis Chakabva (11), who missed the second and third days’ play with a virus, hung around for 41 balls before he was bowled by Tim Southee. A visibly wilting Williams then holed out to deep mid-wicket off Mitchell Santner after scoring 119 off 148 balls. The win was complete when Neil Wagner, who finished with match figures of 8-103, had Donald Tiripano (14) caught by wicketkeeper BJ Watling. "The first innings bowling effort after [losing] the toss was outstanding, and it put us ahead in the game," New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said. "To get the score we did and put Zimbabwe under pressure was outstanding. We're looking forward to the next match. Zimbabwe continued their dismal record against New Zealanders and are now winless in 16 meetings, this being their 10th loss. The second and final test starts on Saturday at the same venue. (Reuters)

Sean William hits century but New Zealand seals innings win

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