influenza

Avian Influenza H5N1: From Poultry to Cattle, How Livestock is at Risk with Current US Outbreak

Posted on by Jordan Nutting

Updated June 24, 2024

In January 2022, the state of South Carolina reported a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a wild bird—the first detected case of this virus subtype in the United States since 2016, likely introduced from Canada late in 2021. Since then, the virus has spread across the U.S., affecting both coasts with multiple separate introductions. As of 2024, this outbreak continues to cause significant issues, and has even reached dairy cows in Texas, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, South Dakota, Idaho, North Carolina, and Ohio.

Continue reading “Avian Influenza H5N1: From Poultry to Cattle, How Livestock is at Risk with Current US Outbreak”

The Making of a Vaccine: Preparation for Flu Season

Posted on by Jordan Villanueva

At the time that I’m writing this, I still haven’t succumbed to the “yuck” that’s been knocking out my co-workers one-by-one since November. Those of us who are still healthy were discussing how we fortify our immune systems in preparation for the flu season. All of the suggestions were pretty typical—orange juice, Vitamin C supplements, and of course, the the annual flu shot.

For all of the agencies responsible for the production of the seasonal influenza vaccine, preparation for flu season begins long before the rest of us are stocking up on Emergen-C. Continue reading “The Making of a Vaccine: Preparation for Flu Season”