Tag: influenza
Message from Dr. Ralph Manchester on the importance of getting a flu shot this year
“For your personal health, flu shots offer the best and safest way to fight and prevent the spread of the illness,” writes Ralph Manchester, vice provost and director of University Health Service.
Horses get the flu, too
Flu vaccines for horses haven’t been updated in more than 25 years, and now Rochester researchers have developed a new live equine influenza vaccine that is not only safer and more effective for horses, but also protects people.
In pursuit of a universal flu vaccine
Using the University’s supercomputers to analyze H1N1 flu viruses circulating since 1918, a new Medical Center study points to the pros and cons of targeting the “stalk” of the flu virus to develop a new vaccine.
‘Antisense’ compounds offer new weapon against influenza A
Challenging a long-held convention, University researchers have shown they can inhibit the influenza A virus by targeting its genomic RNA with “antisense” compounds.
Rare mutation weakens flu virus
Researchers at the Medical Center have identified a rare, naturally occurring influenza mutation that weakens the virus and could be used to develop new live flu vaccines.
Scientists seek to improve flu vaccine for the very young
Researchers have discovered a way to make a nasal spray flu vaccine safer for those who are at greatest risk of catching the flu, particularly infants under the age of 2.
A vaccine was born
In a makeshift lab in the School of Medicine and Dentistry in the 1980s, a team including biochemist Porter Anderson was refining an approach to vaccine technology that helped launch a new era in pediatric medicine. These vaccines out of Rochester are credited with nearly eradicating Haemophilus influenzae type b, or Hib, a once widely feared and deadly childhood infection.
UHS to attempt 5,000 flu vaccines in one day
On Thursday, Oct. 30, University Health Service (UHS) staff will attempt to vaccinate 5,000 students, faculty and staff against this year’s flu virus. The effort will doubly serve as a test of emergency preparedness to practice delivering mass quantities of vaccine or drug in response to an urgent public health concern. All River Campus-based students, faculty and staff are asked to consider participating in this clinic if they wish to receive the flu shot this year.
Rochester receives $3 million for flu research
The funds allow continued study over the next year of how our immune systems respond to flu vaccines and seasonal and pandemic flu viruses.
URMC Enrolling Patients to Test Live Pandemic Flu Vaccines
Infectious disease researchers at URMC will recruit 20 volunteers for a 12-day isolation research study testing live-virus bird flu vaccines.