A protein in influenza virus that helps it multiply also damages lung epithelial cells, causing fluid buildup in the lungs, according to new research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Southern Research Institute. Publishing online this week in the journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, the researchers say the findings give new insight into how flu attacks the lungs and provides targets for new treatments.

Because of increased risk of complications from influenza, vaccination of adults and children with asthma is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The Healthy People 2010 Objectives call for annual influenza vaccination of at least 60% of adults aged 18-64 years with asthma.

With several confirmed cases of H1N1 swine flu in Clark County, Public Health is closely monitoring the situation and working to contain the spread of the disease through prevention and control measures. All schools in the Clark County are put on alert due to the confirmed cases of Swine Flu.

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have found that an approved drug for treating rheumatoid arthritis reduces severe illness and death in mice exposed to the Influenza A virus. Their findings suggest that tempering the response of the body's immune system to influenza infection may alleviate some of the more severe symptoms and even reduce mortality from this virus.

What happens if the next big influenza mutation proves resistant to the available anti-viral drugs? This question is presenting itself right now to scientists and health officials this week at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, as they continue to do battle with H1N1, the so-called swine flu, and prepare for the next iteration of the ever-changing flu virus.

The first cases of swine flu to be confirmed in the southeastern U.S. have occurred in Georgia and South Carolina, according to reports.

As confirmed swine flu cases rapidly increase across the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) elevates the threat level to 5 (the second highest level) and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger heightens proactive measures to minimize the swine flu’s impact in California.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday raised the alert level for the ongoing swine flu outbreak to 5, meaning it believes a global pandemic is imminent.

A new strain of swine flu that is sweeping across Mexico and creeping into the California and other US States has officials concerned about a swine flu pandemic.

Flu seasons are unpredictable in a number of ways. Although epidemics of flu happen every year, the beginning, severity, and length of the epidemic depends on many factors, including the different types and strains of influenza viruses circulating and whether the viruses in the vaccine match flu viruses that are circulating.

90 years after Australian scientists began their race to stop the spread of Spanish flu in Australia, University of Melbourne researchers are hoping records from the 1918 epidemic may hold the key to preventing future deadly pandemic outbreaks

Not only are doctors, nurses, and firefighters essential during a severe pandemic influenza outbreak. So, too, are truck drivers, communications personnel, and utility workers. That's the conclusion of a Johns Hopkins University article to be published in the journal of Biosecurity and Bioterrorism.