influenza

Matt Gleason fainted at work after getting a flu shot, so colleagues called 911 and an ambulance took him to the ER. Eight hours later, Gleason went home with a clean bill of health. Later still he got a hefty bill that wiped out his deductible.

Health & Safety

A Fainting Spell After A Flu Shot Leads To $4,692 ER Visit

8:51pm January 28, 2019

by Phil Galewitz

A 39-year-old man fainted after getting a flu shot at work, so his colleagues called 911. The man turned out to be fine, but the trip to the emergency room cost him his annual deductible.

Queue Listen Now

Sneezing and coughing can be symptoms of the flu or the common cold. But knowing which other symptoms signal flu could save your life.

Is It A Nasty Cold Or The Flu?

7:00am January 06, 2019

by Patti Neighmond

Knowing how to differentiate between symptoms of each can be important, especially if you're at high risk for flu's complications. Influenza can lead to pneumonia, hospitalization and even death.

Charlie Hinderliter got a bad case of the flu back in January. He spent 58 days in the hospital, underwent two surgeries and was in a medically induced coma for a week.

Last Year, The Flu Put Him In A Coma. This Year He's Getting The Shot

8:02am October 14, 2018

by Bram Sable-Smith

When 39-year-old Charlie Hinderliter got the flu last winter, he ended up in a medically induced coma and spent 58 days hospitalized. Serious, even fatal, complications can hit patients of any age.

Lipitor, a best-seller as a cholesterol treatment, is being tested as a remedy for the flu.

Health & Safety

Scientists Find New Tricks For Old Drugs

5:31pm July 09, 2018

by Richard Harris

Researchers are looking to redeploy drugs used for years to treat cholesterol and high blood pressure as remedies for influenza and Ebola.

Patients are treated at an Army ward in Kansas during the influenza epidemic of 1918. About 675,000 Americans died of the flu known as "la grippe."

Are We Prepared For A Killer Flu Epidemic?

3:11pm April 27, 2018

by Michaeleen Doucleff

An 21st century outbreak could be as nightmarish as the 1918 pandemic, which killed about 40 million. So the Gates Foundation wants to spur the development of a flu vaccine. Don't we already have one?

Cost, procrastination and a lack of insurance coverage are just a few of the reasons adults give health care providers for not getting vaccinated against shingles and other illnesses.

Shingles Is Nasty, And The New Vaccine Works Well. Why Do Adults Avoid Shots?

11:21am March 20, 2018

by Michelle Andrews

Beyond annual flu shots, older adults need protection against shingles, pneumonia, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, federal health officials say. But many aren't getting vaccinated.

A nurse prepares a flu shot at the Salvation Army in Atlanta last month. The disease is still "widespread" in many places, but slowing.

For The Second Week, The Flu Epidemic Has Eased

4:20pm March 02, 2018

by Richard Harris

The flu epidemic has peaked, the CDC said today. Activity declined last week, but the disease is still widespread and dangerous. And it's still not too late to get a flu shot.

On the mend after being sick with the flu? You could still be contagious.

Health & Safety

How Long Are You Contagious With The Flu?

5:31pm February 20, 2018

Finally getting out from under the flu? Just because you're feeling better doesn't mean you can't get other people sick. You can spread the flu for longer than you might think.

Influenza covers its shell with two types of accessories: the H spike, blue, and the N spike, red. Here the flu particle is sliced open to show its genetic material.

Health & Safety

First Human Case From New Bird Flu: How Many More Strains Are Out There?

3:55pm February 15, 2018

by Michaeleen Doucleff

The case of a Chinese woman adds to a growing list of avian flu strains to keep an eye on, including ones that are deadly and contagious. So why are there so many?

Simone Groper got her flu shot in January at a Walgreens pharmacy in San Francisco. Flu season will likely last a few more weeks, health officials say, and immunization can still minimize your chances of getting seriously sick.

Young Kids Are Getting The Best Protection From Current Flu Vaccine

2:34pm February 15, 2018

by Richard Harris

Overall, this season's vaccine is about 36 percent effective in blunting or preventing flu, health officials say. That's better than earlier predictions, and good enough to prevent flu in thousands.