influenza

To research mysterious and deadly diseases, a scientist puts on a plastic bodysuit and steps into a lab sealed off from the outside world.

Neither getting the flu nor getting a flu shot appears to increase the risk of autism in children, a study finds. The shots are recommended because the flu poses health risks to mother and fetus.

It's flu season — time for the marketing of juices and supplements that claim to boost immunity. But they don't help, scientists say. Instead, try eating healthy and getting enough sleep.

There's plenty of vaccine available this year, and the sooner people get vaccinated the better, federal health officials say. A recent drop in vaccination, especially among the elderly, concerns them.

The vaccine is already showing up in drugstores, but maybe wait until Halloween to get the shot, doctors say, especially if you're over 65 and want to be protected against flu this winter.

The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't recommend using the nasal spray flu vaccine. In late August, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded it wasn't up to snuff.

In June, the CDC said the popular nasal flu vaccine isn't effective based on its use in U.S. children. But a new Canadian study says that it does indeed work. It's not at all clear who's right.

A CDC advisory panel concluded the nasal spray vaccine is so ineffective that it shouldn't be used by anyone during the 2016-2017 flu season. Until 2015, the spray was the top choice for kids.

A panel of advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended against using a needle-free flu vaccine that's popular with pediatricians, parents and children.