Annual flu shots remain the best defense against influenza

Most flu cases are treated at home, but antivirals help high-risk patients

Rest, fluids and common medicines usually ease influenza symptoms. For people at higher risk of complications, doctors may prescribe antiviral drugs, which work best when started soon after symptoms begin.

COVID-19 vaccine breakthroughs are driving efforts toward a universal flu shot

mRNA and other technologies used for COVID-19 vaccines are being applied to influenza research. Scientists hope these advances will lead to a universal flu vaccine that protects against multiple strains and reduces the need for yearly shots.

The best time to get a flu vaccine may be late-September or early-October

The body needs a few weeks after the vaccine to build up a sufficient antibody response, which eventually wanes. Scheduling the vaccine accordingly can maximize its effectiveness when flu season ramps up.

Flu vaccines are reformulated each year based on global predictions

Twice a year, health agencies analyze circulating influenza strains and select those most likely to spread in the coming season. Because vaccines must be produced months ahead, they represent the best available forecast.

Find out how prevalent the flu is at this current moment

Updated weekly, this USAFacts resource shares current data from the CDC detailing how many cases of influenza and other flu-like illnesses accounted for doctor's visits. Monitor the spread of respiratory illness during flu season with this handy resource and prepare accordingly.

Certain vaccinations may be more effective when given around the middle of the day

A 2023 analysis of the health records of more than 1.5 million people in Israel suggests that COVID-19 vaccines may be more effective when received around the middle of the day. Separate early research also suggests there may be similar trends for influenza vaccines.

Influenza infects up to a billion people worldwide each year

The World Health Organization estimates that seasonal influenza causes about 1B cases annually, including 3 to 5M severe illnesses and between 290,000 to 650,000 deaths.

Flu spreads through droplets in the air and on surfaces

Influenza passes mainly through tiny droplets released when sick people cough, sneeze or talk. The virus can also survive briefly on surfaces, allowing it to spread when others touch contaminated objects.

Learn the history and science of influenza in 'This Podcast Will Kill You'

In their flu episode, cohosts Erin Welsh and Erin Allmann Updyke unpack influenza’s biology, history, and impact—explaining everything from past pandemics to modern vaccines, all with their trademark mix of science and storytelling.

In 1933, the influenza virus was first identified through “ferret flu” experiments

In 1933, British researchers dripped filtered nasal fluids from a sick colleague into ferrets, which quickly developed “ferret flu.” This experiment proved influenza was viral, not bacterial, and established the basis for modern flu vaccines.

The HPV vaccine reduces cervical cancer rates by 90% or more

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally. Almost all cases (99%) are linked to infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses. However, cervical cancer is both treatable and preventable—and we may be able to prevent most cases through vaccination.

The oral, live virus vaccine is the most robust but carries more risks

The live virus vaccine, delivered via oral drops, induces the best protection in the body. Because it includes a live, weakened form of the virus there's an extremely small risk it can sicken recipients and potentially cause paralysis. Recipients also shed the virus in their stool, which can rarely lead to vaccine-derived cases of the virus if the virus mutates. (Some users may experience a paywall.)

The American Veterinary Medical Association advocates for vaccinations for pets to extend their lives

The American Animal Hospital Association provides guidelines, while many states legally require certain vaccines, such as rabies. Vaccinating healthy pets—even indoor-only pets—prevents outbreaks and protects other vulnerable animals, and adverse effects, such as allergic reactions and injection-site irritation, are rare. (Some readers may experience a paywall.)

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a decrease in immunizations in the US and worldwide

Public health funds and resources that were diverted to COVID-19 response reduced efforts to combat polio and vaccinations for polio and other diseases declined during the pandemic, putting more people at risk for polio.

Understanding vaccine side effects

A vaccine is a medical intervention, and as with any medical intervention, may have side effects. This article discusses side effects and adverse events related to vaccination.

Cholera vaccines can protect people from disease for months—or even years

There are three recommended cholera vaccines on the market. The number of required shots and the period of protection they provide vary, but each of them can be life-saving.

Shingles vaccine may slow biological aging in older adults

Research published in 2025 that analyzed data from thousands of older adults found that those who had received the shingles vaccine exhibited signs of slower biological aging, such as lower levels of inflammation and slower epigenetic aging, than those who had not been vaccinated.

Tips for reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance is bad news. But there are lots of things you can do to both protect yourself from superbugs and help keep the problem of antimicrobial resistance from getting worse. This page from the CDC offers clear, straightforward guidelines that can help keep you—and your loved ones—healthy.

Hollywood's efficient response to the Spanish flu made it a filmmaking destination

In 1918, the Great Influenza epidemic killed more than 675,000 Americans. Los Angeles was one of the first cities to shut down movie theaters, most of which were independently owned and couldn’t afford the revenue loss. The results were twofold: the quick response meant that Hollywood could bounce back faster than other film hubs, and it also contributed to the rise of vertical integration as studios stepped in to purchase the flailing theaters.

Penicillin ended scarlet fever’s deadly threat to children

Between 1840 and 1883, scarlet fever was among the leading causes of childhood death in the United States, with case fatality rates ranging from 15% to 30%. Today, thanks to antibiotics like penicillin, the mortality rate is below 1%.

Dozens of US women in labor turned away from hospital between 2022 and 2024

An Associated Press analysis of federal hospital investigation data concluded that more than 100 pregnant women in medical distress were turned away from emergency rooms or treated negligently since 2022.

Experimental hantavirus vaccines and therapies, still under development, have long been funded by the US military.

Peanut allergies dropped by 43% after doctors reversed avoidance guidance, but questions remain

The study’s data appear to confirm the policy shift. Still, since the study did not include an examination of infant diet, researchers can’t definitively say that the guideline shift led to dietary changes and thus directly caused the decline.

Fireworks-related ER visits are on the rise—in 2024, they increased by 52% as compared to the prior year.

12% of adults were taking injectable GLP-1 for weight loss according to 2025 survey

Weight loss injectable use rose sharply between 2024 and fall 2025. The percentage of adults who reported taking this class of medicine specifically for weight loss increased to 12.4%, compared with 5.8% in February 2024 when Gallup first measured it.

Read the Surgeon General's 2023 loneliness report claiming loneliness is an epidemic

This report details the specific health threats linked with loneliness, including that loneliness and social isolation can increase the risk of premature death by nearly 30%. Loneliness lowers our capability to mount an effective immune response to viruses and respiratory illness, can cause chronic inflammation on par with physical inactivity, and increases the risks for anxiety, depression, dementia, heart disease and stroke.

Ranking America's healthiest and unhealthiest cities

Compiling data from the 180 most populated cities in the US, WalletHub evaluated which of those metros are the healthiest using 43 health indicators, from the average cost of a medical visit to total vaccination rates.

Doctors differentiate between a phobia and fear by asking patients whether their fear interferes with their day-to-day activities.

Hookworm infection, though risky, may help fight certain autoimmune conditions by tamping down the immune system's inflammatory response.

Telehealth demand for GLP-1s for weight loss is booming as consumers seek easier access.

In 2026, Finland was named the world's happiest country for the ninth consecutive year based on its wealth, social safety network, and high life expectancy, among other factors.

See how Ebola tore through Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia in 2014-2016.

Studies suggest when you sleep is as important as how much you get, and syncing with your circadian rhythms may lead to less fatigue and improved long-term health outcomes

Calculate how much of your tax dollars go to each federal program based on your income, filing status, and number of children

Tattoos remain visible on your skin thanks to immune cells called macrophages

After 25 people used virtual reality headsets to practice flying with virtual wings—flapping their arms—their visual cortex responded to the wings almost as if they were real arms, treating them as body parts.

Alzheimer's can lead to brain shrinkage, with an average of around 2% of volume reduction per year

About 2,000 US babies are born annually without some portion of their limbs, potentially leading to a lifetime of pricey prosthetics.

Between 10 million and 50 million people in the US develop rashes from poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak each year.

As of 2025, the most cited papers in science include a review of graphene, methods to improve image recognition, streamlining electron density calculations, and optimizing protein studies.

Abraham Lincoln was almost assassinated weeks before his inauguration as he traveled from Illinois to DC through Baltimore in 1861; it took two independent claims for Lincoln to be convinced the threat was real

Discover the catastrophic consequences of a failure of the US electrical grid—something that is more likely than many Americans think.

20,000 letters to the advice columnist 'Dear Abby' provide insight into prevailing sex, religion, and LGBTQ fears, anxieties, and concerns from the 1950s onward.

See the 25 of the best photos of auroras from around the world.

Before the current East Wing ballroom project, only two White House renovations in the past 100 years cost more than $10M.

Sunflowers have long been a symbol of nuclear disarmament because they can extract large amounts of radioactive cesium from soil.

Hotels in Cannes, the glamorous city on the French Riviera, hire hawks to ward off seagulls during the city's famous film festival.

Massive 3D printers have been used to build homes by stacking layers of 'concrete toothpaste,' a fire-resistant material that effectively insulates against outside noise.

Dozens of S&P 500 stocks, including Coca-Cola and Walmart—known as the dividend aristocrats—have increased dividends every year for 25 years

The US Constitution is widely regarded as the longest-standing written national constitution still in force—see how it has influenced rights worldwide.