Flu and flesh-eating infections rise

A busy season of flu infections is projected, and ocean warming is also increasing attacks of flesh-eating bacteria. (531 words, 2 minutes, 36 seconds)

Flu expert’s tip for coming season: Get vaccinated

With all signs pointing to a busy influenza season, we need to get flu vaccine coverage back to the pre-COVID level, says Dr. Gregg Sylvester, Chief Health Officer of BIO member company, CSL Seqirus.

How serious is this season? Australia saw a significant increase in flu this year, with case numbers similar to their extra-long 2019 season and an especially strong impact among children. The southern hemisphere’s flu season is an indicator for the north.

What happened last year? The 300,000 hospitalizations for flu in the United States in 2022-23 was the highest rate since the 2010-11 flu season. There were as many as 54 million cases and 19,000 deaths.

What should we do? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends flu shots for eligible individuals aged six months and older. The rate of flu vaccination dipped during the pandemic and has not yet recovered.

Why it matters: Flu vaccines “prevented 1.8 million flu-related illnesses, 1,000,000 medical visits, 22,000 hospitalizations, and nearly 1,000 deaths” in 2021-22, according to the CDC.

What they’re saying: “I encourage everyone to speak with their doctor or local pharmacists about getting a flu vaccine early, before flu season reaches its peak” in December-March, says Sylvester.

Read the Bio.News interview.

Find out more at Flu.com.


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Hotter weather causes increase in deadly flesh-eating bacteria

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday issued a health advisory about an increase in flesh-eating bacteria driven by warmer weather and warmer water.

What’s this bacteria? Vibrio vulnificus infects wounds and spreads rapidly, causing skin to die and infecting soft tissue. The 150-200 annual U.S. infections often require intensive care or surgical tissue removal and one in five die, sometimes a day or two after becoming ill.

How are people infected? The most common source of infection is swimming in coastal water with an open wound. Around 10% of the cases come from eating undercooked shellfish. Risk increases with underlying conditions like liver disease, diabetes, and immunocompromising conditions.

Why is it so bad this year? Vibrio vulnificus thrives in warm salt water. The oceans, which absorb 90% of the excess energy from climate change, have been setting heat records this year.

What should we do now? CDC urges doctors to consider vibrio vulnificus in diagnoses and recommends against swimming in salt water with an open wound.

What can we do long-term? Fight climate change, which is endangering our health in many ways. Biotech can help reduce climate-harming carbon emissions with sustainable aviation fuels, plant-based meats, sustainable agriculture practices, and biomanufacturing.

What about policy?The 2023 Farm Bill is current legislation to support sustainability through agriculture and the bioeconomy.

President Biden’s Wednesday: Commenting on labor and supply chains in the context of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) finalizing a new contract covering America’s West Coast ports.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: The Senate has returned, with challenges to passing the federal budget limiting time for other legislation, including PBM reform and the Farm Bill. The House is back next week.