Flu season

Why you should get your flu shot

Health officials are urging all Americans over six months old to get a flu shot now. Last season, nearly 80,000 Americans died from the virus. That's the highest number since modern tracking began. Dr. Jon LaPook joins "CBS This Morning" to break down the myths of the flu shot and make a house call for our co-hosts.

What keeps the director of the CDC up at night

CDC is keeping a close watch on the flu after the highest number of deaths from the virus last year since modern tracking began

Survey reveals misconceptions among parents on flu shots

Florida health officials say a child is the first death in Florida during this year's flu season. The child, who has not been identified, tested positive for Influenza B and was not vaccinated. A new national survey puts the spotlight on some popular and potentially dangerous myths about the flu shot. Dr. Tara Narula reports.

Will this flu season be as bad as last year's?

The CDC says last winter's flu season was the deadliest in at least four decades. CBS News' Kenneth Craig reports that health officials are urging everyone over the age of 6 months old to get the flu vaccine.

Researchers working to improve next year's flu vaccine

The FDA has decided the four strains of the flu virus it will target in next year's flu vaccine. But with this year's only being 36 percent effective, researchers want to develop one that can combat all strains of the virus. CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook joins CBSN to discuss why a universal flu vaccinate is hard to create.

Scientists ramp up efforts to improve "antiquated" flu vaccines

"We've been using this technology of inactivated virus that you grow in chicken eggs since the 1940s," the head of vaccine research at the NIH says

More needs to be done to improve future flu vaccines, researcher says

Since the flu virus mutates over time, it's been hard to come up with an effective vaccine. But one researcher says a universial flu vaccine, which is long overdue, could be ready in just a few years. CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook reports.

Amid grim flu season, scientists work to find "holy grail" vaccine

Manufactures will have six to nine months to prepare more than 150 million doses to fight the flu

Amid bad flu season, FDA working on next year's vaccine

In a year where the influenza vaccine is just 25 percent effective, officials want to make sure next year's flu shot works better

Deadly flu season has likely peaked, CDC says

The worst flu season in years has likely peaked, the CDC said Friday. But the illness still remains widespread in every state, except for Hawaii and Oregon.

Nasty flu season showing signs of winding down

The CDC is cautious about saying flu season has peaked, but called a decline in doctor visits encouraging

Flu season shows signs of leveling off

The number of states reporting heavy flu patient traffic is holding steady at 43

Flu vaccine is one of the least effective in years

The CDC says this year's flu vaccine seems to be more effective for children than adults

This flu season could cost businesses billions

The virus could cause about 25 million employees to miss at least four, eight-hour shifts costing $21 billion in lost productivity

How the flu is impacting businesses' bottom line

More than 17,000 flu-related hospitalizations have been reported in the U.S. since October. While health officials are urging those with the flu to stay home from school or work, it's estimated to cost businesses across the country billions of dollars. Vladimir Duthiers reports.

New, fast-acting drug offers a novel way to combat flu virus

In Japan, one company says it has developed a treatment that kills the flu in a day

How ultraviolet light could be used to fight the flu

A doctor and his team are testing a device that uses UV light to kill the influenza virus in the air without damaging human tissue

Fighting the flu with ultraviolet light

As the deadly flu season continues, a doctor is working on technology that uses ultraviolet light to kill the flu virus in the air. CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook explains why this technique is safer than using regular UV rays.

Teacher dies from flu after deeming antiviral drug too costly

A second grade teacher fell ill with the flu but when she saw the $116 price tag, she decided it was too much, her husband says

High school freshman dies after getting the flu

La Reina High & Middle School confirmed Gabriella Chabot's death in an email sent out to parents Thursday night

"Very intense" flu season on track to break records

CDC reports doctors across the country are seeing more cases, hospitalizations and deaths from flu, and there's no sign it's letting up

Doctors try new approaches to help flu patients

With more people heading to the hospital, one doctor is telling people to stay home, since he will give them a diagnosis over the phone instead

Device collects, analyzes how breath transmits flu virus

New research shows the deadly flu virus spreads more easily than previously thought. Researchers at the University of Maryland have created a one-of-a-kind device that collects virus samples from your breath. Using that data, they then track how the flu is transmitted from person to person. Dr. Tara Narula reports.

Fauci says 2018 flu season "clearly one of the worst" on record

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, says that this year is "clearly one of the worst" flu seasons on "The Takeout" podcast with CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Major Garrett.