Imagine a virus that could infect — and jump to and from — birds or mammals that is always adapting and changing, so by the time researchers have an answer for one strain, it’s already changed forms.

The virus, of course, is influenza.

In an editorial in the Washington Post, the editorial board explores H7N9, the most recent strain of avian influenza (bird flu). The board writes:

“This variant, known as H7N9, has not reached U.S. shores, but it is a reminder of the unpredictable nature of influenza. It might cause a pandemic, or settle into a slow burn for years, or simply die out. At this stage, no one knows. The uncertainty ought to remind us of past lessons about infectious disease and globalization, which remain as urgent as ever.”

Earlier this week, most of the general public began to see the first news reports on H7N9, a new strain of bird flu currently seen in China.

Now, only a few days later, the news is spreading. But has the flu spread with it? Should the general public be concerned?

Let’s look at the H7N9 facts.

The last few days in Minnesota have tested the lower limits of the thermometer, with temperatures hovering between comfortable and extremely cold. With so many people making an effort to stay active through the winter months, it’s especially important that people take precautions before heading outside to protect themselves from the cold.

We spoke to one University of Minnesota expert on how to stay warm this winter.

Preliminary study results from the Centers for Disease Control and the University of Michigan show getting a flu shot in consecutive years could actually lower your protection…

In every office space and classroom, empty seats are a clear indicator of the viruses spreading this winter. There are plenty of people out with the flu, but it seems plenty of others have the “stomach flu.”

The term “stomach flu” is a misnomer. It has become popular, referring to a variety of gastrointestinal viruses, including gastroenteritis, norovirus, and more. However, these illnesses are not related to influenza, and would be more appropriately nicknamed a “stomach bug.”

If you’re like the rest of America, it’s hard to get away from talk of the flu.  At the CDC’s last count, every state in the country had reported influenza activity, with 47 states reporting that activity as widespread.

Hopefully by now you’ve gotten your flu shot. And if you did, we here at Health Talk hope the process was quick and painless. But have you ever wondered why we haven’t developed an influenza vaccine that offers lasting protection, year after year?  If so, National Geographic’s Katherine Hobson wondered the same thing, and dove into finding an answer.  As it turns out, that answer has a lot to do with how the influenza virus behaves.