Scientists are scrambling to find the cause for the sudden spike in human cases of avian influenza A (H5N6) in China to 21 during year-to-date 2021, from only five in 2020, reports say.

Vaccine developer Novavax Inc. said on Sept. 8 the company initiated an early-stage study to test a combination of the flu shot NanoFlu and the Covid-19 vaccine NVX-CoV2373.

Genetic testing specialist Qiagen received emergency use authorization for a new coronavirus test from the U.S. drugs regulator.

Much of the attention on Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca has been on their Covid-19 vaccine efforts, and here is a look at what else is going on with these companies.

Thermo Fisher Scientific is acquiring Mesa Biotech for about $450 million in cash, and will pay an additional $100 million in cash after certain milestones are hit.

Australian researchers said the virus that causes Covid-19 can survive on banknotes, glass and stainless steel for up to 28 days, much longer than the flu virus, highlighting the need for frequent cleaning and handwashing.

Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceutical made a strategic call to halt development of pimodivir, an antiviral treatment for influenza A.

Clinical diagnostics company Novacyt, one of many healthcare companies whose shares have surged during the pandemic, launched a test to differentiate between Covid-19 and common winter diseases.