Influenza is continuing its early and severe rampage through the United States, but there’s some hopeful news for flu seasons of the future.
In a significant step, researchers recently said they’ve been able to immunize animals against all 20 known influenza A and B virus strains, marking an important step toward the goal of a single vaccine against all types of the flu.
Our current flu vaccines prime the body to protect against four strains: two influenza A strains and two B strains. The composition of these vaccines is changed each year in anticipation of which strains will make most people sick during the coming season.
Certain strains are known to circulate among humans, but many more circulate in animals and scientists worry that these viruses could jump to humans – suddenly exposing us to viruses our immune systems have never seen.
That’s where a universal flu vaccine would help.