Flu Shot May Help Fight Off Bird Flu: Study

Vaccinated patients more likely to have immune response to deadly H5N1 virus

By Colleen Barry, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 27, 2007 8:02 AM CST

(Newser) – A regular flu shot may offer at least some protection against the bird flu, a new study finds. Researchers tested the blood of 42 volunteers who'd recently gotten flu vaccines, exposing it to the deadly H5N1 avian flu, and found that in some of them, the immune system recognized the threat and responded with appropriate antibodies, Reuters reports.

This may help explain why the elderly are less likely to catch bird flu where it breaks out. "Older people, although not previously exposed to H5N1 subtype, may have gained protective immunity by previous infections sustained by circulating influenza virus strains," write the study's authors. The flu vaccine also increased the likelihood that another type of immune cell would fight the virus.

Flu shot (Getty Images)

Business traveler Danny Manzon, of Jacksonville, Fla., gets a flu shot from Stephanie Parks of The Aero Clinic at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007 in Atlanta. (AP... (Associated Press)

A flu shot is administered in Barre, Vt., Thursday, Nov. 18, 2004. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot) (Associated Press)

Flu shots (Getty Images)

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Flu Shot May Help Fight Off Bird Flu: Study

Vaccinated patients more likely to have immune response to deadly H5N1 virus

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Vaccinated patients more likely to have immune response to deadly H5N1 virus

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

immune system • antibodies • virus • avian flu • flu shot • H5N1

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Breakthrough Raises Hope for HIV Vaccine

Antibodies could help scientists combat elusive virus' defenses

2 More Birds Found With Flu in Hong Kong

Concerns grow over H5N1 spread

UN: Bird Flu Is Back

Virus is on the rise after declining for years

Simple Blood Test May Detect Alzheimer's

But there's still no cure

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Linked to Virus

Obscure virus found in two-thirds of sufferers

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?