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Study finds seasonal flu shot may help fight bird flu

Infection Control Monitor, December 28, 2007

A seasonal flu shot may offer some protection against bird flu, according to results of a new study.

Italian researchers tested the blood of 42 volunteers who were recently vaccinated against seasonal flu, and exposed the samples to the H5N1 avian flu, according to Reuters News. They found that in some samples, the immune system recognized the health threat and responded with appropriate antibodies, Reuters reported.

The study's authors, from the National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani in Rome, said this may help explain why the elderly are less likely to catch bird flu during outbreaks since they may have gained protective immunity by previous exposure to influenza virus strains. Avian flu has killed 210 people in 13 countries and infected 341.

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