New Delhi, March 15 (IANS). A study has found that H5N1 vaccines may benefit teenagers and children more, even if this vaccine is not specially made for the existing virus.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, USA said that infections before certain types of seasonal flu viruses, H5N1 can strengthen the body’s resistance against bird flu.
A study published in a magazine called ‘Nature Medicine’ revealed that H5N1 virus -fighting antibodies were found to be more in the elderly in contact with the flu virus before 1968.
Scott Hannley, professor of microbiology, said, “The immunity made from flu infections in childhood may remain a lifetime. Can reduce. “
The H5N1 virus had been spreading to birds for many years, but recently a new type of (Clade 2.3.4.4B) has surfaced, which is now spreading to cattle. This existing virus is not yet easily connected to the cells of the human respiratory system, but if it spreads more in mammalian organisms, it can cause changes so that it can spread rapidly to humans.
If this happens, the H5N1 can also spread among humans. The current flu vaccine mainly makes antibodies that recognize the hemaglutinine protein of the virus, which prevent the virus from entering the body’s cells.
Researchers examined blood samples of more than 150 people born between 1927 and 2016 to see how much they have antibodies including various flu virus including H5N1. He found that among those born before 1968, who suffered H1N1 or H2N2 viruses in childhood, were more among the H5N1 virus -fighting antibodies.
The study also found that a person’s birth year has a deep connection with the amount of antibodies fighting H5N1 virus in his body. Young children, who have not yet faced seasonal flu virus, were found to be very low in antibodies fighting this virus.
Hannley said that if the H5N1 epidemic is formed, people of all ages will be vulnerable to it, but it can have the most impact on children. Therefore, children should be preferred for H5N1 vaccine.
-IANS
AS/