As Australia’s flu season kicks off, scientists make a breakthrough

“That’s why killer T cells are like ninjas of our immune response. They kill cells infected with the virus, but then after that they form immunological memory, so when the new virus emerges, even if it’s a mutated viral variant, those features can still be recognised and allow killer T cells to combat the next infection.”

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Influenza B is particularly dangerous in the young, killing and hospitalising Australian children in 2023 after cases surged part way through the season.

So far in 2024 in Australia, influenza A has accounted for most flu notifications.

There were 33,325 cases reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System between January 1 and April 7, a figure higher than in many preceding years. This could be partly to do with increased testing.

Thirty-one flu deaths have been reported.

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David Tscharke, a professor of virology and immunology at the Australian National University, described the new research as a first step in the development of a universal influenza B vaccine.

“They’re not going to go back into the lab and make a vaccine that’s going to come out next year or the year after, but I guess this is the proof of principle.”

Tscharke also said killer T cells might only be part of the answer. He said that unlike the current generation of seasonal vaccines, which are good at stimulating antibodies in the blood and can stop the flu from taking hold, killer T cells didn’t provide the same immediate protection.

“What they are going to do … is help your body deal with that infection more effectively, so we’re really talking about a vaccine that may protect from severe disease. It’s not going to be a vaccine that stops infections.”

An annual influenza vaccination is recommended for every Australian aged over six months, and free vaccines are available for children aged six months to five years, pregnant women, people aged 65 and over, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those with certain medical conditions.

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