The recent spread of H5N1 bird flu has substantially affected wildlife, particularly birds and mammals, though human cases remain limited and underreported. Researchers are exploring whether immunity from past flu infections can protect against severe bird flu. Preliminary findings suggest individuals may possess some defensive antibodies due to shared virus traits, especially among older populations who experienced flu in childhood. However, experts caution against complacency, emphasizing that protection varies by individual health status and immune history, and warning a pandemic could exacerbate risks if the virus mutates.
"There's certainly preexisting immunity," says Florian Krammer, a virologist at Mount Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine who is involved in some of the new studies. "That's very likely not going to protect us as a population from a new pandemic, but it might give us some protection against severe disease."
"While this is a bit of a silver lining, it doesn't mean we should all feel safe," says Seema Lakdawala, a virologist at Emory University's School of Medicine whose lab is probing this question.
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