Avian Flu: Understanding Deadly Virus Types to Develop a Universal Vaccine

Avian influenza remains one of the most potent threats to human and animal health and has the potential to spark a global pandemic. The most dangerous types of avian influenza viruses are highly pathogenic, with high death rates for infected species. Research has shown that high pathogenicity can be acquired by less deadly types of avian flu and scientists are beginning to understand how this might happen – and how it could be harnessed to develop a universal human and animal vaccine.