Scientists in flu breakthrough

Scientists said on Monday they had discovered immune cells that could fight all known flu viruses in what was hailed as an “extraordinary breakthrough” that could lead to a universal, one-shot vaccine.

Influenza epidemics, largely seasonal, kill hundreds of thousands of people each year, according to the World Health Organisation.

Researchers in Australia said “killer T cells”, found in more than half the world’s population, had shown in testing to be effective in fighting all common flu varieties, meaning the cells could be used to develop an all-encompassing flu vaccine that did not need to be changed annually.