BIOTERRORISM: H1N1 and 1918 virus

KSDK -- The vaccine for last year's pandemic H1N1 influenza also appears to protect against the 1918 Spanish influenza virus, which killed approximately 50 million world-wide, according to new research published in the online journal Nature Communications.
The findings assuage fears that the 1918 virus, which sparked the most devastating pandemic of the 20th century, could be used as a lethal bioterrorist agent, said Robert Belshe, M.D., director of Saint Louis University's Center for Vaccine Developments and a study author.
"Scientists reconstructed the formerly extinct 1918 influenza virus to better understand the most deadly influenza pandemic ever. However, some people raised concerns that the virus could accidentally be released or could maliciously be used as a weapon of bioterrorism," Belshe said.
"Our data indicates the H1N1 influenza vaccine likely protects against infections and illness from the 1918 virus. It's really important news for those who work with the 1918 virus in laboratories, who now know they likely will be protected from the more deadly virus if they get the H1N1 influenza vaccine."
The research also reinforces the idea that the 2009 H1N1 influenza is a milder strain of the 1918 influenza.
"The 1918 virus has basically come back. Fortunately it's much more mild this time. This finding also helps explain why older people, who have immunity to the 1918 influenza, are relatively protected against the H1N1 influenza," added Sharon Frey, M.D., clinical director of Saint Louis University Center for Vaccine Development and a study author.
Researchers studied the effect of the H1N1 influenza vaccine in both mice and humans. They vaccinated mice with the H1N1 influenza vaccine and found mice produced antibodies that cross reacted with the 1918 virus and fully protected them from the more lethal 1918 pandemic virus.
Likewise, people who were vaccinated against the H1N1 influenza mounted a significant antibody response to the 1918 influenza.
The researchers noted that because of the spread of the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus around the world and the large number of people who already have been vaccinated against H1N1, a large proportion of the population probably already has cross-protective antibodies against the 1918 virus.
"It's perhaps one of the few good things about getting the H1N1 influenza. Of course, getting the vaccination spares you from illness and also likely will protect you from the much more lethal 1918 influenza," Belshe said.
"Our findings should considerably reduce concerns about the consequences of an accidental or intended release of the deadly Spanish 1918 flu virus. In addition, going forward, those working in labs with the 1918 influenza virus might get the H1N1 vaccine for protection," Frey added.
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