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Seasonal vaccine no help against swine flu
But frequent exposure to flu viruses may provide some immunity, CDC says
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Swine flu worries world From Mexico to Europe to the United States and beyond, an outbreak of deadly swine flu leads to concern and health warnings. more photos |
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updated 5:16 p.m. ET April 26, 2009
ATLANTA - U.S. health officials say they are "very pessimistic" that the seasonal flu vaccine protects against the unique swine flu infecting people in the United States, Mexico and other countries.
A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official said Sunday afternoon that tests of the seasonal vaccine and the new virus show no cross-reaction, suggesting that people who got the vaccine have no added protection against the new bug.
It's possible that people who have been exposed to flu viruses every year — especially older people, with a greater exposure history — may have some natural immunity, the CDC official said in a call with reporters.
Full coverage of the swine flu outbreak
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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