210 people have already lost their lives and 341 others have been infected in 13 countries because of the H5N1 virus which is commonly known as bird flu.

This virus has a high infection rate within many bird species, not to mention the deadly fact that it can even spread to humans. Strains of this virus can mutate and bring harm to the entire human race.

Luckily, a group of scientists have recently discovered that annual flu shots could help the body's immune system fight this disease.

Cristiana Gioia, Maria Capobianchi, and their colleagues at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani in Rome tested 42 volunteers who have previously taken vaccinations against the seasonal influenza.

In their study, they added H5N1 virus to the samples of blood taken from the volunteers. They found out that the antibodies within the blood samples reacted against the bird flu virus. With this, they were able to conclude that seasonal flu vaccines might be able to provide immunity against the H5N1 virus.

If their findings prove true, then homo sapiens might just have defeated another threat to its existence.