Predicting the Next Influenza Pandemics.

Worldwide outbreaks of influenza (pandemics) are caused by influenza A viruses to which persons lack protective immune responses. Currently, we are unable to predict which influenza virus strains may cause a pandemic. In this article, we summarize some of the information that will be needed to better assess the pandemic potential of influenza viruses, and we discuss our current gaps in knowledge.
(© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)