Summary

In Chapter 20, "Taking Influenza off the Table," Osterholm describes in greater detail how different strains of flu appear every year, how flu shots are developed based on the last previous flu pandemic, and what it would take to create a truly universal flu vaccine. There are two main proteins, HA and NA, through which flu strains are identified, and scientists are working to determine which effect humans, and which can only effect animals. He talks about the work that goes into creating a flu vaccine. He describes how flu vaccines were created in the past, and what would be necessary to create a universal flu vaccine. He compares it to the efforts to go to the moon, the Manhattan Project, and the organization currently working to try to find an AIDS vaccine.

In Chapter 21, "Battle Plan for Survival," Osterholm and Olshaker lay out...