Influenza B viruses: underestimated and overlooked

Abstract

Influenza B viruses circulate globally every year causing respiratory disease with significant clinical and socio-economic impacts. IBV are considered exclusive human pathogens with no established animal reservoirs, which suggests with concerted effort it may be possible to eradicate this virus from human circulation. However, this requires a deeper understanding of IBV virology and immunology and the design of vaccines that induce universal immunity to antigenic variants of IBV.