General · 19 February 2026
New nasal spray stops viruses in animal tests
Stanford University researchers developed a "universal vaccine" to guard against respiratory illnesses, including flu and Covid. Instead of targeting specific bugs, the spray puts lung cells on high alert, reducing viral entry by up to 1,000 times. The protective effects lasted roughly three months and may also help reduce reactions to dust mite allergies. The team must now confirm these results through human clinical trials.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs