Employees in pharmaceutical packing companies could find themselves handling a vaccine that can protect against all strands of flu following a scientific breakthrough.

Researchers are one step closer to developing a solution for all influenza viruses, after discovering that a particular type of immune cell can prevent all types of flu.

The paper, which features in the journal Nature Immunology, reveals that no such vaccine currently exists, as there are so many varieties in influenza strains.

The scientists at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity found that T-cells are able to combat a common part of the virus across influenzas A, B and C, reported Medical News Today.

Laboratory lead at the organisation and senior and corresponding author of the paper Katherine Kedzierska said: “Influenza B immunology particularly has remained largely understudied because it doesn’t have pandemic potential.”

The professor at the University of Melbourne in Australia went on to say this virus is particularly dangerous, especially for children, and “was one of the missing pieces of the universal flu protection puzzle”.

The scientists worked with the Purcell laboratory at the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute in Clayton to determine the outcome.

If they are able to use their research to derive a vaccination that works against all types of flu, they will prevent thousands of serious illnesses per annum.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 30,453 people were hospitalised in 2017-18 due to influenza, with 185 children dying from the virus during this period. This year has been a particularly bad one for the virus, with more than 2,000 Brits already having received treatment in intensive care units due to contracting influenza, according to Public Health England.