University of Queensland researchers have found that asthma in adults may result in dangerous flu mutations.
The PGA, a non-allergic form of Asthma suppresses the immune system and combined with influenza's quick replication can cause more frequent mutations.
UQ researchers say that they first saw this in the 2009 swine flu epidemic and have seen that the covid-19 UK variant arose because of a prolonged infection in an immunocompromised patient.