News in Brief Life Deadly influenza could strike aboriginal groups hardest Native Alaskans and Australians tend to lack potent flu-fighting immune cells By Tina Hesman Saey January 6, 2014 at 4:26 pm - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Aboriginal Australians and Alaska Natives may be particularly vulnerable to a bird flu that emerged last year in China. Since it appeared in February 2013, H7N9 avian influenza virus has infected 147 people, including six diagnosed last month.