Edwin D. Kilbourne dies at 90; virologist developed flu vaccine
Friday, March 4, 2011 - 01:30
in Health & Medicine
Kilbourne used strains of influenza that grew readily in eggs and combined them with viruses that researchers wished to use in a vaccine. His techniques are used to create the yearly flu vaccine. Kilbourne also played a role in the swine flu scare of 1976.Dr. Edwin D. Kilbourne, a virologist who figured out how to manufacture a new influenza vaccine each year and was a principal advisor to the U.S. government on flu, died Feb. 21 in Branford, Conn. He was 90. No cause of death was released.