Sharks are not, of course, dying directly from catching this deadly virus. However, they are dying as a result of efforts to eradicate the virus among humans and other land animals.

The production process of the H1N1 vaccine requires squalene -  an acyclic hydrocarbon C₃₀H₅₀. this substance is widely available in nature through olive oil, wheat germ oil and rice bran oil, but only in very small quantities. At the moment large quantities of the vaccine are needed and the best source of squalene is sebum and shark-liver oils. Deep-water sharks provide the most squalene.