Swine flu spreads; WHO doubts early vaccine development
15 Jul 2009
Amid rising cases of the swine flu virus infections in Argentina and Australia, the WHO chief Margaret Chan has said there was still no safe vaccine available to stop the pandemic from spreading.
Argentina has increased its estimate of the flu fatalities from 94 to 137, while the US has reported the highest fatalities at 211.
According to Chan, the vaccine against the swine flu virus would be coming soon, though it would still have to be proven safe. It may take another 2 to 3 months for clinical trial data to arrive, she said.
The total global toll from the A(H1N1) virus has reportedly crossed 400. (See: New swine flu kills 70 in Mexico; spreads to US)
Marie-Paul Kieny, WHO director of vaccine research, has said that a vaccine could be available by September.
WHO's doubts come amidplans of many countries like Germany and Australia to begin vaccinating their populations against the spread of the virus.