Vaccine against swine influenza: WHO needs more time

The World Health Organization (WHO) needs more time to decide whether to produce a vaccine against the new influenza A (H1N1) of porcine origin, said Thursday number two of the organization.

"It is not possible to tell when we make a decision, it is a painstaking and difficult process," said Dr. Keiji Fukuda at a press conference after a meeting experts.

WHO had convened a conference call Thursday for manufacturers of vaccines and medical experts to study the possible launch of the mass production of a vaccine against influenza A (H1N1).

The latter should also consult on how best to produce the vaccine, either by integrating the North American strain of the virus in the vaccine for seasonal influenza or making a separate vaccine against the pandemic.

Mr. Fukuda said that further meetings on the subject were planned, without giving a date.

The preparation of a vaccine is "a technical process that calls for him only several weeks," he added ensuring that the discussions on the topic had started in the early days of the alert following the outbreak of this virus which has infected nearly 6,500 people in the world.

A vaccine could prove crucial if the virus is rebounding during his visit to the southern hemisphere where winter is conducive to the spread of the flu, began today.

Especially WHO fears that a mutation that could make it resistant to antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu, Roche Swiss lab or Relenza GlaxoSmithKline of Britain, now considered effective.

In addition, Dr. Fukuda has swept the rumor that the virus had been produced artificially in a lab. WHO has taken "very seriously" this hypothesis by a virologist and has conducted its inquiry since last weekend, said the number two in the organization.

"The conclusion is that this is not a virus created in the laboratory," he insisted.

While the number of reported cases rising each day to now 6497 people in 33 countries, including 65 deaths, the UN continues to maintain its alert level 5 on a scale of 6 mean that a pandemic is "imminent" .

The WHO has in effect for the moment no evidence that the virus is transmitted independently of that in America, provided for transition to the 6 of pandemic alert, "said Fukuda.

Meanwhile, WHO will reduce the duration of its World Assembly which is scheduled to begin Monday from nine to four days "to allow ministers and health officials to be absent for shorter periods of their country then they must coordinate efforts against influenza A (H1N1), "said a spokesperson of the organization.