Swine Flu: The beginnings of clinical trials of a vaccine in Australia
(AFP) - 3 hours ago
SYDNEY - Australia, the country most affected by swine flu in the Asia-Pacific, began clinical trials of influenza A vaccine (H1N1) on Wednesday as the pandemic continues to spread around the world. we learned from government sources.
"As soon as I have confirmation that the vaccine is safe and effective, I will make sure it is implemented in the country," said Minister of Health Nicola Roxon.
Some 240 adults and 400 children participate in clinical trials.
Authorities, who ordered 21 million doses of vaccine, hope to implement a broad vaccination program in October to stem the spread of the virus in the country that has contaminated more than 14.000 people and has been directly blamed in 38 deaths .
The World Health Organization (WHO), which has given up providing global statistics on the number of patients, announced Tuesday that swine flu has already killed more than 700 people in the world since its appearance in late March. The previous balance sheet of the organization had 429 dead 6 last July.
The WHO declared the world pandemic on June 11 and the situation in Australia seems to have been largely behind this decision.
Australia has entered the southern winter, which experts say could potentially lead to a mutation of the virus into a more dangerous form.
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