Swine flu vaccine ready for clinical trials

Swine flu has so far infected almost 30,000 people in 74 countries and claimed 145 lives since it was first detected in Mexico in April, according to WHO figures.

Swiss drugs firm Novartis says it has completed a first batch of vaccine for pre-clinical trials and aims to make a version available in about four months.

"Novartis has successfully completed the production of the first batch of influenza A(H1N1) vaccine, weeks ahead of expectations," the company said in a statement.

The batch "will be used for pre-clinical evaluation and testing and is also being considered for use in clinical trials," it said.

Novartis hopes to start the trials in July and to gain a licence soon after. It said more than 30 governments had already asked for A(H1N1) virus "vaccine ingredients".

The UN health agency raised its global alert to a maximum six on Thursday after experts agreed that swine flu has reached pandemic status because of its geographical spread.

WHO Director General Margaret Chan said the declaration of a "moderate" pandemic should not spark panic and did not mean the A(H1N1) death toll would rise sharply.

She said raising the alert "means that the world is moving into the early days of its first influenza pandemic in the 21st century."

The WHO said it would ask drug-makers to quickly prepare to produce swine flu vaccines once the production of seasonal flu vaccine ends.

The Southern Hemisphere is currently heading toward winter and the height of its flu season. Northern Hemisphere countries expect to see a swine flu surge when its winter starts later.

Mexico has been worst hit. Its government on Thursday increased the country's death toll to 109 with 6,294 A(H1N1) infections. The United States comes next. Its health authorities have 27 deaths and 13,217 cases. Novartis received 289 million dollars from the US government for the development of the vaccine.

Australia, the worst hit in the Asia-Pacific region, was considering raising its national flu alert and adopting powers to cancel sports events, restrict travel and even shut national borders, although officials stressed extreme measures are unlikely.

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