Genetic sequencing of A/H1N1 virus completed

Canadian scientists have completed the world's first genetic sequencing of the A/H1N1 flu virus, marking a "significant milestone" in studying the virus, health officials said on Wednesday.

Canadian scientists have completed the world's first genetic sequencing of the A/H1N1 flu virus, marking a "significant milestone" in studying the virus, health officials said on Wednesday.

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This will allow scientist to know "the epidemiology of the virus and the way it reacts, laying foundation for the development of a vaccine", a scientist from the National Microbiology Laboratory said at a news conference here.

The three virus samples came from three different sources, two from Canada's Nova Scotia and Ontario provinces and the third from Mexico.

Preliminary analysis suggests the Canadian virus samples do not differ at the genetic level from the Mexican virus, ruling out a mutation to explain why the Mexican cases have been much more severe than elsewhere.

Vaccines may come in November at the earliest, another scientist said at the press conference.