Dr. Frank Plummer, scientific director of the lab, said scientists discovered the illness is caused by an H1N1 human swine virus -- a brand-new virus against which no existing vaccine will likely protect. The Mexican virus is similar to the viruses responsible for recent cases that have cropped up in California and Texas, suggesting the disease can spread from person to person.

Canada has stockpiled millions of doses of antiviral drugs Relenza and Tamiflu to guard against pandemic flu, but Plummer doubts these drugs will offer much defence against the new strain of human swine flu. Plummer said the virus is a mix of North American swine flu and a swine flu that originated in Thailand, and scientists have no idea where it came from, when it surfaced, or how.

"The viruses are so different we think it's unlikely (existing vaccines) would provide much protection. So if we need a vaccine, which we probably do, we'll have to make one," Plummer said, noting it would take at least six months to make a new vaccine.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-lab-confirms-swine-flu-virus-43687807.html