The World Health Organisation (WHO) has asked the Pune- based Serum Institute of India to develop a vaccine to prevent swine flu, the latest scourge to hit the world.

It is the only Indian institute to have been asked to do so by Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO director of immunisation and vaccine research.

According to Suresh Jadhav, executive director of Serum, a group of eight scientists will work on the vaccine.

Serum is India’s biggest exporter of vaccines and immuno- biologicals, selling them in 138 countries.

Serum has been working with WHO for the past two years to develop a vaccine for avian flu. Jadhav claimed WHO was impressed with the institute’s lab, competence and expertise. “That why the new project came to us,” he said.

Jadhav said the swine flu virus was isolated just 10 days ago and was being tested at various laboratories in the UK and the US. WHO would send the virus strain also to Serum.

Jadhav it could take up to 10 months for initial tests and development work on the vaccine.