(CNN) -- The first human trials of a swine flu vaccine are
expected to start in Australia Wednesday, as the World Health
Organization confirmed that more than 700 people had died from
the virus worldwide. A scientist examines samples from suspected
swine flu patients at a WHO laboratory in Melbourne, Australia.
Melbourne-based company CSL Ltd. plans to test a vaccine for the
H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, on 240 volunteers, a
company representative said. The test will be conducted on
healthy adults between the ages of 18-64. Participants will
receive two shots three weeks apart and will undergo blood tests
to determine if they are generating an appropriate immune
response to the virus, the company said. "We appreciate that new
influenza strains like the 'swine flu' can surprise us with
properties that mean they might require higher dosing and two
injections rather than one to provoke the desired level of
immune response in humans," said Dr. Russell Basser, global
director of clinical development for CSL