The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended on Thursday that the pandemic A/H1N1 virus should be used for making seasonal influenza vaccines in the northern hemisphere.

Besides the pandemic A/H1N1 virus, the A/H3N2 virus and the influenza B virus should also be included in making influenza vaccines in the 2010-2011 northern hemisphere influenza season, the UN agency said in a statement.

The recommendation was announced following a four-day closed-door meeting of influenza experts, which was meant to select the seasonal vaccine strains for the northern hemisphere.

(Xinhua News Agency February 19, 2010)