Health experts warn not to take Tamiflu pills
Anna Davis, Health Reporter
21.08.09
The Government is refusing to change its swine flu policy after experts said healthy people should not be given Tamiflu. The World Health Organisation advice directly contradicts British policy on the issue.

The WHO said most patients were experiencing typical flu symptoms and would get better within a week, and Tamiflu should not be given to healthy people. A spokesman for the Department of Health said: “We believe a safety-first approach of offering antivirals, when required, to everyone remains a sensible and responsible way forward.

“However, we will keep this policy under review as we learn more about the virus and its effects.”

He added that the WHO recommendations are “in line” with UK policy on antivirals.

The NHS has given out hundreds of thousands of doses of the antiviral since the start of the pandemic, and the national swine flu hotline was set up to make it easier for people to bypass their GP and get the drug.

But Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson admitted that less than 10 per cent of those who have been prescribed Tamiflu actually have swine flu. Figures show that staff on the hotline authorised 45,986 courses of antivirals in the past week. Many more people have collected antivirals after seeing their doctor.

During the early stages of the pandemic Tamiflu was given to people who had been in contact with swine flu victims, even if they were not showing symptoms. Today’s WHO advice comes after a government watchdog raised fears that Tamiflu can put some people at greater risk of suffering a stroke.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency alerted GPs to the potential problem…continue