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WHO: No Tamiflu if healthy with swine flu

Friday, August 21, 2009

A Bosnian pharmacist in Sarajevo, Tuesday, May 5, 2009 shows pills of the antiflu drug Tamiflu, which Bosnia has additionally ordered from the producer to add to its stock of 17,000 packages. Officials in Bosnia say the goal is to cover three percent of the country's population in case the swine flu reaches the country. Countries that have been unable to afford building stockpiles of the drugs will get some from the World Health Organization which started shipping 2.4 million treatments of antiflu drugs to 72 countries around the world. (AP Photo/Amel Emric) (AP Photo / Amel Emric)

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LONDON (AP) - August 21, 2009 -- The World Health Organization says healthy people who catch swine flu don't need antiviral drugs like Tamiflu.

In new advice issued to health officials on Friday, the U.N. agency said doctors don't need to give Tamiflu to healthy people who have mild to moderate cases of swine flu.

WHO said the drug should definitely be used to treat people in risk groups who get the virus. That includes children less than five years old, pregnant women, people over age 65 and those with other health problems like heart disease, HIV or diabetes.

The new advice contradicts government policies such as those in Britain, which has been giving out Tamiflu to all people suspected of having swine flu.

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