Bullock-Ducasse

LOCAL AUTHORITIES say they are not alarmed by the findings of a medical review which concluded that Tamiflu does not reduce the risk of flu patients developing severe complications, including pneumonia.

Tamiflu is the primary treatment for patients suffering from H1N1, popularly called swine flu.

"The evidence is of modest benefit - reduction of illness by about one day," the journal entry said.

But, Dr Marion Bullock-Ducasse, director of emergency disaster management and special services in the Ministry of Health, said the findings will not cause the country to revisit its use of the drug.

"The WHO (World Health Organisation) has commented on the issue and we are guided by their comments," Bullock-Ducasse added.

Researchers at the Cochrane Review, an international non-profit that reviews health information, looked at previously published papers on Tamiflu as used for seasonal flu. The review said it found insufficient data to prove whether the antiviral reduced complications like pneumonia in otherwise healthy people, but concluded the drug shortened flu symptoms by about a day.

Tamiflu-resistant

The review found evidence that Tamiflu-resistant versions of the H1N1 flu virus are transmissible among healthy people.

Last week, the WHO said data from countries around the world show that when given early, Tamiflu can reduce the severity of swine flu symptoms.

The agency recommends the drug be saved for people at risk of complications, like pregnant women, the elderly, children, and those with underlying medical problems.

Bullock-Ducasse told The Sunday Gleaner that the country had been using Tamiflu as a preventative drug.

"We have not been using Tamiflu in healthy people. We have been using it to treat people in the high-risk category," she said.

The Ministry of Health has said that 191 persons have been treated for the H1N1. The flu virus has also claimed six lives.

Governments around the world have stockpiled Tamiflu, known generically as oseltamivir, to fight swine flu. H1N1 virus emerged in April and started an influenza pandemic which has killed at least 8,768 people.

However, the researchers have cautioned about the way the drug is administered.

"Because of the moderate effectiveness of neuraminidase inhibitors, we believe they should not be used in routine control of seasonal influenza," they said.

mildest pandemic

Meanwhile, United States (US) researchers have suggested that the swine flu virus might be the mildest pandemic to have hit the health sector. The researchers estimate that the virus could claim as many as 45,000 victims in the US by the end of winter but that the most likely figure is somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000 deaths. A typical flu season is associated with about 35,000 deaths.

Locally, Bullock-Ducasse said given that swine flu remained a relatively new virus, it was closely monitored by health workers. She told The Sunday Gleaner that it appeared that the transmission of the virus was slowing, but pointed out that the trend should not be taken for granted.

"We are seeing a decrease in acute respiratory infections," Bullock-Ducasse said, while adding that because it was now the flu season it was important that people practise good hygiene to counteract contracting the virus.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com