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WHO recommends use of antivirals for high risk groups

Source: Xinhua | 05-13-2009 07:44

Special Report:   World tackles A/H1N1 flu

GENEVA, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Since most A/H1N1 flu patients can recover without antiviral treatment, countries are advised to save their antiviral drugs for those people to whom the virus tends to cause more severe and lethal infections, a World Health Organization (WHO) expert said on Tuesday.

"We will recommend to consider the use of antivirals for high risk groups," said Dr. Nikki Shindo, a medical officer of the WHO's influenza program, at a news briefing in Geneva.

Those high risk groups refer to A/H1N1 patients with underlying chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and other groups such as pregnant women, Shindo said.

Antiviral drugs proved to be effective against the H1N1 virus include Tamiflu made by Roche and Relenza made by GlaxoSmithKline.

According to the expert, European countries have been using antivirals "very aggressively." That might be helpful in containing the spread of the virus, as most cases in Europe are imported ones.

But in North American countries such as Mexico and the United States, where the virus has become widespread, antiviral stockpiles are being used mainly for high risk groups who suffer severe infections.

The expert indicated that there is no evidence the aggressive use of antivirals in Europe is resulting in drug resistance, but the risk of developing drug resistance always exists.

According to latest figures provided by the WHO, altogether 30 countries and regions have officially reported 5,251 lab-confirmed cases of A/H1N1 infection, including 61 deaths.

The disease continues to spread, but there is still no strong evidence showing sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus has occurred in regions outside of North America.

 

Editor:Zhang Pengfei