No Tamiflu for the healthy?
Updated on 21 August 2009
The World Health Organisation says healthy people who catch swine flu should not be given Tamiflu.
The latest World Health Organisation directly contradicts British policy on the issue.
Hundreds of thousands of doses of the antiviral have been given to people with the virus - and fears are growing that mass use of Tamiflu will encourage the virus to become resistant to the antiviral.
Researchers have also expressed concern over the side effects of the drug, including sickness, nightmares and insomnia in children.
Today's advice, published on the WHO website, said most patients who were experiencing typical flu symptoms would get better within a week.
However, it also said the drug should not be given to healthy people - although serious cases should be treated immediately.
A statement said the new guidelines "represent the consensus reached by an international panel of experts who reviewed all available studies on the safety and effectiveness of these drugs.
"Emphasis was placed on the use of oseltamivir and zanamivir to prevent severe illness and deaths, reduce the need for hospitalisation, and reduce the duration of hospital stays.
"Worldwide, most patients infected with the pandemic virus continue to experience typical influenza symptoms and fully recover within a week, even without any form of medical treatment.
"Healthy patients with uncomplicated illness need not be treated with antivirals."
The full statement including specific advice for children, pregnant women and anyone with ongoing medical conditions such as diabetes can be found on the World health Organisation website.
