WHO backs early treatment of A/H1N1 flu

The World Health Organization says early treatment with antiviral medicine can help prevent severe symptoms and deaths from the A/H1N1 virus.

Dr. Nikki Shindo, a WHO flu expert, stresses high risk groups need to be treated with the medication as soon as possible once they have flu symptoms.

The high risk group, includes pregnant women, children under two and people with respiratory problems. Those having difficulty in breathing and high fever beyond three days should also use antiviral medication. This advice is also beneficial to people suffering with pneumonia, who should use the drugs in addition to antibiotics.

Shindo says "One way to save lives and to lighten the burden of health care system is to prevent severe disease". She says hospitals and clinics in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Mongolia, are already overwhelmed with flu patients.