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The Government is refusing to change its swine flu policy after experts said healthy people should not be given Tamiflu.
The World Health Organisation advice directly contradicts British policy on the issue.
The WHO said most patients were experiencing typical flu symptoms and would get better within a week, and Tamiflu should not be given to healthy people.
A spokesman for the Department of Health said: “We believe a safety-first approach of offering antivirals, when required, to everyone remains a sensible and responsible way forward.
“However, we will keep this policy under review as we learn more about the virus and its effects.”
He added that the WHO recommendations are “in line” with UK policy on antivirals.
The NHS has given out hundreds of thousands of doses of the antiviral since the start of the pandemic, and the national swine flu hotline was set up to make it easier for people to bypass their GP and get the drug.
But Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson admitted that less than 10 per cent of those who have been prescribed Tamiflu actually have swine flu. Figures show that staff on the hotline authorised 45,986 courses of antivirals in the past week.
Many more people have collected antivirals after seeing their doctor.
During the early stages of the pandemic Tamiflu was given to people who had been in contact with swine flu victims, even if they were not showing symptoms.
Today's WHO advice comes after a government watchdog raised fears that Tamiflu can put some people at greater risk of suffering a stroke.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency alerted GPs to the potential problem.
Researchers at Oxford University have also warned that children with mild symptoms should not be given the drug because of side effects.
There have also been claims that mass use of Tamiflu will encourage the virus to become resistant to the antiviral and can cause nightmares in children.
Today's advice, published on the WHO website, said Tamiflu (also called oseltamivir) and another antiviral Relenza (also called zanamivir) should not be given to healthy people.
However, the drugs should be given quickly to patients in a serious condition or who appear to be deteriorating.
Those in at-risk groups — such as people with an underlying medical condition such as diabetes — should also receive the drugs promptly.
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”.
It went on: “Healthy patients with uncomplicated illness need not be treated with antivirals.”
TV presenter Andrew Castle has publicly criticised Tamiflu after revealing that his daughter Georgina nearly died after taking it.
Mr Castle said the 16-year-old suffered an asthma attack and was hospitalised after being given a double dose of the antiviral in May, when there was a swine flu outbreak at her school, Alleyn's in Dulwich. Tests later revealed that she did not have the virus.
Reader views (19)
Take colloidal silver instead.
- Barry Soetoro, Faroe Islands
Who really knows what to believe anymore? All these bureaucrats and control freaks who try to run our lives are lying scum. So who are you supposed to believe, the liars in the British government or the liars at the World Health Organization?
- Joe, Chicago
Gordon the Moron, so insecure that he can never admit to being wrong about anythying even when the world lines up to tell him. we need a leader with courage and the maturity to admit when they are wrong and change policy
- Barry, woking, surrey, UK
My partner works for the NHS, she has told me the vast majority of front line staff do not trust Tamiflu, the side affects are too severe and unpredictable.
Do you want to know the truth behind this Swine flu pandemic ?
Visit this site, it will really open your eyes.
http://swineavianfluthestorysofar.blogspot.com/2009/08/swine-flu-true-story.html
- Jim,, Newcastle
More blood on Brown's hands!
- Tangomike, Kensington, London
they have no minds to make up Reuben...would not surprise me if tamiflu created even more stupiditis (which is what the uk really has)in already gullible masses...what a cinch for anyone to rule over this lot!
- Amoreno, luxembourg
Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson admitted that less than 10 per cent of those who have been prescribed Tamiflu actually have swine flu.
A few weeks ago this man was creating panic in the street by telling us that 600 deaths a week would be caused through Swine Flu. Now it seems that it is Tamiflu we have more to worry about than swine flu?
Sir Liam Donaldson must go now before he does any more damage.
- Peter Thurgood, London, UK
My Daughter is pregnant and took Relenza when her fiance got swine flu, he took Tamiflu, as recommended by our incompetent bunch of so called experts and health minister. Once again arse and elbow come to mind. Completely useless.
- Peter, France
Hello London,
It is a fact that many people phoned the N.H.S. help line just to get TAMIFLU TABLETS and put them in the medical cabinet JUST INCASE. The questions they answered matched the ones asked and a N.H.S. number was issued so they could get the TAMIFLU from the chemist.
I am not an expert in the field of medicine but this practice is dangerous, and without proper testing how do you know ,
A. How many have the swine flu?.
B. Are you able to take the tablets?.
C. Who are at RISK if the treatment drug is given?.
A REVIEW MUST BE ORDERED NOW BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE, AND A STATEMENT GIVEN EITHER ON THE WEB-SITE OR NATIONAL NEWS.
Somewhere the wires are crossed and people could become very ill for no reason at all because of CONFUSION, AND THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER BETTER GET HIS FINGER OUT?.
Finally,
The WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO) MUST ACT TO STOP THIS MADDNESS, YES SWINE FLU CAN KILL, BUT THE DRUG TAMIFLU COULD KILL IF TAKEN WRONGLY.
The Prime Minister should also get involved in this matter of importance?.
- John L., Scarborough N.YKS. England. U.K.
Be aware that Tamiflu comes in gelatin capsules and is unsuitable for jews, muslims, vegetarians or even Seventh Day Adventists.
- Jackoflondon@Hotmail.Co.Uk, Richmond, Surrey
Tamiflu may make you feel unwell; the vaccine will kill you however.
- Neil, London, London UK
The only reason the Government is handing it out like smarties is because it didn't think it could explain to the public that there was no need for it to do so. Having told everyone that they tons of the stuff warehoused they thought it 'politically' unthinkable that they wouldn't dish it out.
This tells you two things... The Government has a low opinion of the public and it's ability to grasp simple concepts like - "you wont die it's only flu, get on with it, we'll save the drugs for the real outbreak".
That it doesn't feel strong enough to deal with or handle anymore negative public feeling about its performance.
Other than that the only other reason that springs to mind is that a minister or senior civil servant is hoping to bag an nice non-exec role with Roche after the next election!
- Jon, London
Can't anyone get anything right first time in this bloody country now WHO says you shouldn't take it unless you have underlying health problems. Best no-one takes it then as the side effects are awful. How much money is that down the drain? We're all doomed Mr Manwaring, we're all doomed! (At least that's what you're led to believe in the British press).
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
The problem I have with this advice (only give it to people who have serious case or are deteriorating) is that Tamiflu should be given with 48hours of symptoms appearing.
Is that enough time to determine whether someone is in a serious condition or deteriorating? I don't think so, which is why they are giving Tamiflu early to prevent it becoming more serious.
- Peter, London
I think we had 30 million doses of Tamiflu bought in by Labour because of the Bird Flu hype a few years back. This stock must be very close to the use by date and racking up warehouse costs. The opportunity afforded by yet another scare, this time Swine Flu, was too good to miss by this corrupt Government. We were presented with a caring, great in a crisis adminstration led by Gordon Brown. Who knew how to look after its citizens, when it mattered. When in fact the reality is; even more incompetence and more importantly another example of the wasting of tax payers' money.
- Harry H, London UK
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Would you rather have the government err on the side of caution or leave it to the press to "inform" us about swine flu?
- Anne, London, uk
Brilliant. The labour government KNEW the uneducated and gullible British public would believe earnestly that Tamiflu was a 'cure' for flu, so there would be an outcry if it was denied to them. This is in the same way that most of the population believes that antibiotics cure viral diseases and why they start threatening doctors who won't give them what they want.
It was a political decision rather than a medical decision to give it to anyone who wanted it.
The British public these days does not understand or even care about anything scientific, but they believe all the scare stories in the press.
It takes a global policeman like the WHO to come along and knock a few heads together.
- George, London
*yarn*
- Nj, London
Considering the vast cost to the British taxpayer for the Department of Health to issue countless reams of spin and waffle about Tamiflu - and sending a leaflet to every home in the UK about swine flu - who is surprised that WHO is now advising that Tamiflu should not be given to healthy peeps who contract swine flu?
MAKE YOUR MINDS UP MUPPETS.
- Reuben Camara, Principality of Morecambe, EUSSR
