Saudi Ministry of Education to showcase innovations at 2025 Geneva International Exhibition    7,523 violators of residency, labor, and border security laws deported in a week    Video contradicts Israeli army account of deadly March 23 strike on Gaza paramedics    Saudi Arabia spends over $241 million to implement de-mining projects in 3 countries    Italy's Meloni government approves controversial security decree expanding police protections and penalties    Egypt submits new Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange proposal: Report    'Everything is possible' — Ronaldo focused on titles, not 1,000-goal milestone after Riyadh Derby win    Saudi, US military leaders discuss enhanced defense cooperation in Riyadh    King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language launches program with Indiana University    Ronaldo brace powers Al Nassr past Al Hilal in Riyadh derby thriller    Ed Sheeran weaves Persian music into new song, Azizam    Al-Jadaan: Crown Prince's directives confirm government's ability to bring back balance to real estate market    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Foreign investors are allowed to engage in real estate business outside Makkah and Madinah Commercial speculation should not be the purpose of real estate transaction    Aubameyang fires Al Qadsiah into King's Cup final with stoppage-time winner over Al Raed    Musk's X is suing India, as Tesla and Starlink plan entry    Tesla sales plunge after backlash against Elon Musk    Danilo Pereira fires Al Ittihad into King's Cup final with dramatic stoppage-time double    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



WHO backs findings on Tamiflu for seasonal flu
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 12 - 12 - 2009

The World Health Organization Friday endorsed findings that there is no clear evidence that the antiviral Tamiflu prevents complications such as pneumonia in otherwise healthy people with seasonal flu.
But WHO continues to recommend that the drug, made by Swiss drugmaker Roche, be used immediately in people infected with the separate H1N1 swine flu virus who are at high risk of complications or whose symptoms persist for three days or worsen.
An updated review of past clinical trial results by researchers from the Cochrane Review, published by the British Medical Journal on Tuesday, found there was insufficient data to know if the drug cut complications from flu in otherwise healthy patients.
“We would not take issue with the Cochrane conclusions concerning seasonal influenza,” WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said.
Hartl told Reuters: “That is entirely consistent with our views and guidelines. For otherwise healthy people presenting with uncomplicated seasonal influenza, they do not need to be treated with the drugs.”
Roche has contested the finding and said it stood behind the previous data showing a benefit.
At issue is whether or not certain previously published trials on Tamiflu should be included or excluded when analysing the drug's effectiveness.
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.
“We need to make very clear that what Cochrane was looking at was seasonal influenza, it was not H1N1,” Hartl said.
In the course of the H1N1 pandemic, “a substantial body of evidence has been building up to indicate oseltamivir is effective at reducing and/or preventing severe illness and even death,” he added.
This was mainly in people who are at higher risk from H1N1 due to underlying medical conditions such as asthma or in patients who develop severe illness, he said.
“So our recommendations have been and continue to be that concerning infections with H1N1, if you are in a high risk group you should start oseltamivir treatment immediately.
“If you are not in a high risk group but if you have symptoms which persist over three days and or get worse, you should begin oseltamivir treatment.”
Otherwise healthy individuals do not need to be treated with Tamiflu, as the great majority of H1N1 patients recover without any kind of medical care, the WHO spokesman said.
The pill competes with another less widely used flu medicine from GlaxoSmithKline, called Relenza and known generically as zanamivir, which must be inhaled.


Clic here to read the story from its source.