Tougher approach to swine flu as cold weather sets in

Vulnerable people will start being treated with Tamiflu as soon as they show flu-like symptoms without the authorities having to wait for confirmation that they are dealing with swine flu.

The decision marks a change in policy, which starts being implemented on Monday, as the authorities brace for a rise in the incidence of H1N1 influenza as the weather gets colder.

The treatment, which works with normal flu as well, will be administered straightaway to pregnant women, children under five years of age and patients with chronic heart, lungs, liver or kidney disease and diabetes - the so-called vulnerable groups.

Healthy people with flu who take a turn for the worse and start showing signs of complications will also be given the antiviral.

Private family doctors will be able to prescribe Tamiflu, which patients would be able to pick up from government pharmacies or health centres, Community Care Parliamentary Secretary Mario Galea said yesterday.

He warned people not to be complacent as swine flu could kill. Three people died of the illness since the virus emerged in Malta in June and 92 have been admitted to hospital.

The number of swine flu cases have shot up and around 80 per cent of people with flu-like symptoms who are tested are being found to have the H1N1 virus. Just under 700 people have tested positive for the virus so far but the number is just the tip of the iceberg since not everyone is being swabbed.

"The number of cases has increased in the past three weeks, something that was expected since people tend to socialise more inside and can contribute to the spread of disease," Mr Galea said.

The fact that children are back in school did not help and Mr Galea complained that some parents sent their children to class with a runny nose and a cough, something he said was "criminal" since they would infect others.

"Please, if you have influenza-like symptoms and are invited to a party, stay at home," he urged people.

Health director general Ray Busuttil said during a press conference that every infected person had the potential of spreading the disease to another 3.5 people, highlighting the importance that ill people stayed at home.

The much-awaited vaccination process will start on January 2, with health workers, pregnant women and people with chronic diseases getting the jab first.

Dr Busuttil said the vaccines were safe, and some 37 million people around the world having already been vaccinated with GlaxoSmithKline's Pandremix, the one that Malta will be using.

The second batch of vaccines is expected towards the end of February or the beginning of March and the rest of the population will be vaccinated.

Children between six months and nine years of age and those over 60 will need two doses of the vaccine, at least three weeks apart, although the jabs could be spaced further.

The authorities said people should follow their doctor's advice and not take Tamiflu unless they have influenza.