Patients showing symptoms of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus are to be administered Tamiflu immediately instead of being swabbed, Parliamentary Secretary Mario Galea said this afternoon.

He said this included vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children.

However, healthy persons who do not have health complications are being advised not to take Tamiflu unless their condition worsens.

GPs will prescribe Tamiflu as required and it can be collected from government pharmacies and health centres.

The pharmacy at Mater Dei will be dispensing syrups and doses of Relenza for those allergic to Tamiflu.

Mr Galea said that 682 cases of H1N1 had been confirmed until yesterday, causing three deaths. There were 92 admissions to hospital.

Sentinel surveillance by doctors found that 80 per cent of people who had flu like symptoms had swine flu, Mr Galea said.

He said Malta had enough available doses of Tamiflu and the vaccines would arrive shortly. Administration would start on January 2. The first to be vaccinated would be health care workers, pregnant women and those who suffered from chronic diseases.

Mr Galea said the seriousness of swine flu should not be underestimated because it was as serious as normal flu. He said the number of cases had increased significantly in the past few weeks because of the increase in socialising. It was estimated that every sick person could infect between three and four other people, he said.