The World Health Organization (WHO) has reinforced that Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is the primary recommended antiviral of choice in managing patients infected with H5N1 in updated guidance published on the WHO website.
Experts believe that a human influenza pandemic is imminent and could be triggered by the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, which to date has infected 321 humans causing 194 deaths worldwide (as of Aug 16 2007).
Experiences clearly show that to reduce mortality patients should receive treatment with oseltamivir as early as possible, but treatment remains effective even when patients present late, commented Professor John Oxford, Professor of Virology at St Bartholomew's and the Royal London Hospital,H5N1 has proven to be an extremely virulent virus in humans and in some countries we have seen the need to use higher and longer doses of oseltamivir to gain maximum benefit.
The latest advice is based on evidence presented to the WHO by experts in countries that have reported human cases of bird flu. Tamiflu is the only neuraminidase inhibitor to have been used in the management of human cases of H5N1 and is the only antiviral strongly recommended for treatment of H5N1 infected patients by the WHO.