The World Health Organisation on Thursday called on doctors to use antiviral drugs swiftly to the most vulnerable swine flu patients, to prevent severe cases and avoid swamping hospitals.
WHO clinical expert Niki Shindo said the agency would issue new guidelines targeting three key groups in countries where the A(H1N1) virus is spreading, to avoid severe cases that could kill within a week.
However, Shindo emphasised that the "vast majority" of pandemic swine flu cases were mild and victims recovered within days without the need for treatment or hospitalisation.
"Firstly, people in at risk groups need to be treated with antivirals as soon as possible when they have flu symptoms, this includes pregnant women, children under two year-olds, and people with underlying conditions," she said.
The other two groups were those with rapidly worsening symptoms, such as breathing difficulties and high fever for more than three days, while people found with pneumonia should be treated immediately with antivirals and antibiotics.
"We are not recommending taking antivirals if otherwise healthy people are experiencing only mild illness, or as a preventive measure," Shindo added.
The WHO refined its guidance after in-depth studies of swine flu cases and clinical treatment found that early administration of drugs like Tamiflu could avoid potentially fatal severe cases.
Shindo noted that Ukraine, Afghanistan and Mongolia had reported hospitals and clinics being "overwhelmed" by pandemic flu cases.
However, in Ukraine, the proportion of severe cases was less than those found in the southern hemisphere, and people appeared to have been admitted to hospitals there with "milder symptoms than needed" for intensive care, she added.
pac/tw
Health-flu-WHO
AFP 121309 GMT 11 09
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