'Not all patients need (A)H1N1 drug'

Nadira Gunatilleke

Tamiflu, the drug required to treat (A)H1N1 is now available in 20 sentinel hospitals countrywide and it will be made available in private hospitals soon.

But there is no need to use this drug on all (A)H1N1 patients because it is a mild disease which goes away within five days without any medication.

Medication is required to treat only special cases, Assistant Epidemiologist Dr. Risintha Premaratne said.

According to Dr. Premaratne, media still try to count the number of patients and report `affected areas' to make news but even the WHO and other countries have abandoned the counting of patients. In phase one, Sri Lanka prevented infected persons coming into the country and mingle in society but now the disease is in another phase.

In this phase counting and diagnosis do not play a major role. Drugs are required for special cases such as pregnant mothers, infants and elderly and persons who have chronic diseases.

Each and every (A)H1N1 patient does not need treatment. Only patients in the high risk group and patients who are recommended by a doctor need medication.