Experts question swine flu drug as churches practise vigilance

|PIC1|The policy of using antiviral drugs for children suspected of having swine flu has been questioned by researchers.

Research by the British Medical Journal explains that the potential side effects of using Tamiflu and Relenza outweigh the possible benefits when used in children with seasonal flu.

Although the research was not directly focused on the H1N1 virus, scientists say research indicates these drugs would not likely be of great help to children who catch the virus.

The British Government currently has in place a policy of offering Tamiflu to anyone suspected of being infected by swine flu. The Department of Health has justified its policy, calling it a “safety-first approach”.

The policy is likely to remain in place until a vaccine becomes available, which is expected to be some time in September. Although the Department of Health has promised to constantly review its policies towards the pandemic.

The latest research has shown that antivirals can shorten the duration of normal seasonal flu in children but up to a day and a half. However, it was also shown that they have very little impact on asthma, ear infections, or the likelihood of children later requiring antibiotics.

The relatively small benefits of the antivirals, scientists say, are outweighed by the fact that the drugs have been known to cause side-effects in some children, such as vomiting.

Dr Matthew Thompson, who led the Oxford University team in carrying out the research, commented: “Our research is finding for most children these antiviral drugs are probably not going to have much of an effect."

Co-researcher Dr Carl Heneghan added: “The downside of the harms outweigh the one-day reduction in symptomatic benefits.”

However, flu expert Professor Hugh Pennington said the findings were not surprising and simply underlined what was already known about Tamiflu. He told the BBC: “Tamiflu has a place but it's not a wonder cure.”

Professor Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, also backed the claim that the current Department of Health policy towards the use of Tamiflu was correct, as did the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

Meanwhile, churches across the country have been trying to take appropriate measures to combat the spread of the virus among congregants.

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have written to bishops in the Church of England advising them to halt the sharing of the chalice during communion to help prevent the spread of swine flu.

During communion, members of the congregation typically drink wine from a chalice before it is wiped clean by the presiding minister and administered to the next communicant.

The Archbishops have issued the latest guidelines following new advice from the Department of Health against the sharing of “common vessels” for food or drink.

Some churches have halted the use of wine during communion altogether and are now offering only bread, while other churches have taken to administering communion wine in separate glasses for each member of the congregation.

Church members showing symptoms of swine flu are being asked to refrain from attending services or church meetings.