As of Friday, WHO confirmed that there is currently no clear evidence of the effectiveness of oseltamivir in preventing complications from influenza (such as pneumonia) in patients without concurrent illnesses.

At the same time, WHO continues to recommend the immediate use of oseltamivir in patients infected with the H1N1 virus, who are at high risk of complications, as well as in patients whose symptoms persist for 3 days or more. 'worse.

In a weekly report, the WHO noted that the flu pandemic had peaked in North America, in most countries of Western Europe, except France and USA. An increase in the incidence of H1N1 influenza is still noted in Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan, where a maximum incidence has not yet been recorded. There is also a marked circulation of the virus in Africa.

A Cochrane review of recent clinical trials of oseltamivir, published last week in the British Medical Journal, showed that there is currently insufficient data on the preventive effect of the drug on complications of influenza in healthy individuals.

WHO spokesperson Gregory Hartl said that "this is fully in line with WHO position and practical guidelines available for the treatment of influenza. Virtually healthy people with seasonal flu without complications do not need treatment. "

Roche, the manufacturer of oseltamivir (Tamiflu), does not agree with this review and continues to emphasize previous data that has demonstrated the benefits of oseltamivir. The question is whether or not to include in the analysis the results of some previously published studies on the efficacy of oseltamivir.

According to a statement by WHO spokesperson G. Hartl, it should be noted that the journal Cochrane deals with seasonal influenza rather than H1N1.

During the H1N1 flu epidemic, "... there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of oseltamivir in reducing and / or preventing the development of severe cases of the disease and even death. This is this is more true for patients at high risk of death from H1N1 flu "for concomitant illnesses, such as bronchial asthma, or for patients in whom the flu is severe."

Thus, according to the WHO, oseltamivir should not be prescribed to healthy people with H1N1 flu, since the vast majority of them recover without any medical intervention.