Tamiflu urged for chronic cases before flu hits

The Vancouver Island health authority is advising people withchronic medical conditions like asthma and diabetes to get a prescription for an antiviral medication before they get sick with swine flu.

Dr. Richard Stanwick,medicalofficer for southern Vancouver Island, says taking the antiviral drug Tamiflu won't prevent peoplefrom getting the H1N1 virus.

But taking it within 12 hours of catching swine flu could mean the difference between life and death for people with health conditions thatgive them a higher risk of respiratory failure.

"This is an opportunity to intervene early in the course of the infection and we implore people who are in these risk groups to take the opportunity to take what steps they can until a vaccine is available," said Stanwick.

"If you have asthma, if you are on cancer treatment, if you've got lupusI mean there is a whole long list of diseasesthat people need to be aware of contracting the virus puts you at increased risk of the complications, and that's why we have to use Tamiflu to intervene," he said.

Children are also at increased risk of becoming seriously ill from swine flu,Stanwick said.

No vaccine yet

There is enough Tamiflu available for those at risk in B.C., but a vaccine to prevent swine flu will not be available until November, he said.

Isolated casesof drug-resistant swine flu have being reported around the world, including one case in Albertathis month and anotherinQuebec in July.

The advice comes after outbreaks of the virus were reportedin several communities on Vancouver Island.

Health officialssay that so far this year six people in B.C. have died after contracting the virus, but all had other health conditions. Roughly 50 people with the virus have been treated in hospital.