KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will use other types of drugs if it is proven that the bird flu virus has shown itself to be resistant to the anti-viral Tamiflu currently used to fight the disease.
Health Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Dr Ismail Merican said that until then, Malaysia would still be using the Tamiflu anti-virus drug which was proven effective.
He was asked to comment an AFP report yesterday that bird flu has shown itself to be resistant to Tamiflu in the case of two Vietnamese deaths recently, a development which a doctor described as worrying in the fight against the virus.
Ismail said the claim by the Vietnamese doctor should be studied further.
Currently, Tamiflu is the most effective treatment available to the fight the H5N1 strain that has killed more than 70 people since 2003.
Ismail also advised Haj pilgrims to take the necessary vaccinations before travelling to the holy land.
Although there was no requirement for bird-flu vaccinations from Saudi Arabia authority, normal vaccinations were sufficient to prevent them from contracting diseases, he added.
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