Mumbai: The state’s communicable disease department has sent a letter to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to procure two new anti-viral drugs, Pelamivir and Baloxavir, which the UK and Japan have introduced for treating swine flu i.e. the H1N1 virus. Oseltamivir, known as Tamiflu, is presently the only drug is available in the country to treat the disease.
With the rise in the number of swine flu deaths and positive cases, the state has urged the NCDC to be put on trial these alternate drugs and make them available here, as it does not want to rely only on Tamiflu. A senior health official said the department of communicable disease has sent a letter to the NCDC suggesting that it introduce new medicine for curing swine flu.
Dr Pradeep Awate, head of epidemiology department of state, said, “We have suggested to them that the option of introducing these two new drugs should be evaluated as the number of swine flu deaths is rising.”
Subhash Salunke, technical head of communicable diseases committee, said, “Currently, these drugs are not available in India. Patients with high viral load and who are not responding to Oseltamivir can benefit from these drugs.”
