New drug stockpiled in fight against swine flu

The Isle of Man is building up stocks of the antiviral drug Zanamavir in the latest defence against swine flu.

A decision to stockpile the drug was made after several countries reported a resistance to Tamiflu is now evident.

There have been seven confirmed cases of swine flu in the Island, and in each case the infection is thought to have been acquired from other countries, including the United Kingdom.

In the UK, the recent deaths from the virus of a young girl and a GP, both of whom were apparently fit and healthy, have heightened concerns among the public.

Director of Public Health in the Isle of Man Dr Parameswaran Kishore says, as the outbreak developed, the DHSS had to acquire an alternative to Tamiflu: