Currently there is only a limited availability of influenza antiviral medicines in many countries including Australia. Australians should familiarise themselves with the advice regarding personal protective and infection-control measures provided on the Department of Health's Pandemic Influenza website including the 'Prepared and Protected video'.

Individual Australians and Australian businesses overseas are responsible for securing their own supply of influenza antiviral medicine (such as Tamiflu or Relenza). Australian missions and offices overseas will not be in a position to provide influenza antiviral medicines to Australians in affected areas.

Tamiflu  .. Full consumer information  tamifu_cmi.pdf (also useful for swine flu)

• TAMIFLU belongs to a group of medicines called neuraminidase inhibitors. These medicines attack the influenza virus and prevent it from spreading inside your body.

• Treatment of influenza The usual dose is one TAMIFLU capsule twice a day for 5 days.

• Prevention of influenza The usual dose is one TAMIFLU capsule once a day while protection is required. Safety and effectiveness have been shown in patients taking TAMIFLU for up to 6 weeks.

• When to take it  - Treatment with TAMIFLU should be started as soon as possible, but no later than 48 hours after the first symptoms of influenza.
   

Relenza  .. Full consumer information  relenza_cmi.pdf (also useful for swine flu)

• Relenza contains zanamivir and is available only with a doctor's prescription. Using a Diskhaler device, Relenza is delivered directly to the primary site of infection in the lungs. It works by destroying a chemical on the surface of the influenza virus. This stops the virus multiplying and spreading throughout the nose, lungs and air passages.

• For the treatment of influenza, you should breathe in the contents of two blisters, twice a day (usually morning and evening), for five days
  Note: other inhaled drugs e.g. inhaled asthma medication which is due to be taken at approximately the same time as Relenza should be taken before taking Relenza.

• For the prevention of influenza, breathe in the contents of two blisters once a day only.

• When to take it  - Best results are obtained by taking Relenza as soon as possible after developing symptoms.