Antivirals key to preventing severe H1N1 disease-WHO

GENEVA, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Antiviral medicines can prevent the onset of severe disease from H1N1 flu and should be given to pregnant women, very young children and people with underlying medical problems who fall ill, a World Health Organisation official said on Thursday.

"In at-risk groups, in order to prevent progression to severe disease, antivirals need to be administered early," Nikki Shindo of the WHO's global influenza programme said.

"This also holds for otherwise healthy people who show progressive symptoms," she told a teleconference. "Patients with penumonia also should be treated with antiviral medicines, antibiotics, oxygen, and balanced fluid management." (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay and Laura MacInnis)