Up to 800 people a day are being treated as potential swine flu victims at Bahrain's government health centres and hospitals, it was revealed.

They are being prescribed the anti-viral drug Tamiflu and sent home to recover, with instructions to stay home for up to a week, said Health Ministry health centres director Seema Zainal.

'Around 15 per cent (1,200) of nearly 8,000 patients at 22 health centres attend the special flu clinics at the health centres, with half (600) of them receiving the treatment,' she said.

'These are all those who are suffering from normal flu, but who could be carrying the H1N1 swine virus as well.'

Another 150 to 200 similar cases are being dealt with at the Salmaniya Medical Complex and the BDF Hospital, along with some private hospitals.

Most people who fear they have the virus report to government facilities, said Zainal.

All government and private hospitals and clinics are under instruction to treat anyone with high fever as possible swine flu victims and to begin immediate anti-viral treatment.

'Only the elderly, those suffering from chronic diseases and pregnant women, along with school children suffering from high fever, are sent in for detailed tests to see whether they have the virus,' said Zainal.

When patients arrive at government health centres, they are assessed by specially trained staff, who determine whether they need to go to the flu clinic, she said.

'People are referred to the flu clinic after they go through that procedure,' she said.

The Health Ministry had announced last month that it was scrapping testing of every person suspected to be suffering from the swine flu.

Under new guidelines, anyone with high fever and flu symptoms is given anti-viral treatment.

'High risk' cases, such as the elderly, chronically ill, pregnant women or very young children, with flu symptoms but no fever are prescribed Tamiflu as a precaution.

The management of key administrative operations amid swine flu fears will be discussed tomorrow at the Crowne Plaza.

The Golden Trust for Conferences and Conventions is organising the two-day event under the patronage of Oil Minister and National Oil and Gas Authority chairman Dr Abdul Hussein Mirza.

Malaysian Knowledge Consulting Group CEO James Crown will moderate the forum, which will highlight ways of maintaining productivity despite mounting H1N1 scare.

The impact of the disease on the business sector and human resources development will also come under the spotlight.-TradeArabia News Service