Australia's chief medical officer Jim Bishop said on Tuesday while anti virus were effective in children by reducing symptoms for one or two days they should not be considered a cure-all for A/H1N1 flu.

A world-first trial of a A/H1N1 flu vaccine in children began in Australia on Monday with the results expected to be known within weeks.

"It is currently recommended that anti virus be used for vulnerable people, including children, and those who rapidly deteriorate, to help reduce their symptoms," Bishop said in a statement.

"However, the evidence is still developing on how effective anti virus are in preventing severe complications."

Children aged under one should not be prescribed anti virus, he said.

"Anti virus are the only treatments for the current pandemic influenza outbreak which is why the government is moving quickly to obtain a vaccine when it is ready and get it out into the community as early as possible."

The total number of deaths in Australia associated with A/H1N1 flu has reached 95.

There have been 27,663 confirmed cases of A/H1N1 flu in Australia since the first diagnosis on May 7.

A total of 3,287 people have been hospitalized, while 441 patients are currently in hospital diagnosed with the A/H1N1 virus with 114 of them in intensive care units.

(Xinhua News Agency August 11, 2009)