Bird flu drug not for teens

Tokyo: Japan's Health Ministry said yesterday it had ordered the importer of the bird flu drug Tamiflu to warn doctors against giving it to teenagers after two new cases of abnormal behaviour were reported.

Two teenagers injured themselves in February and March by falling from buildings after taking the drug, produced by Swiss firm Roche Holding AG, according to a ministry news release.

A total of 15 young people have been injured or killed in similar incidents since 2004, the news release said.

The cases have fuelled concern that Tamiflu may induce psychiatric symptoms.