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Swine flu medicines

A recent Interpol investigation found that three to four per cent of spam emails now in circulation relate to the swine flu virus, with hundreds of new webpages appearing about it.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) believes these will include online offers for the sale of Tamiflu and/or Relenza, the anti-viral medicines available on prescription only.

The MHRA has urged the public not to buy anti-virals such as Tamiflu online, saying that anyone who does so faces a high risk of getting fake or poor quality medicines.

There are a range of penalties available under the law for dealing with offences including fraud, theft and supply of counterfeit drugs.

The MHRA is actively monitoring the internet for sales of suspected fake Tamiflu and Relenza.

To help you work out if a website is run by a real pharmacy, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain has introduced an internet pharmacy logo.

Follow the link below for more information.

• Internet pharmacy logo Opens new window

• Swine flu - everything you need to know