A recent report said that the life of a young cancer patient infected by swine flu was saved by a group of enterprising doctors who used an unlicensed antiviral drug, Relenza.

The 22 year old patient was attacked by Hodgkin's disease, which completely damaged his immune system. The combined effect of chemotherapy weakened his defences against the A(H1N1) virus.

After being admitted to the hospital following shortness of breath and fluid buildup in both lungs, she was treated with Tamiflu and other antibiotics without any effect. Tamiflu is a pill used as the frontline treatment for swine flu. She was placed on an artificial respirator on the third day when doctors administered Relenza, also known by its lab name as zanamivir. They used it in its licensed form as a nebulised spray.

This too did not work and her condition worsened over the next two weeks. Doctors then took a chance with her life in the balance, by giving her Relenza intravenously using a batch specially provided by the manufacturers, GlaxoSmithKline.

This was supported by a dose of corticosteroids to tackle the lung inflammation. There was a dramatic improvement in her condition within the next 48 hours.

This treatment had to be approved by the hospital's oversight committee and the patient's next of kin as it is not a recognized strategy for swine flu.

Further investigation needs to be done to confirm whether this drug can be used widely.