Con men and criminal organisations in the Czech capital of Prague are selling fake versions of bird flu drugs especially to old people who are more vunerable. The ploy uses a product called Tamiflu Extra that doesn't actually exist and which the sellers say is more effective than the standard Tamiflu and that it is sold to important people like politicians and rich businessmen.

The health authorities and consumer protection groups are keen to publicise the selling of fakes and turned to the National Television news to warn people about the dangerous product.

Recently the health authorities also had to ban the sale of a mineral water that claimed to have anti bird flu properties. It seems that fraudsters are cashing in on the scare of a pandemic of bird flu breaking out in the country and criminal gangs are trying to exploit that fear. So far the Czech Republic is bird flu free but may change soon as nearly all neighbouring nations have succumbed to it.

Tamiflu is made by the drug giant Roche and is considered to be effective in the treating of bird flu symptoms. The demand for the drug is outstripping supply and so the fake versions have a healthy market. It is advised that you buy Tamiflu only from licensed pharmacists and medical institutions.