Hospitals get kids' anti-flu medicine

Hartford (AP) - Connecticut officials say 3,000 bottles of anti-flu medicine for children are being distributed this week to hospitals and clinics.

Connecticut received the pediatric Tamiflu recently from the federal government, which released 234,000 treatment courses of the medicine nationwide from its national stockpile.

Tamiflu is given in the early stages of the flu to decrease its severity and length. Each treatment course lasts 10 days.

Connecticut officials say the Tamiflu will be distributed Monday to 12 community health clinics and 17 hospitals with pediatric treatment programs.

Governor M. Jodi Rell has asked the federal government to send more Tamiflu and another drug, Relenza, so they can be distributed to adults and children.

Connecticut got 130,000 treatment courses of anti-viral medications in April.