C

entral Java Health Office started destroying thousands of expired Tamiflu capsules Tuesday, which had been stored in anticipation of a bird flu outbreak in the province.

The expired Tamiflu capsules are now stocked in community health centers and hospitals in various cities around Central Java.

At Halmahera health center in Semarang, for example, there were at least 200 75-miligrams capsules, which were produced in March 2006 and expired in February this year.

"There are at least 20 boxes or over 200 Tamiflu capsules that have already expired," head of the health center Sarwoko Oetomo said Tuesday.

They were part of the 300 Tamiflu capsules stored at Halmahera health center, Sarwoko said, meaning there were only 100 ready-for-use capsules left.

"We've reported this situation to the Semarang Health Office. And based on information the office gave us, the expired Tamiflu capsules can be disposed of by burying them in the ground," he said.

Meanwhile, head of the Central Java Health Office Hartanto admitted thousands of Tamiflu capsules had already passed their expiry date in the province.

"They will all be destroyed and we will send the health centers and hospitals new products to help anticipate the possible spread of the swine flu," he said.

Hartanto said his office would not recall the expired Tamiflu capsules. All hospitals and health centers in regions could take their own initiative to destroy them, he said.

He further said his office was in the process of sending 16,200 Tamiflu capsules to a number of regions in Central Java.

Pati regency and Semarang municipality, for example, would get 5,200 capsules each, while the distribution to other areas was still in process, he said.