The Federal Government of Australia has subsidised ciprofloxacin, a drug used to treat skin infections caused by dirty water.

The drug will be made available to victims of flooding in the Queensland area under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to treat severe skin or soft-tissue infections where other antibiotics are ineffective or inappropriate.

Doctors will need authority from Medicare Australia to prescribe the drug, which will only be listed on Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme until 31 March 2011.