Avian Flu Focus - H5N1 - Captain Trips?
From the UK Times an excellent layman's article covering the history of the H5N1 Avian Flu. From IPS Press how Asia is in the lurch with the current Tamiflu craze, both worth the read.
Our observations include: 14.6 Million doses of Tamiflu have been ordered by the UK health department. We note that the 900,000 doses on hand would cover 2% of England's population for 2 weeks.
We take exception to the following inaccurate statements:
UK Times: "the drug can be used to protect against contracting the virus or to alleviate the symptoms of those already infected".
IPS News: "a race to corner limited stocks of 'Tamiflu', the only known drug capable of stopping an epidemic of the deadly avian flu"
It sounds like Roche and Gilead's PR people have been busy as the above statements are patently FALSE.
Tamiflu CANNOT be used to prevent contraction, ONLY to alleviate symptoms. In addition, its efficacy against symptoms of current or future strains of H5N1 are UNTESTED in humans and QUESTIONABLE at best.
Furthermore, Tamiflu will NOT STOP a pandemic under any circumstances.
It is the drug of the moment and Ken Livingstone, the London mayor, has ordered 100,000 courses of it. Several British companies are believed to be building stockpiles.
Some individuals are said to be paying three times the retail price trying to buy illicit supplies through overseas websites.
The drug is Tamiflu, a prescription antiviral medicine thought to be the only protection available against a potential doomsday virus winging its way towards Britain.
The UK health department has chosen to make its block purchase of Tamiflu. Made by Roche, the drug can be used to protect against contracting the virus or to alleviate the symptoms of those already infected.
The full order of 14.6M doses ordered by the health department will not be delivered until March 2007. At present the government has a stockpile of 900,000 doses and they would be offered first to the priority groups.
Full UK Times Article
IPS News Article: Asian Row Over Tamiflu
Our observations include: 14.6 Million doses of Tamiflu have been ordered by the UK health department. We note that the 900,000 doses on hand would cover 2% of England's population for 2 weeks.
We take exception to the following inaccurate statements:
UK Times: "the drug can be used to protect against contracting the virus or to alleviate the symptoms of those already infected".
IPS News: "a race to corner limited stocks of 'Tamiflu', the only known drug capable of stopping an epidemic of the deadly avian flu"
It sounds like Roche and Gilead's PR people have been busy as the above statements are patently FALSE.
Tamiflu CANNOT be used to prevent contraction, ONLY to alleviate symptoms. In addition, its efficacy against symptoms of current or future strains of H5N1 are UNTESTED in humans and QUESTIONABLE at best.
Furthermore, Tamiflu will NOT STOP a pandemic under any circumstances.
It is the drug of the moment and Ken Livingstone, the London mayor, has ordered 100,000 courses of it. Several British companies are believed to be building stockpiles.
Some individuals are said to be paying three times the retail price trying to buy illicit supplies through overseas websites.
The drug is Tamiflu, a prescription antiviral medicine thought to be the only protection available against a potential doomsday virus winging its way towards Britain.
The UK health department has chosen to make its block purchase of Tamiflu. Made by Roche, the drug can be used to protect against contracting the virus or to alleviate the symptoms of those already infected.
The full order of 14.6M doses ordered by the health department will not be delivered until March 2007. At present the government has a stockpile of 900,000 doses and they would be offered first to the priority groups.
Full UK Times Article
IPS News Article: Asian Row Over Tamiflu
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