Bangkok Breaking News (Click the link below):
30 doctors infected with Type-A H1N1 virus
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Monday, June 29, 2009
Swine Flu H1N1 Vaccine Now Available!
Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis AG said that they successfully produced a swine flu vaccine weeks ahead of their expectations. The vaccine was made in cells, rather than grown in eggs as is usually the case with vaccines.
===============Recommended Resource===============
The Swine Flu Survival Guide
Bird/SARS And Swine Flu - The Complete Survival Guide.
Swine Flu Dangers - What You Need To Know To Stay Safe.
====================================================
The World Health Organization declared swine flu as pandemic. The drugmakers will likely have vaccines approved and ready for sale after September as WHO says.
UN health officials declared that Swine flu, also known as Influenza A(H1N1), is now formally a pandemic. WHO announced that the virus spread is any more lethal but it's spread is considered unstoppable. The move indicates that a global outbreak is under way.
The Novartis company said that the first batch of vaccine will be used for pre-clinical evaluation and testing and being considered for clinical trials.
Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO chief made the long-awaited declaration after the UN agency held an emergency meeting with the flu experts and said that the flu was moving to phase 6 – the agency’s highest alert level – which means a pandemic is under way.
Chan said “The world is moving into the early days of its first influenza pandemic in the 21st century,”
The virus can still be deadly and may change into a more frightening form in the near future, and so people should not be complacent Dr. Thomas Frieden, the new head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.
Swine flu so far has caused 144 deaths, compared with ordinary flu that kills up to 500,000 people a year.
To make pandemic vaccine is a gamble decision. Most of the flu vaccine makers cannot make both regular seasonal flu vaccine and pandemic vaccine at the same time. That means they must decide which one the world will need more.
WHO described the pandemic as “moderate.” WHO flu chief Keiji Fukuda said that the people should not get overly anxious about the virus. He said that the people should “Understand it, put it in context, and then you get on with things,”
Swine flu continuing to spread during the start of summer in the northern hemisphere. Normally, flu viruses disappear with warm weather, but swine flu is proving to be resilient.
“What this declaration does do is remind the world that flu viruses like H1N1 need to be taken seriously,” said US Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, warning that more cases could crop up in the fall.
Now that a pandemic has been declared, some countries might be prompted to devote more money to containing the virus. Many developed countries have pandemic preparedness plans that link spending to a WHO declaration.
The UN is keen to avoid panic. “We must guard against rash and discriminatory action, such as travel bans or trade restrictions,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
===============Recommended Resource===============
The Swine Flu Survival Guide
Bird/SARS And Swine Flu - The Complete Survival Guide.
Swine Flu Dangers - What You Need To Know To Stay Safe.
====================================================
The World Health Organization declared swine flu as pandemic. The drugmakers will likely have vaccines approved and ready for sale after September as WHO says.
UN health officials declared that Swine flu, also known as Influenza A(H1N1), is now formally a pandemic. WHO announced that the virus spread is any more lethal but it's spread is considered unstoppable. The move indicates that a global outbreak is under way.
The Novartis company said that the first batch of vaccine will be used for pre-clinical evaluation and testing and being considered for clinical trials.
Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO chief made the long-awaited declaration after the UN agency held an emergency meeting with the flu experts and said that the flu was moving to phase 6 – the agency’s highest alert level – which means a pandemic is under way.
Chan said “The world is moving into the early days of its first influenza pandemic in the 21st century,”
The virus can still be deadly and may change into a more frightening form in the near future, and so people should not be complacent Dr. Thomas Frieden, the new head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.
Swine flu so far has caused 144 deaths, compared with ordinary flu that kills up to 500,000 people a year.
To make pandemic vaccine is a gamble decision. Most of the flu vaccine makers cannot make both regular seasonal flu vaccine and pandemic vaccine at the same time. That means they must decide which one the world will need more.
WHO described the pandemic as “moderate.” WHO flu chief Keiji Fukuda said that the people should not get overly anxious about the virus. He said that the people should “Understand it, put it in context, and then you get on with things,”
Swine flu continuing to spread during the start of summer in the northern hemisphere. Normally, flu viruses disappear with warm weather, but swine flu is proving to be resilient.
“What this declaration does do is remind the world that flu viruses like H1N1 need to be taken seriously,” said US Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, warning that more cases could crop up in the fall.
Now that a pandemic has been declared, some countries might be prompted to devote more money to containing the virus. Many developed countries have pandemic preparedness plans that link spending to a WHO declaration.
The UN is keen to avoid panic. “We must guard against rash and discriminatory action, such as travel bans or trade restrictions,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Friday, June 26, 2009
How To Prevent H1N1 Swine Flu STEP By STEP
INSTRUCTION HOW TO PREVENT SWINE FLU
===============Recommended Resource===============
The Swine Flu Survival Guide
Bird/SARS And Swine Flu - The Complete Survival Guide.
Swine Flu Dangers - What You Need To Know To Stay Safe.
====================================================
STEP 1:
Always cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; ideally use something disposable like a tissue. Avoid touching your face, nose or mouth too frequently with your hands since swine flu appears to be transmitted through respiratory droplets in the same fashion as the common cold.
STEP 2:
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water since swine flu like other viruses can be contracted by touching objects contaminated by the virus. It's unsure how long the swine flu virus can survive on surrounding surfaces.
STEP 3:
Though alcohol based hand sanitizers don't routinely kill viruses they probably do offer some limited protection in preventing swine flu infections.
STEP 4:
If swine flu infections have been medically confirmed in your area consider avoiding large public gatherings. Individuals can be contagious with the swine flu virus for several day before demonstrating any signs or symptoms of infection. Be particularly careful about indoor gatherings where air circulates poorly.
STEP 5:
If you're really paranoid and don't mind looking odd then consider wearing a respiratory mask. This barrier method does offer some basic protection against infection though not all masks are created equally. Higher quality masks capable of filtering out some respiratory infections are more expensive. USE N95 MASK! - Highly Recommended
STEP 6:
If you start feeling ill with cold or flu-like symptoms do not go to work. Stay home and begin the usual home remedies for colds and flu. Contact your health care provider, local health department or hospital emergency room if your symptoms worsen or fail to improve for information about where to go to be screened for possible swine flu infection.
How To Prepare for SWINE FLU / H1N1 Flu
What is currently referred to in the media as the "swine flu" is a respiratory disease with symptoms similar to that of the familiar seasonal flu. While originally thought to originate with pigs, it has not been isolated in swine.[1] The official name for the "swine flu" we face is A(H1N1).[2] As of June 16, 2009, this flu outbreak is classified as a global pandemic.[3] The term "pandemic" is not bound to a certain number of cases, but defined by human-to-human transmission in three different countries in two different WHO regions.
===============Recommended Resource===============
The Swine Flu Survival Guide
Bird/SARS And Swine Flu - The Complete Survival Guide.
Swine Flu Dangers - What You Need To Know To Stay Safe.
====================================================
In the event that this flu virus becomes a pandemic, everyday life may be disrupted because many people in many places might become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts can range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery. The following steps will help you prepare for the worst case scenario.
HOW TO PREPARE:
If a pandemic flu virus spreads rapidly, being prepared to stay at home will help slow down the virus because you'll minimize your exposure (and other people's exposure to you, if you become sick).
1. Know what to expect.
* A vaccine for pandemic flu may not be available for 4-6 months after a pandemic starts, and even then, it may only be available in limited amounts.
* People will have little or no immunity to pandemic flu since it is a new virus to humans. With seasonal flu, people have some immunity built up from previous exposure to the viruses.
* Symptoms of pandemic flu may be more severe than seasonal flu. More people are likely to die from pandemic flu than from seasonal flu.
* If you got a swine flu vaccine in the '70s, don't expect it to protect you from this new strain.[5]
2. Stock up. Store nonperishable foods, bottled water, over-the-counter drugs, health supplies and other necessities. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommends having a 2-week supply. (These supplies can be useful in other types of emergencies, such as power outages.) Have basic, over-the-counter health supplies such as a thermometer, facemasks, tissues, soap, hand sanitizers, medicine to relieve fever, and cold medicine.
3. Plan ahead. Plan for what you will do in the following cases:
* Schools dismissed: Consider childcare needs. Plan home learning activities and exercises. Have materials, such as books on hand. Also plan recreational activities that your children can do at home.
o As for students, take valuable items from lockers, such as iPods and textbooks- if school is closed, you wouldn't want such items left behind.
* You or family member becomes sick and requires care: Make plans for how to care for people with special needs in case the services they rely on are not available. Plan to stay home for at least 10 days when you are sick with pandemic flu. Staying home will keep you from infecting others. Make sure others in your household also stay home when they are sick. During a severe pandemic, stay home if someone in your household is sick with pandemic flu.
* Transportation networks disrupted. Think about how you can rely less on public transportation during a pandemic. For example, store food and other essential supplies to reduce shopping trips. Prepare backup plans for taking care of loved ones who are far away. Consider other ways to get to work, or if you can, work at home.
4. Talk to your employer. Ask your employer about how business will continue during a pandemic. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services offers a Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist; or you can Develop a Risk Management Plan that accounts for the possibility of a flu pandemic. Find out if you can work from home, or if your employer will consider virtualizing the workforce. Plan for the possible reduction or loss of income if you are unable to work or your place of employment is closed. Check with your employer or union about leave policies.
5. Stay updated. Identify sources you can count on for reliable information. If a pandemic occurs, having accurate and reliable information will be critical.
* Reliable, accurate, and timely information is available at PandemicFlu.gov and World Health Organization swine flu page
* Telephone sources include the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hotline at: 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636). This line is available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY: 1-888-232-6348. If you do not live in the U.S., check if there is an equivalent hotline in your area.
* Look for information on your local and state government Web sites. Review your state's planning efforts and those of your local public health and emergency preparedness officials.
* Listen to local and national radio, watch news reports on television, and read your newspaper and other sources of printed and Web-based information.
If You Contract This Flu
1. In most cases flu patients should stay home. Do not go to the hospital or doctor, or else you might spread the virus to other patients.
* On the other hand do seek emergency care as quickly as possible if the infected person is:[5]
o Exceptionally ill with flu-like symptoms
o Chronically ill
o Immune-suppressed
o Elderly
o A very young child, under age 2
2. Call your doctor first, explain that you think you might have the swine flu, and follow any instructions. Read the US CDC guidelines on care.
3. Get plenty of rest, and wait it out, the flu should pass in about 10 days.
4. Be aware of life-threatening complications which might develop. If you get any of these you should get emergency medical care.
*
Emergency warning signs in adults are:[5]
o Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
o Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
o Sudden dizziness
o Confusion
o Severe or persistent vomiting
Emergency warning signs in children are:[5]
o Fast breathing or trouble breathing
o Bluish skin color
o Not drinking enough fluids
o Not waking up or interacting
o Being very irritable
o Fever with a rash
Tips HOW TO AVOID H1N1 SWINE FLU
* Avoid traveling to an affected area. People who have recently visited Mexico, California or Texas and are experiencing influenza-like symptoms, or have been in contact with sick persons from these areas, should contact their health care provider. Be sure to specify that you recently traveled.
* Note that swine flu is transmitted from person-to-person, not from food.
* Don't confuse swine flu with avian (bird) flu. Unlike avian flu, swine flu has proven to be highly contagious between humans.[5]
source:wikihow
===============Recommended Resource===============
The Swine Flu Survival Guide
Bird/SARS And Swine Flu - The Complete Survival Guide.
Swine Flu Dangers - What You Need To Know To Stay Safe.
====================================================
In the event that this flu virus becomes a pandemic, everyday life may be disrupted because many people in many places might become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts can range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery. The following steps will help you prepare for the worst case scenario.
HOW TO PREPARE:
If a pandemic flu virus spreads rapidly, being prepared to stay at home will help slow down the virus because you'll minimize your exposure (and other people's exposure to you, if you become sick).
1. Know what to expect.
* A vaccine for pandemic flu may not be available for 4-6 months after a pandemic starts, and even then, it may only be available in limited amounts.
* People will have little or no immunity to pandemic flu since it is a new virus to humans. With seasonal flu, people have some immunity built up from previous exposure to the viruses.
* Symptoms of pandemic flu may be more severe than seasonal flu. More people are likely to die from pandemic flu than from seasonal flu.
* If you got a swine flu vaccine in the '70s, don't expect it to protect you from this new strain.[5]
2. Stock up. Store nonperishable foods, bottled water, over-the-counter drugs, health supplies and other necessities. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommends having a 2-week supply. (These supplies can be useful in other types of emergencies, such as power outages.) Have basic, over-the-counter health supplies such as a thermometer, facemasks, tissues, soap, hand sanitizers, medicine to relieve fever, and cold medicine.
3. Plan ahead. Plan for what you will do in the following cases:
* Schools dismissed: Consider childcare needs. Plan home learning activities and exercises. Have materials, such as books on hand. Also plan recreational activities that your children can do at home.
o As for students, take valuable items from lockers, such as iPods and textbooks- if school is closed, you wouldn't want such items left behind.
* You or family member becomes sick and requires care: Make plans for how to care for people with special needs in case the services they rely on are not available. Plan to stay home for at least 10 days when you are sick with pandemic flu. Staying home will keep you from infecting others. Make sure others in your household also stay home when they are sick. During a severe pandemic, stay home if someone in your household is sick with pandemic flu.
* Transportation networks disrupted. Think about how you can rely less on public transportation during a pandemic. For example, store food and other essential supplies to reduce shopping trips. Prepare backup plans for taking care of loved ones who are far away. Consider other ways to get to work, or if you can, work at home.
4. Talk to your employer. Ask your employer about how business will continue during a pandemic. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services offers a Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist; or you can Develop a Risk Management Plan that accounts for the possibility of a flu pandemic. Find out if you can work from home, or if your employer will consider virtualizing the workforce. Plan for the possible reduction or loss of income if you are unable to work or your place of employment is closed. Check with your employer or union about leave policies.
5. Stay updated. Identify sources you can count on for reliable information. If a pandemic occurs, having accurate and reliable information will be critical.
* Reliable, accurate, and timely information is available at PandemicFlu.gov and World Health Organization swine flu page
* Telephone sources include the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hotline at: 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636). This line is available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY: 1-888-232-6348. If you do not live in the U.S., check if there is an equivalent hotline in your area.
* Look for information on your local and state government Web sites. Review your state's planning efforts and those of your local public health and emergency preparedness officials.
* Listen to local and national radio, watch news reports on television, and read your newspaper and other sources of printed and Web-based information.
If You Contract This Flu
1. In most cases flu patients should stay home. Do not go to the hospital or doctor, or else you might spread the virus to other patients.
* On the other hand do seek emergency care as quickly as possible if the infected person is:[5]
o Exceptionally ill with flu-like symptoms
o Chronically ill
o Immune-suppressed
o Elderly
o A very young child, under age 2
2. Call your doctor first, explain that you think you might have the swine flu, and follow any instructions. Read the US CDC guidelines on care.
3. Get plenty of rest, and wait it out, the flu should pass in about 10 days.
4. Be aware of life-threatening complications which might develop. If you get any of these you should get emergency medical care.
*
Emergency warning signs in adults are:[5]
o Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
o Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
o Sudden dizziness
o Confusion
o Severe or persistent vomiting
Emergency warning signs in children are:[5]
o Fast breathing or trouble breathing
o Bluish skin color
o Not drinking enough fluids
o Not waking up or interacting
o Being very irritable
o Fever with a rash
Tips HOW TO AVOID H1N1 SWINE FLU
* Avoid traveling to an affected area. People who have recently visited Mexico, California or Texas and are experiencing influenza-like symptoms, or have been in contact with sick persons from these areas, should contact their health care provider. Be sure to specify that you recently traveled.
* Note that swine flu is transmitted from person-to-person, not from food.
* Don't confuse swine flu with avian (bird) flu. Unlike avian flu, swine flu has proven to be highly contagious between humans.[5]
source:wikihow
What Is TAMIFLU? How Does It Work? What is the Side Effect of Tami Flu?
Tamiflu's Mechanism Of Action
(in other words, how exactly does it work?)
Viruses can not thrive or reproduce by themselves - they use
the living cells of their host to do all the work they tricks the host cell's DNA into being a virus factory.
Tamiflu interferes with the flu viral reproduction. Tamiflu works by inhibiting an enzyme called neuraminidase".
When neuraminidase is blocked from working, the flu virus has a hard time releasing it's babies into your bloodstream. The less flu viruses circulating in your system, the better you feel.
Tamiflu's Side Effects / Adverse Reactions
The most common side effects of Tamiflu are nausea, vomiting
and diarrhea. Sometimes people report getting headaches
when they take Tamiflu.
In 2005, Japanese media released reports that young
people taking Tamiflu exhibited abnormal behavior. It was
reported that Tamiflu was linked to 64 cases of psychological
disorders and 2 teenage suicides
After the Japanese reports, the FDA conducted a review of data
regarding pediatric use of Tamiflu. The FDA gave Tamiflu a clean
bill of health. FDA was "unable to conclude that there is a causal
relationship between Tamiflu and the reported pediatric deaths".
Buying Tamiflu On The Internet? Think Twice!
Stay away from internet Tamiflu vendors unless they are located in the USA, have a physical address you can verify and employ American doctors and pharmacists. There are many people looking to make a quick dollar by selling counterfeit Tamiflu.
Who does this site recommend?
If you are looking for brand-name Tamiflu manufactured by Roche, without a prescription, I recommend AccessRx.com. They have been in business since 1999. They are located in the USA in Tempe Arizona. They offer overnight shipping.
They have a 24 hour telephone number for customer service. They even have licensed physicians and pharmacists on staff to answer your medical questions.
I can vouch for AccessRx.com because I am friends with AccessRx.com's director of Marketing, Richard Bernstein. Mr. Bernstein takes his business seriously and takes pride in his company's track record and reputation.
Their prices are higher than the unapproved Chinese and Indian generics but you are assured of getting brand-name, American, FDA-Approved Tamiflu delivered to your door in a couple of days without having to go to a doctor.
Tamiflu Dose
(How many milligrams are in the pills, can you get it in a syrup
for little kids?)
Kids as young as 1 years old can take Tamiflu safely. Tamiflu
capsules are colored gray and light yellow.
The word "Roche" is printed in blue on the gray side of the capsule
and "75mg" is printed in blue on the yellow part of the capsule.
Tamiflu is only available as 75mg capsules or as a clear
tutti-frutti flavored liquid syrup version for kids.
The dose of Tamiflu (for grownups) is one 75mg capsule twice
a day for five days.
The dosage for kids varies from 30mg twice daily to 75mg twice
daily depending on their weight. (Children that weigh more than
88lbs take the adult dose of 75mg per day).
Every Tamiflu prescription must contain 10 doses. Sometimes people don't take all 10 pills - this is not good. If you do this, the
medicine may not work well. Your illness could come back.
You must not skip any doses if you expect it to work. Even if
you feel better, you must take all 10 doses regardless.
You need to begin taking it within 40 hours of catching the flu or
it may not work.
There is no such thing as generic Tamiflu. Tamiflu is difficult to
manufacture. It takes 10 steps over six to eight months to
manufacture Tamiflu. Therefore, if you see so-called generic
Tamiflu or herbal Tamiflu offered for sale it is most likely
counterfeit, containing no active ingredient.
Tamiflu Cost:
Tamiflu is expensive. If you buy Tamiflu from a reputable
drugstore, you can expect to pay about $10 per pill. You
will need to buy 10 pills (a 5-day supply) for each course of
therapy.
The Problem With Tamiflu:
Tamiflu's label indicates that if you took it as directed (within
40 hours of the onset of flu symptoms, 2 pills a day for 5 days)
you would get a 1.3 day reduction in median time to
improvement. A similar study in kids showed only a 1.5 day
reduction in illness.
Tamiflu is only good for flu - not for colds.
Often, by the time a patient gets to a doctor and determines
whether she has a cold or the flu, it is too late for the Tamiflu
to do much good.
Lets say that you wake up Monday and you think that you have
a really bad cold - so you stay home from work.
By Tuesday night you still don't feel better so you visit your doctor
first thing Wednesday Morning. By that point (48 hours into your
illness) it is too late for the Tamiflu to do any good.
You could buy some for your husband and 2 children just in case
they caught some of your flu germs but you may be reluctant to
shell out $240.00 for pills that you may or may not need - pills
are not returnable once they leave the drugstore.
History of Tamiflu
When Tamiflu first came out it had disappointing sales. People
were expecting a magic pill that would make flu go away quick.
But they soon found out that Tamiflu only reduced the duration
of flu by 36 hours if you took it within 40 hours of catching the flu.
Tamiflu was a huge flop for Roche; they couldn't give Tamiflu
away. It was a dead canary.
The inventor of Tamiflu, Gilead Sciences, was highly annoyed at
Roche. They accused Roche of halfheartedly marketing Tamiflu.
Tamiflu Becomes A Hit
Once word got out that they were using Tamiflu as a treatment
for Bird Flu, sales took off like crazy! Tamiflu became a household name; valuable as gold. Now that Swine flu is sweeping the globe, Tamiflu is once again a valuable commodity.
Tamiflu's popularity soars with each new media report that
Tamiflu is effective to treat the deadly swine flu.
Current Tamiflu supply chain situation is similar to what happened in 2005 when bird-flu was in the news.
People started hoarding Tamiflu. By Autumn of 2005, Tamiflu
shortages erupted. Roche stopped shipping Tamiflu to certain
countries such as Canada for fear that there wouldn't be enough
Tamiflu to go around in places where there may be a genuine need for it in Bird Flu hotspots like Vietnam and China.
A similar phenomenon is occurring now. Experts are predicting Tamiflu shortages due to fearful buying and hoarding.
The question is if Tamiflu is a fad or if it is truly an effective part of an anti-flu pandemic arsenal.
At the present time, Tamiflu appears to be effective in combating swine flu. It seems to work but only if started within 48 hours of first symptoms
Experts fear that if it is overused or used improperly, resistant strains of swine flu will appear.
When it comes to bird flu, some pharmaceutical experts think Tamiflu is more hype than hope. A highly respected pharmaceutical consulting body
(Scripp Reports) published a press release in which they said
that there is no "guarantee as yet that Tamiflu will prove
effective against a pandemic strain [of Bird Flu] ... much wider
arsenal of products being developed to respond to the growing
threat of avian flu ... [ Scripp Reports Press Release; 11/2006]
Wait A Minute
Unfortunately, many scientists and public health experts have
doubts that Tamiflu is very effective in the case of a genuine
Bird Flu pandemic.
In fact, the virus that causes Bird Flu is rapidly becoming
resistant to Tamiflu. What will happen with swine flu is anybody's guess.
Doctors use Tamiflu to treat bird flu because that is all they have, not because it cures flu rapidly. But when people get panicky they reach for the best thing available, which at this point is Tamiflu.
Recap:
Tamiflu makes it difficult for the newborn flu virus
to escape the host cell's membrane by blocking the
neuraminidase enzyme.
When you come into contact with the flu virus (most often from hand-to-hand contact) it is introduced into your bloodstream.
Before you know it, the virus has spread throughout your entire
body - and the replication process begins using your own cells
as factories!.
The virus attaches to the cell membrane of your body's cells and
injects itself into the nucleus of the cell, tricking your DNA to
make clone after clone of the virus.
As soon as it's born, each new daughter virus gets to work
reproducing itself; it starts the process all over again.
Tamiflu Internet Resources:
Tamiflu.com This is the official Tamiflu website. It is
maintained by Roche Laboratories, the large Swiss drug company
that markets Tamiflu.
source: internetdrugnews.com
(in other words, how exactly does it work?)
Viruses can not thrive or reproduce by themselves - they use
the living cells of their host to do all the work they tricks the host cell's DNA into being a virus factory.
Tamiflu interferes with the flu viral reproduction. Tamiflu works by inhibiting an enzyme called neuraminidase".
When neuraminidase is blocked from working, the flu virus has a hard time releasing it's babies into your bloodstream. The less flu viruses circulating in your system, the better you feel.
Tamiflu's Side Effects / Adverse Reactions
The most common side effects of Tamiflu are nausea, vomiting
and diarrhea. Sometimes people report getting headaches
when they take Tamiflu.
In 2005, Japanese media released reports that young
people taking Tamiflu exhibited abnormal behavior. It was
reported that Tamiflu was linked to 64 cases of psychological
disorders and 2 teenage suicides
After the Japanese reports, the FDA conducted a review of data
regarding pediatric use of Tamiflu. The FDA gave Tamiflu a clean
bill of health. FDA was "unable to conclude that there is a causal
relationship between Tamiflu and the reported pediatric deaths".
Buying Tamiflu On The Internet? Think Twice!
Stay away from internet Tamiflu vendors unless they are located in the USA, have a physical address you can verify and employ American doctors and pharmacists. There are many people looking to make a quick dollar by selling counterfeit Tamiflu.
Who does this site recommend?
If you are looking for brand-name Tamiflu manufactured by Roche, without a prescription, I recommend AccessRx.com. They have been in business since 1999. They are located in the USA in Tempe Arizona. They offer overnight shipping.
They have a 24 hour telephone number for customer service. They even have licensed physicians and pharmacists on staff to answer your medical questions.
I can vouch for AccessRx.com because I am friends with AccessRx.com's director of Marketing, Richard Bernstein. Mr. Bernstein takes his business seriously and takes pride in his company's track record and reputation.
Their prices are higher than the unapproved Chinese and Indian generics but you are assured of getting brand-name, American, FDA-Approved Tamiflu delivered to your door in a couple of days without having to go to a doctor.
Tamiflu Dose
(How many milligrams are in the pills, can you get it in a syrup
for little kids?)
Kids as young as 1 years old can take Tamiflu safely. Tamiflu
capsules are colored gray and light yellow.
The word "Roche" is printed in blue on the gray side of the capsule
and "75mg" is printed in blue on the yellow part of the capsule.
Tamiflu is only available as 75mg capsules or as a clear
tutti-frutti flavored liquid syrup version for kids.
The dose of Tamiflu (for grownups) is one 75mg capsule twice
a day for five days.
The dosage for kids varies from 30mg twice daily to 75mg twice
daily depending on their weight. (Children that weigh more than
88lbs take the adult dose of 75mg per day).
Every Tamiflu prescription must contain 10 doses. Sometimes people don't take all 10 pills - this is not good. If you do this, the
medicine may not work well. Your illness could come back.
You must not skip any doses if you expect it to work. Even if
you feel better, you must take all 10 doses regardless.
You need to begin taking it within 40 hours of catching the flu or
it may not work.
There is no such thing as generic Tamiflu. Tamiflu is difficult to
manufacture. It takes 10 steps over six to eight months to
manufacture Tamiflu. Therefore, if you see so-called generic
Tamiflu or herbal Tamiflu offered for sale it is most likely
counterfeit, containing no active ingredient.
Tamiflu Cost:
Tamiflu is expensive. If you buy Tamiflu from a reputable
drugstore, you can expect to pay about $10 per pill. You
will need to buy 10 pills (a 5-day supply) for each course of
therapy.
The Problem With Tamiflu:
Tamiflu's label indicates that if you took it as directed (within
40 hours of the onset of flu symptoms, 2 pills a day for 5 days)
you would get a 1.3 day reduction in median time to
improvement. A similar study in kids showed only a 1.5 day
reduction in illness.
Tamiflu is only good for flu - not for colds.
Often, by the time a patient gets to a doctor and determines
whether she has a cold or the flu, it is too late for the Tamiflu
to do much good.
Lets say that you wake up Monday and you think that you have
a really bad cold - so you stay home from work.
By Tuesday night you still don't feel better so you visit your doctor
first thing Wednesday Morning. By that point (48 hours into your
illness) it is too late for the Tamiflu to do any good.
You could buy some for your husband and 2 children just in case
they caught some of your flu germs but you may be reluctant to
shell out $240.00 for pills that you may or may not need - pills
are not returnable once they leave the drugstore.
History of Tamiflu
When Tamiflu first came out it had disappointing sales. People
were expecting a magic pill that would make flu go away quick.
But they soon found out that Tamiflu only reduced the duration
of flu by 36 hours if you took it within 40 hours of catching the flu.
Tamiflu was a huge flop for Roche; they couldn't give Tamiflu
away. It was a dead canary.
The inventor of Tamiflu, Gilead Sciences, was highly annoyed at
Roche. They accused Roche of halfheartedly marketing Tamiflu.
Tamiflu Becomes A Hit
Once word got out that they were using Tamiflu as a treatment
for Bird Flu, sales took off like crazy! Tamiflu became a household name; valuable as gold. Now that Swine flu is sweeping the globe, Tamiflu is once again a valuable commodity.
Tamiflu's popularity soars with each new media report that
Tamiflu is effective to treat the deadly swine flu.
Current Tamiflu supply chain situation is similar to what happened in 2005 when bird-flu was in the news.
People started hoarding Tamiflu. By Autumn of 2005, Tamiflu
shortages erupted. Roche stopped shipping Tamiflu to certain
countries such as Canada for fear that there wouldn't be enough
Tamiflu to go around in places where there may be a genuine need for it in Bird Flu hotspots like Vietnam and China.
A similar phenomenon is occurring now. Experts are predicting Tamiflu shortages due to fearful buying and hoarding.
The question is if Tamiflu is a fad or if it is truly an effective part of an anti-flu pandemic arsenal.
At the present time, Tamiflu appears to be effective in combating swine flu. It seems to work but only if started within 48 hours of first symptoms
Experts fear that if it is overused or used improperly, resistant strains of swine flu will appear.
When it comes to bird flu, some pharmaceutical experts think Tamiflu is more hype than hope. A highly respected pharmaceutical consulting body
(Scripp Reports) published a press release in which they said
that there is no "guarantee as yet that Tamiflu will prove
effective against a pandemic strain [of Bird Flu] ... much wider
arsenal of products being developed to respond to the growing
threat of avian flu ... [ Scripp Reports Press Release; 11/2006]
Wait A Minute
Unfortunately, many scientists and public health experts have
doubts that Tamiflu is very effective in the case of a genuine
Bird Flu pandemic.
In fact, the virus that causes Bird Flu is rapidly becoming
resistant to Tamiflu. What will happen with swine flu is anybody's guess.
Doctors use Tamiflu to treat bird flu because that is all they have, not because it cures flu rapidly. But when people get panicky they reach for the best thing available, which at this point is Tamiflu.
Recap:
Tamiflu makes it difficult for the newborn flu virus
to escape the host cell's membrane by blocking the
neuraminidase enzyme.
When you come into contact with the flu virus (most often from hand-to-hand contact) it is introduced into your bloodstream.
Before you know it, the virus has spread throughout your entire
body - and the replication process begins using your own cells
as factories!.
The virus attaches to the cell membrane of your body's cells and
injects itself into the nucleus of the cell, tricking your DNA to
make clone after clone of the virus.
As soon as it's born, each new daughter virus gets to work
reproducing itself; it starts the process all over again.
Tamiflu Internet Resources:
Tamiflu.com This is the official Tamiflu website. It is
maintained by Roche Laboratories, the large Swiss drug company
that markets Tamiflu.
source: internetdrugnews.com
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