[ThePythonicCow]

if the system is overwhelmed and symptoms begin to emerge

This flu can take you from feeling fine, to unable to turn over in bed, in six hours. I don't think you can turn your immune system on a dime like that. If your immune reaction is strong enough to kill you, you'll be dead before you can suppress it.

If this one lasts a couple winters, in month or two long waves, you won't have enough tamiflu, unless you are able to afford far more than most of us. There just isn't enough to go around. Best to learn about the Tamiflu/Relenza alternatives while they are in ready supply.

And that amantadine won't do you a damn bit of good. From www.washingtonpost.com:

Bird Flu Drug Rendered Useless

Chinese Chickens Given Medication Made for Humans

By Alan Sipress Washington Post Foreign Service Saturday, June 18, 2005; Page A01

HONG KONG -- Chinese farmers, acting with the approval and encouragement of government officials, have tried to suppress major bird flu outbreaks among chickens with an antiviral drug meant for humans, animal health experts said. International researchers now conclude that this is why the drug will no longer protect people in case of a worldwide bird flu epidemic.

[steve86]

A couple things. Many of the present strains are still reactive to amantadine, including the northern Europe one. I think JA wrote some good commentary on this. We don't know if the target H2H strain will be resistant.

I agree on the rapid incubation/symptom worsening. Not a lot we can do about it but hope it takes longer.

[blam]

"Best to learn about the Tamiflu/Relenza alternatives while they are in ready supply. "

That link does not work. Will you try again?

[Maurice Tift]

Chinese Chickens Given Medication Made for Humans

  When I saw the headline, my first thought was chicken soup.