Posted on 09/30/2005 9:26:51 AM PDT by Rutles4Ever
Experts in Hong Kong said on Friday that the human H5N1 strain which surfaced in northern Vietnam this year had proved to be resistant to Tamiflu, a powerful antiviral drug which goes by the generic name, oseltamivir.
They urged drug manufacturers to make more effective versions of Relenza, another antiviral that is also known to be effective in battling the much feared H5N1. Relenza is inhaled.
"There are now resistant H5N1 strains appearing, and we can't totally rely on one drug (Tamiflu)," William Chui, honorary associate professor with the department of pharmacology at the Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong, told Reuters.
Chui was referring to the Tamiflu-resistant strain of H5N1 in Vietnam. Chui also said general viral resistance to Tamiflu was growing in Japan, where doctors habitually prescribe the drug to fight the common influenza.
"Manufacturers should think about producing an injectable form of Relenza because resistance to Tamiflu has been seen in Japan and Vietnam. Also with injections, high doses can be given where necessary and onset time is a lot faster," Chui said.
Drugs that are administered intravenously can be better absorbed in patients who have stomach and acidity problems, another expert said.
"We don't have to worry about absorption, injections take drugs right in. But if the patient takes them orally, maybe some amounts won't be absorbed or some may be destroyed by stomach acids," said pharmacist Raymond Mak at Queen Mary Hospital.
In places such as China, drug resistance exceeded 70 percent, suggesting that drugs like amantadine and rimantadine will probably no longer be effective for treatment or as a preventive in a pandemic outbreak of flu, the reports said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
He also added that there is simply no way to produce enough of a given vaccine in this country because the facilities are in other countries, and that something as mundane as a protective mask would run short since they're not manufactured here and we would have closed out ports.
Not a pretty picture.
We should isolate the area, no flghts or people can come visit us here.
Very interesting post. FReepers would be well advised to remember the Spanish Flu outbreak from the early 1900s which killed millions. Here's a chance for the Bush Admin to get out ahead of a emergency. Think they'll do it??
Again, are we being set up by Washington complacency again??
"because the facilities are in other countries"
Thank our trial lawyers for that one.
Of course when we can't come up w/ enough vaccine, the blame will be layed at the feet of the gvt (particularly if pubs are in power then).
And the answer: Spend more gvt money in one way or another, of course.
So far there are several sources now saying Tamiflu is not the answer.
I haven't really been following this whole bird flu thing so far. Anybody know what the mortaility rate is?
So9
Over 100,000 deaths predicted for the US if we have a major outbreak.
So9
And shoot down every bird that tries to leave Asia?
So9
Actually - the CDC has directed all states to develop a preparedness response plan specific to influenza and most plans are nearly complete. Most states already have plans to deal with a mass outbreak of disease. Disease outbreaks are usually handled very well (hepatitis A exposure, small flu outbreaks, measles outbreaks, pertussis, etc). MSM just over reacts to every little story...
And shoot down every bird that tries to leave Asia?
Too far to fly, some hitch a ride on cargo vessels so yes, if 150 million peopel might die then stopping birds is a minimum you need to do. Also stopping all imports of birds as pets should stop.
I heard far gloomier estimates than that. Hopefully, the gov't is on this thing.
Ping
Too far to fly, some hitch a ride on cargo vessels so yes, if 150 million peopel might die then stopping birds is a minimum you need to do. Also stopping all imports of birds as pets should stop.
It isn't one bird. A bird may only carry it 10 miles and then infect another bird.
You are living in a dream world if you think we can stop them all. We either develop and produce a vaccine or get a pandemic.
Actually, the world has way more than 150 million people to spare.
In fact, the US has more than 150 million people to spare.
Actually, this could be a good thing.
So9
How about stopping all shipping to Wal-Mart too?
Well, if Tamiflu doesn't work, it's not really complacency that's at issue.
If Tamiflu worked, then we could stockpile it, and in fact, I think we are trying to do that.
But with this info, the only other thing would be a vaccine, but a vaccine can't be developed ahead of time since at this point the flu has not mutated to a strain that can be caught "person to person."
Of course once it does mutate to that point, then you can bet everybody will be working on a vaccine, but it really won't do much good because it takes a while to develop it, produce it and distribute it.
A pandemic flu of a new strain is not really something we can prevent, but rather something we might be able to manage if we have plans in place for quarantine, etc.
What if one of the disposable human beings were someone you loved and cared about ... would it still be a good thing?
Of course once it does mutate to that point, then you can bet everybody will be working on a vaccine....
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We can only hope so. The scary part is that with our wide open borders, illegals (and legals) from Asia are coming in most likely, daily. And carrying what?? Nobody knows.
Perhaps a vaccine could be developed by some chicken shot outfit.
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