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Bird flu 'resistant to main drug'
CNN (Reuters) ^ | 9/30/2005

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 ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: avianflu; birdflu; china; h5n1; health; hellonearth; pandemic; tamiflu
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I saw a very sobering episode of Nightline yesterday, and I know it's "Nightline", but the doctor from Minnesota who is basically spearheading our response to this issue basically said that we can limit our exposure to the virus here, but it's going to affect the whole world because international commerce would literally come to a screeching halt. As he put it, it would be up to every country for themself to manage the flu in their own countries.

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.

1 posted on 09/30/2005 9:26:53 AM PDT by Rutles4Ever
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To: Rutles4Ever

We should isolate the area, no flghts or people can come visit us here.


2 posted on 09/30/2005 9:28:18 AM PDT by edcoil (Reality doesn't say much - doesn't need too)
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To: Rutles4Ever

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??


3 posted on 09/30/2005 9:30:00 AM PDT by JeeperFreeper
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To: Rutles4Ever

Again, are we being set up by Washington complacency again??


4 posted on 09/30/2005 9:30:07 AM PDT by EagleUSA
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To: Rutles4Ever

"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.


5 posted on 09/30/2005 9:30:10 AM PDT by Pessimist
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To: Rutles4Ever; Judith Anne
Bump to get this on the Asian Flu Preparedness ping list.

So far there are several sources now saying Tamiflu is not the answer.

6 posted on 09/30/2005 9:32:25 AM PDT by Yaelle
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To: Rutles4Ever

I haven't really been following this whole bird flu thing so far. Anybody know what the mortaility rate is?


7 posted on 09/30/2005 9:32:27 AM PDT by Pessimist
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To: Rutles4Ever
There is a bill in congress right now to apropriate billions to buy a stockpile of Tamiflu.
If is isn't gonna work ..........

So9

8 posted on 09/30/2005 9:33:58 AM PDT by Servant of the 9 (Trust Me)
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To: Pessimist
I haven't really been following this whole bird flu thing so far. Anybody know what the mortaility rate is?

Over 100,000 deaths predicted for the US if we have a major outbreak.

So9

9 posted on 09/30/2005 9:35:10 AM PDT by Servant of the 9 (Trust Me)
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To: edcoil
We should isolate the area, no flghts or people can come visit us here.

And shoot down every bird that tries to leave Asia?

So9

10 posted on 09/30/2005 9:36:49 AM PDT by Servant of the 9 (Trust Me)
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To: JeeperFreeper

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...


11 posted on 09/30/2005 9:43:50 AM PDT by WomanBiologist
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To: Servant of the 9

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.


12 posted on 09/30/2005 9:44:36 AM PDT by edcoil (Reality doesn't say much - doesn't need too)
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To: Servant of the 9
Over 100,000 deaths predicted for the US if we have a major outbreak.

I heard far gloomier estimates than that.  Hopefully, the gov't is on this thing.

13 posted on 09/30/2005 9:47:03 AM PDT by softwarecreator (Facts are to liberals as holy water is to vampires.)
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To: Rutles4Ever; Mother Abigail; Judith Anne; bitt

Ping


14 posted on 09/30/2005 9:49:06 AM PDT by 2ndreconmarine (I've had a bad day at work. I'm in a bad mood. Time to stomp on a creationist.)
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To: edcoil
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.

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

15 posted on 09/30/2005 9:57:08 AM PDT by Servant of the 9 (Trust Me)
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To: Servant of the 9
And shoot down every bird that tries to leave Asia?

How about stopping all shipping to Wal-Mart too?

16 posted on 09/30/2005 9:58:09 AM PDT by neverdem (May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows that you're dead.)
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To: EagleUSA

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.


17 posted on 09/30/2005 9:59:14 AM PDT by dawn53
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To: Servant of the 9
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.

What if one of the disposable human beings were someone you loved and cared about ... would it still be a good thing?

18 posted on 09/30/2005 10:08:08 AM PDT by softwarecreator (Facts are to liberals as holy water is to vampires.)
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To: dawn53

Of course once it does mutate to that point, then you can bet everybody will be working on a vaccine....
----
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.


19 posted on 09/30/2005 10:12:00 AM PDT by EagleUSA
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To: Rutles4Ever
Bird flu?

Perhaps a vaccine could be developed by some chicken shot outfit.

20 posted on 09/30/2005 10:13:03 AM PDT by N. Theknow (Kennedys - Can't drive, can't fly, can't ski, can't skipper a boat - But they know what's best.)
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