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
Ping
Perhaps a vaccine could be developed by some chicken shot outfit.
So, National Healthcare in Japan is contributing to viral resistance that puts the planet at risk? Hmmmmm...but I thought that national care was supposed to be sooooo much better than a private system! /sar.
This will fail to topple the human race much like aids will fail. The alien "Greys" are't as smart as they think...
The question remains will Tamiflu function to either prevent or treat Avian Flu in the U.S. or Canada if this thing does not mutate?
British flu pandemic 'will kill 50,000' (9-3-05)
"Health authorities believe that if the bird flu virus mutates in Asia and cases start spreading, Britain will only have weeks - if not days - to prepare."
"Travel restrictions, airport screening and other strategies would be of little use to stop cases multiplying rapidly, according to statistical models carried out by the Health Protection Agency."
While I do not dispute the finding the Thamiflu (R) is not effective for the Asian Bird Flu, H5N1, the article tries to link this fact to the the gerneral resitance of Thamiflu built up in the regual flu. The two are completely independent. The bird flu "in the human population" has not had a chance to build up a "resistance" to the drug."
What the scientist was talking about was just a pure ineffectiveness of Thamiflu on bird flu - not resistance. And the journalist screwed up the article. As for finding that Thamiflu is ineffective, it would not be suprizing, since Thamiflu only reduces the duration of the symptoms of the regular flu by only one day, and it has to be taken within 40 of onset of symptoms just for tat small beenfit. BTW 40 hrs is way too late for H1N5. its too fast for Thanmiflu IMO. To my knowledge, there has previously been no data on Thamiflu on H1N5, so people were just hyping the issue up that this drug would save everyone. I suspect this is the REAL, SCIENTIFICALLY BASED REASON, why the US govt. did not stock up on 200 million courses. Of course, people are lightning fast to slam the administration to say they were off the ball on this issue.
Birds ping