| From: donpat | 11/24/2005 2:03:51 PM | | | | | | Tamiflu, masks 'futile' for bird flu
23.11.2005
By Paul Dykes
People who have rushed out to buy anti-viral tablets such as Tamiflu or protective masks to stave off bird flu are wasting their money, according to a top infectious disease specialist.
Dr Brian Dwyer, an infectious disease physician at Tauranga Hospital, said pre-emptive use of Tamiflu is unlikely to be effective unless taken for the full period of risk, which may be for more than five months.
"What's more, there is some chance that the bird flu virus may have become resistant to these anti-viral agents before it arrives in human populations in New Zealand," he says. "It's pointless acquiring these things. I can't see any purpose in purchasing them. "I have not obtained any anti-virals or masks for my use or my family's use.
"Private, individual investment in masks and anti-viral medicines is premature and quite possibly pointless - if not futile."
His comments are backed up by a New Zealand-born world expert in viruses who says the avian flu virus H5N1 is more dangerous than the ebola.
Dr Richard Webby, a New Zealand virologist at St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, said having a stockpile of Tamiflu at home was not necessarily going to help in a pandemic.
There was only a short window of opportunity between being infected with the flu virus and having to take Tamiflu, and most people did not even realise they were sick until symptoms showed, usually two to three days later.
The timing for taking the drug was crucial, he said.
"What I'm worried about is that most people wouldn't know what to look for."
The H5N1 virus had quite a way to go before it would transmit from human to human but given enough opportunities it would adapt eventually, he said.
The difference between this pandemic and earlier ones was that the H5N1 virus was stronger.
"This virus has particular traits about it that makes it much more virulent than the 1957 or 1968 pandemic."
He would also rank it above the 1918 virus in terms of its ability to cause disease.
"It's a bit more nasty than the other three were."
Dr Dwyer said influenza vaccines available at the moment cover only currently circulating viruses and do not cover the bird flu virus at all.
People would be better off following the Ministry of Health guidelines being promoted by the Bay of Plenty District Health Board, Dr Dwyer said.
The Bay health board wants families to prepare for a bird flu pandemic in the Bay of Plenty by gearing up as for a civil defence emergency.
Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr Paul Martiquet says it's vital that people know what to do to look after themselves and their families should New Zealand be hit by an influenza pandemic.
"In the event of a pandemic, there may be a need for people to stay in their homes for up to two weeks to avoid being exposed to the virus," he says. "Build up your emergency supplies kit. Have a supply of food and drinks to last for at least a week. Choose non-perishable foods such as canned foods, soup sachets and dried foods."
He said a list of basic emergency kit contents is on the inside back cover of the Yellow Pages or on the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management website on 'What To Do in a Disaster'.
Dr Martiquet suggested living near to each other could form a telephone network.
The Bay of Plenty District Health Boards pandemic plan is now available on www.bopdhb.govt.nz.
- additional reporting, NZPA
bayofplentytimes.co.nz |
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| To: donpat who wrote (575) | 11/24/2005 2:46:25 PM | | From: Conky Lives! | | | | >Tamiflu, masks 'futile' for bird flu
sigh, ..I wonder if its a good idea to stock up on disinfectant/chlorine/pesticide? ..if a pandemic were to hit, to regularly spray the outside perimeter (including windows and doors)of one's home with a spray device i.e. a fogger ..wet mist. Aside form masks and tamiflu, no one has really mentioned this for domestic preparednes. Would it be effective? Any opinion? |
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| To: Conky Lives! who wrote (576) | 11/24/2005 4:02:06 PM | | From: SG | | | | They sell stuff that kills HIV, etc. for M.D. offices, must be useful for avian flu. Probably someone knows this.
Not so sure about his thoughts re:Tamiflu. If folks in my town start getting sick with flu (that has mutated to humans), it does not seem too big a stretch to start my Tamiflu at the first sign I get whatever symptoms they reported. Whether it will still work due to viral mutations is an experimental question.
Wonder what good telephone networks would do-report your death if you don't answer? Have neighbors throw possibly contaminated supplies to you if you run out? Odd.
SG |
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| To: donpat who wrote (578) | 11/24/2005 9:33:47 PM | | From: SG | | | | You'd think they could keep it off an island like Australia or New Zealand by stopping imports.
Didn't work for radiation in "On the Beach."
SG |
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| From: jmhollen | 11/26/2005 4:17:01 PM | | | | | | Indonesia Reports New Human Bird Flu Case
ABC News - 11 hours ago
By CHRIS BRUMMITT Associated Press Writer. JAKARTA, Indonesia Nov 26, 2005 — Indonesia reported a new human bird flu infection on Saturday, and Taiwan joined other Asian governments in announcing it wanted ...
Virus spreads `all over' Jakarta The Standard
Indonesia Aims to Have Bird-Flu Treatment for 10% of Population Bloomberg
New York Times - Japan Today - International Herald Tribune - Scotsman - all 447 related »
Romania detects bird flu case outside Danube delta
Reuters AlertNet - 1 hour ago
BUCHAREST, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Romania has detected a new case of bird flu in a remote village outside the Danube delta where the deadly H5N1 strain was discovered in October, officials said on Saturday. A ...
Alaska Highway News
New cases of bird flu reported in Canada
People's Daily Online - Nov 23, 2005
Canadian officials announced Wednesday that multiple new H5 avian flu cases were found on two poultry farms where first such cases were reported last week in Canada's western-most province of British Columbia. ...
Second Bird Flu Case found in BC Epoch Times
Flu halted on BC duck farms, officials say Globe and Mail
Canada.com - Forbes - CKNW - Capital Press (subscription) - all 22 related »
news.google.com
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| To: Conky Lives! who wrote (576) | 11/26/2005 5:04:23 PM | | From: Becky | | | | Tamiflu isn't THE antidote for B-Flu.
At this point, nothing is.
I read somewhere, the "incubation period" for B-Flu can last up to 10 days. So theoretically, you could come in contact with someone who had the virus, yet showed no symptoms.
Just like the other viruses NNVC is working to fight, Hepatitis, HIV, etc .., the carriers (infected persons) initially have no idea they have the virus until the symptoms surface; and in the case of B-flu, they're near death. |
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| To: Becky who wrote (581) | 11/26/2005 5:07:45 PM | | From: jmhollen | | | | That's what happens when you give the dumbarse Talking-Head Media a BUZZ WORD............
Those "..Dan Blather Clones.." will still be pumping Tamiflu as the coroner has their body bag toted off to the incinerator.....
John :-)
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| From: rrm_bcnu | 11/26/2005 6:35:29 PM | | | | | | Looking at the chart technicals it appears the current increase is heading toward a Fib expansion target of 1.59(1.57-1.61) as a pivot point. Two retracement events both have pointed to the same region. Just FYI.
rrm |
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