Domestic Policy

Bird Flu Victims Die; A Resistance To Tamiflu

December 23, 2005 ⋅  E-Mail Article ⋅  Print Article ⋅ Post a comment

It just won’t go away; the pesky Bird Flu keeps its name in the paper better than a B grade actress on Hollywood Boulevard. However, unlike a B grade actress, this Flu virus gives a real killer performance. How safe do you really feel?

Many still dismiss the possibility of an outbreak. For these individuals I present pretty reasonable individuals who show little doubt; Michael Leavitt, the U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services, previously acknowledged that a global bird flu pandemic is possible, if not probable, due to variations in standards of poultry processing. President George W. Bush has also previously stated that he would consider using military force to quarantine any area of the country where a Bird Flu epidemic might break out. These two individuals making these types of statements lends a little more credibility to the possibility of an outbreak don’t you think?

The reality of the situation is that if the Bird Flu pandemic occurs there will be over 60 million humans dead worldwide from the virus, countless others ill, and economies and countries left in shambles.

Many health officials are voicing their concern in regards to the recent deaths of two Vietnamese girls who were properly treated with the Tamiflu drug. It was reported in Vietnam that two bird flu patients passed away after developing a resistance to Tamiflu, which is considered by most countries as the first line of defense against the Bird Flu virus. Numerous governments are stockpiling Tamiflu as a preparation in case of a large-scale outbreak of the Bird Flu virus.

Health experts are concerned mainly because it appears that the two girls received the proper treatment at an early stage, the doctors advised the correct dosage of Tamiflu was administered to the patients. However, the patients still expired as a result of the Bird Flu virus.

World health professionals are concerned a resistant strain of the Flu virus may be cultivating in certain areas. To some doctors this may suggest that the doses doctors now consider best may be too small or ineffective. Other doctors are worried that certain countries may be trying to create their own version of a Bird Flu drug. These doctors advise that the creation of an incomplete or inefficient drug could in the end actually improve the Bird Flu’s resistance against the virus.

There have been prior reports of strains mutating and evolving in patients who reportedly had taken the Tamiflu drug in low doses. Like with many other anti-biotic viruses, inadequate doses of medicine, or discontinuing treatment early, can promote anti-biotic resistance by allowing viruses or bacteria to mutate and reappear in a slightly stronger fashion.

Many governments are relying on Tamiflu, and Relenza, if a pandemic outbreak of Avian Flu occurs.

Both drugs are considered to be potent against the potential virus. However, both medicines must be taken soon after becoming infected or the chance for a complete recovery is lessoned dramatically.

The Bird flu issue has health experts around the world discussing the problematic issue of hoarding of the Tamiflu supply. The Tamiflu provisions are almost considered scarce since countries began scrambling to stock up as much of the drug as possible in the past year.

In October, Roche announced it was suspending shipments to U.S. wholesalers and other private-sector recipients to ensure enough Tamiflu for the regular flu season.

Bird Flu Victims Die After Being Resistant to Tamiflu

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