We're all going to die (AKA Flu thread) MERGED

Thrill wrote: »

The strain in America is treatable........

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8018887.stm

the H1N1 strain at the centre of the American alert was treatable with antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu and Relenza.

While America has plenty of these drugs, Mexico only have enough to treat around 1 million people.

What antiviral drugs are available?
There are currently four antiviral drugs that can shorten the course of infection if given early in the disease and provide short-term protection against influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, zanamivir and oseltamivir. Of these only zanamivir (trade name Relenza) and oseltamivir (trade name Tamiflu) are currently licensed in Ireland.

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) reduce replication of influenza A and B viruses by inhibiting viral neuraminidase. They are licensed for the treatment of influenza within 48 hours of the first symptoms. In otherwise healthy individuals they reduce the duration of symptoms by about 1/1.5 days. The effect of oseltamivir or zanamivir on hospitalisation or on mortality is not clear in those at risk of serious complications from influenza.

NICE guidance (oseltamivir, zanamivir, and amantadine for treatment of influenza)
NICE has recommended (February 2003) that antiviral drugs are not a substitute for vaccination, which remains the most effective way of preventing illness from influenza. When influenza A or influenza B is circulating in the community:

• amantadine is not recommended for the treatment of influenza;
• oseltamivir or zanamivir are not recommended for the treatment of otherwise healthy individuals with influenza;
• oseltamivir and zanamivir are recommended (in accordance with product licensing) to treat at-risk adults who can start treatment within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms; oseltamivir is recommended for at-risk children who can start treatment within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms;

An emergency supply of over 45,000 treatment packs of antivirals (Tamiflu®) was purchased in 2004. A further 1 million treatment packs of antivirals (Tamiflu®) have been stockpiled. This quantity is sufficient to treat 25% of the population.

Tamiflu® capsules are not suitable for young children. The health services have, therefore, also stockpiled a supply of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) which will allow for treatment of almost 110,000 children.

Recommendations for the stockpiling of antivirals are kept under constant review by the Pandemic Influenza Expert Group. The Expert Group advised that a quantity of zanamivir (Relenza®) should be stockpiled in addition to oseltamivir (Tamiflu®). 706,000 courses of Relenza® have now been stockpiled by the HSE.

The quantity of antivirals in stock or on order is enough to treat almost 2 million people. This compares very favourably with other countries across Europe and beyond.

Plans for the distribution of antivirals in the event of a pandemic are being finalised. In a pandemic situation antivirals will primarily be used for treatment of influenza cases:


At the start of a pandemic in Ireland (when isolated cases or small outbreaks are occurring, and when transmission is not occurring efficiently), antivirals will be used for treatment of influenza cases and short-term prophylaxis to prevent infection developing in close contacts including family members and health care workers.
In the event of a full scale pandemic, antivirals will be used for treatment only