Discussion
There are 2 peoblems with the flu virus. Firstly it mutates very easily, often when it is in a non human population such as birds. This is why we need a new flu jab each year, to protect us against the new mutations. Some muations give very mild infections and some are killers. Secondly it is extremely contagious. The virus lives in water droplets in the air given off by infected people. When you breathe these in you catch the disease.
The current bird flu is endemic in the wild birds in south east Asia, from them it is spreading to domestic fowl (many millions of which have been slaughtered to try and prevent the diseases spread) and from them it is spreading to humans who then die. There are two good things here. Firstly it is not very contagious at the moment so it is quite difficult to catch, secondly the anti virals Tamiflu and Relenza are effective against it. The bad news is that it will become more contagious, either by the normal mutation process or by one individual having both bird flu and conventional flu at the same time. Once it becomes contagious it will be everywhere in the world in just a few days because of modern air travel. There is no way that the pharmicutical companies can gear up fast enough so we should be buying the drugs now. It is possible to make a vaccine and immunise people but until the virus mutates and the candidate variety is identified everyone is sitting on their hands.
>> Edited by bruciebabe on Thursday 24th February 10:48
The current bird flu is endemic in the wild birds in south east Asia, from them it is spreading to domestic fowl (many millions of which have been slaughtered to try and prevent the diseases spread) and from them it is spreading to humans who then die. There are two good things here. Firstly it is not very contagious at the moment so it is quite difficult to catch, secondly the anti virals Tamiflu and Relenza are effective against it. The bad news is that it will become more contagious, either by the normal mutation process or by one individual having both bird flu and conventional flu at the same time. Once it becomes contagious it will be everywhere in the world in just a few days because of modern air travel. There is no way that the pharmicutical companies can gear up fast enough so we should be buying the drugs now. It is possible to make a vaccine and immunise people but until the virus mutates and the candidate variety is identified everyone is sitting on their hands.
>> Edited by bruciebabe on Thursday 24th February 10:48
The worst thing I suppose is that there's nothing we can do . Its like a continuly waiting game.
I have never understood why the US/1st world spends billions on wars like Iraq when the real danger to a country is something like bird flu. It'll kill more (and flu does) that will ever be killed in a torrist attack or war. I just can't beleive how niave people/governments are about this subject.
I have never understood why the US/1st world spends billions on wars like Iraq when the real danger to a country is something like bird flu. It'll kill more (and flu does) that will ever be killed in a torrist attack or war. I just can't beleive how niave people/governments are about this subject.
Yertis said:
bruciebabe said:
... the anti virals Tamiflu and Relenza are effective against it.
And where do I get said drugs?
Over the counter in many countries, but not the UK as we are too immature to handle such things.
There are loads of people selling it on the interweb thing.
>> Edited by bruciebabe on Thursday 24th February 11:08
DON'T PANIC 
Hey maxf your questions are right on the ball . I don't know how long the anti-virals last in the fridge ( Although I suspect the freezer would be a better option to prolong shelf-life). I do however know that anti-flu drugs are only effective if taken before the flu-symptoms start eg. between the period you catch the virus and the period that you become ill ( I have this info from a senior member of the development team of one of the anti-virals).
You would have to take the drug throughout a flu outbreak to provide protection, and that could be for months. So when you stock pile anti-virals make sure you have at least a months supply.
Personally I don't want to waste my whole life worrying about too many impending disasters. If the end of the world is tomorrow, so what. Just make sure you don't put off what you wanted to do with you life until 'tomorrow'.
I 'm off to sleep with Kylie now, so see you all later. Now....., where did I put the keys for my fezza?
Tocka
Hey maxf your questions are right on the ball . I don't know how long the anti-virals last in the fridge ( Although I suspect the freezer would be a better option to prolong shelf-life). I do however know that anti-flu drugs are only effective if taken before the flu-symptoms start eg. between the period you catch the virus and the period that you become ill ( I have this info from a senior member of the development team of one of the anti-virals).
You would have to take the drug throughout a flu outbreak to provide protection, and that could be for months. So when you stock pile anti-virals make sure you have at least a months supply.
Personally I don't want to waste my whole life worrying about too many impending disasters. If the end of the world is tomorrow, so what. Just make sure you don't put off what you wanted to do with you life until 'tomorrow'.
I 'm off to sleep with Kylie now, so see you all later. Now....., where did I put the keys for my fezza?
Tocka
bruciebabe said:
Yertis said:
bruciebabe said:
... the anti virals Tamiflu and Relenza are effective against it.
And where do I get said drugs?
Over the counter in many countries, but not the UK as we are too immature to handle such things.
There are loads of people selling it on the interweb thing.
>> Edited by bruciebabe on Thursday 24th February 11:08
Not really a very true outlook on the UK situation. If they were avaiable over the counter then by the time we were hit by a potentially disasterous flu epidemic the drugs would be useless as resistance would have gotten the better of them. Just look at countries where antibiotics are avaiable over the counter and then look at their resistant infections death rates... not such pleasant reading!
And anyway the drugs that are avaiable now ahve absolutly no guarentee to being effective against whatever strain of the flu that does cause the problems + they need to be taken almost immediatly or there effects are 'limited' and thats optimistic!
>> Edited by ricardo G on Thursday 24th February 12:37
Tocka said:
DON'T PANIC
Hey maxf your questions are right on the ball . I don't know how long the anti-virals last in the fridge ( Although I suspect the freezer would be a better option to prolong shelf-life). I do however know that anti-flu drugs are only effective if taken before the flu-symptoms start eg. between the period you catch the virus and the period that you become ill ( I have this info from a senior member of the development team of one of the anti-virals).
You would have to take the drug throughout a flu outbreak to provide protection, and that could be for months. So when you stock pile anti-virals make sure you have at least a months supply.
Personally I don't want to waste my whole life worrying about too many impending disasters. If the end of the world is tomorrow, so what. Just make sure you don't put off what you wanted to do with you life until 'tomorrow'.
I 'm off to sleep with Kylie now, so see you all later. Now....., where did I put the keys for my fezza?
Tocka
Tamiflu has a shelf life of 4 years. Long enough to be well past the current threat.
You can take half dose as a Flu preventative when the infection is around in the community but this works out pretty expensive.
Tamiflu is a neuraminidase inhibitor which prevents the virus spreading in the body. It should be taken on first symptoms but is effective up to 2 days into the infection. It works against all varieties of Flu and has been clinically trialed, approved etc so it works as advertised. Stick it into Google and read the literature if you don't believe me.
It seems a small amount of trouble to go to when the alternative is a nearly 80% death rate.
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