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Tamiflu, whose common technical name is oseltamivir, is part of a family of influenza fighting medicines called neuraminidase inhibitors. Tamilflu is used in the healing of infections caused by both the flu A and influenza B viruses. Tamiflu, which requires a prescription, can be used both to treat the influenza if taken soon after symptoms appear, or to stop the flu. The difference between Tamiflu and a vaccine is that Tamiflu helps your immune system be in a position to fight off the progress of the viral infection, whereas a vaccine is just a straight injection of dead influenza that causes your immune system to produce antibodies to fight off the virus itself.

Tamiflu demand has skyrocketed over the past year for quite a few reasons. There was a shortage of available influenza vaccine during influenza season 2005, with in some cases barely enough for senior citizens or those with more at risk immune conditions being able to get vaccinated. Also, the U.S. government was concerned that an outbreak of bird influenza in the United States could leave the U.S. short on influenza vaccines, causing them to hold back supplies just in case of an outbreak. However, the bird influenza is different form human influenza. This is exacly the same scenario as swine flu today.

Bird influenza is much harder to transmit than human flu, requiring very close physical contact to spread the illness. Bird influenza has been observed in countries where humans and animals are in close contact. There have been approximately 70 deaths worldwide and approximately 130 infections since 2005. The chief concern of health officials around the world is that bird influenza will infect a person already carrying the human influenza strain, and that the two viruses will somehow swap genetic material, causing the bird flu to mutate into a bug that spreads much faster through the air, like human influenza, only this virus would be more fatal. A highly potent strain of mutated bird influenza could create a pandemic for the globe, as did the Spanish flu bug of the early 1900’s that killed 20 to 50 million humans worldwide.

Unfprtunately, swine influenza is much closer to the spanish influenza than the bird influenza was. We did nonetheless learn alot from the bird flu outbreak that prepared us for what is certain to be a sever pandemic of the swine flu.

The bird flu is connected with the influenza A strain H5N1 influenza bug. Although not the same as the Spanish influenza virus, the current avian influenza strain does share many similarities with the Spanish flu strain. Initial studies have shown that Tamiflu may be effective in helping to fight the effects of this flu bug if the medication is taken very early after influenza symptoms become visible. As a result, the demand for Tamiflu has skyrocketed as consumers have rushed to their doctors to obtain prescriptions and gone online to buy the drug from internet pharmacies.

Comparable results have been documented with the swine flu. When Tamiflu is taken very early on it does appear to have a popsitive effect in combating the bug.

A Swiss drug maker, F. Hoffman La-Roche Ltd., currently has a tight hold on the manufacturing of Tamiflu. Biolyse Pharma Corp., when turned down in its bid to try to enter the Tamiflu market, had decided as of December of 2005 to attempt to mass produce several tons of shikimic acid, which is the main ingredient in Tamiflu, from the needles of discarded Christmas trees, as well as other pine, fir, and spruce trees. Such trees are the main source of shikimic acid.

Oseltamivir, sold under the brand name Tamiflu, is one of several medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the healing and prevention of influenza. The CDC has announced that a swine flu vaccine should be available fall 2009.

survive swine flu
survive the swine flu

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