More Reports of Flu Drug Resistance

More flu viruses develop resistance to antiviral drugs

That news, from a study published online this week in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, underscores our reservations about inappropriate use of antiviral flu drugs. The researchers said that almost all of the strains of the H1N1 (swine) flu virus they looked at showed at least some resistance to the drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu), though all still responded to the related medication zanamivir (Relenza). Previous research suggests that some other flu strains might also be developing resistance to those and other antiviral drugs.

Read the complete report here

Canadian Judge Rules Against Vaccine Mandate
Vaccinations aren’t “essential” medical treatments, a family court judge has ruled in refusing a Child Welfare request to order inoculations for four kids.
Judge Stephen Lipton, in a written decision released Thursday, said while the vaccinations are preferable, it wasn’t in his power to order them.
Child Welfare had applied for a ruling to have the siblings immunized despite their parents’ decision not to allow the treatment.
But Lipton said the four children, ranging in age from one to 12, weren’t at any present risk so no court intervention was warranted.
“I find that on the facts of this case the vaccinations proposed by the caseworker don’t fall within the definition of ‘essential’ (in the legislation),” Lipton said. “The children are healthy and none of them are at imminent risk of serious harm.”
Lipton noted the dangers of not getting immunized would expose the children to the risk of contracting illnesses which could cause brain injury or death.
The mother refused allowing vaccines for her children while the father suggested herbal medicines would be effective. Kevin Martin

Selections from Natural Health News

Natural Health News: Vitamin C or Tamiflu, which would you choose
Aug 08, 2009
Antiviral drugs, such as Tamiflu (oseltamivir), work by inhibiting something called neuraminidase, produced by viruses and essential for their ability to replicate. So too does vitamin C according to recent research. ...
Natural Health News: FLU VACCINE (Tamiflu) KILLS TWO TEENS
Nov 13, 2005
TOKYO - Two teenage boys who took the antiviral drug Tamiflu exhibited abnormal behavior that led to their deaths, with one jumping in front of an oncoming truck last year and the other falling from the ninth floor of a building earlier ...
Natural Health News: WARNING: Tamiflu and Relenza Hazards Reported
Nov 23, 2007
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Food and Drug Administration staffers are recommending new warnings about psychiatric events observed in some patients taking Roche Holding AG's Tamiflu and GlaxoSmithKline Plc's Relenza, according to ...
Natural Health News: Tamiflu dangers reported
Nov 29, 2006
"Health Canada has requested that the manufacturer ... update the Canadian prescribing information for Tamiflu to include this new information," the department said in a statement. According to Health Canada, there have been 84 reports ...

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Posted in: drug resistance,flu,Relenza,Tamiflu

SWINE FLU PRECAUTIONS

UPDATE: 10 August - Since this article was posted in April we have added numerous articles regarding this issue so please that the time to look for these new and important posts: Search for Flu, Swine Flu, Vitamin C, Dr. Levy, FluMist, Tamiflu, Relenza, Flu Shot or related titles.
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Suggestion from orthomolecular expert Dr Phil Bate -

SWINE FLU PRECAUTIONS AND POSSIBLE AID TO RECOVERY

Besides washing your hands and wearing a mask (which isn't much good).

Vitamin C is a viricide, but it has to be taken often and in amounts to kill the virus. That means that it has to be taken at least every four hours if you are possibly exposed, and in at least 2000 mg to saturate the bloodstream.

Of course, avoid places with lots of people during this period. If you are going out during the day, take 2000 mg of C before any exposure. During exposure and immediately exposure, take C every two hours, and at the end of possible exposure.

If you get any flu symptoms, start taking 2000 mg every two hours until you get diarrhea, and then back off to just below this amount for that time until the diarrhea stops. (Start with 2 every 3-4 hours, etc)

Masks get moist and this creates a breeding ground for bacteria.

Both vitamin C and vitamin A are good to have on hand. Vitamin A in the proper high dose range for short periods will protect you from pneumonia that often accompanies flu.

Otherwise, take all precautions and avoid using Tamiflu and Relenza

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2007/11/warning-tamiflu-and-relenza-hazards.html

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2005/10/beware-tamiflu.html

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/flu-news.html

Meanwhile the FDA and CDC are pushing Tamiflu and Relenza as reported in Medscape News.

FDA Okays Emergency Use of Antiviral Drugs, Diagnostic Test for Swine Flu
by Robert Lowes

April 28, 2009 — State and local public health agencies will have more leeway to treat swine influenza with antiviral medications under an emergency order issued yesterday by the US Food and Drug Administration. The order also will authorize and widen the use of a diagnostic test that, unlike others in use, can precisely identify the new strain of swine flu.

To date, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed 64 cases of swine flu in the United States. Worldwide, confirmed cases have emerged in Canada, New Zealand, Scotland, Israel, Spain, and Mexico, which appears to be epicenter, since travel to Mexico figures into many infections elsewhere. In addition, Mexico is the only country where the influenza has resulted in death; authorities there say 152 deaths were likely caused by the virus. In the 6 other countries, infected patients generally have experienced only mild symptoms.

The FDA's Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) relaxes current restrictions on 2 antiviral medications — zanamivir (Relenza) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu) — that the CDC recommends for preventing and treating swine influenza A (H1N1). Oseltamivir currently is approved for patients aged 1 year and older. Under the EAU, healthcare providers can administer oseltamivir to patients younger than 1 year and provide alternate dosing to patients aged 1 year and older.

The EAU did not alter the age parameters for zanamivir, approved to treat acute, uncomplicated cases of influenza in adults and children older than 7 years who have been symptomatic for fewer than 2 days, as well as prevent influenza in adults and children aged 5 years and older.

However, the FDA order allows both drugs to be distributed by a wider range of healthcare workers, including volunteers, in accordance with state and local law. In addition, both medications can be distributed without complying with the usual label requirements.

The FDA order follows a decision by the Department of Health and Human Services on Sunday to distribute one fourth of its stockpile of oseltamivir and zanamivir to state governments.

The EUA also authorizes the use of a diagnostic test called a reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) swine influenza panel to test for the virus and allows the CDC to distribute it to public health agencies. Two other available tests — rapid influenza antigen and immunofluroscence — can detect the new swine influenza virus, but they only identify probable cases because they cannot distinguish between seasonal influenza A and swine influenza, which is a subtype of A. In contrast, RT-PCR can conclusively confirm a case of swine influenza.

Journalist Robert Lowes is a freelance writer for Medscape.
Medscape Medical News © 2009 Medscape, LLC

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Posted in: avian flu,flu,natural health news,Relenza,swine flu,Tamiflu,vitamin A,vitamin C