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Influenza, or the flu, is a yearly
concern for everyone. During the flu season companies lose many,
many hours of productivity as workers pass the flu to coworkers.
Worldwide,
the flu regularly kills 250,000 to 500,000 people per year. Usually;
however, after a few days rest and some fluids, the majority of
people recover. Many others receive vaccines to help prevent the
flu. Of course, sometimes, the vaccines prevent the wrong
strains. Even
worse,
flu pandemics are threatening to wipe out millions of people
around the world, perhaps even billions. Avian flu, for example
has already spread from Asia into Siberia and Kazakhstan and is
destined to spread from birds into humans. Scientists
claim that can make an effective vaccine, but not enough of it
in the near future. Bird flu, of the H5N1 strain, will supposedly
be treated with antiviral drugs, called neuraminidase
inhibitors. Drugs like
Tamiflu and
Relenza
are some of the top antiviral drugs on the market, but they will be in short supply
if a pandemic hits. More advanced H5N1 vaccines are on the way,
but still a few years away.
Already some tests
have shown that Tamiflu alone will not treat all forms of bird
flu. (Read
more.)
Soon we will have an interactive
forum covering all aspects today's drug issues. Until then you
can e-mail us your comments and we will post them to the forum
as soon as it is active. E-mail
Us!
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