Flu Found Resistant to Main Antiviral Drug

[uppityperson]

I get a flu shot every yr, have never taken Tamiflu. It sounds like a mutation rather than overuse of tamiflu.

"“The bottom line is that we should have more antiviral drugs,” said Dr. Arnold S. Monto, a flu expert at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health. “And we should be looking into multidrug combinations.”"



http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/09/health/09flu.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=flu%20tamiflu-resistant&st=cse

Virtually all the dominant strain of flu in the United States this season is resistant to the leading antiviral drug Tamiflu, and scientists and health officials are trying to figure out why. The problem is not yet a public health crisis because this has been a below-average flu season so far, and because the Tamiflu-resistant strain, one of three circulating, is still susceptible to other drugs. But infectious disease specialists are worried nonetheless.

Last winter, about 11 percent of the throat swabs from patients with the most common type of flu that were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for genetic typing showed a Tamiflu-resistant strain. This season, 99 percent do. “It’s quite shocking,” said Dr. Kent A. Sepkowitz, director of infection control at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. “We’ve never lost an antimicrobial this fast. It blew me away.”

The single mutation that creates Tamiflu resistance appears to be spontaneous, and not a reaction to overuse of the drug. It may have occurred in Asia, and it was widespread in Europe last year. In response, the disease control agency issued new guidelines two weeks ago. They urged doctors to test suspected flu cases as quickly as possible to see if they are influenza A or influenza B, and if they are A, whether they are H1 or H3 viruses.

The only Tamiflu-resistant strain is an H1N1. Its resistance mutation could fade out, an agency scientist said, or a different flu strain could overtake H1N1 in importance, but right now it causes almost all flu cases in the country, except in a few mountain states, where H3N2 is prevalent....(more@link)

[navarth]

1. That superbug thing is scary indeed.

That's one reason I try and avoid using anitbiotics if I can help it. No need to help it evolve if unnecessary.

[uppityperson]

2. This one looks like just a random variant, not from overusing meds

Still, it is bad that it mutated to this form.

[lizerdbits]

3. Antibiotics do nothing to viruses. nt

[dipsydoodle]

5. That was my understanding too

I thought the use of antibiotics for flu was to help prevent and treat side infection bacteria issues.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Thank goodness

I use Influenzium, a homeopathic remedy made each flu season.

[trotsky]

6. You do know that "influenzinum" is made by simply taking the flu vaccine

and diluting it with sugar (among other inert ingredients), right?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. Diluting it with water, not sugar

and yes, I am very familiar with homeopathic remedies. I've used them for about 20 years, with great success--much better than using antibiotics.

[trotsky]

8. It's dried in pill form, isn't it?

And it would take a dose many millions of times larger than the SUN to get the same active ingredients found in one flu shot. And has absolutely no evidence that it does jack squat to prevent the flu. The only "studies" done have been surveys of homeopathic "doctors" to ask them if it works.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. No,

the dilution is added to sugar pills. It is obvious that you don't think they work, and that's fine--I will never force you to take a homeopathic remedy. :)

[trotsky]

10. It's not that I don't think they work.

It's that they have never been demonstrated to work. Sugar and water, with - if you're lucky - one tiny bit of protein from a killed virus. Might as well drink Kool-Aid. But hey, keep forking your money over, since they make far more on that product than "big pharma" makes on a flu shot.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. You know how much the Infulenzium costs, right?

Retail, $7.00. That's right, $7.00. And that's expensive for homeopathic remedies. Taking into account the brown bottle and cap, the instruction card, and the pellets, I don't think they are making big bucks in selling the stuff as compared to pharmaceuticals.

[trotsky]

12. You are confusing cost with margin.

A lot of work and QC goes into flu vaccine, not to mention special distribution requirements (refrigeration, etc.)

There's just a bit less of that when your product is 99.9999999999999999999999999999999% sugar water.

[uppityperson]

13. On the other hand, except for the cost it probably won't hurt anyone

minimal side effects.

[trotsky]

14. On the contrary...

what if someone who WOULD have been helped by the flu vaccine takes this useless product instead? That's kind of the sticking point for the "it won't hurt anyone" rationalization.

[uppityperson]

15. There is that. It won't hurt if it doesn't change other behavior.

I have friends who use this and get a flu shot. I agree that using it instead of a vaccine, or instead of washing your hands a lot, can hurt someone.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

17. For those like me who are helped by homeopathy

and have been spared the side effects of prescription medications, it is a good thing. And as I have said, I have not gotten the flu since taking the remedy--and I work in a clinic where I am in daily contact with people who are ill.

Kindly cite statistics showing the number of people who have taken homeopathic flu remedies who then got the flu, and compare it to those who got the flu shot and got the flu or had side effects from the shot.

Another interesting thing--if homeopathy is useless, why does the FDA regulate it and require a doctor's prescription before certain remedies are dispensed?

[trotsky]

19. You claim it works for you...

yet homeopathy fails every single clinical test. Bummer, you'd think with such a success rate it would for sure show up when double-blind tests are conducted. But alas, it does not.

And as I have said, I have not gotten the flu since taking the remedy--and I work in a clinic where I am in daily contact with people who are ill.

Surely you read this forum enough to know the value of anecdotal evidence.

if homeopathy is useless, why does the FDA regulate it and require a doctor's prescription before certain remedies are dispensed?

ANY product intended for ingestion can fall under the umbrella of the FDA (hint: guess what the F stands for) - which is also why your homeopathic sugar pills must carry the warning that they are "not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease".

[BuddhaGirl]

20. indeed!

"Another interesting thing--if homeopathy is useless, why does the FDA regulate it and require a doctor's prescription before certain remedies are dispensed?"

And homeopathic medicines are allowed to state what conditions they are to be used for on their packaging, like any OTC remedy in the drugstore. Even drugstores sell homeopathic medicines.

LOTS of homeopathy users in Europe as well - plus homeopathic hospitals.

Yep, that homeopathy is pretty darn useless, isn't it!! :rofl:

I have used Oscillo for a number of years, and love it. It works great for me and the DH :wave:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

21. Hello to you!

Thanks for the report--I appreciate it. :hi:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

16. No, there is a lot of work that goes into formulation

and making the different strengths of the medicine.

Anyone who has had a homeopathic consultation knows the physician takes hours to come up with the correct remedy.

[trotsky]

18. Oh, I'm sure.

Lots and lots of work to add sugar and water. Such a racket. I should get a piece of that action instead of trying to shine a light on it!

[ColbertWatcher]

22. Kick, damn it's too late to be recommended.

The last time a flu went out of control it did a lot of damage.

[cosmik debris]

23. Thank goodness I got a flu shot

I got a preventative with a proven track record and a high probability of protecting me from the flu.

An ounce of prevention is better than all of Grandma's home remedies.