the WHO flu expert says that there is only 7 confirmed deaths from swine flu

And did the WHO say that it would be ineffective? Yes or no? You stated that they did. You still haven't supported that assertion.

The UK Health Protection Agency has stated that Tamiflu has been demonstrated to be effective on patients in Mexico.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/27/swine-flu-treatment-antivirals

Guardian LOL hardly worth opening.

What do antiviral treatments do?

Drugs relieve some of the symptoms, reduce the potential for serious complications like pneumonia and cut the length of the illness by around a day. Crucially, they also reduce transmission of the virus from person to person. The government estimates that up to 750,000 people could die in the UK during a pandemic without antivirals.

In other words they WILL reduce transmission of the virus.


There you go you answered yourself. They relieve but do not cure.

Guess what, in pretty much any illness, the patient's immune system has to play a part too. Most drugs relieve the effects of the illness to let the patient's body deal with them. Therefore a drug which helps the patient fight off the illness IS effective as it boosts the patient's chance of a full recovery.

I suspect the real reason there have been so many deaths in Mexico (assuming they are all caused by the flu) is because most of the dead weren't treated properly as soon as the nature and spread of the virus became apparent.

Another epidemic that I,ll be taking no notice of,prolefeed.

Cath, stop worrying.

Just make sure you put a coat on when you do the shopping
and use hot water for the washing up so your hands do not
get to cold.

Better still dear, wear gloves and plenty of layers when you
go out.

WHO have confirmed that only SEVEN of the cases are CONFIRMED however, the local authorities are saying TWENTY and other figures are nearer 150 however these may include deaths that are not at all linked to the bug... Wise to be aware but far from worrying material at this time.

You gotta laugh... only 7 are officially confirmed but the BBC are still using 150 as their benchmark... tells its own story doesn't it?

just gotta stick the pork loins in the oven


Yup. Highest level angling trip.

Ryanair's boss Michael O'Leary has got a good grip on the situation:

Michael O'Leary, the boss of Ryanair which does not operate flights to Mexico, played down the danger to travellers.

"It is a tragedy only for people living... in slums in Asia or Mexico, but will the honeymoon couple from Edinburgh die? No," he said.

He added that "a couple of Strepsils will do the job".

Diploire 28 Apr 16:39


Sorry haven't read this thread all the way through as got a bit bored. I do however have one question for Cath. Do you actually bet because your comments on this thread would lead me to think that you don't ever take any risks in life. You definately don't come across as someone who should have a betfair account

I do bet yes, If I didn't I wouldn't be on betfair. Silly question that if you want my honest opinion.

When I click Place Bet it doesn't flash up any warning that by pressing this button you may pick up a potential life threatening flu strain.

Anyone not aware you do not need to worry about wether you can eat Pork. Like at anytime you should always cook your Pork at 70*c +. This would kill anything anyway.

P.S They are sending out empty planes to pick up holidaymakers out in Mexico at present. Let's hope they keep them in quarentine BUT they won't they will give them a card and tell them to call the number if they pick up any flu like symptons. Fat lot of good that is once they have come out and mixed with the general public.

more likely they'll take WHO advice IMO, and not bother with quarantine.

im living in fear !!

One of my concerns is that the mass use of tamiflu will cause the virus to rapidly mutate and become resistant to it, and possibly become a much more potent virus which makes the Spanish flu look like child's play. This will be the first time in human history that anti virals have been used on a massive scale.

This happened with anti-bacterials, where the first countries to report resistance to anti-bacterial drugs were just those which were allowing non-prescription sales of the drugs - Japan and (ironically) Mexico.

New anti-viral drugs are always going to be needed as the rate of mutation is even faster for viruses than bacteria, so you don't have to worry about promoting resistance by using them, new ones will be needed anyway

LOL Take the cotton wool off your eyes, this will roll on for sometime unfortunately.


Update:

Women from West Middlesex been admitted to hospital after having flu like symptons since arriving home from Mexico.

BREAKING NEWS

79 SUSPECTED CASES IN THE WORLD

THAT'S ALMOST .00000001 %

But that only those we know of!! Uk cases is up to 40 now.

yes, outside of Mex. The only deaths are there too (rip).

ffs

There are an awful lot of twits about who are going to rush to A+E when there nose starts to run.

You can't tell people anything. Well you can, but they prefer to believe idiot journos.