Tuesday, June 09, 2009

TAMIFLU BLuff

a month ago, i contracted a medical condition that caused 39 Degree fever for a few days.
I was prescribed TamiFlu.

TamiFlu is being prescribed for Swine Flu and currently it is selling like hot cake world wide.

After doing some research i came to believe that Tamif lu and swine flu are just a bluff

The following is extracted from the following link http://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/general/news/swine_flu.html

What are the symptoms associated with Novel H1N1 flu? If I have symptoms, what should I do?A. Symptoms of H1N1 flu are the same as for seasonal influenza: high fever, headache, muscle aches, and cough. Most people will be able to care for themselves at home. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends staying home for 7 days from the onset of symptoms. Should symptoms last longer, staying home a day beyond the resolution of symptoms is recommended. Those with more severe problems should seek medical attention.


I am sick. What should I do? What about testing?Measures that can be useful for controlling flu symptoms include plenty of fluids and medicines such as acetaminophen (Tylenol,) ibuprofen (Advil,) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) at label-recommended doses. These are effective at controlling fever, headache, sore throat, and muscle pains. Aspirin should not be used by children or adolescents, as aspirin use with the flu is associated with a rare and serious condition known as Reye’s Syndrome.Some reasons to seek emergency medical care include chest pain, inability to keep liquids down, seizure, or confusion.University of Illinois students may always call our Dial-a-Nurse, 333-2700 any time of the day or night. Most people who are sick with an influenza-like illness will not require any testing nor will most require any special antiviral medications. Novel H1N1 testing is not available in doctor’s offices. These tests are done by state health departments. In Illinois, only patients who are sick with the flu and who require hospitalization are tested for Novel H1N1. Antiviral medications should be reserved for the very ill or those who could become very ill if they contracted the flu.


Conclusion: the above is an announcement by a university officials to their students, and it clearly states that for the most part, ppl will care for themselves at home without prescribed medication.

Swine flu is no more sever than normal flue
According to Dr. Thomas Frieden, the new CDC director as of June 8, 2009: "There’s no question that a new strain of influenza spreading rapidly throughout the world is a major problem and requires a major response. So far, it doesn’t seem to be any more severe than seasonal flu, but seasonal flu kills 36,000 Americans a year." [84]


How many people have died of Swine flu so far

According to the BBC (UK) - "worldwide there have been 19,315 confirmed swine flu cases in 66 countries, with 117 deaths - all in Mexico and the US."

according to Center of Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/qa.htm
Over 90% of deaths and about 60 percent of hospitalization occur in people older than 65. and 1-% of those hospitalized are children below 5.



TamiFlu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oseltamivir
U.S. Government policy and oseltamivirIn November 2005, U.S. President George W. Bush requested that Congress fund US$7.1 billion in emergency spending for flu pandemic preparedness (the Senate had already passed an US$8.1 billion bill).[58] Bush's plan included US$1.4 billion for government purchases of antiviral drugs.[59]

who owns TamiFlu

It was developed by US-based Gilead Sciences and is currently marketed by Hoffmann-La Roche (Roche) under the trade name Tamiflu

Gilead Sciences:-
formed in 1987, but who becomes board member in 1988? and later in 1997 became the chairman?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilead_Sciences
In January 1997, Donald Rumsfeld, a Board member since 1988, was appointed Chairman of the company.[2] He stood down from the Board in January 2001 when appointed Secretary of Defense at the start of George W. Bush's first term as President. Federal disclosure forms indicate that Rumsfeld owns between USD$5 million and USD$25 million in Gilead stock. The rise in Gilead's share prices from USD$35 to USD$57 per share will have added between USD$2.5 million to USD$15.5 million to Rumsfeld's net worth.[3]In November 2005, George W. Bush urged Congress to pass $7.1 billion in emergency funding to prepare for the possible bird flu pandemic, of which one billion is solely dedicated to the purchase, and distribution of Tamiflu.

currently George P. Shultz (emeritus) is on board.

Some big names surely benefit from selling Tamiflu and the outbreak of swine flue. Responsible reports do not mention Tamiflu as an effective medication aginst swine flu


http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/health/tamiflu+expiry+date+can+be+extended/3134062

Tamiflu expiry date can be extended is the title of the article with the above link.
It seems that lots of Tamiflu stocks are about to expire! How to get them disposed of?

a Few reports on CNN and get people freak out about the disease. Wait, but the stocks are about to expiry, no worries, the stocks can still be effective for more two years and all of a sudden, TamiFlu is sold out.

see you after a new flu strain is discovered!

ammar sajdi

Friday, June 05, 2009

A Day forgotten

Today June 5th marks the 42nd anniversery of the 6 day war (1967) in which the west bank of Jordan fell under the occupation by the Israeli Army including East Jerusalem.

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