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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Henry Niman who wrote (95640)	2/5/2005 8:53:54 PM
From: Grainne	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 108807

Well those dead geese are certainly an alarming phenomenon! Some of the news reports I read at the site you posted suggested poisoning might be the cause. I hope that is correct, because the avian flu landing on the U.S. mainland would be really bad news. Do you know when the tests on the birds will be completed?

To: Henry Niman who wrote (95640)	2/5/2005 8:58:38 PM
From: Grainne	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

Henry, it looks like the Canadians do believe that Tamiflu will at least help somewhat if there is a pandemic. I'm guessing you would disagree with this? Ottawa boosts drug stockpile for possible flu pandemic Last Updated Fri, 04 Feb 2005 17:15:35 EST CBC News OTTAWA - Ottawa plans to spend $24 million on antiviral drugs used for influenza, making the country's stockpile more than 11 times bigger to be ready for a global flu pandemic. INDEPTH: Flu pandemics Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh said Ottawa will buy 9.6 million doses of antivirals to treat influenza. Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh announced the funds Friday, saying they will be used to buy the drug Tamiflu, known generically as oseltamivir. The money will buy 9.6 million doses of antivirals – enough to treat 960,000 people. INDEPTH: Avian flu Further contributions from the provinces and territories are expected to bring the size of the national stockpile up to 16 million doses – the target recommended by a national advisory committee. Canada already has about 850,000 doses of oseltamivir in the stockpile. "The creation of a national antiviral stockpile further demonstrates the federal government's commitment to protecting the health and safety of Canadians and our multi-faceted approach to preparing for an influenza pandemic and other infectious disease outbreaks," Dosanjh said in a statement on Friday. He said the stockpile will be used to treat vulnerable people, such as those who have weakened immune systems or are already in hospital with the flu. International health groups, including the World Health Organization, have been warning for months that an influenza pandemic is likely. FROM DEC. 26, 2004: WHO warns bird flu pandemic could kill millions The UN health organization fears the pandemic will come from an outbreak of avian flu in Southeast Asia that has killed dozens of people in the last year. FROM FEB. 2, 2005: Vietnam begins duck slaughter to stave off bird flu Flu pandemics hit three or four times each century, when a radically new strain of the influenza A virus emerges. Since people have no protection against the subtype, it can spread rapidly around the world, killing millions. Scientists have to wait until the pandemic starts before they can identify the specific strain and develop a vaccine. In the meantime, the antivirals can help lessen the impact of the illness. "There is a limited global supply of oseltamivir and, in the event of a pandemic, this supply would quickly become unavailable," said Dr. David Butler-Jones, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer. "Purchasing antivirals now is a prudent step in ensuring Canada is well-prepared to respond to an influenza pandemic." Several other countries, including the United States and France, have also started creating stockpiles. cbc.ca