[Mb-hair] RE: "Good News" About 'Pandemic Flu': MD's point of view

[swiggard at comcast.net]

Hello all -

Speaking as a physician - and an Infectious Diseases specialist - I must
say that this is potentially dangerous and misleading nonsense. There is no
evidence that high dose vitamin C gives any protection against any kind of
influenza.

Thus far, H5N1 influenza has only been spread to humans from infected birds
with whom the infected people have had close contact.  Human to human
spread has not yet occurred, although it is a THEORETICAL concern.  A
vaccine for H5N1 is under development and is close to the mass production
stage - and that would be BY FAR the most effective prevention, IF human to
human spread develops.  Next best would be oseltamivir (Tamiflu), which can
be used as "chemoprophylaxis" to prevent disease in people who are not or
cannot be immunized with a vaccine.   But Tamiflu must be taken during the
entire period of potential exposure, and not enough doses exist in
government stockpiles.  NIH is developing a program to encourage the
manufacturer to increase production.

The press has whipped up this Avian Flu story into hysteria.  Much more
concerning to most of us should be the fact that about 30,000 Americans die
every year from "usual" influenza (dwarfing our losses in Iraq).  Most of
those deaths are preventable.  The influenza vaccine works, and it is very
safe, and this year we should see no production problems like last year. 

If anyone wants to learn more, the CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov) is a
wealth of good, factually correct and medically sound information.

Be well -
Bill

>From: Michael Butler <michael at michaelbutler.com>
>Reply-To: mb-civic at islandlists.com
>To: Civic <mb-civic at islandlists.com>, HAIR List <mb-hair at islandlists.com>
>Subject: [Mb-civic] FW: Good News About 'Pandemic Flu' CAUTION
>Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 10:48:03 -0400
>
>CAUTION,
>I am not a doctor and neither is 'Chi' who sent this. So read it and check
>it out. Might be worthwhile.
>Michael
>
>

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