World Health Organization (WHO) has developed pharmacological advice for the use of antiviral treatments for highly pathogenic avian influenza.

There is a high price to pay when it comes to mass production of food stuff especially one of animal origin. Poultry has come under pandemic attacks leading to widespread human afflictions a number of times. Avian Influenza or bird flu is the one that just refuses to go away. Not in spurt for the time being, however it continues to take its toll. According to a poultry news source, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed pharmacological advice for the use of antiviral treatments for highly pathogenic avian influenza, according to a report in the January 2007 issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

According to the information available, “Recent spread of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus to poultry and wild birds has increased the threat of human infections with H5N1 virus worldwide,” write Holger J. Schünemann, MD, and colleagues from the WHO Rapid Advice Guideline Panel on Avian Influenza. The information adds that “despite international agreement to stockpile antivirals, evidence-based guidelines for their use do not exist.”

The WHO convened an international panel to develop evidence-based guidelines for pharmacological treatment of H5N1 patients, evaluating the benefits, harms, burden, and cost of interventions in several patient and exposure groups.

The group agreed on a number of strong recommendations relating to treatment of H5N1 patients in a non-pandemic situation, as the poultry news source information goes.

Patients should receive oseltamivir treatment as soon as possible. Another line of treatment being Tamiflu has been found to be very effective. The recommendations of the group being – if neuraminidase inhibitors are available, clinicians should not administer amantadine or rimantadine alone as a first-line of treatment; high-risk exposure groups should receive oseltamivir as chemoprophylaxis continuing for 7 to 10 days after the last known exposure.

The WHO conceded that the quality of the evidence used for determining these recommendation was very low, because it was based on small case series of H5N1 patients, as the information goes.

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Influenza is an infection caused avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. As bird flu is a viral disease it cannot be cured by antibiotics for that, a proper medication as per specifications of bird flu is highly recommended.

Typical clinical features of Influenza include high fever from mild to severe, respiratory symptoms such as sore throat, headache and fatigue. The only medical solution for influenza is to consult a doctor and follow the advice with the prescribed medication.

Tamiflu is one of the most successful medications while looking after a solution to bird flu today.Tamiflu which is also know as Oseltamivir Phosphate because of its active ingredient is the sure shot medication for the treatment of bird flu. Tamiflu is an FDA approved anti flu medication which is very safe to the people belonging to all the age groups. It can be prescribed to a child of one year to a grown up of 60 years as it a quality drug and fully safe.

Tamiflu is available in an oral dosage form of 75 mg tablet each. Tamiflu does not only suppress the symptoms of bird flu but it actually removes the bird flu virus completely from the patient’s

body which is its most important advantage. Due to its high effectiveness, Tamiflu has acclaimed as number one medication for influenza treatment.Tamiflu works by preventing viruses from its host cell.

Patients suffering from influenza can buy tamiflu online or they can visit any local pharmacy. If you chose to buy tamiflu online, it proves to be very cost effective and time saving and relives you from the headache of walking down to local pharmacy personally. But now, Tamiflu can reach you just with a single mouse click. You need to fill online consultation form from online pharmacy of your choice which is reviewed by registered doctor. Once your medical details are approved by doctor, you can buy tamiflu online without visiting the doctor personally.

The recommended treatment dosage of tamiflu is 75mg capsule once daily for five days and the prevention dosage is 75mg capsule every alternate day or 30mg oral suspension once in a day. Only recommended dosage as prescribed by the doctor should be taken so as to avoid further health loss. Discuss with your doctor if you find that you want to take extra medication or notice any kind of unusual side effects.

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Tamiflu, whose common scientific name is oseltamivir, is part of a family of flu fighting medicines called neuraminidase inhibitors. Tamilflu is used in the treatment of infections caused by both the influenza A and influenza B viruses. Tamiflu, which requires a prescription, can be used both to treat the flu if taken soon after symptoms appear, or to prevent the flu.

The difference between Tamiflu and a vaccine is that Tamiflu helps your immune system be in a position to fight off the advance of the viral infection, whereas a vaccine is just a straight injection of dead influenza that causes your immune system to produce antibodies to fight off the virus itself.

Tamiflu demand has skyrocketed over the past year for several reasons. There was a shortage of available flu vaccine during flu season 2005, with in some cases only enough for senior citizens or those with more vulnerable immune conditions being able to get vaccinated.

Also, the U.S. government was concerned that an outbreak of bird flu in the United States could leave the U.S. short on flu vaccines, causing them to hold back supplies just in case of an outbreak. However, the bird flu is different form human influenza.

Bird Flu is much harder to transmit than human influenza, requiring very close physical contact to spread the disease. Bird flu has been observed in countries where humans and animals are in close contact. There have been roughly 70 deaths worldwide and approximately 130 infections since 2005.

It is possible that bird flu will infect someone who is already carrying the human influenza strain, and that the two viruses will swap genetic material, causing the bird flu to spread like a deadlier version of human influenza. A highly virulent straight of bird flu could create a pandemic for the world, as did the Spanish Flu virus of the early 1900’s that killed 20 to 50 million people worldwide.

The bird flu is associated with the influenza A strain H5N1 flu virus. Although not the same as the Spanish flu virus, the current avian flu strain does share many similarities with the Spanish flu strain. Initial studies have shown that Tamiflu may be effective in helping to fight the effects of this flu virus if the medication is taken very early after flu symptoms appear. As a result, the demand for Tamiflu has skyrocketed.

A Swiss drug maker, F. Hoffman La-Roche Ltd., currently has a tight hold on the manufacturing of Tamiflu. Biolyse Pharma Corp., when turned down in its bid to try to enter the Tamiflu marketplace, had decided as of December of 2005 to attempt to mass produce several tons of shikimic acid, which is the main ingredient in Tamiflu, from the needles of discarded Christmas trees, as well as other pine, fir, and spruce trees. Such trees are the main source of shikimic acid.

Oseltamivir, sold under the brand name Tamiflu, is one of several medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment and prevention of influenza. Flu shots are still the best way to prevent someone from developing the flu, but as of right now there is no known vaccine for the bird flu. The CDC has announced that development of a vaccine has begun.

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About Tamiflu

Tamiflu is approved for the treatment of the Influenza virus and also aids from futher spread with in the body, treating flu at its source. Its mechanism of action includes attacking the virus that causes the flu instead of simply masking the symptoms of the flu in adults and children over 1 year of age. It is also indicated as a prophylaxis against the flu.

Tamiflu facts include:

The trade name for Tamiflu is oseltamivir phosphate Unlike other antiviral flu medications, such as Flumadine and Symmetrel, Tamiflu is effective against both type A and B strains of flu The drug helps in the reduction of the duration of the flu symptoms by about 1.3 days This medication is a neuraminidase inhibitor There is no generic version of Tamiflu available on the market and neither is it available through the NHS.

How does Tamiflu work?

Tamiflu, an antiviral drug, is used in the treatment and prophylaxis of both Influenza virus A and B. A neuraminidase inhibitor, Tamiflu acts as a transition-state analogue inhibitor of influenza neuraminidase, which helps in the prevention of new viruses emerging from infected cells. Tamiflu is the only neuraminidase inhibitor that has been proven to fight against Bird Flu.

Tamiflu was the first commercially developed, orally active neuraminidase inhibitor. Considered a pro-drug, Tamiflu is hydrolysed hepatically to active metabolite, the free carboxylate of oseltamivir.

Tamiflu is indicated for treatment and prevention in people at least one year of age and above. Reports are that Tamiflu may have an adverse effect on infants under the age of one.

Tamiflu Dosages

Tamiflu tablets are available as 75mg capsules and as a 12mg/ml tutti-frutti flavored oral suspension for children who are too young to swallow the pills. Tamiflu can be taken either with or without food. But, there are reduced chances of upset stomach if Tamiflu is taken with a light snack, milk, or a meal. In addition, this drug does not treat other flu-like viral infections, such as the stomach flu, colds, or RSV.

Tamiflu treatment should be started with the first appearance of the flu symptoms or soon after exposure to the flu. If one has the flu then Tamiflu must be taken twice a day for five days. But, if you want to take Tamiflu as a preventive medication against the flu, Tamiflu must be taken once a day for ten days. Tamiflu can be taken for up to six weeks. Do not take two doses at a time to make up for a missed dose.

Tamiflu precautions

Safety and effectiveness of Tamiflu have not been determined in people with chronic heart or lung disease, kidney failure, or in people with other underlying medical conditions. In addition:

Efficacy for Tamiflu has not been established in the treatment of flu-like illnesses caused by any virus other than influenza A and B (e.g., stomach flu, common cold, or other respiratory illnesses not caused by influenza). Tamiflu is not known to work in other kinds of infections that appear like influenza or occur along with influenza, and need different types of treatment. Taking Tamiflu should not affect an individual\’s decision to have an annual influenza vaccination. The safety and efficacy of repeated courses of Tamiflu treatment have not been established. Tamiflu is not indicated for treatment or prevention of the flu in patients less than 1 year of age.

Tamiflu side effects

Vomiting, abdominal pain, epistaxis (nosebleeds), ear disorders, conjunctivitis (pinkeye) and nausea are the most common side effects of Tamiflu. Tamiflu side effects are mostly mild to moderate and are generally presented within the first two days of taking the medication. Sometimes, taking the medication on a full stomach may prevent these side effects.

Severe rash is another side effect of Tamiflu and the medication must be stopped in case this happens.

With Tamiflu, some people are at an increased risk of seizures, confusion, delirium, hallucinations, abnormal behavior, convulsions, and encephalitis.

In order to prevent side effects, it is also essential to tell your healthcare professional about receiving nasally administered influenza virus vaccine during the past two weeks.

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Tamiflu, the scientific name is Oseltamivir Phosphate and it is neuraminidase inhibitor which is basically designed to attack the neuraminidase protein, one of the two major surface structures of the influenza virus. It is available as a capsule containing 75 mg oseltamivir for oral use, in the form of oseltamivir phosphate, and as a powder for oral suspension, which when constituted with water as directed contains 12 mg/ml oseltamivir base.

It is white crystalline solid with the chemical name (3R,4R,5S)-4-aetylamino-5-amino-3(1-ethylpropoxy)-1-cyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid, ethyl ester, phosphate (1:1). The chemical formula is C16C28N2O4 (free false).

Tamiflu, the first neuraminidase inhibitor in pill form, is effective in preventing the spread of both the A and B strains of the virus within the body. This is contrary to earlier drugs which were effective in treating only one strain.

Influenza A virus isolates with reduced susceptibility to oseltamivir carboxylate has recovered in vitro by passage of virus in the presence of increasing concentrations of oseltamivir carboxylate.

Tamiflu is indicated for the treatment of uncomplicated acute illness due to influenza infection in adults who have been symptomatic for no more than two days. Tamiflu may contribute to prevention of the virus; it is strictly advised that this drug is not a substitute of any influenza vaccine, but rather a supplement to it. Tamiflu may be a viable alternative for those people who cannot be a vaccinated for medical reasons.

Tamiflu is approved in Europe, Japan and the United States as a prescription treatment for seasonal flu.

Roche says children are three times more likely to get sick with the flu – on average, one in 10 adults and one in three children are affected by influenza annually.

Tamiflu is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for stockpiling by governments seeking to protect their population in the event of an avian flu outbreak.

This article is the property of http://www.medical-store.info and this article is written only for educational and information purpose so that our reader can get more knowledge about flu and influenza. Tamiflu is FDA approved prescribed medication which is taken in the case of influenza. For more information about Tamiflu, please go through this page; http://www.medical-store.info/tamiflu-onilne.html. If you find any mistake and error in the article, we suggest you to feel free and send us your feedback at barbaracamie@gmail.com

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