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Monday, October 17, 2005
Ill-Conceived Emergency Plan
T
he Bush administration seems intent on perfecting its bungling. Stockpiling Tamiflu, the only drug that has any effect on the avian flu, for "distribution" is a prescription for disaster. To be effective, the drug must be taken within 36 hours of contracting the flu. Getting to a doctor, being diagnosed, having the drug prescribed, then actually getting the drug would stretch way beyond that timeframe for almost everyone.
T
he money would be better spent on developing a fast and accurate test and making the drug available over the counter. The test could be available at public heath agencies and neighborhood pharmacies for free. Spit on a paper, see a positive reaction and be handed the drug by the pharmacist.
M
illions of lives would be saved and the spread of the disease lessened. As the Bush administration seems to be handling it, should the avian flu mutate to human-to-human transmission, it will be New Orleans, only without the music and food, just a lot of dead people and a fractured worldwide economy.
Posted by fm on October 17, 2005 at 12:21 AM