Rumsfeld To Profit From Bird Flu Hoax
Finally, the pieces of the puzzle start to add up. Not long ago, President Bush sought to instill panic in this country by telling us a minimum of 200,000 people will die from the avian flu pandemic, but it could be as bad as 2 million deaths in this country alone.
This hoax is then used to justify the immediate purchase of 80 million doses of Tamiflu, a worthless drug that in no way shape or form treats the avian flu, but only decreases the amount of days one is sick and can actually contribute to the virus having more lethal mutations.
So the U.S. placed an order for 20 million doses of this worthless drug at a price of $100 per dose. That comes to a staggering $2 billion.
We are being told that Roche manufactures Tamiflu and, ina recentNew York Times article, they were battling whether or not they would allow generic drug companies to help increase their production.
But if you dig further you will find that a drug was actually developed by a company called Gilead that 10 years ago gave Roche the exclusive rights to market and sell Tamiflu.
Ahh, The Plot Thickens...
If you read the link below from Gilead, you'll discover Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was made the chairman of Gilead in 1997.
Since Rumsfeld holds major portions of stock in Gilead, he will handsomely profit from the scare tactics of the government that is being used to justify the purchase of $2 billion of Tamiflu.
For more on the nonsense of the avian flu hoax, you'll want to review today's other post on the subject.
Finally Medical Journal Admits the Truth
This week's British Medical Journal has an editorial on the bird flu in which they state the following:"The lack of sustained human-to-human transmission suggests that this AH5N1 avian virus does not currently have the capacity to cause a human pandemic"
While they do go on to say the virus could mutate with the influenza A virus and has the potential to acquire the means for rapid human to human transmission, it does NOT have this ability now. All the preparation and fear being created in the media is about a theoretical speculation.
Now I am a former Boy Scout and fully believe in being prepared, but this is nothing even close to following recommendations made by experts to New Orleans that if implemented would have saved 1000 lives and half a million homes and well over 100 billion dollars from Hurricane Katrina.
No this is all about creating fear and panic to benefit the drug companies. Now, I am still not opposed to being prepared for this potential bird flu pandemic. It is POSSIBLE it might materialize. But if it did there is no way that the flu vaccine or Tamiflu will mitigate its damage. No way.
If you want to know how to truly strengthen your immune system so will laugh when the flu bug or nearly any other infectious agent seeks to infect you, then start following the Total Health Programor read the quick tips I posted last year.
Gilead Sciences Inc.
How Bird Flu Kills
The bird flu virus is supposed to be really affecting the birds only. However, because of the nature of flu viruses that can be able to mutate and transfer from one species to the other. The bird flu virus that has been killing birds has now been affecting humans as well.
The good news is that bird flu virus has only killed few humans as of the moment. That's why health officials are working overtime to prevent bird flu from becoming an outbreak. How the virus works on humans is still a complete wonder. There are still more and more studies undertaken to fully understand this virus.
What is known however is that there are 15 types of avian flu virus that affects birds. That's why birds also have running noses as well, only theirs is a running beak (corny). The current outbreak of bird flu is caused by the H5N1 strain. This strain is very contagious and can cause rapid fatalities. This strain, unlike the others, can be transmitted to humans, which makes it deadlier.
Remember the SARS scare we experienced years back? Compared to Bird Flu, SARS is just an ordinary cold. Their symptoms are similar but the virus that causes them is completely different. SARS is also less contagious because the person infected can just be isolated.
There could be low pathogenic virus or high pathogenic virus that can affect birds. The low pathogenic virus can affect birds in minor ways only. Ruffled feathers and reduced egg production are some. Highly pathogenic virus cause severe diseases such as respiratory diseases. In domestic birds, when the symptoms appear, they die the same day.
Other symptoms of the bird flu on birds are: loss of appetite, nervousness like chicken little, coughing, sneezing, diarrhea, and depression. Yes, birds do get depressed and they might end up being suicidal, drinking your Prozac.
Just as in the birds, the highly pathogenic forms are the ones that greatly affect the humans as well. These highly pathogenic forms are what cause deaths in humans as well.
The incubation period of the bird flu on humans is still not yet known clearly. The ill effects might develop one to five days from exposure to the virus.
Sometimes, the only indication that a person has been infected is an eye infection or conjunctivitis. However, having conjunctivitis, you might only think that it's ordinary sore eyes.
Then other symptoms that are common to flu are also developed. That's why it really is hard to know that the person has been affected by the virus. Other symptoms include, cough, fever, and sore throat.
It will then develop to life threatening complications that include viral pneumonia, and respiratory failure and distress.
That's why health officials and scientist are scrambling for ways to just make ways to prevent outbreaks. Because they would not want a person to have misconceptions that he or she only has ordinary flu, but is the already life-threatening bird flu.
Tamiflu – When Should I Call My Doctor About Flu Symptoms?
Calling on the doctor should be done at the earliest for any kind of medical problem you face. In the case of bird flu or the avian flu one should be able to recognize the symptoms and he should be able to relate it with what has happened to him. The symptoms of bird flu are the same as that of your annual flu. Then how do you differentiate it. It is quite simple. You've got to analyze the facts. First I will be discussing about the symptoms of the flu and then I will be taking you through, what should make you suspect that you are having the bird flu.
Appearance of Symptoms
The symptoms of the flu start off with a sore in the throat. This is quite common as you will be thinking that a cold has hit you. But then you will know as this is going to becomes something worse. It will be followed by fever with temperatures above a 100 degree Fahrenheit. This will be followed up by chills and muscular pain. All your muscles are going to ache and you will weakness and tiredness. There will be a loss of appetite accompanied with cough and chest pain. Your symptoms may last for about a week.
You should have gone to the doctor when the symptoms appear in the first case. This is the time the doctor would have taken your blood and mucus samples and sent them for testing. The next day the doctor will be in the know of the result. But I was talking about analysis; now coming to that part, try to remember if you have handled any birds, poultry or its droppings.
You should also try to remember if you had been swimming in an open lake or pond where wild birds or ducks have watered. In a case you have been doing any of the activities that I have mentioned then you should at once be prescribed Tamiflu. You should start taking Tamiflu immediately, as this is the only anti viral drug in the market that is now available as a capsule which can be taken orally.
Symptoms in children
The symptoms that I have mentioned above relates to adults. In the case of children the symptoms may differ slightly. They may suffer from some abdominal pain too. This abdominal pain may at times be related to appendicitis. Or the doctor can be falsely led to believe that the child is suffering from appendicitis; where as the child may originally have come down with the flu. In some children the fever will be followed by convulsions. When you notice any of these symptoms you should have called in to see the doctor.
Tamiflu
In case you are in no position to see a doctor now, then you can start off with Tamiflu. I will be giving you the dosages of the drug in case of both adults and children. In a case where the doctor will be available after a day or two then you should continue with the dosages and then tell the doctor as to what your symptoms were at first and what your symptoms are now after taking Tamiflu for two days or so.
The drug Tamiflu comes in a capsule form and a suspension form. The capsule form contains about seventy five grams of the medication. If you have shown up with the symptoms mentioned above then you should take one capsule in the morning and one capsule in the evenings. If it is case where you are not sure but have been exposed to the flu virus, then you should take one capsule a day. This is to be done either in the mornings or in the evenings.
For people with kidney problems and who are taking treatment for the same, they should take only one capsule a day in the case of symptoms showing up and for a preventive measure it should be one capsule every alternate day. In case of children give them the suspension as per their weight category. For children there is no prescription stating that what should be taken as a preventive measure. In all the cases see your doctor as fast as possible.
Swine Flu Immunization Schedule – New Update and Prediction
Although the H1N1 panic is at a fever pitch at this time, it's a safe bet that by summer 2010 the swine flu issue will have faded off into the boneyard of vaccine memorabilia. Policymakers have well discerned that this particular type of illusion has a finite shelf life, due in no small part to the ever-shortening attention span of the collective American mentality.
We must recall that the commotion in recent years over smallpox, anthrax, SARS, and Avian flu lasted only as long as necessary for the drug and vaccine funds to be allocated. Once that happens, there is no longer any motive to continue to fan the flames of pandemic hysteria - a media campaign like that requires so much effort, and costs so much money to maintain, especially for a disease that never existed in the first place.
Anyone paying even moderate attention to the parade of emergencies that have been making their appearance lately with almost routine regularity, might begin to be desensitized to the urgency of these situations, vaguely remembering that since they survived the last one, well they'll probably survive this one as well.
LICENSED AND UNTESTED. This is exactly wherein lies the clear and present danger of the current swine flu vaccine program. This swine flu vaccine is actually being brought into existence for dissemination among the general public, starting with children. With 5 manufacturers having begun clinical trials only in August 2009, none scheduled for completion until next April, it is an astounding lesson in vaccine politics that the FDA approved the untested H1N1 vaccine on 15 Sep 09, just one month after the testing began! [http://www.sanofipasteur.com] Licensed and untested.
We see precisely the same sequence of events that led to the last swine flu fiasco in 1976 - 50 million were vaccinated with that untested vaccine. 21 deaths, 565 paralyzed, withdrawn in 10 weeks. And never replaced. Never replaced - that's the point. Why not? If the threat was so urgent that we had to start vaccinating before the vaccine was even tested, then where did that threat go? Why didn't we just withdraw the toxic vaccine and then continue with researching and testing to develop one that worked?
It is becoming increasingly clear that natural selection will favor the lines of those parents who take these extra precautions to protect and safeguard the inner immunity of their children. Who else is going to come forward? The FDA, who does no testing of their own before making a decision, but relies entirely on the research submitted to them from the companies who stand to make billions in profits if the vaccine is approved?
The vaccine manufacturers, who have been granted 100% immunity from liability for any deaths or injuries? The other regulatory agencies - NIH, CDC, HHS - whose political connections to the vaccine companies are a matter of public record?
But that's exactly what all the hurry, all the hyperbole, all the outright misdirection is about. They know that they don't have time to come up with a fully tested vaccine - that would take a year. But by that time the imaginary disease will be gone, with no hope of raising it from the dead. The market is here and now. And everyone - the clinics, the manufacturers, the regulators, and the media - all want their share of the rewards.
Pure Water Hydration in an Avian Flu Pandemic – Planning in Northern Virginia Washington D.C.
A threat to the nation's health is emerging in Asia and the Indian Sub Continent that has potentially devastating implications. Avian Flu (the H5N1 strain of Influenza A) is a fact in many parts of Asia, although to date the avian strain has not combined with human influenza in a sustained manner. If a new strain emerges in humans with the fatality profile of the H5N1 virus, the effect on the world population will be dramatic.
When the combination to create a human to human strain occurs however, and isolated cases may already involve human to human transmission, the conditions precedent to a world wide pandemic will be met. Pandemic flu is defined as "a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears in humans, causes serious illness and then spreads easily from person to person world wide." (Source: Grattan Woodson, MD, FACP) The original Avian Flu (H5N1) represents a deadly strain for humans with a 50% mortality rate and many experts believe that the pandemic could be equally lethal..
Pandemics occur when existing flu strains mutate and make their way from birds or swine to humans in a new strain for which humans have little no immunity. Historically pandemic influenza has caused widespread damage and death. Influenza pandemics are a regular occurrence in history.
Pandemics in History
To date, only influenza outbreaks account for pandemics and pandemics have occurred throughout history. Over thirty pandemics have happened in recorded history. All influenza pandemics infect many times more people than normal seasonal ( flu caused by viruses that are already among people) influenza outbreaks. In addition major pandemics can have severe adverse effects on the economy and daily life.
Three flu pandemics occurred in the 20th century with differing levels of intensity..
o The 1918 "Spanish Flu" Pandemic- A "major level event" pandemic that accounted for over 50 million deaths world wide.( Originated in Kansas, USA)
o The 1957-58 "Asian Flu" pandemic - A "minor level event" pandemic that accounted for 36,000 deaths in the United States alone
o The Hong Kong Influenza of 1968-69 - A "minor level event" pandemic that accounted for about the same level of deaths as seasonal flu.
The severity of a pandemic depends upon the virus that causes it and the H5N1 Avian flu virus has proven to be particularly fatal to humans. One fact is clear: pandemic influenza will occur again - it is only a question of when. When a virus starts to spread easily and rapidly among humans the conditions for a pandemic have been met.
The 20th century pandemic examples occurred in waves of illness of up to three waves over a 9-12 month period. Often the first wave was not the most severe. During the 1918 Pandemic, over 90% of the deaths of the pandemic occurred during the second wave.
Human Impact on Virginia of a "Medium Level Event"
Northern Virginia is a densely populated, high technology corridor adjacent to Washington, D.C.. Because of the buildup in the Homeland Defense industry as a result of the war on terrorism, the population is large and experiencing rapid growth. Many of the new comers are young professionals with young families.
Based upon historic data a 'medium level event", more serious than the Asian Flu Pandemic of 1957-58 but not as severe as the 1918 Pandemic, will result in the following estimates for the State of Virginia:
o 2,700 to 6,300 deaths
o 12,000 to 28,500 hospitalizations
o 575,000 to 1.35 million outpatient visits
o 1.08 million to 2.52 million people becoming sick
Estimates for losses from a "major level event" are significantly higher.
Infrastructure Impact
In addition to human damage, the effect on the infrastructure will be considerable. Having a large number of ill people will be very destructive to the infrastructure. A major pandemic will likely disrupt essential public services and supplies and create temporary breakdowns in food delivery, electric and water utility service and possible public order in major urban centers. These critical industries are highly dependent on raw materials supplied by vendors and key employees with the expertise to maintain operations.
An Integrated Economy
The United Sates enjoys the benefits of a highly integrated economy with highly efficient delivery of goods and services and rapid communications. This level of integration allows for more efficient management of material inventories but would break down rapidly in the event of dislocation in any part of the chain. Basic industries like electrical and water utilities would soon cease to function. Disruption of channels of distribution for the food industry would result in rapid and near total shortages of food and water.
What Can Be Done to Prevent a Pandemic?
Flu Shots and the Pandemic
Standard flu shots for seasonal (normal) flu will not guard against a new pandemic strain of the flu virus because each new flu mutations have different DNA characteristics. For new strains it takes many months to develop and distribute a vaccine and during this time the new strain will most like have run its course.
Anti-Viral Treatments
Presently, the only available anti-viral antibiotic effective against the H5N1 strain of influenza is Tamiflu
Questions And Answers About Bird Flu (Avian Influenza)
Bird Flu is an infectious disease of birds that can also affect people. It can present mild or severe forms of illness. The only subtype that can cause severe illness to people is Influenza A /H5N1 virus, initially it affects chickens, ducks and other birds by the process of mutation they can become highly pathogenic. Because highly pathogenic viruses can survive for long periods in tissue, water and in the environment, especially when temperatures are low is transmitted very easily in chickens and other birds through direct contact with feces and secretions from infected birds, eggs, feed, water, cages equipment, vehicles and clothing. The virus is excreted orally and in feces 10 days if the bird survives. Domestic birds can get infected when they roam freely or share water supply with other birds. The virus may be transported from farm to farm with contaminated equipment, vehicles, feeds, cages, or clothing, especially shoes. Luckily, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission and through cooked chicken meat. But particles of discharges with the bird avian flu inhaled in market, poultry, surfaces and aerosols are very dangerous.Avian influenza affects chickens and the poultry industry, recombined with the human influenza viruses form a totally new influenza virus to which people do not have protection that spreads in the population and that causes serious illness and death in humans.
Signs and symptoms of bird flu in chickens:
Infection determines many symptoms from mild illnesses to highly contagious and severe epidemics. Among them a decline in activity and in egg production, facial swelling and bluish-violet colored combs and wattles, diarrhea, hemorrhages, paralysis, sudden deaths.
Signs and symptoms of bird flu in humans are similar to other influenza viruses: sore throat and cough, fever, muscle weakness and/or pain with complications such as: severe viral pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome, multi- organ failure.
How to make a differential diagnostic between avian influenza, pneumonia or any other respiratory illness?
A laboratory and epidemiologic confirmation of the bird flu infection is needed and details required such as patient had direct or indirect contact with sick chickens or other birds.Treatments of bird flu are antiviral drugs, but some of these drugs are expensive and supplies are limited.
To prevent recombination of avian with the human influenza virus: is recommended a vaccine used against circulating strains in humans to those exposed to bird flu. Even better is recommended the prevention: to cease importating of live chickens and other poultry products from countries affected with bird flu, avoid contact of poultry with wild birds, proper hand washing and cleaning and disinfection procedures in poultries. Report to authorities any unusual death or illness of chickens other birds or humans. The rest of us should: wash hands with soap and water before and after handling chicken meat. Cook chicken well, not to let chickens roam freely, do not place chickens, ducks and pigs together in one area. Local Government Officials should: apprehend illegal trading of poultry, not allowing chickens to roam freely, correctly informate the community, advise public not to catch, get near or keep in captivity wild birds.
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