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Conflicting views on Tamiflu
Recent changes to the Tamiflu's product information
leaflet indicate that it poses a risk of dangerous behaviour in patients who
take it.
Tamiflu's manufacturer,
Roche, has issued updated information about the product
precautions, indicating that Tamiflu can cause a patient to become delirious and
harm him or her self. Self-injury, confusion and delirium are not uncommon,
Roche says in a letter to health care professionals, especially if it's taken by
a child.
World governments have stockpiled millions of doses of the drug
oseltamivir, marketed as Tamiflu, even though medical experts have conflicting
opinions about whether it is actually effective against bird flu in
humans.
In spite of the fact that
avian
influenza is not readily transmissible between humans, reports indicate that
the UK government has bought 14.6 million doses of the drug, while the US
government has 20 million doses.
Because viruses mutate so frequently, it may be unlikely that currently
available vaccines would be effective against any future emerging strain that
could pass easily between humans.
Roche maintains that “Governments can be confident that Tamiflu remains a
critical drug, as recommended by the WHO, for stockpiling to prepare for an
influenza pandemic and for physicians and patients to treat and prevent flu when
it hitsâ€.
Editor WorldPoultry
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