A swine flu vaccine

The last time that a flu caused much worldwide panic was in the year 1918. That incomparable worldwide pandemic is recorded as having slain more than 20 million people. This is a mind-boggling figure that needs to be put in perspective; the entire casualty count of World War I, or the infamous Black Death of the 1300s did not reach as high. That flu pandemic, however, occurred before antibiotics were discovered.

Modern medicine and public education on healthy habits that help keep disease at bay, have made much progress in the last century though. Let us take a look at the modern treatment options for a new disease such as swine flu.

The swine flu virus is a highly adaptive organism that is hard for antiviral drugs to keep up with. It is also quite resistant to the common flu drugs Amantadine and Rimantadine. Tamiflu and Relenza, however so far, seem to be effective. Tamiflu has become quite the buzzword in today's swine flu outbreak. It is now known that administering Tamiflu right after the appearance of swine flu symptoms in a person, keeps the virus from reproducing, and gives the patient's immune system time to get back on its feet. Tamiflu is a CDC-approved treatment course for swine flu, suspected or confirmed.

Tamiflu has some preventive use; it is often prescribed for family members who remain in close contact with a person who suffers from this. But this is not to be taken as an invitation for anyone to take Tamiflu just as a preventive measure. It is well-recognized that having people taking antivirals for no good reason can help viruses learn how to resist the drug.

The swine flu virus is able to debilitate the immune system and it makes the body vulnerable to any other infection, such as pneumonia. The swine flu virus hits the lungs quite ferociously also, and short-term artificial respiration might be a good idea for seriously ill people.

In addition to the primary antivirals such as Tamiflu, doctors may order drugs for the attendant symptoms of headache and fever and nausea. Adolescents or children with swine flu are never given aspirin for its potential to cause Reyes syndrome.

The Internet is chock-a-block with natural or herbal cures for swine flu. There are many exotic sounding names, Colloidal Silver, Echinacea or Oregano oil; there is no real research that proves any health benefits in these supplements; but people do choose to try them out often. It could be that the everyday health supplements of pepper, garlic, or vitamins C, might be the best any day.

Linus Orakles

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