Tamiflu Bird Flu

Bird flu is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. Wild birds carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. Due to the contagious nature of bird flu domestic birds like chickens, ducks and turkeys get infected easily and get killed as a result of the sickness.

Infected birds shed flu virus in their excretions like saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they come in contact with contaminated excretions or contaminated surfaces. Bird Flu cannot be transferred to humans when they eat the infected birds. It is transmitted through contact with birds or by contact with the birds saliva or faeces, or surfaces contaminated with these which can be inhaled once dry. Once a human has become infected, it is then possible for the virus to be passed on by contact with the infected person.

Tamiflu: Bird Flu drug considered effective for the current avian flu strain H5N1 virus, is being stockpiled by the governments as a preventive measure for a possible pandemic threat. Tamiflu was developed by Gilead Sciences in 1996 to fight avian flu and licensed to the Swiss pharmaceutical company Hoffman-La Roche who did little to promote the drug.

Currently bird populations are migrating carrying the bird flu virus with them to take it to countries that have not known any infections so far. The migrating birds infect local bird populations with the bird flu virus. The virus spreads rapidly to bird populations throughout that country, and ultimately to domestic birds. The strain of Avian Influenza virus causing concern at the moment is known as the H5N1 strain, which has already claimed the lives of people in Asia who have come into contact with infected birds. H5N1 is considered deadlier than the ordinary bird flu virus since it is capable of being transmitted to humans and a possible human to human transmission. Tamiflu is the bird flu drug that has shown positive signs of reducing the duration of influenza if taken within first two days when symptoms appear.

Tamiflu is used to treat some types of influenza (flu) in patients who have had symptoms of the flu for 2 days or less. Tamiflu belongs to a class of drugs called neuraminidase inhibitors. These drugs work by stopping the growth and spread of the flu virus in your body. Tamiflu helps shorten the time you have flu symptoms such as nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, muscle aches, tiredness, headache, fever, and chills. Tamiflu can be used for treating adults, adolescents, and pediatric patients one year of age and older with the flu whose flu symptoms started within the last day or two.

Countries like Taiwan and Indonesia have stepped forward to make Tamiflu as the danger of human to human transmission builds. Two Indian Companies Ranbaxy and Cipla are also manufacturing generic versions of Tamiflu for Bird Flu treatment. Without a bird flu vaccine, Tamiflu is the anti-viral drug of choice for avian flu because it protects organs other than just the lungs unlike its competitor, Relenza.