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Posted on Feb 02, 2004, 6 a.m.
By Bill Freeman
Early talks are going on between the U.S. government and one maker about providing a large quantity for use in a pandemic, but at best the medicine is still months away. If enough was available, the drugs could help buy time until a vaccine is developed to stop the flu's spread. Experts say the flu drugs could shorten illness and prevent lethal complications for flu victims _ as well as keep healthy people from catching it, especially health care workers.
Early talks are going on between the U.S. government and one maker about providing a large quantity for use in a pandemic, but at best the medicine is still months away. If enough was available, the drugs could help buy time until a vaccine is developed to stop the flu's spread. Experts say the flu drugs could shorten illness and prevent lethal complications for flu victims _ as well as keep healthy people from catching it, especially health care workers. Doctors say only one brand, Tamiflu, is practical for large-scale stockpiling, but so far no government has bought the big amounts needed for a pandemic.
Source: http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=106%26sid=166063
[Editor: The preceding article was not written by A4M/WHN]
