Opposing Digits

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – There is no credible evidence that Tamiflu works against the H5N1virus, but donors’ conference raises US$ 1.9 billion to fight the outbreak.

In an article published in The Lancet medical journal today, researchers from the Cochrane Vaccines Field in Rome and the University of Queensland in Australia warn against over-reliance on Tamiflu. Focus should be on implementing quarantine measures and improving personal hygiene.

The researchers found that older antiviral drugs such as amantadine and rimantadine should not be used because they are ineffective and can cause adverse side effects such as hallucinations.

Yet, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is recommending governments stockpile Tamiflu even though the usefulness of the expensive measure is increasingly coming under criticism.

# posted by madthumbs @ 8:56 PM