Swine Flu

Swine flu also known as pig flu influenza of the “A type” is caused by a mutated form of virus. There is no vaccine for this disease and till a vaccine is discovered all dependency is on anti viral drugs.

It has been noted that the swine flu virus does not respond to older anti viral drugs and quickly turns resistant to newer ones. Doctors’ advice that patients should not be administered anti viral drugs for mild symptoms of the flu for fear that the virus may develop resistance to the drugs in the event of an actual swine flu infection. On the other hand, there is a strong view that the anti viral drug must be administered within 48 hours of the swine flu infection for it to have any effect on the disease. Unfortunately, it is impossible to identify the onset of swine flu, for up to four days from the date of incubation of the swine flu virus.

Currently the drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir seem to have some effect on the flu virus. Oseltamivir, sold under the brand name Tamiflu and Zanmivir sold as Relenza act on the neuraminidase part of the flu virus, inhibiting the swine flu virus from proliferating. It should be administered to patients who have been confirmed to be suffering from the medical condition.

These drugs can reduce the symptoms of the disease, shorten the duration of suffering and reduce the risk of complications in patients who have been administered the drug beyond 48 hours and have been hospitalized. The medication regimen however, will have to be limited to ten days. The patients may experience side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, sore throat and cough.

Doctors recommend that high risk patients, who have been in close contact with a person confirmed to be suffering from the disease, should be treated immediately. High risk patients are those who have cancer, HIV/AIDS and serious heart disease. Health care workers who have handled patients with swine flu should also be categorized as first responders and should be treated for the condition. Persons traveling to Mexico and parts of the world affected by the disease should also be considered as first responders and treated accordingly.The world stock of Tamiflu and Relenza is currently sufficient to meet the demand from countries affected by the disease. However, the sufficiency to meet world demand will depend on how fast the disease spreads across the continents and the number of persons who will be affected by the disease.