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October 31, 2005
How did communities fare in the 1918 pandemic?
"Most communities were woefully unprepared for the health crisis they faced," said Higgins, who is focusing his research efforts on the ability of Pennsylvania cities to respond. "Those cities that passed muster, relatively speaking, had been building a strong medical infrastructure for decades, and had sound public health policies based more upon science than politics. I'm not sure that's the case today."
Wise words, read more here.
Posted by dymaxion at 11:41 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Bush to unveil super-flu strategy Tuesday
Posted by dymaxion at 11:35 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Thai woman H5N1-infected - News24
| Thai woman H5N1-infected News24, South Africa - Bangkok - Thailand has confirmed its 20th human case of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, after tests on a 50-year-old woman were positive, a government health ... |
Posted by dymaxion at 11:28 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Two new bird flu cases found in Romania - Forbes
 ITN | Two new bird flu cases found in Romania Forbes - ... two new cases of bird flu in the southeast of the country, in a swan and a goose, but further tests are required to determine if they are the deadly H5N1 strain ... Romania finds new cases of avian flu in wild birds Swan and wild goose test positive for bird flu in southeast ... Two birds test positive for flu in Romania |
Posted by dymaxion at 11:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Human immunity to H5N1?
A story on canada.com describes the mysterious immunity of many Asians whose constant contact with poultry ought to have made them sick. Instead they thrive while others, whose contact with poultry is far less, fall ill.
The story also offers comments on the disturbing vulnerability of the young:
Out of 41 confirmed cases examined in the [New England Journal of Medicine] article (which doesn't include all of them) from outbreaks in 2004-05, the ages of those infected ranged from two to 58. In Thailand and Cambodia, researchers calculated the median age of those infected: 14 in Thailand and 22 in Cambodia. For the Vietnam outbreak in 2004, they calculated an average age of 14.
The researchers also noted that recent infections have caused "high rates of death among infants and young children. The case fatality rate was 89 per cent among those younger than 15 years of age in Thailand."
Posted by dymaxion at 11:21 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
An Italian flu bog
I'm very happy to welcome Pandemia, an Italian site, that deals with pandemics all the way back to 1348.
Posted by dymaxion at 11:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
china.scmp.com - WHO wants full facts over Hunan girl's death
Posted by dymaxion at 11:16 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
WHO fears bird flu's impact on AfricaKeralaNext:
The United Nations' health agency has sounded the alarm about the possible arrival of the most virulent form of avian influenza in Africa. The World Health Organisation (WHO) warns that the impoverished continent's weak surveillance and health care systems will hamper critical early warning of the presence of the H5N1 virus or clusters of human cases.Posted by dymaxion at 11:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
NanoViricides Has Begun Preclinical Studies For Their First Anti-Viral Drug Targeted Against Bird Flu; Studies Are Being Conducted at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a Teaching Hospital of Harvard Medical SchoolBusiness Wire
NanoViricides Has Begun Preclinical Studies For Their First Anti-Viral Drug Targeted Against Bird Flu; Studies Are Being Conducted at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a Teaching Hospital of Harvard Medical School
WEST HAVEN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 31, 2005--NanoViricides, Inc. (Pink Sheets:NNVC), today announced that it has commenced preclinical studies for its anti-viral drug FluCide-I(TM). The studies are being conducted at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, under the direction of Dr. Krishna Menon. Dr. Menon, the Company's Chief Regulatory Officer, explained that nanoviricides are complex materials. "We have started working on the basic safety of the polymer under a maximum tolerated dose protocol in mice. In the second part we will study the ligands that target FluCide-I(TM) to H5N1 and common influenza viruses. Thereafter, we will study the efficacy of FluCide-I(TM) itself against H5N1 and common influenza."
Dr. Anil Diwan, President, explained that, "if successful, the relevance of nanoviricides can be compared to the discovery of Penicillin, the very first bactericide. Prior to antibiotics, bacterial infections were treated with patient isolation, chicken soup and Vitamin C. Current anti-viral medicines can at best only partially inhibit the virus from multiplying in the human body. Although we cannot make claims of certainty yet, after we get good results from these studies we will be able to say that we have developed a true virus killer."
The Company is encouraged by the recent statements from high level international officials and health ministers of different countries concerning the urgency of developing effective vaccines and treatments and believes that a rapid regulatory approval of FluCide-I(TM), is possible should these studies be successful.
NanoViricides, Inc. is a development stage company that is creating special purpose nanomaterials for viral therapy. A NanoViricide(TM) is a specially designed, flexible, nanomaterial that contains an encapsulated active pharmaceutical ingredient and targets it to a specific type of virus, like a guided missile.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the Company's current expectation regarding future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events could differ materially and substantially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors including the success of the Company's research and development strategy, the availability of adequate financing, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies and the uncertainties related to the regulatory process.
Contacts:
NanoViricides, Inc.
Leo Ehrlich, 917-853-6440
leo@nanoviricides.com
Posted by dymaxion at 11:12 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
New bird flu case in chickens confirmed in ThailandMail & Guardian Online
Thailand has confirmed a new case of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu among chickens in a northeastern province, amid rising fears over the virus following the kingdom's 13th fatality, officials said on Monday. The Avian Influenza Control Operating Centre in Bangkok said it confirmed the virus last week in one district in the northeastern province of Kalasin, about 500km northeast of Bangkok.Posted by dymaxion at 11:12 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Thai woman H5N1-infectedNews24
Thailand has confirmed its 20th human case of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, after tests on a 50-year-old woman were positive.Posted by dymaxion at 11:10 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Roche halts US bird flu drug suppliesBlogPulse Search Results for: "bird flu"
Roche halts US bird flu drug supplies Reuters – the H5N1 bird flu virus....China insists bird flu under control as Asia struggles to combat virus ABC Asia Pacific –... ... bird flu as China insisted it has the virus under control....Vietnam may ban blood pudding over bird flu-media Reuters – of the killer virus in poultry earlier this month, state media said on Tuesday....Posted by dymaxion at 11:09 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Chiron to Supply United States with Pandemic Influenza Vaccine for Stockpile (Business Wire)Yahoo! Finance: CHIR News
Chiron Corporation today announced that it has won a $62.5 million contract to supply the U.S. government with pre-pandemic influenza vaccine for a stockpile to protect against the H5N1 avian influenza virus strain.Posted by dymaxion at 11:08 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Volunteers sought for avian flu vaccine study
believed to have occurred. Identified as H5N1 , the strain of the influenza virus has shown a high mortality rate - approximately 72 percent - with many fatalities among previouslyPosted by dymaxion at 11:03 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
とうとうクロアチアでも・・・
... パンデミック（世界的な流行）の前段階といわれている インフルエンザ。 とうとうクロアチアでも、毒性の強いＨ５Ｎ１型が家禽から 検出された... ...
Posted by dymaxion at 10:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 25, 2005
New outbreak in Russia
The latest incident of bird flu in European Russia killed 12 hens at a private dacha, after which authorities culled 53 ducks and hens at the locality and imposed a quarantine.
The outbreak was in Tambov, 400 km (250 miles) southeast of Moscow last week, a senior regional animal health official said on Monday.
"Laboratory tests have confirmed the presence of the H5N1 strain (of bird flu) ... in some dead fowl tissue samples," the official told Reuters.
From Reuters. The same article has the latest story from Malta:
In Malta, authorities sealed a ship at Malta Freeport and put its crew in quarantine after dead birds were seen aboard.
State television said the ship was coming from Taiwan, which last week found the H5N1 virus in a container of birds smuggled from China, its first case for two years.
Posted by dymaxion at 07:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Military may need to guard Bird Flu drugs
Link: Bloomberg.com: Europe. European governments may need to use their armies to protect stashes of bird flu treatments from looting should there be a human outbreak of the deadly illness, a World Health Organization expert said in an interview. The...Posted by dymaxion at 07:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Indonesia confirms 2 more cases
Link: Promed. The Ministry of Health in Indonesia has confirmed 2 additional cases of human infection with H5N1 avian influenza. The 1st newly confirmed case is a 4-year-old boy from Sumatra Island in Lampung Province. He developed symptoms on 4...Posted by dymaxion at 07:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
UN Wants more funds to combat bird flu
Link: Daily News. The United Nations plans to launch an appeal for at least $50 million (USD) to improve animal surveillance in the battle against bird flu. The Food and Agriculture Organization calculated the appeal to cover response to bird...Posted by dymaxion at 07:17 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Human to human ruled out in Thai case
Link: Taipei Times - archives. Public health officials ruled out human-to-human transmission of bird flu in a seven-year-old boy whose father died of the disease last week, a senior Thai health official said yesterday, adding that the boy has fully...Posted by dymaxion at 07:16 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Malta quarantines ship
Link: World News Article | Reuters.co.uk. In Malta, authorities sealed a ship at Malta Freeport and put its crew in quarantine after dead birds were seen aboard. State television said the ship was coming from Taiwan, which last week found...Posted by dymaxion at 07:15 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Azerbaijan suspects bird flu
Link: BakuTODAY.net - Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Caspian news, links, maps etc.. According to him, representative of Center came across with mass death of migratory birds in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. About two hundred dead ducks were found near �Araz�...Posted by dymaxion at 07:15 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Flu fears hit exotic bird markets in HK, Taiwan - Reuters AlertNet
 CTV.ca | Flu fears hit exotic bird markets in HK, Taiwan Reuters AlertNet, UK - ... Taipei's famous bird street, usually packed with bird lovers, has been largely deserted since the H5N1 virus lethal to humans was found among about 1,000 rare ... WHO official sparks controversy by telling people to buy Tamiflu Bird flu: Beijing demands rapid response HK pet bird shops to take measures against bird flu |
Posted by dymaxion at 05:29 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
More bad news from China
Via Channelnewsasia.com:
China has reported a new outbreak of bird flu in which 2,100 geese and chickens were infected, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said on its website on Tuesday.
The outbreak was detected on October 20 in Liangying village in the eastern province of Anhui, according to a Chinese Ministry of Agriculture report to the OIE.
So far 550 birds have died and 44,736 have been culled.
You can even see the actual OIE report as a PDF. (Thanks to Recombinomics for the link.)
Anhui province is roughly 300-500 km west of Shanghai and about 600 km northwest of Fuzhou, the port of departure for the infected pet birds intercepted by Taiwan's coast guard last week. If you were to conclude that H5N1 is probably all over China, I would find it hard to refute you.
Posted by dymaxion at 05:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
FDA announces rapid response team
Via Declan at Connotea, we have a news release from the US Food and Drug Administration: FDA Announces Rapid Response Team to Combat Pandemic (Avian) Flu.
In partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, and industry, the Rapid Response Team will work to ensure every necessary measure is taken to provide an adequate and timely supply of antiviral drugs to treat Avian flu, if it should emerge in the United States.
The Rapid Response Team will address roadblocks to increased manufacturing of products, such as Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate), already proven effective against Avian flu. It is anticipated that Tamiflu production can be in full gear within 12 months, with substantial product available, should it be needed.
Partnering with industry, academia and other government agencies, the team will support the design and conduct of clinical studies to test new potential treatments for Avian influenza. In the event of a pandemic, such new medications could be made available under Emergency Use Authorization.
In addition, the team will facilitate the development and availability of safe and effective vaccines that could help protect Americans against a future pandemic, including from Avian flu. These efforts include measures to help increase vaccine manufacturing capacity and production of currently licensed vaccines using Avian flu strains, and facilitating and evaluating studies that use new technologies.
Posted by dymaxion at 05:26 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Picard: Human form of H5N1 flu not a given
As the international H5N1 conference starts today in Ottawa, Andre Picard, the health report for the Globe and Mail, has a good article: Human form of H5N1 flu not a given . Very much worth reading.
Posted by dymaxion at 05:25 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Tests confirm seven-year boy has caught H5N1 virus in ThailandBig News Network.com - Thailand News
Province, about 110 km west of Bangkok, caught the disease while he slaughtered sick chicken. Bang-orn died early Wednesday. He was Thailand's 13th fatalityPosted by dymaxion at 05:23 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Bird flu virus 'like hell' - Thai woman lives to tell storyBig News Network.com - Thailand News
A WOMAN who contracted the H5N1 bird flu virus and survived said yesterday it was like being "in hell". Pranom Thongchan, of SrisomboonPosted by dymaxion at 05:22 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
【EU】野鳥の輸入禁止へ 鳥インフルエンザ予防で［10/25］
... 【EU】野鳥の輸入禁止へ 鳥インフルエンザ予防で［10/25］ 欧州連合（ＥＵ）欧州委員会のキプリアヌ委員（保健・消費者保護 担当）は２４日、ルクセンブルクで記者会見し、鳥インフルエンザ予防の ため、販売を目的にした域外からの野鳥の輸入を禁止する方針を明ら かにした。 トルコやルーマニアのほか、英国で輸入されたオウムから病原性が強い Ｈ５Ｎ１型ウイルスが発見され、ＥＵ議長国の英国が中心になって禁輸を 求めていた。鳥インフルエンザが発生した国からの生きた鳥、鳥肉の輸入は 現在も認められていないが、今後は野鳥に関してはあらゆる国からの 輸入が禁止になる。 2005年10月25日10 ...
Posted by dymaxion at 05:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Indonésia confirma quarta morte pelo vírus H5N1
... Leia mais (25/10/2005 - 04h03) ...
Posted by dymaxion at 05:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Deadly Flu Will Reach U.S., Says Bird Migration Expert
topping health officials worry list right now is called H5N1. Most of the cases of human infection by H5N1, dating back to 1997, have involved people who handled infected poultry or touched... are concerned that the H5N1 virus one day could be able to infect humans and spread easily from one person to another, according to a CDC statement. If the H5N1 virus were able to infect people and spread... H5N1, but scientists around the world are working on it, the CDC says. Roswell, Season 3. Now on DVDPosted by dymaxion at 05:16 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 24, 2005
How far (genetically) to a human H5N1?
The paper also presents evidence that H5N1 has been adapting to life in poultry from its previous home in aquatic wildfowl. The more virus there is out there the more likely it is to happen by chance on the recipe for efficient ...Posted by dymaxion at 07:53 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Birds kept by Dutch homeonwers ordered indoors - Reuters.uk
 SciDev.net | Birds kept by Dutch homeonwers ordered indoors Reuters.uk, UK - ... A virulent H5N1 strain of avian flu, which is different from the Dutch 2003 strain, has spread since it surfaced two years ago in South Korea. ... Biosecurity key to avoid bird flu Bird flu: Are we ready? Avian flu on the wing: are wild birds to blame? |
Posted by dymaxion at 07:51 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
H5N1 in US politics
Today I got email I wasn't expecting:
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) would like you to know that he and Congressman Marion Berry (D-AR) have drafted a letter to Mr. Leavitt requesting compulsory licensing of Tamiflu. The letter is being circulated among members of Congress in order to allow them to sign on to the request. The more members that sign, the larger the impact will be. The letter will be sent on Wednesday, October 26, 2005. The text is pasted below for your reference. Please do not hesitate to call with any questions.
y,
Vic Edgerton
____________________________
Vic Edgerton, MPH, MEM
Legislative Assistant
Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich
(202) 225-5871
And here is the letter:
October 26, 2005
Michael Leavitt
Secretary
Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20201-0004
Dear Mr. Leavitt:
As experts assert that the likelihood of a global avian flu pandemic is extremely high, it is more important than ever that we make our health our top priority. A keystone of our defenses against an outbreak will be two anti-viral drugs called Tamiflu and Relenza. Both enjoy patent protection, which means that the patent holders have the ability to limit the manufacture of their respective drugs to their own company or contractors.
Last year, we were reminded of the perils of relying on a small number of entities to manufacture drugs that comprise our flu safety net. Chiron was forced to scrap half of the U.S. flu vaccine supply when their manufacturing facility failed to meet safety standards. And yet, at the cusp of a potentially far more devastating avian flu epidemic, we are about to repeat our mistake.
Furthermore, when a company holds a patent monopoly, they can control world supply. For example, Roche is not taking the necessary steps to meet world demand for Tamiflu. Klaus Stohr of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Influenza Programme has said it will take 10 years for Roche to adequately supply world demand for Tamiflu stockpiles. The U.S. currently has stockpiles for less than 1% of the American population. The WHO recommends stockpiles for 40% of the population. Roche has now announced twice that they will enter into negotiations with generics manufacturers to license Tamiflu to them. But if Roche sets fees too high, generics will not have sufficient incentive to make the drug. In addition, they have indicated they will not allow generics to supply the U.S., making their efforts inapplicable to our stockpiling efforts.
Compromising our pharmaceutical defenses against the avian flu is neither prudent nor necessary. The U.S. government has the authority to issue compulsory licenses specifically because of circumstances like these (28 USC 1498). If manufacturing licenses are issued, other qualified entities would also be able to manufacture the drug and the patent holder would be compensated. Indeed, such licenses have been issued in the past under far less urgent circumstances.
Many experts, including the Director General of Taiwan's Centre for Disease Control, Kou Hsu-sung, say that generic companies can profitably manufacture the drug despite the complexity of the manufacturing process. In their desperation to meet their county's demand, a major Indian drug company recently announced they had reverse engineered Tamiflu and expect to begin sales by January of 2006.
Compromising public health in order to preserve patent monopoly rights is inexcusable. We strongly urge you to immediately issue a compulsory license for Tamiflu and Relenza so that generic manufacturers can get to work shoring up our defense against avian flu.
Sincerely,
Dennis J. Kucinich
Member of Congress
Marion Berry
Member of Congress
Posted by dymaxion at 07:50 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The clock ticks on economic collapse
More financial foreboding, this time an article in the Telegraph: The clock ticks on economic collapse. It's based on a new report by ING Bank, but I can't find the report itself on ING's site.
Posted by dymaxion at 07:49 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Taiwan to ignore flu drug patent
According to ABC News Online, Taiwan to ignore flu drug patent. The country is already making generic oseltamivir without licensing from Roche. We can expect more countries to do the same.
Posted by dymaxion at 07:48 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
'Grave' bird flu threat to China
Via BBC News Online: "Grave" bird flu threat to China.
nder-report the extent of the outbreaks, like the evident presence of H5N1 in Fuzhou and perhaps other regions of China's southeast coast.China faces a "grave" threat from bird flu, Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu has warned.
China said it was intensifying its battle against the virus, by introducing more rigorous monitoring and immunisation of birds.
"We cannot let down our guard, we cannot underestimate the risks of the outbreaks," Mr Hui said.
Posted by dymaxion at 07:48 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Croatian outbreak of avian flu
Several stories on the flu outbreak in Croatia are available in English at Croatian News Agency - HINA. This is probably the most accessible site for Croatian news; the other news resources I've found are all in Croatian only. I've added this to the list of H5N1 News Sources & Websites.
As might be expected, the other republics of former Yugoslavia are very concerned. I wouldn't be surprised if London bookies are taking bets on when H5N1 will turn up in Italy, Hungary, and points west.
Posted by dymaxion at 07:46 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
"No area will be immune"
A biology professor at Wright State University in Ohio says it's only a matter of time before H5N1 reaches the US.
Thomas Van't Hof, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of biological sciences and ornithologist who has studied different bird species for many years as part of his research in comparative physiology.
"By knowing the migratory patterns of birds and areas where species overlap while traveling between their breeding sites and winter grounds, one can predict precisely where problems will occur," he explained.
The scientist said birds migrating south from China, where the deadly flu first showed up, likely made contact with species in Bangladesh and Burma that were migrating west through southern India to Turkey. This is how the virus reached Russia and Eastern Europe, and with birds from Europe now migrating south through Turkey to Africa that region will soon be exposed.
Van't Hof said links between Asia and North America may take longer to surface, but this will ultimately take place.
"North American waterfowl and shorebirds will likely have contact with species breeding on the Siberian/Western Arctic tundra, which will ultimately infect bird populations in North America and South America. There is really no populated area of the world that will be immune."
Posted by dymaxion at 07:45 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Avian influenza (H5N1) viruses isolated from humans in Asia in 2004 exhibit increased virulence in mammals.
J Virol. 2005 Sep; 79(18): 11788-800
Maines TR, Lu XH, Erb SM, Edwards L, Guarner J, Greer PW, Nguyen DC, Szretter KJ, Chen LM, Thawatsupha P, Chittaganpitch M, Waicharoen S, Nguyen DT, Nguyen T, Nguyen HH, Kim JH, Hoang LT, Kang C, Phuong LS, Lim W, Zaki S, Donis RO, Cox NJ, Katz JM, Tumpey TM
The spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses across Asia in 2003 and 2004 devastated domestic poultry populations and resulted in the largest and most lethal H5N1 virus outbreak in humans to date. To better understand the potential of H5N1 viruses isolated during this epizootic event to cause disease in mammals, we used the mouse and ferret models to evaluate the relative virulence of selected 2003 and 2004 H5N1 viruses representing multiple genetic and geographical groups and compared them to earlier H5N1 strains isolated from humans. Four of five human isolates tested were highly lethal for both mice and ferrets and exhibited a substantially greater level of virulence in ferrets than other H5N1 viruses isolated from humans since 1997. One human isolate and all four avian isolates tested were found to be of low virulence in either animal. The highly virulent viruses replicated to high titers in the mouse and ferret respiratory tracts and spread to multiple organs, including the brain. Rapid disease progression and high lethality rates in ferrets distinguished the highly virulent 2004 H5N1 viruses from the 1997 H5N1 viruses. A pair of viruses isolated from the same patient differed by eight amino acids, including a Lys/Glu disparity at 627 of PB2, previously identified as an H5N1 virulence factor in mice. The virus possessing Glu at 627 of PB2 exhibited only a modest decrease in virulence in mice and was highly virulent in ferrets, indicating that for this virus pair, the K627E PB2 difference did not have a prevailing effect on virulence in mice or ferrets. Our results demonstrate the general equivalence of mouse and ferret models for assessment of the virulence of 2003 and 2004 H5N1 viruses. However, the apparent enhancement of virulence of these viruses in humans in 2004 was better reflected in the ferret.
Posted by dymaxion at 07:44 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Allt fler ignorerar patent på influensamedicin
Taiwan har börjat tillverka medicinen Tamiflu utan tillstånd från patentinnehavaren, som förberedelse för risken att fågelinfluesan H5N1 ska mutera till en dödlig viruspandemi bland människor. Medicinen lindrar influensan och minskar risken för att smittan ska spridas vidare epidemiskt. Senaste veckan har även Argentina sagt att man tänker ignorera patentet och tillverka egen Tamiflu. Indiska läkemedelsföretaget Cipla har redan produktionen igång och kommer att sälja till en bråkdel av patentpriserna. Pressen ökar på den schweiziska läkemedelsjätten Roche, som äger patentet på Tamiflu, att släppa tillverkningen fri. "Patent kommer inte stå i vägen för att producera medicinen åt mänskligheten", lovar Roche-chefen Franz Humer i en intervju. Företaget säger sig vilja "diskutera" speciallicensiering för vissa länder, men ger inga löften. Flyttfåglar har redan anlänt till Afrika från smittdrabbade områden. Det finns ingen tid att diskutera: Roche måste omedelbart tillåta och underlätta generisk tillverkning Tamiflu. Så skriver Burkina Faso Network for Essential Drugs och aidsaktivisterna Act Up-Paris, i ett gemensamt upprop från i fredags där de kräver att patentet upphävs i Afrika. De påpekar också att Roche inte själva har uppfunnit Tamiflu. För nio år sedan köpte de patentet från ett annat företag för 50 miljoner dollar, pengar som sedan länge tjänats in mångdubbelt. Protesterna mot hur världens största läkemedelsföretag för några år sedan försökte hindra Sydafrika från att använda kopierad aidsmedicin tvingade världshandelsorganisationen WTO att börja tolka TRIPS -avtalet som att det ska vara tillåtet att piratkopiera läkemedel i situationer av "nationellt nödläge". USA planerade att utnyttja möjligheten när skräcken för mjältbandsbakterier var som störst, och Brasilien hävdar sin rätt att på så vis kunna förse alla behövande med bromsmediciner mot hiv.Posted by dymaxion at 07:43 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
EU to consider wild bird ban after parrot death
A Europe-wide ban on the imports of wild birds will be considered by the European Commission, after a parrot died in Britain of the deadly H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus.Posted by dymaxion at 07:41 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Bird Flu Brings Out Double Standards on Drug Patents
With hardly a hint of shame, voices from the Western world's political establishment are exhibiting a view that seems to say that the lives of people in the developed world matter more than those that populate the South. Chuck Schumer, a member of the U.S. Senate from New York, a typical example, has even issued a threat, to pressure the Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche to give up its right to protect the patent on Tamiflu, the only drug currently capable of fighting the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus.Posted by dymaxion at 07:40 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Media Coverage of Bird Flu Misleading regarding Wild Birds
News accounts of the "bird flu" virus (H5N1) have not adequately covered what the term "bird" refers to. While the main story line tends to focus on the potential pandemic threat to humans from the bird flu, readers are left wondering what birds to be concerned about. The "bird" relates to "domestic poultry," primarily in Asia, and certainly does not pertain to backyard wild birds. This is an important issue to millions of people - backyard wild bird enthusiasts who enjoy and care for wild birds and are worried whether they should continue to do so. The media should make an effort to clarify this issue and to alleviate unwarranted concerns about wild birds. [PRWEB Oct 24, 2005]Posted by dymaxion at 07:40 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Grippe aviaire :faut-il craindre une pandémie ?Cité des Sciences : Science Actualités
Suite à l'extension géographique du virus H5N1 à partir de l'Asie, la crainte d'une pandémie humaine de grippe se fait plus pressante. Pour autant, le virus n'a toujours pas acquis la capacité de se transmettre d'homme à homme.Posted by dymaxion at 07:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Swedish bird flu case 'not H5N1'BBC News | News Front Page | World Edition
Tests on a duck that died in Sweden of bird flu show it was not carrying the lethal H5N1 strain, officials say.Posted by dymaxion at 07:35 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Britain to review bird quarantine measuresireland.com Latest World News
Quarantine measures are to be reviewed in Britain after it was revealed a South American parrot was almost certainly infected with the H5N1 avian flu by a bird from Taiwan while in quarintine.Posted by dymaxion at 07:35 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
SENS: Les rassemblements interditsLe Soir en ligne: la une
Alors que le virus H5N1 de la grippe aviaire a été découvert pour la première fois en Grande-Bretagne sur un perroquet du Surinam, dès aujourd'hui, le rassemblement de volailles et d'oiseaux domestiques est interdit en Belgique.
Posted by dymaxion at 07:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
OTRO ESCÁNDALO FARMACÉUTICOUN MUNDO POR CIVILIZAR
El fabricante del antiviral más eficaz contra la gripe aviar se niega a liberar la patente
Emilio de Benito
El País
En el mundo sólo existen cuatro medicamentos contra el virus de la gripe. De ellos, la Organización Mundial de la Salud destaca uno, el oseltamivir como el remedio más eficaz para frenar una hipotética pandemia de gripe aviar en humanos durante los cuatro meses que se calcula que se tardará en tener lista una vacuna. Ello deja en manos de un sólo laboratorio el suministro mundial. La situación no va a cambiar, ya que la multinacional se ha negado a levantar la patente, como le han pedido algunos países asiáticos, zona en la que han muerto ya 60 personas por la gripe aviar. Según el fabricante, aunque permitiera la copia, el proceso es muy complicado -dura 12 meses- y otras empresas tardarían al menos tres años en tener listo el producto. La patente del oseltamivir (que se comercializa con el nombre de Tamiflu) estará en vigor hasta 2016, según dijo ayer un portavoz de Roche en Basilea (Suiza). "Sabemos que existe una gran necesidad del producto, y que debemos aumentar la producción, pero Roche desea permanecer a cargo del proceso. No podemos esperar tres años" hasta que otro laboratorio esté en condiciones de fabricar el producto, añadió.
La compañía ha anunciado su intención de duplicar la producción del fármaco, de 1,5 millones a 3 millones de tratamientos este año, y a volverla a duplicar el año que viene. Para ello se ha pasado de una planta a tres, y se planea abrir otra nueva.
Un portavoz de la compañía explicó que el proceso de fabricación del Tamiflu dura 12 meses "en el mejor de los casos". En él intervienen tres compañías asociadas a Roche, aparte de las instalaciones de la propia compañía.
La propuesta de que Roche liberara la patente del antiviral fue retomada esta semana por las autoridades de algunos países asiáticos (los únicos en los que hasta la fecha se ha producido el salto del virus de la gripe aviar de los animales a los humanos). La petición no es nueva. A mediados del mes pasado el director general de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), Lee Jong-wook ya terció en la polémica e indicó que la organización no iba a "impulsar" una versión genérica del Tamiflu.
Este medicamento, junto con el Relenza, de Glaxo, actúa inhibiendo la acción de una de las proteínas de la cubierta del virus de la gripe aviar, la neuraminidasa (la "N" a la que se refiere el nombre H5N1 del virus). La ventaja que tiene es que se suministra en píldoras y puede usarse como tratamiento preventivo. El fármaco está autorizado en España aunque no está a la venta.
El Relenza, que sí se vende en España, cuesta 22,26 euros, sólo puede adquirirse con receta y no lo cubre la Seguridad Social. Su uso, inhalado, lo hace más complicado de administrar, y limita su eficacia a las manifestaciones pulmonares de la gripe.
El acopio de antivirales es una de las medidas preventivas que diversos gobiernos están tomando ante el riesgo de que el virus H5N1 de la gripe aviar mute y se convierta en un agente infeccioso peligroso para los humanos. Hasta la fecha sólo se han dado transmisiones esporádicas entre aves de corral y personas (generalmente, granjeros o personas que viven en estrecho contacto con ellas) en Vietnam, Camboya, Tailandia e Indonesia. El resultado ha sido de 117 infecciones con 60 fallecidos, según el recuento de la OMS.
España también ha tomado medidas al respecto. De momento, se han encargado dos millones de tratamientos antivirales, según ha informado el director general de Salud Pública, Manuel Oñorbe. Esta cantidad serviría para tratar a un 4% de la población (el número considerado clave por la OMS), y, con ello, evitar la propagación de una pandemia durante el tiempo que se tarde en tener lista una vacuna. El presupuesto de esta compra es de 14 millones de euros, de los que el Ministerio de Sanidad aportará uno y las comunidades autónomas los otros 13. Otros países, como Francia, han decidido ampliar la cobertura, y han encargado antivirales para tratar al 20% de la población.
Además, desde 2003 existe una Comisión Interministerial de seguimiento de la Gripe en España y se producen reuniones periódicas de la Comisión de Salud Pública, que podría decidir aumentar las compras de fármacos. También se está negociando con dos laboratorios la instalación de fábricas de vacunas en España, aunque la fabricación de tratamientos de inmunización no comenzaría hasta dentro de cinco años.
Resistencias
Como en el caso de otras enfermedades infecciosas (sida, polio, viruela) la vacuna es el objetivo final. A esta necesidad se unen algunos datos obtenidos del empleo de antivirales para tratar los casos de gripe aviar en humanos que se han dado en Asia. El problema está en que el virus de la gripe, con tan sólo ocho genes, muta con facilidad. Ello le permite eludir el efecto de los distintos tratamientos. A primeros de mes William Chui, un científico del hospital Queen Mary, de Hong Kong, estudió el virus obtenido de unas muestras de enfermos de Vietnam, y detectó que el virus ya mostraba resistencias al oseltamivir. Ello dejaría sin respuesta inmediata a los sistemas sanitarios en el caso, hipotético, de que el virus de la gripe aviar cambie y adquiera la propiedad de transmitirse fácilmente de los animales al ser humano, y, posteriormente, entre las personas.
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