Doctors warn of potentially catastrophic flu pandemic in UK
BMJ 2005; 331 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.331.7524.1041-a (Published 03 November 2005) Cite this as: BMJ 2005;331:1041
All rapid responses
I personally have had little success with Tamiflu. I have tried it
three times, starting aqs soon as the symptoms, mostly loss of bodly
thermal control, began.
On the other hand, a close friend has had good success with
Tamiflu and has successfully avoided most of the symptoms of
a flu.
I have had very bad results with a flu "jab". After being
reluctantly talked into a flu "jab" a few years ago, I was
incapacipated for 6 or 7 weeks with a succession of flu-like
symptoms. I think that I actually caught several of the
misc flus in that shot.
The "star" fruit mentioned is Chinese Star Anise. It is a
well known as a spice used in both food and tea. I have read that it has
been used in Asian medicine to alievate the symptoms of flu.
Star Anice is the starting point to manufacturing Tamiflu.
I have read that pharmicutical companies now own 90% of the
current crop of Star Anise.
As for me, I have purchased a pound(US) of powdered Star
Anise from a major and reliable spice dealer at an inflated price. I will
use it in tea.
WARNING: A similar looking Japanese Star Anise is known to
be toxic, particular with children. It is used for decoration.
Competing interests:
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Sir/Madam
I sympathise with Timothy D Taulke-Johnson's plight. I would also ask
him, as he appears to be in a relatively unique position as a UK physician
working close to outbreaks of 'bird flu', could he provide us in the UK
with some useful facts?
1. What has been the effect in morbidity and mortality terms of the
three outbreaks on the human population in China?
2. What medical efforts were made to prevent, protect, then treat any
human victims of bird flu and the consequences of those medical
interventions?
3. Are there known to have been any obvious predisposing factors
affecting the victims?
4. The UK recently cited 'star fruit' as having some protective
and/or efficacious effect against 'bird flu' - was that an accurate
assessment of that fruit, and if accurate, has it been used by local
medical services
5. A recent research study out of Japan suggests that "Tamiflu" maybe
of little or no value against human bird flu - is that true and if so what
do Chinese medics use to treat victims?
6. Did any of the 3 outbreaks include incidences of human to human
transmission, either confirmed or suspected, and what is the most likely
mechanism involved in the transmission of bird flu from bird to human
7. Is there any evidence that "flu jabs" have had any preventive, or
otherwise, effects against bird flu in China?
There is much confusion over these points in the UK and clarification
from the site of current incidences would assist greatly.
Thanks and regards
John H.
Competing interests:
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For those who tend to believe public announcements about major
catastrophes coming our way I recommend that you prepare yourselves for
the so-called bird flu.
The best protection against viral attack is (and this has been known
since Frederick Klenner practiced preventive medicine in the thirties and
forties) Vitamin C.
Tissue saturation with ascorbate (sodium ascorbate is the most
practical) will put your body into the best fighting position that can be
achieved.
Relying on vaccines and antiviral drugs is not what this doctor
ordered.
The world is beginning to see that Linus Pauling and Abram Hoffer
were right all along, it is not the lack of a modern medicine that allows
illness to attack a human body, it is the lack of common sense and optimal
nutrition. Not necessarily in that order.
Competing interests:
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Competing interests: No competing interests
It is axiomatic in epidemiology that a point source outbreak is
contained locally, as soon as possible, and the chain of transmission is
broken.
South East Asia is the most likely source of a pandemic when it
occurs.
Here in Shanghai,China we have had a third outbreak of Avian
influenza.The last outbreak about two hours away from here.
In contrast to the many public preparations for the inevitable
pandemic in other countries that we read about,in the United Kingdom and
elsewhere in the world, there is very little about public health
programmes for attenuation of the problem,in our press.
The French Embassy have stocks of Tamiflu and masks and notified
their expatriates here of risks and the advisability of having a personal
repatriation plan.
In contrast our Embassy has no stocks of Tamiflu for us nor masks nor
as yet advised us what to do. I do understand however that there are
stocks of Tamiflu for Embassy staff and families. I have so far not
received any replies to the emails I have sent to Beijing about this
situation.
I am at quite at a loss to understand why 20,000 Doctors are being
trained in the UK to deal with the pandemic, a 210 page document
concerning the problem and its management is available to every health
facility in the United Kingdom, drugs are being stockpiled for the
eventual pandemic at home, when over here, much closer to the problem than
London, our own Consulate advise us to get Tamiflu from the local
Hospitals where there are no supplies available.
I wonder what the analogous response of the British citizen and
Government would be if Britain had had a third outbreak of Avian flu, the
last only two hours away from London.
I am grateful Sir, for the opportunity to ventilate my feelings
about the lack of "horizontal equity" here and the illogicality of the
"centripetal" and extremely uneven British F.C.O. response to a threatened
pandemic for its citizens overseas.
Yours Sincerely
Tim Taulke-Johnson
MBBS.MA(Psych).MEd,MMedSci.MMedSci.MPH.MSc.DTM&H.Dip Clin Nut.Dip Couns.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
Re: Re: Re: system failure
Part of the problem with peoples' response to tamiflu, is that a
significant proportion of flu-like illnesses are not caused by the
influenza virus. This raises concerns about its use in the case of a
pandemic, as its use must be in the initial stages of infection. At this
point any symptoms will be far from diagnostic.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests