Bush unveils super-flu strategy: Billions to drug companies for ineffective vacc

[Guest guest]

US: Bush unveils super-flu strategy: Billions to drug companies for

ineffective vaccines; Also martial law.

 

 

http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=1643

 

 

(REPOST) BUSH UNVEIL SUPER FLU STRAT.

 

Tuesday, November 01, 2005 - FreeMarketNews.com

 

On Tuesday, the Bush administration will unveil a " long-awaited plan

on how to fight the next super-flu, " according to the Washington Post.

" It will likely include beefed-up attempts to spot human infections

early, both here and abroad. Expect recommendations on how to isolate

the sick. Governors and mayors are on notice to figure out who will

actually inject stockpiled vaccines into the arms of panicked people. "

Bush will arrive at the National Institutes of Health to speak to the

issue of how America will contain the next flu pandemic – as well as

other potential " super bugs. " Part of the speech will deal with the

president's request of Congress for funds for to fight bird flu. Such

a request will include funds for the " buildup of infrastructure "

according to anonymous administration officials quoted by the Post.

 

It has already been reported widely that the administration has

ordered $160-million in bird-flu vaccines from two companies

Sanofi-Aventis and Chiron Corp. The administration has also ordered

millions of doses of Tamiflu and Relenza, sparking controversy among

those aware that the company initially responsible for Tamiflu is

Gilead, a company for which Donald Rumsfeld was formerly chairman and

in which other administration or former-administration officials are

reportedly involved. A reader writes to inform FMNN of the following:

" Relenza [Glaxo] and Tamiflu [Roche]are only marginally beneficial

against influenza virus. The idea that these anti-viral drugs are

going to save us from a pandemic is silly. Pages 1606-07 of the

Physicians' Desk Reference [PDR], state that Relenza is not

significantly better than placebo. On pages 2927-28, the PDR states

that, in patients 65 years and older, there is a one-day reduction in

the median time to improvement in influenza-infected subjects but the

difference from placebo is not significant. Clearly Tamiflu helps

prevent influenza, but [some or many] subjects in the prevention

studies took Tamiflu for 42 consecutive days. These data are not

generally known by a public that seems eager to stockpile Tamiflu as

if it is a wonder drug. I wonder what all the fuss is about. " [FMNN

had not confirmed this information at press time and readers are

invited to email updates.]

 

The Post also points out the following: " Federal health officials are

beginning to wonder about a backlash if the worrisome strain in fact

fizzles out - or is contained in birds, as specialists are struggling

to do - and never threatens Americans' health. " However, Health and

Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt has stressed that " pandemic

preparations to improve how vaccines are made and diseases are

detected will improve public health overall. " He is quoted as saying,

" If it isn't the current H5N1 cirus that leads to an influenza

pandemic, at some point in our nation's future another virus will. "

 

It is possible, however, that the government's plans will virtual

guarantee the epidemic that it claims it wants to avoid. " A Flu

Quarantine? No, Sir, " By Wendy Orent, October 16 2005, observes that,

" A few scientists have suggested 'priming' people with a dose of the

new vaccine against H5N1 before we even know whether a pandemic is

coming ... Earlier this month, [bush] suggested using the military to

enforce a quarantine...This is an example of a cure that is as

frightening as the disease. … Suppose that a government official today

decided to round up exposed people and move them to a space like the

Superdome in New Orleans. ... [D]epending on how densely packed people

were, you could expect the flu strain trapped among them to increase

in virulence. You'd be breeding a deadlier flu. "

 

staff & nbspreports - Free-Market News Network