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UPDATE ON SWINE FLU (H1N1 Strain) – Dr John Oakley
20/07/2009 21:15:00
In my opinion there has been a huge amount of 'scaremongering' generated by the Dept of Health (DoH) and by the Media about this issue.
This has in turn created a massive increase in workload for NHS Personnel and NHS Resources from a frightened population.
To date, there have been a very small number of deaths among people who happen to be infected with the virus at the time of their death.
To date, all of these deaths have subsequently been shown to be due to either other natural causes unrelated to coincidental infection with the virus, or in people who had severely depleted immune systems and at risk of dying from any mild infection.
The current H1N1 virus causes an illness much less severe than the 'ordinary' flu virus which occurs in 'epidemic' forms every winter, and which can kill up to 35,000 people in this Country every year.
As yet, it is not known whether or not H1N1 infections in early pregnancy could cause abnormalities or 'miscarriages'.
The concern of Leading Experts is NOT about this particular H1N1 virus, but the THEORETICAL possibility that it could, while passing from one person to another, mutate into a much more dangerous strain of virus, such as the one responsible for the 1918-1919 (Spanish Flu) pandemic which killed over 50 million people worldwide.
Mutations amongst flu viruses are common, but often result in strains which are very similar to, or milder than the original strain.
Treatment with Tamiflu, or with a vaccine, was designed to try and eradicate the virus so that it cannot pass from person to person and therefore cannot mutate.
However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has very recently announced that the pattern of infections has now been reached the stage where it is impossible to prevent the virus spreading worldwide.
Supplies and distribution of Tamiflu and vaccines are controlled by DoH/The Government.
TAMIFLU: - It is understandable that DoH discourages people with flu symptoms from visiting Doctor’s Surgeries, A and E Departments, Walk in Centres etc, as this would promote the spread of the virus to previously uninfected people.
Tamiflu can be obtained from the NHS by phoning your NHS GP, NHS Direct, the Health Protection Agency (HPA), (or the newly set up 'Flu Centres') and, providing you have the appropriate symptoms, Tamiflu will be made available to you.
Treatment with Tamiflu should not be used in women who are pregnant; Relenza (another anti-viral drug, given as a nasal spray) is available for use during pregnancy.
SWINE FLU VACCINES: - Latest information from WHO states that these vaccines will not be available until October 2009 at the earliest.
The DoH admits that it will be logistically impossible to vaccinate the whole population within a few days because of the sheer numbers of people involved.
Initially, the vaccine will be reserved for administration to 'young children' (age range not yet specified), pregnant women, people over age 65, Healthcare workers, and 'key personnel' (Politicians?), before beginning to vaccinate the whole population.
The vaccine is designed to protect against the CURRENT H1N1 vaccine strain, and may or may not offer protection against whatever strain it mutates into, IF that ever occurs.
THIS INFORMATION IS THAT PERCEIVED TO BE CORRECT BY DR JOHN OAKLEY, BUT IS NOT A DEFINITIVE VERSION
For more infomation, please view the document on the Vaccine Documents / Links page.
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