I also just read this article on BBC:
news.bbc.co.uk...
Interesting that the case of resistance is in Denmark. I think this shows that the mutated strain from South America has circled the globe; or, there
are multiple strains circulating, which are developing resistance- or finally, that the SEASONAL H1N1, whis IS resistant to anti-virals, has
reassorted with the new strain(s) and appearing in areas where developd nations prescribe Tamiflu for seasonal flu.
The other hypothesis is the one we're leery of mentioning- and that is that this outbreak is following 1918 almost to the letter. It was in early
July that mutated strains started showing up- no one had PCR, etc., but people used clinical presentations to differentiate between the milder, first
strain and the newer, more lethal one. It dovetails (in this outbreak) with the faster rates of death in those who lose the battle with flu- the
morbidity time- even in overweight people, diabetics, people with autoimmunes, etc., who were in hospital for a few weeks before succumbing- are now
dying in 2-3-4 days. And young, healthy children and young adults are dying in 48 hours- exactly as it happened in mid- to late summer, 1918. It's
how doctors came to realize that the virus had mutated.
The Japanese are the highest users of influenza anti-virals, per capita in the world (and having worked for a Japanese company, I understand why- NO
ONE stays home sick- I was treated like garbage for taking two days off with a bad cold; both to get well and not to share it at work- my boss was
livid for weeks! I've never met another group of people- cultural, ethnic- whatever- who have such a complete devotion to one's job).
Because the country uses so much Tamiflu and Relenza, I expect that will be the next country in which we see resistance emergence.
This also forces all of us to think more seriously about what's coming. Those of you here with kids will have to give them possibly 4 vaccines
before school starts. A series of vaccines ginned up under an Emergency USe Authorization, that might not even pass Phase 1 Clinical Trials, if they
had the opportunity. As well- in the back of our heads, I think we have all thought that while the anti-virals are toxic- they were a sort of bright
red life preserver. Even if we didn't admit it to ourselves.
Now- we have to become cohesive. We joined this forum for a myriad of reasons, but on this topic, I am begging for cohesion. Let's lay dawn the
debate of bioengineered vs. wild type- if we find evidence, post it- but I think we'll find out at some point, and there will be hell to pay if it's
lab-made. We'll all make sure of that. Let's be a community- support each other; let's NOT judge someone who does or does not take the
vaccine(s). Let's post what we know from where we are in the world (we must be on 6 continents). Our friends, coworkers, families, etc., in many
cases, don't realize the magnitude of this. The more information we share, the more we can be of use to those whom we love.
In the next 12-24 months there is a real probablitity we will each lose someone we know, someone we love. We will be frightened. We will be called
upon to help others. Let's live up to that and act as a true thinking organism- questioning- indeed- but also working toward solutions sharing
wellness techniques, checking in on one another. Is that not why we're on ATS? We all crave an intellectual debate- a site where we can share
information. So let's do that- but then, let's USE it.
Wellness and blessings to you all.