Flu Epidemic

Below is from the Tamiflu website:

Treat the Flu with TAMIFLUWhen you or someone in your family begins to experience flu symptoms, you have 48 hours to take action. Trust TAMIFLU, the number-one prescribed antiviral flu medicine*:

For flu treatment: When taken within two days of experiencing symptoms, TAMIFLU works by helping to stop the flu virus from spreading inside the body

For flu prevention: When you have been exposed to someone with the flu, taking TAMIFLU can help keep the virus from making you sick
TAMIFLU is not a substitute for the flu shot; vaccination is the first line of defense for flu protection.

TAMIFLU is Effective for Children and AdultsIn flu treatment studies of patients who took TAMIFLU within 48 hours of the first appearance of symptoms:

Adults felt better 30 percent faster (1.3 days) than flu patients who did not take TAMIFLU
Children felt better up to 26 percent faster (1.5 days) than flu patients who did not take TAMIFLU
TAMIFLU is indicated for the treatment and prevention of influenza in people 1 year and older.

Flu strains may vary from area to area, so if you are exposed to a strain of the flu that is not the same strain as the one your flu shot protects against, you may still get the flu.

 

is this stuff available over the counter?

 

TAMIFLU is only available by prescription from your healthcare provider. If you think you have flu symptoms, see your doctor or healthcare provider. Only (s)he can tell you if you have the flu. Remember, you have 48 hours from the time you first experienced symptoms to take TAMIFLU

 

Great info ffto.

I don't think there currently is a vaccine for this thing.

Tamiflu is not available over-the-counter. ffto is in the health care, he might know better. [to: ffto, you just answered me!]

 

think I could get a prescription before we leave in case? would a flu shot help?

 

"But there is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu. "
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090424/swine_flu_090424/20090424?hub=Health

 

We are going to get some Tamiflu to take with us just in case. Pam has a low immune system.

Just because there is a Flu outbreak will not stop us. If we worry about everything that could happen to us, we would live in a hole in the ground and then an earthquake would probably get us.

Let the party begin May 13th. :lotsofmichaelf:

 

Well said

 

Have a great trip. This is one of those one in a million stuff, so as long as you are prepared, no problems.

 

Ditto