Dr Laver is considered to be a leading authority in the world on flu viruses.

According to a leading Australian influenza scientist the Tamiflu drug should be made far more accessible to the general public so that it can save many more lives. The Tamiflu drug is not just to a drug to protect the public from the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus but also an extremely effective medication to help people from the regular influenza virus. Dr Laver claims that many people, especially the elderly are dying unnecessarily due to the fact that Tamiflu is a prescription drug and that it is not available over the counter.

On the other hand there are those who argue that by making the Tamiflu drug easily accessible people will abuse it and over use it and thus the regular flu virus will become more resistant to it. In the United Kingdom Tamiflu is only prescribed in high risk cases of regular flu and fortunately the UK has had no human cases so far of the more serious H5N1 bird flu virus. Tamiflu is often prescribed in the United Kingdom for old people and for those who have cardio and lung problems that could be aggravated by influenza.

While the regular flu virus in the vast majority of cases is pretty harmless it nevertheless kills several thousand individuals every year in the United Kingdom. Dr Laver argues that because you have to get a prescription for Tamiflu it increases the amount of time that is required before you can take the medication and thus the influenza virus gets a firmer hold on the human body.

Dr Laver is considered to be one of the leading authorities in the world on influenza viruses and his research previously played a part in the development of the Tamiflu drug. Tamiflu is not a definitive cure for the flu virus but is instrumental in reducing the seriousness of the influenza symptoms and can help to prevent the spread of the virus to other people.