Thailand Sees More Bird Flu

The Thai Health Minister has asked a panel to look at the on going us of anti viral drugs like Tamiflu and reort to him after there have been worries and concerns that by misusing Tamiflu and other drugs the H5N1 virus could become resistant to it. The Health Minister said it was about time that definitive information on this important issue was resolved and that doctors and health professional had all the information they required to deal with the virus.

The request was in response to the fact that it seemed that many more people were coming into hospital with symptoms that were similar as those exhibited by bird flu and that it could be the case that an uncontrolled usage of Tamiflu could mean that resistant strains of the H5N1 virus would be created. The antiviral drug Tamiflu is made of a compound called oseltamivir that is said to be the best at successfully treating people that get infected with H5N1.

Over 50 people are in hospital awaiting results for suspected bird flu and a number of people have actaully died from bird flu over the last year. If the disiease mutates significantly the danger could increase dramatically in humans. The health ministry is issuing hospitals in areas where bird flu is prevalent with Tamiflu and bird flu testing kits. The number of suspected bird flu cases was much higher because the bird flu awareness was greater.

Chickens and other birds keep on dying in all areas of Thailand and massive culls of the birds have been ordered to contain the spread of the disease. As of now the virus is very difficult to transmit to humans but it could be the case in the near future that it will mutate to a more virulent type and then the trouble will really begin.