GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT TAMIFLU

Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) is an antiviral drug for the treatmant of influenza A and B. It works by blocking the function of viral neuraminidase protein. Tamiflu was the first orally active neuraminidase inhibitor commercially developed. It was developed by Gilead Sciences and is currently marketed by Roche. The increasing fears about the potential of bird flu turning into a new influenza pandemic, has focused attention on oseltamivir, especially since production capacity is limited and governments are stockpiling the drug.
The synthesis of Oseltamivir is a major feat of organic chemistry, it requires over 30 synthetic steps to make it from the naturally available (?)-shikimic acid. Apart from the complex synthetic route the availability of shikimic acid causes problems, it is exracted from spice Chinese star anise, so due to the demand for Tamiflu, Roche has had to buy up 90% of the worlds supply of spice.
The shortage of Tamiflu has prompted some individuals to stockpile Tamiflu. Sadly therefore there has been a market online selling of Tamiflu which is more than likely to be based on illegally imported and/or dangerous counterfeit pharmaceuticals. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in early Dec 2005 took action against a number of websites requiring them to stop fraudulently marketing Tamiflu as a cure for bird flu.

Formal Chemical Name (IUPAC)(3R,4R,5S)-ethyl 4-acetamido-5-amino-3-(pentan-3-yloxy)cyclohex-1-enecarboxylate

TREATMENT FOR SWINE FLU

Antiviral drugs - Tamiflu and Relenza
Swine flu is being treated with antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu and Relenza. Antiviral drugs work by preventing the flu virus from reproducing - to be effective you need to take them within 48 hours of the symptoms beginning. This can reduce the risk of complications and possibly shorten the illness by a day.
If the National Pandemic Flu Service or your GP confirm you have swine flu, you will be told where your nearest antiviral collection point is so your 'flu friend' - a friend or relative who does not have swine flu - can pick up antiviral drugs for you.
Adverse reactions to Tamiflu
In some cases, antiviral medicine can cause side effects, such as:
· nausea
· vomiting
· diarrhoea
· stomach ache
· headache
Even if you do feel these symptoms it is important that those prescribed antiviral medicine complete the course, even if symptoms of swine flu clear and you start to feel better quickly.

INCUBATION PERIOD OF SWINE FLU

"The estimated incubation period is unknown and could range from 1-7 days, and more likely 1-4 days."The typical incubation period for influenza is 1-4 days (average: 2 days). Adults shed influenza virus from the day before symptoms begin through 5-10 days after illness onset. However, the amount of virus shed, and presumably infectivity, decreases rapidly by 3-5 days after onset in an experimental human infection model. Young children also might shed virus several days before illness onset, and children can be infectious for 10 or more days after onset of symptoms. Severely immunocompromised persons can shed virus for weeks or months. "Uncomplicated influenza illness typically resolves after 3-7 days for the majority of persons, although cough and malaise can persist for >2 weeks. However, influenza virus infections can cause primary influenza viral pneumonia; exacerbate underlying medical conditions (e.g., pulmonary or cardiac disease); lead to secondary bacterial pneumonia, sinusitis, or otitis media; or contribute to coinfections with other viral or bacterial pathogens."

SYMPTOMS OF SWINE FLU

It is important that as swine flu spreads, you know the symptoms of the disease so you can recognise it in yourself and others at an early stage.
Please read this page and consider your symptoms carefully before using the National Pandemic Flu Service mentioned below.
So far, most swine flu cases have been mild, with symptoms similar to those of seasonal flu. Only a small number of people have had more serious symptoms.
If you or a member of your family has any of the following symptoms and a temperature of 38°C or above, you may have swine flu. The typical symptoms are:
a sudden fever (a high body temperature of 38°C/100.4°F or above), and
a sudden cough.
Other symptoms may include:
*headache,
*tiredness,
*chills,
*aching muscles,
*limb or joint pain,
*diarrhoea or stomach upset,
*sore throat,
*runny nose,
*sneezing, or
*loss of appetite.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES FOR SWINE FLU

1.The first preventive measure is to avoid contact with the pigs (swine). If you have pigs in your area then please inform the local municipal office so that he can take care of those pigs by keeping them isolated.

2. Swine flu is communicable disease, so use the face masks to protect from the swine flu antigens.

3. Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using tissue when possible. Dispose this tissue by using only once.

4. Avoid visiting the crowded places like theaters and prayer halls. This can be the spreading ground for Swine flu.

5. Maintain good hygiene. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of virus. It would be better if you use alcohol sanitizers or Dettol for washing hands.

6. Take a special care of children because they easily get infected with the Swine flu. It is okay if you don’t send them to school for few days. Many schools have even announced holidays.

7. Avoid eating outside food because it may be contaminated and may make you infected with the virus.

8. Don’t use the public urinals because many people spit there, which could lead to the spreading of the disease.

9. Drink the boiled water.

VIRUS

Viruses are the smallest organisms, with diameters ranging from 20 nm to 300 nm (1 nm = 10-9 meter). Viruses are not cells. They consist of one or more molecules of DNA or RNA, which contain the virus's genes, surrounded by a protein coat called capsid. Some viruses also have an envelope surrounding the capsid. Viruses can be sphere-shaped, or helical.
Unlike most bacteria, most viruses do cause disease because they invade living, normal cells, such as those in the human body. They then multiply and produce other viruses like themselves. Each virus is very particular about which cell it attacks. Various human viruses specifically attack particular cells in the body's organs, systems, or tissues, such as the liver, respiratory system, or blood cells.
Although types of viruses behave differently, most survive by taking over the machinery that makes a cell work. Briefly, when a single virus particle, a "virion", comes in contact with a cell it likes, it may attach to special landing sites on the surface of that cell. From there, the virus may inject molecules into the cell, or the cell may swallow up the virion. Once inside the cell, viral molecules such as DNA or RNA direct the cell to make new virus offspring. That's how a virus "infects" a cell.
Viruses can even "infect" bacteria. These viruses, called bacteriophages, may help researchers develop alternatives to antibiotic medicines for wiping out bacterial infections.
Many viral infections do not result in disease. For example, by the time most people in the United States become adults, they have been infected by cytomegalovirus (CMV). Most of these people, however, do not develop CMV disease symptoms. Other viral infections can result in deadly diseases, such as HIV which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and coronaviruses which cause severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Swine influenza

Swine influenza (also called H1N1 flu, swine flu, hog flu, and pig flu) is an infection by any one of several types of swine influenza virus. Swine influenza virus (SIV) is any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is endemic in pigs. As of 2009, the known SIV strains include influenza C and the subtypes of influenza A known as H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, and H2N3.
Swine influenza virus is common throughout pig populations worldwide. Transmission of the virus from pigs to humans is not common and does not always lead to human influenza, often resulting only in the production of antibodies in the blood. If transmission does cause human influenza, it is called zoonotic swine flu. People with regular exposure to pigs are at increased risk of swine flu infection. The meat of an infected animal poses no risk of infection when properly cooked.
During the mid-20th century, identification of influenza subtypes became possible, allowing accurate diagnosis of transmission to humans. Since then, only 50 such transmissions have been confirmed. These strains of swine flu rarely pass from human to human. Symptoms of zoonotic swine flu in humans are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general, namely chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort.