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Tamiflu Is Not A Magic Bullet
You may have heard that governments are stockpiling antiviral medicine, such as
Tamiflu, for a flu pandemic. However, officials are not counting on antivirals in
pandemic flu planning because these medicines will be scarce and may have limited
effectiveness.
Antiviral drugs are used to prevent a viral disease or to shorten the illness and reduce
symptoms. There are four major antivirals:
 Amantadine (brand name Symmatrel)
 Rimantadine (brand name Flumadine)
 Oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu)
 Zanamivir (brand name Relenza)
Only Tamiflu and Relenza are being considered for pandemic flu. Amantadine and
Rimantadine have been ineffective against some seasonal flu strains.
Tamiflu is scarce and expensive, up to $7 per pill on average. Only one company makes
it, and the manufacturing process is lengthy and complicated.
To prevent illness, a person must take an antiviral drug every day as long as there is a risk
of infection. During a pandemic, it could be weeks, maybe months. There will not be
enough Tamiflu for this use, and it’s very possible it wouldn’t even help.
The United States government plans to stockpile enough antivirals to treat 25% of the
U.S. population should a pandemic occur. This figure is based on data from past
pandemics indicating that roughly 25% of the population would get sick and would
benefit from antiviral treatment. The U. S. government expects to have 81 million
treatment courses by the end of 2008.
However, it is possible that there will be flu viruses that do not respond to any available
antiviral drugs. There has been at least one documented case of Tamiflu-resistant H5N1
infection.
Health officials plan to use antiviral drugs to treat only the sickest patients, not everyone.
To help a flu patient, the drug must be started within 48 hours of symptom onset.
You may have also heard about people stockpiling Tamiflu at home in case a pandemic
hits. This is not recommended. High-risk patients depend on Tamiflu every year, and
personal stockpiling will reduce what’s available to treat patients who need it now.
It makes more sense to follow the steps we have talked about: practice healthy habits
such as hand washing and staying home when you are sick to avoid spreading the virus,
build a family emergency kit, and create an emergency plan. For more information, visit
www.pandemicflu.gov.
Rhiannon Brewer is the public relations and information specialist for the Northeast
Health District and can be reached at [email protected].