Bird flu update

As the epizootic, that is the disease affecting free-flying birds and domestic poultry, shows no signs of abating in Asia and Europe, some readers may be interested in the trends of development and research regarding the proposed contingency programmes that would become operative if and when the expected pandemic becomes a reality.

It has been suggested that the currently recommended dosage of our first-line defensive drug, Tamilflu, should be revised upwards - doubling the dose and giving a longer course - to what is being advised by the manufacturers and the international authorities.

Also, a double-pronged attack should be made on the virus particles by giving a cocktail of drugs, as is done in HIV/AIDS, administering both Tamiflu and Amantadine, which two drugs act through different mechanisms.

At present we depend upon these drugs, which form our first line of defence given early and promptly to suspect infected patients and contacts.

However, our ideal and long-term solution to counteract this influenza plague would be the research and development of a vaccine; and in this field there are at least three vaccine manufacturers who are working on a project to prepare a vaccine not only against the H5N1 influenza virus strain but a universal influenza vaccine preparation which would be effective against all pandemic bird flu viruses.