Kiwis stockpile bird flu drugs
By EMILY WATT
21 August 2005
Anxious Kiwis are stockpiling the anti-viral drug Tamiflu to protect themselves against a lethal world bird flu epidemic which experts say is inevitable.
Doctors say many patients are collecting supplies of the drug for themselves and their families.
Auckland GP Dr Simon Cotton has ordered more than $2500-worth of Tamiflu - 40 packets - for himself, family, friends and colleagues.
He is convinced the epidemic will kill many New Zealanders.
"I don't think it's a question of if this will come, it's when. It could be tomorrow."
Little is known about how the virus will behave, but the Health Ministry says up to 35 per cent of New Zealanders - 1.4 million people - could be infected.
The disease has a 20 per cent mortality rate, so up to 280,000 could die.
The government has ordered 800,000 doses, enough to cover 20 per cent of the population. These will probably be used to treat health workers first.
Full Article
21 August 2005
Anxious Kiwis are stockpiling the anti-viral drug Tamiflu to protect themselves against a lethal world bird flu epidemic which experts say is inevitable.
Doctors say many patients are collecting supplies of the drug for themselves and their families.
Auckland GP Dr Simon Cotton has ordered more than $2500-worth of Tamiflu - 40 packets - for himself, family, friends and colleagues.
He is convinced the epidemic will kill many New Zealanders.
"I don't think it's a question of if this will come, it's when. It could be tomorrow."
Little is known about how the virus will behave, but the Health Ministry says up to 35 per cent of New Zealanders - 1.4 million people - could be infected.
The disease has a 20 per cent mortality rate, so up to 280,000 could die.
The government has ordered 800,000 doses, enough to cover 20 per cent of the population. These will probably be used to treat health workers first.
Full Article
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