October 09, 2005
Ajc:Tom Skinner, spokesman for CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding, could not respond when asked about the manual on handling "sensitive but unclassified" information, which was released July 22, because he had not seen it. He asked a reporter to e-mail a copy to him.National security concerns Upon further questioning, CDC spokesman Von Roebuck cited national security concerns. He said the agency has programs that require protection from disclosure, such as the locations and work of laboratories with such biological agents as smallpox or anthrax.
Ok another Reason to make sure we get and keep some good American companies to research and improve vaccine production methods. And uh fire Skinner.
CNN: Experts in Hong Kong said on Friday that the human H5N1 strain which surfaced in northern Vietnam this year had proved to be resistant to Tamiflu, a powerful antiviral drug which goes by the generic name, oseltamivir
So far fancy anti virus medications don’t’ cut it. Way more profitable and easier to make but not a replacement for vaccines. And all this screaming about them is just noise that serves drug companies and moon bat politics. Are these drugs useful as stop gap measure? Sure but that is about it.
H1N1 similar virus from 1918.
BBC:US scientists have found the 1918 virus shares genetic mutations with the bird flu virus now circulating in Asia.
CNN: Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt: “:A bigger gap is how to create quickly a vaccine to match whatever pandemic flu strain erupts, Leavitt said. That currently takes months. The new plan will focus on rejuvenating vaccine production to speed the process, he said.â€
You bet the government working with private industry and I mean US private industry for vaccine production capacity and breakthroughs is the way. Will we get it in time I’m not sure. All I know is that if we work at it we will be able to create an economically sustainable and awesome solution so the next 100 years won't be a repeat of last 100. I'm not sure how long it may take but it's very possible. I repeat my challenge, the US has the most innovative industry in the world it’s up to them. The market is there if you can only figure out how to produce vaccine quickly and cheaply. American business always brags about better, cheaper faster just in time. Ok, I may not be from Missouri but I’m close enough, SHOW ME.
The Times is way behind the curve on this and the left is trying to again wait and attack, possibly spread some panic rather that work for solutions. I don't vote for whiners. Government can only help move us along it can't solve it. Sure it can make plans and do what it can to protect public health but only science can put it to rest. Only science and industry can bring about the day when flu is no big deal. It appears to me that conservatives are working for the best solutions. If you want more commentary on this load crap just hit the lefty politics whiney ass no solutions blogs.
Updated : Yahoo news:
Many governments around the world are stockpiling antiviral drugs and some companies are trying to speed up vaccine production but these measure give a false sense of security and will do little to counter a flu pandemic, an expert cautioned on Monday
Hat Tip: Carlos So why does Howie care you may ask? Well I used to love pancakes as a boy. I got had a bad case of the flu in 68-69 as just a lad. Grandma made me some pancakes to get me to eat, as I was very ill. I woke to the smell of them and ate em up. Still can’t eat em to this day. So that is a kind of funny thing but the truth is, at the time it was not funny at all, quite serious. So what I’m trying to do here is not take a political line. The left is using this as a talking point. I’m trying to give you some info so you know not to panic not get caught up in hype. Politics of division cannot help. Good old fashion American hard work can
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Vaccine manufacturers are few and far between, in part because of lawsuits in the past and the simple fact that they aren't very profitable. There are few vaccine manufacturers in the US and the flu vaccine is an annual guessing game under normal circumstances. Scientists know that the flu mutates regularly and therefore the scientists pick which strains are most likely to spread widely for a given season. If they guess wrong, those who take the vaccine aren't protected against the prevalent strain.
Now, throw the avian flu into the mix. It's simply a matter of time before the avian flu mutates into a version that can succeed in human to human transfer. The discovery of the genome for the 1918 flu is a huge accomplishment that might help figure out when and how the current avian flu might mutate. It may also give clues as to how to quickly develop a vaccine. And we have to hope that we figure this out sooner rather than after the first transfer occurs, since the timeframe to create a mass produced vaccine may come too late.
Posted by: lawhawk at October 09, 2005 04:55 PM (X7zVK)
Posted by: jesusland joe at October 09, 2005 07:18 PM (rUyw4)
Second, because even the safest of vaccines cause very occasional severe (even life threatening) reactions in a few people they're given to, the liability burden is tremendous.
That led to a real crisis in the US a few years ago with the production of DTP (Diphtheria + Tetanus + Polio) vaccines. Approximately 1 child in a million who was given the vaccine would develop a severely high fever that caused brain damage, and the parents would sue and usually win millions of dollars. As a result, the drug companies were losing money on that business and they quit making that vaccine. Suddenly there was only one company left in the business and it was threatening to stop, too.
The government ended up stepping in and guaranteeing what amounted to liability insurance to the drug companies to protect them from those lawsuits. When that one-in-a-million kid gets sick, the parents get money from the US instead of from the drug companies.
Flu virus is worse than DTP when it comes to adverse effects. The rate of adverse side effects is greater. My opinion is that by any reasonable standard it's "safe" but that doesn't matter when it comes to liability lawsuits.
If you want the drug companies to get enthusiastic about producing vaccines, then the thing for you to work on is tort reform. Once that is solved, the technical problems of ramping up vaccine production are minor by comparison. But right now major investment in vaccine production technology by drug companies is a good way to end up bankrupt from liabilty lawsuits, which is why they're not particularly enthusiastic about doing it.
Posted by: Steven Den Beste at October 09, 2005 07:21 PM (CJBEv)
I'm glad you brought this up, because frankly, liability lawsuits now threaten to disrupt a number of sectors in the medical field, from vaccine production to heart valves. If we do not get serious about tort reform and limit liability lawsuits we will wake up one morning with the medical profession in a meltdown.
Frankly, the economy(minus the lawyers) is already sufferring from a proclivity of lawsuits. I would also suggest that this nonsense of class action be eliminated. You can hardly watch television for 20 minutes without some law firm advertising for clients to join class actions.
These constant suits have driven industry, including vaccine makers, to either leave the US or discontinue production, or in some cases into bankrupcy.
Posted by: jesusland joe at October 09, 2005 08:06 PM (rUyw4)
Posted by: Steven Den Beste at October 09, 2005 09:05 PM (CJBEv)
Posted by: Taleena at October 09, 2005 11:27 PM (9uUzV)
Posted by: A Finn at October 10, 2005 04:06 AM (cWMi4)
Posted by: A Finn at October 10, 2005 04:08 AM (cWMi4)
problem. But for sure if you look back more than a few months then is't almost certain that in the next hundred years it will happen. So I'm just trying to keep cool keep aware and maybe that will help a few more research dollars get where they need to go. I feel we are ont he cusp of a big advancement here. We know how to identify the strains to creat vaccine for. We know how to get them to the people quickly. We just can't make them fast becuase we are using 1950's tech to create the virus from which to make the vaccine. So I feel it's a good field for study and research. Whomever gets it gets braggin rights too. I see a log of medical advancement but it always seems to cost more. some good old fashion 1920's economic principals ideas of mass production linked with innovation can drive down the cost as well as provide a great solution.
Everyone should be happy with that I mean thing of all the chicken emryos the are killed destroyed to get he virus.
Oh the chickmanity.
Posted by: Howie at October 10, 2005 08:28 AM (D3+20)
Posted by: Oyster at October 10, 2005 09:05 AM (fl6E1)
Posted by: Howie at October 10, 2005 09:05 AM (D3+20)
Posted by: sandpiper at October 10, 2005 09:27 AM (JtcRt)
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at October 10, 2005 10:01 AM (0yYS2)
Actually, numbers will matter very little in this struggle between the modern world and radical Islam. I had time this weekend while traveling to catch up on my reading.
I read Jihad in the West by Paul Fregosi, a Frenchman by the way, and according to his research, factional fighting between Christian sects weakened the Bzantine Empire at the time the Muslims came riding out of the deserts. Although outnumbered, the Muslims routed larger armies in Palestine.
Constant conflict between Bzanthium and Persia provided another opportunity for the Muslims as both empires were weakened at just the right time. The armies of the Musselmen fanned out both east and west and conquered the majority of the African and Middle Eastern parts of the old Roman Empire in an unbelievably short period of time. The Eastern part of the jihad was not dealt with by Fregosi, but my reading in the past has shown the jihad to be just as successful in the old Persian empire.
As we now know, Europe has been weakened by constant warfare in the 20th Century and is ripe to fall. I doubt little effort would be required in most European countries for a Muslim victory, although Europe might hold out for a few more years. The demise of Christianity in most of Europe has caused a spiritual decline and it seems that Europe doesn't even want to try. Much like what happened to Spain when a huge army of Vandals was routed by a small army of Muslims. Were it not for the French at Tours in 732, well, we would all be Muslim already. As an aside, I believe that my ancestors fought in the battle of Tours, as they lived in the Rheims area.
I don't believe numbers will play a huge part in the struggle between the West and Islam. The side with the will to win will be victorious, and at this time I would put my money on the Muslims.
Posted by: jesusland joe at October 10, 2005 11:04 AM (rUyw4)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051010/sc_nm/birdflu_pandemic_dc
Posted by: Carlos at October 10, 2005 01:50 PM (8e/V4)
Posted by: Howie at October 10, 2005 01:56 PM (D3+20)
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at October 10, 2005 01:56 PM (0yYS2)
I was referring to Europe not the United States. The US is not Europe, and many factors will come into play here that are not present in Europe. I didn't make myself clear on that particular point.
Posted by: jesusland joe at October 10, 2005 02:07 PM (rUyw4)
Posted by: A Finn at October 10, 2005 04:29 PM (lGolT)
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at October 10, 2005 09:30 PM (0yYS2)
Posted by: Howie at October 10, 2005 09:38 PM (D3+20)
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