| World Health Organization (WHO) has developed | | | | Influenza. The information adds that "despite |
| pharmacological advice for the use of | | | | international agreement to stockpile |
| antiviral treatments for highly pathogenic | | | | antivirals, evidence-based guidelines for |
| avian influenza. | | | | their use do not exist." |
| | | | |
| There is a high price to pay when it comes to | | | | The WHO convened an international panel to |
| mass production of food stuff especially one | | | | develop evidence-based guidelines for |
| of animal origin. Poultry has come under | | | | pharmacological treatment of H5N1 patients, |
| pandemic attacks leading to widespread human | | | | evaluating the benefits, harms, burden, and |
| afflictions a number of times. Avian | | | | cost of interventions in several patient and |
| Influenza or bird flu is the one that just | | | | exposure groups. |
| refuses to go away. Not in spurt for the time | | | | |
| being, however it continues to take its toll. | | | | The group agreed on a number of strong |
| According to a poultry news source, the World | | | | recommendations relating to treatment of H5N1 |
| Health Organization (WHO) has developed | | | | patients in a non-pandemic situation, as the |
| pharmacological advice for the use of | | | | poultry news source information goes. |
| antiviral treatments for highly pathogenic | | | | |
| avian influenza, according to a report in the | | | | Patients should receive oseltamivir treatment |
| January 2007 issue of The Lancet Infectious | | | | as soon as possible. Another line of |
| Diseases. | | | | treatment being Tamiflu has been found to be |
| | | | very effective. The recommendations of the |
| According to the information available, | | | | group being - if neuraminidase inhibitors are |
| "Recent spread of avian influenza A (H5N1) | | | | available, clinicians should not administer |
| virus to poultry and wild birds has increased | | | | amantadine or rimantadine alone as a |
| the threat of human infections with H5N1 | | | | first-line of treatment; high-risk exposure |
| virus worldwide," write Holger J. | | | | groups should receive oseltamivir as |
| Schünemann, MD, and colleagues from the | | | | chemoprophylaxis continuing for 7 to 10 days |
| WHO Rapid Advice Guideline Panel on Avian | | | | after the last known exposure. |