TOP STORY: Tamiflu, masks 'futile' for bird flu 23.11.2005
By Paul Dykes People who have rushed out to buy anti-viral tablets such as Tamiflu or protective masks to stave off bird flu are wasting their money, according to a top infectious disease specialist.
Dr Brian Dwyer, an infectious disease physician at Tauranga Hospital, said pre-emptive use of Tamiflu is unlikely to be effective unless taken for the full period of risk, which may be for more than five months.
"What's more, there is some chance that the bird flu virus may have become resistant to these anti-viral agents before it arrives in human populations in New Zealand," he says.
"It's pointless acquiring these things. I can't see any purpose in purchasing them. "I have not obtained any anti-virals or masks for my use or my family's use.
"Private, individual investment in masks and anti-viral medicines is premature and quite possibly pointless - if not futile."
His comments are backed up by a New Zealand-born world expert in viruses who says the avian flu virus H5N1 is more dangerous than the ebola.
Dr Richard Webby, a New Zealand virologist at St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, said having a stockpile of Tamiflu at home was not necessarily going to help in a pandemic.
There was only a short window of opportunity between being infected with the flu virus and having to take Tamiflu, and most people did not even realise they were sick until symptoms showed, usually two to three days later.
The timing for taking the drug was crucial, he said.
"What I'm worried about is that most people wouldn't know what to look for."
The H5N1 virus had quite a way to go before it would transmit from human to human but given enough opportunities it would adapt eventually, he said.
The difference between this pandemic and earlier ones was that the H5N1 virus was stronger.
"This virus has particular traits about it that makes it much more virulent than the 1957 or 1968 pandemic."
He would also rank it above the 1918 virus in terms of its ability to cause disease.
"It's a bit more nasty than the other three were."
Dr Dwyer said influenza vaccines available at the moment cover only currently circulating viruses and do not cover the bird flu virus at all.
People would be better off following the Ministry of Health guidelines being promoted by the Bay of Plenty District Health Board, Dr Dwyer said.
The Bay health board wants families to prepare for a bird flu pandemic in the Bay of Plenty by gearing up as for a civil defence emergency.
Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr Paul Martiquet says it's vital that people know what to do to look after themselves and their families should New Zealand be hit by an influenza pandemic.
"In the event of a pandemic, there may be a need for people to stay in their homes for up to two weeks to avoid being exposed to the virus," he says. "Build up your emergency supplies kit. Have a supply of food and drinks to last for at least a week. Choose non-perishable foods such as canned foods, soup sachets and dried foods."
He said a list of basic emergency kit contents is on the inside back cover of the Yellow Pages or on the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management website on 'What To Do in a Disaster'.
Dr Martiquet suggested living near to each other could form a telephone network.
The Bay of Plenty District Health Boards pandemic plan is now available on www.bopdhb.govt.nz.
