It has been confirmed that there are 5 cases of Tamiflu resistant Swine Flu in the UK.

This genetic mutation of the original H1N1 Swine Flu strain presents some problems as far as treatment is concerned.

The strain seems to have originated from a hospital in Wales.  The resistant strain has passed from person to person, and these five cases are the first recorded worldwide.  It is the passing from person to person that makes this original.  Tamiflu resistance was first seen in Denmark.

The WHO are worried by this development, since it had previously been thought that Tamiflu was the best treatment for swine flu worldwide.  If the resistant strain spreads it changes everything.

Get yourself vaccinated as soon as you can!

We could be waiting another 8 months for the population to be immunised against the swine flu (H1N1) virus.

That is according to Mary Harney.  Why is this?  It will depend on uptake and supply.  I could have sworn that we were told that the supply part was sorted out.  I must have misheard it.

The IMC have assured doctors who are not participating in the immunisation program that they cannot be sued for not taking part in administering the Flu Vaccines.

Meanwhile the idea has been mooted that pharmacists may get involved in administering the swine flu vaccine too.

Some people in the at risk groups have reported that they have to travel large distances to get the jab.  It is also still uncertain whether a second jab may be necessary.  What will determine that?  How many people one jab does not work for.  Makes you feel safe in the capable hands of our health service executive doesn’t it!

Ever since Thalidomide people have been scared of putting anything they may not have to into their bodies (other than drugs and alcohol apparently).  I know that I for one will have no hesitation in getting myself immunised.  Why would I not?  I don’t want swine flu and having had the usual yearly flu vaccination for years I do not fear a slightly different version of it.  What I do fear is that by the time I get a chance to get the injection I will have already caught swine flu.

It is spreading at an alarming rate.  We have had relatively few deaths from it but by all accounts it is rather an unpleasant experience.  I dare say that for those who didn’t make it through and their relatives it was a sight more than alarming and unpleasant.

UK research has pointed to Tamiflu causing adverse reactions in some children.  The research did not take into consideration the current H1N1 (Swine Flu) pandemic.  The research results are based on seasonal influenza.

In the UK all patients showing Swine Flu symptoms are being treated with antivirals.  This contrasts with the situation in Ireland, where GP’s are being told to exercise their clinical judgement when prescribing antiviral drugs like Tamiflu, in particular when children are concerned.

The general guidelines are that anybody with considerably less than perfect health or in an “at risk” group should be considered for treatment with Tamiflu.  For most of the population recovery from Swine Flu should take a few days without the need for treatment with Anti-virals like Tamiflu.