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Relative of the A (H1N1) patient


Laninamivir (CS-8958) is a neuraminidase inhibitor which is being researched for the treatment and prophylaxis of Influenzavirus A and Influenzavirus B. It is currently in Phase III clinical trials
1.Yamashita M, Tomozawa T, Kakuta M, Tokumitsu A, Nasu H, Kubo S (January 2009). "CS-8958, a prodrug of the new neuraminidase inhibitor R-125489, shows long-acting anti-influenza virus activity". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 53 (1): 186–92. doi:10.1128/AAC.00333-08. PMID 18955520.
2.Hayden F (January 2009). "Developing new antiviral agents for influenza treatment: what does the future hold?". Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America 48 Suppl 1: S3–13. doi:10.1086/591851. PMID 19067613
It has the same effect as current Tamiflu and is even more effective for children. It is developed by Daiichi Sankyo Company, Japan.
So MOH DG was wrong and short sighted to advise his minister, PM and DPM to block the antiviral medicine from the GPs and patients. Now also after repeated assurance of supplying them, up to 11.30 AM 11.00 of Aug 2009, we could not even buy the medicine.
His lame excuse of overuse leading to drug resistance is invalid as other countries are using almost indiscriminately. Malaysians are denied early treatment and facing death because this medicine is most effective in first two days only.
I am a doctor, old, got HPT, Asthma, Hypercholesterolemia and have VMR. Because my sister doctor was diagnosed positive but late for treatment, as I am exposed, I had consulted the kind-hearted professor of my sister. My temperature was 37.8 and my Asthma was not relieved even after inhaling various inhalers for about 2 dozens of time. As X-ray is normal MOH refused throat swab. The Prof. decided to give me Tamiflu. Within 1-2 hrs I feel almost normal. Able to stop all other Asthma medicine , painkillers and fever medicine. TQ Professor for farsightedness and not following the stupid orders of MOH.
MOH DH should take responsibility and resign gracefully or dismissed.

Please kindly removed my e-mail adress from the above posting

the problem with this country,,no minister,,want to teake responsiblity,and resign,,by themselves,,frankly looking at other country death,,our is the heavest,in our region,,look at india,,china,,such avast country,,and yet,,the death is at the minimal,,look at singpore,,only nice,,death,,and this tiny liittle country,,our so called one malaysia,,PM,,,AND HIS DPM are more interested in tryint to get selangor bak to bn//// disgusting to know we had such a pm around this time of crisis

Agreed on the above statement as i read in the internet and that it is widely recommended by Prof. in UK on the effect of Laninamivir as single dose usage. Maybe this is one reason why even Japan and Korea has high positive cases but with no death. Malaysia 38, Brunei 1, Singapore 9, Indonesia 3, Phillipines 9 ( Available of Antiviral to the public).

No of death in M'sia is disproportionately high compared to rest of the world. Something is wrong. Either our medical system is unable to effectively deal with the situation or something wrong with the statistics. We have a 1% share of total number of cases worldwide but have more than 2% share of the deaths.

On the use of single dose of Laninamivir:
“It was tested in a thousand patients infected with two types of seasonal flu in Japan. Patients treated with Laninamivir recovered as quickly as those given Tamiflu and had fewer side-effects.
A study, published in the journal Nature, showed that the drug was just as effective against swine flu and the H5N1 bird flu virus. “
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/Swine_flu/article6790765.ece

Kenapa susah untuk Rakyat Malaysia mendapat anti viral, tertinggal dan dinafi ubatan; sebab KKM monopoly hak dan stok hanya 10 % walhal negara dekat kita;
“Most of the Americas and Europe, as well as Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong in Asia, have sufficient stocks of the antiviral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza to treat 50 percent of their population. I have on several occasions called on the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou (°¨^¤E) to stockpile enough antiviral drugs for 30 percent of the population, based on a predicted infection rate of at least 20 percent, most of which would be symptomatic.”

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2009/08/11/2003450858

To share what experts expect and say last weekend in the net ;
"This is something that we could see here soon (the second wave)," said Arnold Monto, a University of Michigan infectious-disease expert who advises the WHO, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal agencies. "We have to be worried about our ability to handle a surge of severe cases."
"There's a lot of moving parts to this," said Joseph Bresee, who heads the CDC's influenza epidemiology and prevention branch. "Hopefully we won't have a panic, but instead we'll have the appropriate level of concern and response."
Many experts suspect the second wave could be more severe than an average flu season, which hospitalizes an estimated 200,000 Americans and contributes to 36,000 deaths. Because the virus is new, most people have no immunity against it.
"This epidemic will transmit faster than usual, because the population is more susceptible," said Marc Lipsitch, a Harvard School of Public Health professor of epidemiology who has been helping the CDC project the severity of the upcoming wave. "It's fair to say there will be tens of millions of illnesses and hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, and tens of thousands of deaths. What we don't know is how many tens of thousands."
Most of those who have developed serious illness and died have had other health problems. But those include many common conditions, such as diabetes, asthma and obesity. Pregnant women appear to be especially at risk. And the virus can cause severe illness and death in otherwise healthy people in perhaps one-third of cases.
"There's only so much that can be done to get ready," said Eric Toner of the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Biosecurity. "Flu, like a hurricane, is a force of nature. You can't stop it. You can't make it less severe than it would be otherwise. All you can do is try to be prepared to deal with the consequences."
(“35,000 Americans die from the flu each year. Swine flu is just a very small part of it”. Comment by public)

The worldwide fatality rate is 1,716/208,990 or 0.08%. M'sia fatality rate is 38/2251 or 1.69% or twice the international rate. Any improvement we can do here, Mr Liow?, maybe Malaysian is weaker? but we are Bolehland so we are definately not weaker. Maybe the virus is racist! hmm.. awang selamat, can you explain is the virus is racist here?

Expect improvement? From this government, you do have a sense of humor!

We deserves what we voted for ... *sigh*

1.6 out of 100 H1N1 patients ... DIE ... in Malaysia. This is truly Malaysia only boleh. Another 'uniqueness' for the 1 and only 1Malaysia. What a way to get Malaysia on the global headlines.

BN ... time to go!