Tamiflu Does Not Biodegrade - Presence In Water, Environment May Boost Viral Resistance - G&M

[hatrack]

PARIS -- Swedish scientists say that Tamiflu - the front-line weapon in any bird-flu pandemic - cannot be broken down by sewage systems and this could help the virus mutate dangerously into a drug-resistant strain.

Countries around the world are stockpiling Tamiflu in the belief it will help curb any future outbreak of H5N1 avian flu among humans.

Tamiflu - whose lab name is oseltamivir - is not a cure for flu but can ease its symptoms, thus aiding vulnerable patients such as the elderly, and reduce the time of illness, easing the burden on caregivers.

A team led by Jerker Fick, a chemist at Umea University, tested the survivability of the Tamiflu molecule in water drawn from three phases in a typical sewage system.

EDIT

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20071003.LFLU03/TPStory/Environment

[robinlynne]

1. Doesn't Ashcroft own more than 50% of that company?

[Just-plain-Kathy]

2. Wow, we haven't heard much about the bird flu since Rummy got his $5 million cut.

...Go figure we paid for a "cure" which could even make things worst.

[redqueen]

3. Is it Captain Tripps yet?

It's not as if we aren't trying...

[XemaSab]

4. Jerker Fick?

What is up with these people's names? :shrug:

[Henryman]

5. mutate dangerously into a drug-resistant strain????

Biologically, this doesn't make any sense to me. If the compound doesn't interact with the virus at all, there is no mechanism or increased opportunity to mutate. My $0.02.

[hatrack]

6. Well, since the greatest natural reservoir of flu viruses (other than pigs) is waterfowl . . .

And since waterfowl tend to spend so much time in, y'know, contact with water . . . .

[Henryman]

7. Waterfowl in water...

is your conclusion that the Waterfowl will have less severe flu symptoms and be able to return quicker to waterfowling?