Rachel Maddow: I Had The Swine Flu

[midnight]

Source: Huffington Post

"I received special medication"

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/01/rachel-maddow-i-had-swine_n_273725.html

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Rachel Maddow was missing in action for a week due to Swine flu. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ She says she received special medication. And she is much better. It made me painfully aware how important it will be to have access to healthcare, more so, than having access to a vaccination.
Q: Do all H1N1 viruses cause pandemics?
A: No. H1N1 descendants of the Spanish Flu virus continue to circulate in people and sometimes cause outbreaks of seasonal flu.
Q: Are there drugs that treat swine flu?
A: Yes. Roche Holding AG’s Tamiflu and GlaxoSmithKline Plc’s Relenza both react against swine flu. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has released 25 percent of its stockpile of Tamiflu and Relenza, according to Secretary Janet Napolitano. Flu viruses sometimes develop resistance to antiviral drugs. The human form of H1N1 seasonal flu that’s currently circulating is resistant to Roche’s Tamiflu (not Relenza). If the two viruses were to exchange genes, the swine flu might become resistant, too. The drugs should be administered within the first 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, according to the CDC. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aWcd0Nbgc_R4
Tamiflu and Relenza may also help prevent swine flu in people who have been exposed to someone who was sick. someone who was sick. At this time, not everyone has access to health care, and it’s not sure that everyone will have access to vaccines or access to these drugs like Relenza. Relenza belongs to a class of medicines called neuraminidase (new-ram-in-id-ayz) inhibitors. It is used to prevent or treat flu. This medicine may cause bronchospasm. If you have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease make sure that you have your fast acting bronchodilator with you when you use Relenza. For more information speak to your prescriber or someone involved in your medical care. http://medguides.medicines.org.uk/document.aspx?name=Relenza&use=Swine%20flu&preparation=1§ion=full.

I'm not sure if these are the special medications, but these were some that came up when researching what options are available for those who have the swine flu. I hope that our elected officials pass single payer so those who need medical treatment from this swine flu can get treatment. Because if you get the flu reguardless if you get the swine flu shot, there seems these two meds. could help one survive the swine flu.






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