Spring Break
Swine flu outbreak: financial conspiracy
Tyler Vogler
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Opinion
Interestingly enough, former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld served on the board of trustees of Gilead Sciences, the company that developed Tamiflu. He holds stock valued between $5 and $25 million in the company, according to a CNN article on his financial holdings.
With the drug's production and sales increasing, so will the company's stock and Rumsfeld's personal profits. Talk about being a profit hog, right?
Furthermore, Tamiflu is not all that effective against swine flu - or any mutation of the flu virus, to be honest.
As the flu virus replicates and infects more cells, Tamiflu's ability to combat the infection diminishes. Because of this, according to Epocrates, a pharmaceutical reference guide, Tamiflu should be taken within two days of the appearance of symptoms - the sooner, the better.
Even when Tamiflu is taken as early as possible, its effectiveness is debated. Some doctors believe taking Tamiflu at the earliest sight of symptoms will only reduce suffering for as little as 16 hours, according to an article in Nature Magazine.
Even knowing the Tamiflu's potentially uselessness, countries around the world have stockpiles of the drug in case of a potential outbreak. Texas Governor Rick Perry has already requested over 37,000 doses of Tamiflu in response to his state's swine flu sufferers.
At the height of the avian flu pandemic, South Asian doctors concluded Tamiflu was usless against that strain of the virus. Will the swine flu prove to be different?
In situations like swine flu, the first and most important thing to do is remain calm. Until mass numbers of people are dropping dead, I think the general population does not have much to worry about.
Erin McCarthy's article, "WHATEVER TITLE WE CHOOSE," offers a number of steps to protect against swine flu (and a number of other health problems in the process).
Instead of preaching doomsday in the face of a potential global pandemic or waiting in sterilization for a magic cure, just be smart and be healthy. Your body will thank you.
With the drug's production and sales increasing, so will the company's stock and Rumsfeld's personal profits. Talk about being a profit hog, right?
Furthermore, Tamiflu is not all that effective against swine flu - or any mutation of the flu virus, to be honest.
As the flu virus replicates and infects more cells, Tamiflu's ability to combat the infection diminishes. Because of this, according to Epocrates, a pharmaceutical reference guide, Tamiflu should be taken within two days of the appearance of symptoms - the sooner, the better.
Even when Tamiflu is taken as early as possible, its effectiveness is debated. Some doctors believe taking Tamiflu at the earliest sight of symptoms will only reduce suffering for as little as 16 hours, according to an article in Nature Magazine.
Even knowing the Tamiflu's potentially uselessness, countries around the world have stockpiles of the drug in case of a potential outbreak. Texas Governor Rick Perry has already requested over 37,000 doses of Tamiflu in response to his state's swine flu sufferers.
At the height of the avian flu pandemic, South Asian doctors concluded Tamiflu was usless against that strain of the virus. Will the swine flu prove to be different?
In situations like swine flu, the first and most important thing to do is remain calm. Until mass numbers of people are dropping dead, I think the general population does not have much to worry about.
Erin McCarthy's article, "WHATEVER TITLE WE CHOOSE," offers a number of steps to protect against swine flu (and a number of other health problems in the process).
Instead of preaching doomsday in the face of a potential global pandemic or waiting in sterilization for a magic cure, just be smart and be healthy. Your body will thank you.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Don R. White, Tucson
posted 4/29/09 @ 5:37 AM CST
We hope that you are right. WHO reported a similar virus detected in Mexican pigs c. Feb. 6th '09. Undercooked Pork could be the culprit. They say they don't know the origin of this virus but then say it is not from eating pork or chicken (this is swine AND avian and human). (Continued…)
business stationary
posted 5/13/09 @ 12:13 PM CST
Lets hope that this is accurate. I also read an article that stated the "normal" flu takes more lives per year than what the swine flu is on target for. (Continued…)
notepad publishing
posted 10/05/09 @ 4:29 PM CST
H1N1 = Conspiracy?
October 2009
On October 1 2009, a FORMER federal health minister dismisses as ( "www.conspiration.info/blog1.php/2009/10/02/crackpots-are-against-swine-flu-vaccine-">"crackpots and conspiracy theorists") those who would actively discourage Australians from having their swine flu vaccine'. (Continued…)
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