Wandering around the internet I'm reading more and more about this avian flu, H5N1 I think it's called. It has a 55% mortality rate apparently, and it's on its way here epidemiologists think.
And apparently, the 1600 Crew have done nothing to prepare for it. We know its coming, have known for a while it seems, but Flying Spaghetti Monster forbid that the Department of Health and Human Services start working with drug companies to get vaccines out, or preventatives like Tamiflu, which is made by Roche Laboratories in mass quantities. Roche, quite likely wants to be compensated for their research and manufacture of Tamiflu. But with a Pandemic of this nature coming they need help manufacturing it if they don't have the capacity. So here's the deal, how about on a one-time basis, they release the drug from patent protection i.e. make it generic, and in return, because of the emergency they get a one-time five-year exemption from paying any Federal Corporate Taxes on everything and every subsidiary they own on the day they sign the deal. No taxes in return for a drug that might save tens of millions of people. They get paid, we stay healthy. Sounds fair to me, because on the day that you get sick with this bug, you'd probably be willing to pay anyone anything to get better.
Thoughts?
posted by Jo Fish on 09.17.05 at 08:46 PM
Comments:
I believe that Chertoff was at a meeting re: the avian flu when he was supposed to be dealing with Katrina.
The 1918 'Spanish flu' influenza outbreak killed 20 million people, with 1 billion sick. We now have over 6 billion people with rapid transit between continents. Since it is a virus innoculation before hand would help, but a vaccine for more than 6 billion people? Doubtful if it could take place in time, but don't worry... the elite will get theirs.
Who'd run this? FEMA? I surrender! This country is so screwed.
posted by: Scott1960 on 09.18.05 at 12:05 AM [permalink]
Makes sense to me. In a case like this, would make sense for the government to work with the company to prepare for what seems overwhelmingly a case of compelling public interest. After the hospitals fill with people drowning in their own fluids is a wee bit too late.
One would think that after Katrina, we'd be receptive to "ounce of prevention" measures. Why don't you put up a form letter, suitable for Congressional types, demanding real flu preparedness?
posted by: An Ounce of Prevention on 09.18.05 at 03:08 AM [permalink]
http://avianflu.typepad.com/avianflu/
more than you want to know...
posted by: Palolo lolo on 09.18.05 at 03:12 AM [permalink]
. . . they release the drug from patent protection . . .
My friend, you had me blowing orange soda out my nose. A drug company . . . release . . . patent? Bwa-ha-ha-ha
. . . they get a one-time five-year exemption from paying any Federal Corporate Taxes on everything . . .
Because they already do, or have the ability to make profit (thanks to favorable legistlation) to defray any tax penalties they might incur on the 5 sq. feet of office space they own in this country.
. . . on the day that you get sick with this bug, you'd probably be willing to pay anyone anything to get better.
That's the day they raise prices, when the demand's highest. Greedy bastids. None of 'em have any soul anyway.
I don't know if we have much leverage with Roche. I guess we could invade Germany and take over production. Apparently, as the potential for an H5N1 pandemic that might kill 100,000,000 became obvious to Bush Admin. officials, they dithered and allowed a number of other countries to get in line ahead of America for the limited stock of Tamiflu.
Not only is production limited, but it appears that the dosage and treatment required for people who ultimately get ill from the H5N1 virus, will be significantly greater than originally anticipated.
There is a very detailed link at the fluwiki that give an excellent background and tells us how screwed we are going to be if this thing mutates in its human transmittable from with the lethality it has in its avian form.
Your thoughts on the avian looming avian flu crisis, echo ours at BeachBull.com !!!
Comprised of 8 combat veterans, we assess, the coming crisis, and agree with your direction fully, 3 Republicans, 3 Democrats and two Independants, but all American's.
All with a minimum of O-5 and 22 years.
All Americans!!!
It's a problem, and there is a solution. There will be several million doses of the vaccine available right now as it is. If you all remember back to Sept 11, 2001, there was a news report that right after the planes hit, Dear Leader and President Cheney were given doses of Cipro.
So, at least the core of the nations strength (Facsist Party Inner members and Pioneers and Rangers) will survive.
Freedom is messy, sometimes.
posted by: Lurch on 09.18.05 at 02:14 PM [permalink]
The risk of H5N1 may be a bit overstated in the press.... while it is deadly, it appears to be extremely poor at jumping from humans to humans... most, if not all, infections are bird to human. That may not seem like much of an assurance, but its not exactly trivial for a virus to aquire the ability to go from 0 human to human spread to the high infectivity of the Spanish Flu and related strains. Since the virus 'dies out' in its human hosts, and it has plenty of bird hosts to infect, there isn't really strong selection for it to become more transmissable in humans.
Not saying that we shouldn't keep an eye on this virus, but there is only a low probability of it becoming serious... something Roche and the vaccine manufacturersr are likely very aware of when they budget their production efforts.
posted by: Anax on 09.18.05 at 08:07 PM [permalink]
