WHO Still Recommends Tamiflu For
H1N1 Despite The Proof It's Useless
Ironically, the World Health Organization (WHO), the agency
responsible for the H1N1 flu, vaccine and antiviral hype, is now
endorsing findings that there is no clear evidence the antiviral
Tamiflu prevents complications such as pneumonia in otherwise
healthy people with seasonal flu.
The WHO also said pandemic influenza has peaked in North America,
most of Western Europe except France, and possibly in Russia as
well, the WHO said in a weekly statement.
An updated review in the Cochrane Review published by the British
Medical Journal, researchers found there was insufficient data
to know if the drug cut complications from flu.
"We would not take issue with the Cochrane conclusions concerning
seasonal influenza," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said.
Hartl told Reuters: "That is entirely consistent with our
views and guidelines. For otherwise healthy people presenting
with uncomplicated seasonal influenza, they do not need to be
treated with the drugs."
Roche has contested the finding and said it stood behind the
previous data showing a benefit.
At issue is whether or not certain previously published trials
on Tamiflu should be included or excluded when analysing the drug's
effectiveness.
In direc contradiction to his previous statements, Hartl then
said that in the course of the H1N1 pandemic, "a substantial
body of evidence has been building up to indicate oseltamivir
is effective at reducing and/or preventing severe illness and
even death."
This was mainly in people who are at higher risk from H1N1 due
to underlying medical conditions such as asthma or in patients
who develop severe illness, he said.
"So our recommendations have been and continue to be that
concerning infections with H1N1, if you are in a high risk group
you should start oseltamivir treatment immediately."
Other experts have noted that evidence also suggests that Tamiflu
and other antivirals lower body temperatures. They make people
(who can still transmit the virus) asymptomatic for longer periods
and can therefore be expected to facilitate and contribute to
the spread of the pandemic. If populations begin taking Tamiflu
as a preventive measure, it could potentially cause the reverse
of the intended effect, causing an explosion of viral transmission.
"If you are not in a high risk group but if you have symptoms
which persist over 3 days and or get worse, you should begin oseltamivir
treatment," the WHO said.
Despite the adverse reactions of antivirals such as Tamiflu,
and their use consistently
reporting pneumonia and respiratory failure, the WHO's recommendation
is to administer these drugs antivirals to people who have already
developed pneumonia, an endorsement that could potentially promote
millions of fatalities.
The World Health Organization also said last month that H1N1
vaccine had been cleared of blame for 41 deaths which health authorities
worldwide had investigated after suspicions they might have been
caused by the inoculation. The agency reaffirmed that the pandemic
vaccine is as safe as the seasonal flu vaccine.
"No new safety issue has been identified from reports issued
to date ... Reporting so far reconfirms that the pandemic flu
vaccine is as safe as the seasonal flu vaccine," Marie-Paule
Kieny, WHO's top vaccine expert, told a telephone conference.
