Many questions have been asked about this virus. Influenza A virus subtype H1N1 or A H1N1 is the flu that most common cause happens in humans. We have seen H1N1 strains existed in the world today, endemic in pigs and birds. Recently in March and April 2009, an outbreak triggered a number of deaths, and infections were confirmed that virus is a new strain of H1N1.
Oseltamivir is known as an influenza A H1N1 anti-virus. WHO has observed closely for A H1N1’s mutation because in the end of year 2550 to 2551 they found high amount of A H1N1 resisted Oseltamivir’s action, especially in Europe which used to be only 0.5%. Now it’s increased to 50-70% in some countries.
From the report of National Flu Research Institution of
Thailand, they had randomly tested A H1N1 and made the genotypic analysis to seek mutation in NA gene, and Phenotypic to seek IC50 against Oseltamivir. Both methods provided the compatible results, from total 7 out of 59 species that resisted drug action are A/Brisbane/59/2007-like virus which matches North Hemisphere and South Hemisphere.
8 August 2005, Washington Post reported in United States that their research team has successfully made vaccine against H5N1, so-called Bird Flu, tested by scientists and found effective.
Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health, said vaccines produced were still insufficient according to demands.
(source:http://www.clinicdek.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=406&Itemid=2)
More questions have been asked continuously. What if new vaccines and drugs were created by some countries? Who would have right to hold medical licensure of these medical supplies.
About monopoly from Medical Licensure, there is a component, ideological, designed to make the public to believe that licensure is operated to protect the consumer. The only purpose of licensure is to prevent the emergence of uncontrolled competition, and this will cause monopoly prices. For example, if Thailand has successfully made an influenza A H1N1 anti-virus or vaccine, and every countries would need to spend great amount of money for it because we hold medical licensure. What could happen is Thailand may become rich in no time astoundingly. An outbreak does not only trigger a number of deaths, but will also affect world’s economic system as well.
Mexico, where disease outbreak occurred, is now stranded from world’s business, and other countries that had no idea about swine flu also ban pork import. It is noticeable that consequences from Mexico could become worldwide in short period. Moreover WHO raised the swine flu level to phase 5 few days ago. We are in swine flu level 5 on a scale of 6 which in simple word means that swine flu pandemic is imminent and that all countries must be prepared to cope.
We can see that almost every international airports and harbors in the world are now established with thermal camera to scan infected passenger individually. Every country is prepared to fight against viruses. WHO believes that they can control this pandemic. But what if it has reached the uncontrolled level. It could leads to something terrible, imagine of complete shut down of a country, or scramble of natural resources among countries all around the world. Situation could get even worse if they couldn’t create vaccine or we can say the worst is now that there is no perfect vaccine yet for A H1N1 as experts did not predict the possible break out of the virus.
Even if A H1N1 vaccine’s been created by someone, there’s still no guarantee that virus wouldn’t mutate and resist drug action in future. It is recommended that we should be ready for the worst.
