SWINE FLU GYAN/some Questions

Swine flu and some interesting views on the subject along with precautions a person has to take to prevent and treat the discease.The links below give important details on the issue.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/swineflu_you.htm

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/01/swine.flu.children/index.html

http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/138798/the_swine_flu_crisis_lays_bare_the_meat_industry%27s_monstrous_power/?page=entire

The following view of the Indonesian Minister is something one must look with careful thought.

Indonesian minister says swine flu could be man-made 28 Apr 2009 Indonesian Heath Minister Siti Fadilah Supari said Tuesday the deadly swine flu virus could have been man-made, as she urged calm over its spread around the world. The minister did not elaborate but in the past she has said Western governments could be making and spreading viruses in the developing world to boost pharmaceutical companies' profits. "I'm not sure whether the virus was genetically engineered but it's a possibility, " she told reporters at a press conference called to reassure the public over the government's response to the swine flu threat.Container of swine virus explodes on Swiss train 29 Apr 2009 container of flu virus samples packed in dry ice exploded on a Swiss train, injuring one person but posing no other risks to humans, police said on Tuesday. The box held vials of swine flu virus, although a different strain than the H1N1 variety that has caused about 150 deaths in Mexico and infected people in the United States, Canada, Spain and Britain. A technician was transporting the container on Monday night to the Swiss national flu centre in Geneva, where scientists are developing a flu test for humans, police said.Swine flu: Baxter seeks swine flu sample to begin work on vaccine --Baxter has a speedier way to make vaccines than old method 27 Apr 2009 With world health officials worried about the global outbreak of another deadly virus, Deerfield-based Baxter International Inc. once again finds itself involved in the action. Baxter confirmed over the weekend that it is working with the World Health Organization on a potential vaccine to curb spread the deadly swine flu virus... In the past, Baxter has developed vaccines and worked with countries to stockpile vaccines even while they undergo experimental testing. Three years ago, the Bush administration awarded about $1 billion to vaccine makers as a way to increase and speed production. Several vaccine makers, including Baxter, GlaxoSmithKline and others, were awarded multimillion- dollar contracts. See also:Sanofi-Aventis, Blackwater of bugs: Sanofi Aventis Invests 100 Million Euros In New Facility In Mexico to Produce Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza Vaccine 19 Mar 2009Baxter working on vaccine to stop swine flu, though admitted sending live pandemic flu viruses to subcontractor By Lori Price 26 Apr 2009Swine flu fear a boost for Gilead --The biotech's bottom line could benefit from sales of Tamiflu, one of the only treatments for the influenza strain.. 29 Apr 2009 As governments formulate their responses to the deadly swine flu outbreak, Gilead is one of the drugmakers that could benefit. That's because its antiviral pill Tamiflu, which is marketed by Roche, is one of two drugs that is effective against this strain of influenza. Gilead collects royalty payments from Tamiflu sales, which peaked at $2 billion in 2006 as countries rushed to stockpile the drug against the threat of avian flu.

Human rights guidelines for Pharma Multi National companies

UN INDEPENDENT EXPERT LAUNCHES DRAFT HUMAN RIGHTS GUIDELINES FORPHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES
The UN Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoymentof the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health,Paul Hunt, today launched for public consultation a draft HumanRights Guidelines for Pharmaceutical Companies in relation to Accessto Medicines."Almost 2 billion people lack access to essential medicines," theSpecial Rapporteur said. "Improving access to existing medicinescould save 10 million lives each year. Access to medicines ischaracterised by profound global inequity as 15% of the world'spopulation consumes over 90% of the world's pharmaceuticals", theSpecial Rapporteur explained.Access to medicines is a central feature of the right to the highestattainable standard of health. States have primary responsibility forenhancing access to medicines, as set out in the expert's report tothe UN General Assembly last year (13 September 2006, A/61/338). TheSpecial Rapporteur routinely questions Governments about theirnational medicines policies and implementation plans."Pharmaceutical companies have a profound impact - both positive andnegative - on Governments' ability to realise the right to thehighest attainable standard of health. It is time to identify whatpharmaceutical companies should do to help realize the human right tomedicine. How can we expect pharmaceutical companies to respect humanrights if we fail to explain what they are expected to do?" he added.Consisting of some 50 provisions, the draft Guidelines were launchedtoday at the University of Toronto, Canada. They are available for
comment until 31 December 2007."The draft Guidelines are designed to help pharmaceutical companies,as well as those monitoring their activities. I look forward tofinalising the Guidelines in 2008", Professor Hunt concluded.
The Special Rapporteur is an independent expert appointed by the thenUnited Nations Commission on Human Rights to help States, and others,promote and protect the right to the highest attainable standard ofhealth.The draft Guidelines, and other initiatives of the SpecialRapporteur, can be found at www2.essex.ac.uk/human_rights_centre/rth/For further information on the mandate of the Special Rapporteur andcopies of his reports, please go tohttp://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/health/right/index.htm