The Swine Flu (H1N1): A Special Commentary
In light of our current challenge perpetrated by the “fear-mongering”, media frenzy over Swine Flu, I share the following points:
(1) In 2008, sales of Tamiflu, the leader in anti-viral treatment for influenza, dropped by 68% from 2007. It is interesting to note that most of the 2007 Tamiflu sales resulted from pandemic stockpiling contracts with worldwide governments from 2004 – 2006, when the “Bird Flu” scare ran rampant. In the absence of a materialized pandemic, worldwide stockpiles of Tamiflu have totaled 220 million doses as of January 2009; leaving no need for significant purchases in 2008.
(2) Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., LTD of Japan (with 51% of its shares owned by Hoffman-LaRoche) forecasted a 531% increase in Tamiflu sales for 2009 in its 2008 report. This forecast was based on the company’s expectation of “resumption of government stockpiling in 2009 and on-going recovery of the prescription rate for swine influenza”.
Is there a possible connection between the pharmaceutical company’s revenue projections and the media’s willingness to overwhelm the public with excessive, half-truth reporting? Unfortunately mass media thrive on dramatizing and exaggerating negative news. They are particularly thrilled when their efforts to “spin” information succeed at causing public fear and confusion.
In September 2009 one of the most prestigious German Magazine “The Spiegel” published an article called “The Virus Business”. Top biologists in Germany and the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the so called Swine Flu pandemic is running its course in a very mild form. From the first 10,000 cases diagnosed most were sent home with only mild or no flu symptoms.
Patients with regular influenza type B were much more critical. Thousands of people die every year by regular flu viruses, with little or no attention by the media. The WHO has tried to calm the media down, based on the discovery that the swine flu virus shows no sign of mutation in to aggressive forms. The few people that actually died were also suffering from other diseases and a compromised immune system.
The Robert Koch and the PHI Institute, who are in charge of proving and the registration of new vaccines, are pushing politicians to purchase larger quantities of vaccines. The study and research of government agencies that endorse wide and massive vaccinations are mainly funded by GSK and Novartis, the two major Swine Flu vaccine manufacturers. The lobbying of both companies were able to sell vaccines from over $1.5 billion just to the German government alone.
However, I do not support creating unnecessary fear, alarm and paranoia which undermine rational thinking and behavior. So how do we take better care of our patients during a stressful time such as this one?
I suggest we remain level-headed and ask our patients to do the same. Let’s remind them of the following:
As in the cases of BIRD FLU, EBOLA VIRUS, SARS, etc., there will be no specific prevention or cure made available for SWINE FLU. A strong immune system and clean internal/external environments are keys to prevention and reversal of these and other diseases.
Proper nutrition is a must! Patients should regularly consume fresh fruits, vegetables, low sugar foods, exercise regularly, reduce daily stress and get sufficient rest. They should also avoid immune system destroyers such as foods high in saturated fats; white sugar and white flour products.
In addition, let’s encourage our patients to regularly use the following immune boosting remedies with decades of proven track records for effectiveness:
During the cold and flu season, HYDRASTIS NASAL SPRAY is the best prevention using in the morning and before bedtime.
ECHINACEA TABLETS, LYMPHONEST, MYCOSURGE, COLOSTRUM, MARCOZYME, and when fever occurs, ABB.
Marco Pharma International 1-800-999-3001
