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China has its own version of bird flu drug
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-15 00:35
The move followed similar suspensions of supplies to pharmacies in the United
States, Canada and Hong Kong to head off hoarding by consumers worried about the
spread of bird flu as the world heads into the influenza season.
In the fight against bird flu, Zhong said close monitoring of patients who
have caught pneumonia from unknown causes was vital to determine whether
influenza, a recurrence of severe acute respiratory syndrome or an outbreak of
bird flu was to blame.
As such, involving the WHO had been a sensible step. "This is helpful for the
correct diagnosis of patients' diseases and for the treatment of these
infectious illnesses," Zhong was quoted as saying.
One of the basic ingredients of Tamiflu is shikimic acid, which is derived
from the pod of the star-shaped anise fruit, grown in China, or via
fermentation.
But Zhong dismissed as groundless rumours that star anise, by itself, could
be an effective treatment against bird flu or influenza because the amount used
in Tamiflu was minute.
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