While oseltamivir may help in cases of severe flu, some experts are concerned that the U.S. is banking far too much on a so-so drug while failing to prioritize research on new treatments.
'Influenza strains are unpredictable in when they develop resistance,' said infectious disease clinician and researcher Andrew Pavia, who advises government and professional organizations on influenza and pandemic preparedness.
Research shows that oseltamivir doesn't work particularly well for most people with garden-variety flu and doesn't keep people out of the hospital. In fact, for standard-risk patients the drug's effectiveness has proved 'kind of crappy,' said Shira Doron.
Both Doron and Pavia emphasized that the current risk to Americans-excluding farmworkers-from bird flu is low. At least so far, the disease has not spread widely to humans.
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