Transcript News - Yimg
Swine flu News is just “news”… Not the absolute truth. Let’s put swine flu (H1N1) into perspective What are the symptoms of Influenza A (H1N1)? • • • • • • • • Fever Headache Cough Sore throat Runny & stuffy nose Extreme fatigue Muscle aches Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea (these symptoms may also occur, but are more common in children) So…. Just about anyone could have Swine Flu Deaths 816 deaths worldwide in 160 countries Europe – 16,556 cases with 34 deaths ‘Given that countries are no longer required to test and report individual cases, the number of cases reported actually understates the real number of cases.’ Odds of … # # # # # # # # # # # # # # death by assault in your lifetime death by falling death by firearm death by poison death in a car crash death by choking on food or something else death by drowning death by murder death by lightning death by dog attack death in the bathtub death by a flood death by falling out of bed being killed in a terrorist WMD attack : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 331/1 250/1 325/1 1,400/1 5,000/1 5,000/1 9,000/1 20,000/1 71,000/1 137,000/1 807,000/1 713,000/1 2,000,000/1 6,000,000/1 1154 people died (worldwide) Odds 8,000,000/1 Yup, that’s right You at a greater risk from drowning in a bathtub The regular run-of-the-mill strains of influenza kill more than 35,000 Americans every year Bird flu – WHO reports (1 June 09) 436 cases and 262 deaths (was supposed to wipe us out) More than 25m people have died from AIDS since 1981 (up to July 07) 1.6m died from TB in 2005 SARS (Severe Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome)– 167 deaths up to 2003 (was also supposed to kill millions) Some beneficiaries Drug companies – more medications sold Doctors – patients with mild cold will not ‘take any chances’ Medical institutions Media – more interest = more sales Some politicians Only treatment Tamiflu (also only treatment for bird flu) Only licence for Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is to: Gilead Sciences Inc Roche – manufacturers it under licence Patent protection till 2016 Tamiflu USA ordered 25m doses Total cost $2bn ($80 per course) 65 governments have ordered Orders to 2008 – 200m doses Price $70= R500 per course Chairman of Gilead Since 1997 - 2001 Held major stocks Donald Rumsfeld Former USA Secretary of defence Bush authorised $1.7Bn to fight bird flu – 14% went to Gilead inc Gilead shares rose 700% since 2005 (when stock markets fell 40%) Total revenue for 2nd quarter 09 up 29% over 2008 Net income for 2nd quarter 09 = $571.4m ($434m 2008) Royalties from Roche ($78.8m) 10% of every vaccine to Rumsfeld So lets understand.. Every month 50,000 people die from AIDS in South Africa Every day nearly 1,600 people die from AIDS Every year 18,000 people die on our roads 25,000 people are murdered Every year 80,000 die of TB But we are forced to focus on Influenza A (H1N1) Swine flu Because the Powers Don’t make money from treating AIDS, TB, measles, malnutrition….