James and the Giant Peach$

Swine Flu: Mexico

So much for my Trip to Mexico.

This seems like a clever business transaction in disguise. Company A releases Virus into known source of food for millions, into large overpopulated poorly governed town, outbreak in-sues. City in fear, disease spreads. Company B comes to the rescue with Miracle cure. United States gets involved, demands everyone take as a “pre-cautionary method.” Company A, B and the United States make lots of money.

Kills a few but people cured. Marketing with a supply and demand, Demand being lives in the balance. Clever…

CDCs to the rescue

The same virus also sickened at least eight people in Texas and California, though there have been no deaths north of the border, puzzling experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A “seed stock” genetically matched to the new swine flu virus has been created by the CDC, said Dr. Richard Besser, the agency’s acting director. If the government decides vaccine production is necessary, manufacturers would need that stock to get started.

The CDC says two flu drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza, seem effective against the new strain. Roche, the maker of Tamiflu, said the company is prepared to immediately deploy a stockpile of the drug if requested. Both drugs must be taken early, within a few days of the onset of symptoms, to be most effective.

Mexico’s Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova said the country has enough Tamiflu to treat 1 million people - only one in 20 people in greater Mexico City alone - and that the medicine will be strictly controlled and handed out only by doctors.CDCs to the rescue