Tamiflu causes sickness and nightmares in children, study finds

punditman says...There are tons of media reports on the internet saying that Tamiflu will not work against Swine Flu, and furthermore, that even regular seasonal flu strains are becoming resistant to it. And yet governments have stockpiled billions of dollars worth of it. What a freaking waste of everyone's money (in less of case you own stock in it). Furthermore, Tamiflu may be very bad for you! In 2007, the FDA finally began investigating some 1,800 adverse event reports related to the anti-viral drug. Serious symptoms included convulsions, delirium or delusions, and 14 deaths in children and teens as a result of neuropsychiatric problems and brain infections (which led Japan to ban Tamiflu for children in 2007). And yet they are handing it out to children like candy. What a crime.

-your friendly neighbourhood wingnut.

by David Rose

Children report a range of side-effects, but the official advice is that Tamiflu is safe.

More than half of children taking the swine flu drug Tamiflu experience side-effects such as nausea and nightmares, research suggests.

An estimated 150,000 people with flu symptoms were prescribed the drug through a new hotline and website last week, according to figures revealed yesterday.

Studies of children attending three schools in London and one in the South West showed that 51-53 per cent had one or more side-effects from the medication, which is offered to everyone in England with swine flu symptoms.

The research by the Health Protection Agency emerged as Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer for England, said that swine flu infections “may have reached a plateau”.

Releasing the latest figures, Sir Liam said that an estimated 110,000 new cases of the H1N1 virus were diagnosed by doctors in the week to Sunday. That did not include those using the new National Pandemic Flu Service for England to obtain antiviral drugs without seeing their GP.

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The Swine Flu may be less Deadly than the Average Winter Flu

The headlines have been scary.

For example, the headline from the Telegraph says:

"Swine flu: 'All of humanity under threat', WHO warns"

That sounds extremely dire, indeed.

And every new case of swine flu is being treated as a breaking news alert.

However, the World Health Organization quote was taken out of context. And science actually paints a more reassuring picture.

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punditman says...

In the last couple of days, Punditman has overheard several conversations in public about swine flu, demonstrating the contagion effect of ceaseless hoopla. One woman was talking about how she knew someone whose pandemic plan included heading for the cottage. A splendid idea—when pigs fly, that's when.

The media sure has given blanket coverage on this one. But is it "balanced"? Are all the right questions being asked? What is emphasized and what is not? Hey, what is that man behind the curtain doing while everyone is buying masks and Tamiflu? Wait, I thought I saw former US Defence Secretary Rumsfeld cashing in.

Count Punditman amongst those who think this is a classic example of hype, misinformation and manipulation. Until proven wrong.

Critical Alert: The Swine Flu Pandemic – Fact or Fiction?

American health officials declared a public health emergency as cases of swine flu were confirmed in the U.S. Health officials across the world fear this could be the leading edge of a global pandemic emerging from Mexico, where seven people are confirmed dead as a result of the new virus.

On Wednesday April 29th, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its pandemic alert level to five on its six-level threat scale,¹ which means they"ve determined that the virus is capable of human-to-human transmission. The initial outbreaks across North America reveal an infection already traveling at higher velocity than did the last official pandemic strain, the 1968 Hong Kong flu.

Phase 5 had never been declared since the warning system was introduced in 2005 in response to the avian influenza crisis. Phase 6 means a pandemic is under way. WHO now openly states it is not possible to contain the spread of this infection and recommends mitigation measures, not restricting travel or closing borders.

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punditman says...
Everyone should take a deep breath (at least three feet away from anyone who is coughing, as always) and gain some bloody perspective. Here are some things to keep in mind, gleaned from the above article:

• In 1976, more people died from the swine flu vaccine than swine flu!
• Peacenik take note: Tamiflu, may be very bad for you! In 2007, the FDA finally began investigating some 1,800 adverse event reports related to the anti-viral drug. Serious symptoms included convulsions, delirium or delusions, and 14 deaths in children and teens as a result of neuropsychiatric problems and brain infections (which led Japan to ban Tamiflu for children in 2007).
• There is speculation that this may not be a natural mutation. Your fear will Make Some People VERY Rich in Today"s Crumbling Economy.
• Last month, the American pharmaceutical company Baxter was under investigation for distributing the deadly avian flu virus to 18 different countries as part of a seasonal flu vaccine shipment. Czech reporters were probing to see if it may have been part of a deliberate attempt to start a pandemic. Some say such a mistake would be virtually impossible under the security protocols of that virus. Punditman is no scientist but guess who gets the go-ahead to work on a new vaccine? Baxter of course!
• Factory Farming may be the source of swine flu.

This is not black helicopter/alien lizard/wild-eyed conspiracy stuff. It is well documented. Punditman asks that you pardon punditman's pun, but is this swine flu outbreak just another manifestation of what the late Abbey Hoffman called the PIG empire?

So, after all we've been through lately—war crimes, torture, financial terrorism—in which the real criminals literally get away with theft, murder and mayhem, who in their right mind would accept whatever the corporatocracy says?

All punditman asks is that you don't be sheeple, people. Keep your skepticsm at LEVEL 6.