Tamiflu has now overtaken Viagra as the most spammed drug in the world
A review published in the medical journal The Lancet has revealed that indigenous people appear to be more susceptible to the swine flu virus, with Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders accounting for 3.5% of cases and 5% of hospitalisations in Australia.
Nevertheless, while Australia has been one of the worst hit countries in terms of swine flu cases, a survey of 638 Australians released yesterday found more than half were only “a little bit concerned” about swine flu, while one-third were not concerned at all.
Australia has seen more than 5000 cases of swine flu confirmed across the country, with 10 people dying from the virus.
While the influenza has not appeared as severe as first feared, The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase for Australia to Level 6.
As the virus has continued to grow across the world, it appears that Tamiflu has overtaken Viagra as the subject for spam emails, according to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
Experts have warned against buying the drug online and without a prescription, claiming the supplies are often fake and can even contain rat poison.
David Pruce, a spokeman for The Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s, said, “We now think that Tamiflu is the most spammed medicine on the internet. It’s taken over from Viagra. Most of that Tamiflu could well be fake. If it’s fake it could range from simple sugar to rat poison.”
Ron Penny, a senior clinical adviser to NSW Health’s chronic disease program, has urged anyone with flu symptoms or lung disease to wear face masks.
“If you look at images taken in Japan and China and so forth, all the people who’ve got symptoms are wearing masks. I’ve tried to introduce these but culturally we’re not ready for it.”
If you are planning on traveling to Australia or are seeking advice on the virus, call Australia’s Swine Flu Hotline on 1802 007, or visit the Australian Department of Health & Ageing website.
You will also find advice on swine flu on the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.
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