Evidently, Americans weren't as informed about the bird flu pandemic that never came, as evidenced by a new study funded partly by the CDC tracking the alarming rise in Tamiflu prescriptions.
Overall, the number of Tamiflu prescriptions exploded by nearly five-fold to 133 prescriptions per 100,000 patients in 2005 as compared to the previous year (27). The highest rate of Tamiflu prescriptions reported were among American baby boomers (ages 50-64). Also, there was a very disturbing seven-fold increase in Tamiflu prescriptions among children under age 18 and even infants, a surprising number since this useless flu drug isn't approved for babies under age 1.
This dramatic increase in Tamiflu prescriptions, researchers believe, had more to do with panicked stockpiling as a result of heightened U.S. media coverage. By the way, 17 percent of the physicians polled maintained a stockpile of Tamiflu too.
No wonder, my newest book, The Great Bird Flu Hoax hit number 3 on the New York Times bestseller list.
Reuters October 17, 2006CBC News October 17, 2006DrugNewswire October 18, 2006