WHO and U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on high Alert: Flu Stockpiles Readied

Relenza and Tamiflu have to be taken early, within a few days of the onset of symptoms, to be most effective.

SHOOT: Anyone who says 'don't worry' about this shouldn't be taken seriously. Don't panic, but be concerned, careful and attentive.
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clipped from www.google.com GlaxoSmithKline, which makes Relenza, and Roche, which makes Tamiflu, said they have been in touch with the World Health Organization as Mexico City shut down schools, libraries and other institutions to try to quell the outbreak, which has killed at least 20 people. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said tests show some of the Mexico victims died from the same new strain of swine flu that sickened eight people in Texas and California. GlaxoSmithKline spokeswoman Sarah Alspach said the British drugmaker has been in touch with the World Health Organization on identifying the exact strain. Roche spokesman Terry Hurley said the Swiss drug developer's emergency Tamiflu stockpile is on 24 hour stand-by. The company was contacted by the World Health Organization and is prepared to immediately deploy the stockpile if requested, he said. Both drugmakers confirmed that the swine flu strain is sensitive to their drugs.