[emiller]

I've already "hoarded" enough for my family- have you? They give themselves away when they say they want to have enough for the government. They can get so much more from those gubmint contracts.

[in hoc signo vinces]

I have also heard that "relenza" is good stuff...

[Brilliant]

Buy hogs. And hog companies.

[clee1]

Yup.

[va4me]

there is no evidence that Tamiflu would be of any use against a human form of H51.

[MineralMan]

So, I had a sore throat on Tuesday, the sniffles, and now I have a crappy cough. I suppose it's the Bird Flu, for sure! I'd better run right down to the ER and get my Tamiflu, I suppose.

Oh...wait...it's just a cold. I'll feel better in a day or two. Never mind.

[WilliamWallace1999]

Why have you hoarded it? Unless you plan on sleeping with your chickens and ducks underneath your hut or slaughter birds yourself, there is no real risk from the avian flu. Did you realize there is a fairly short shelf-life for the product? Did you also know that it has not preventative properties? Tamiflu is only of benefit once you have the influenza infection or are exposed while you are on it. It works by halting cell lysis and release of new viral particles long enough for your immune system to work out its response. If you take it too soon, it will not help.

[Diddle E. Squat]

I've already "hoarded" enough for my family- have you? They give themselves away when they say they want to have enough for the government. They can get so much more from those gubmint contracts.

I dunno, there seems to be a possible Tragedy of the Commons angle to all this. On the one hand free markets and self-reliance are usually the best solution, but on the other, were antibiotics not prescription-controlled the overuse of them and rise of resistant mutations would be greatly increased. That example isn't exactly parallel because it involves doctors, not gov't, as the gatekeeper, but is food for thought.

[Feiny]

I am still trying to figure out how to dress up as the Avian Flu for Halloween.

[coloradan]

"This resulted in increased demand for Tamiflu in part from individuals who are doing private stockpiling and at the moment there is no influenza circulating and the threat of a pandemic has not (materialized)," a spokeswoman said.

Great idea! It will be so much easier to send in the shipments when the pandemic starts, what with people at Fed Ex and UPS all being subject to the same pandemic, rather than increasing production now to fill demand (and make a few bucks).

People really shouldn't hoard fire extinguishers until fire season starts, either, and they shouldn't buckle up until the van in the oncoming lane swerves into their own lane. They also shouldn't buy a gun until they are taken hostage in their own home. Don't worry, the government will protect you.

[Jim Noble]

The State of NH recently asked doctors not to prescribe Tamiflu for their family members, because it might be needed in an emergency and they are worried about supplies.

If that's not strong advice TO stockpile, I don't know what is.