Posted on 11/02/2005 6:21:31 PM PST by John W
In a sign of growing travel industry concern about a possible global flu pandemic, Virgin Atlantic Chairman Richard Branson said Wednesday he had purchased 10,000 courses of medicine for the airline’s employees to use in the event of an outbreak.
At a news conference held in conjunction with a global health summit in New York, first reported on CNBC, Branson said he bought enough of the antiviral drug Tamiflu to treat up to 10,000 airline crew members, who he said would be on the front lines of any pandemic.
Branson had to buy the drug in Canada because manufacturer Hoffmann-La Roche has suspended shipments in the U.S. — precisely because it was concerned about such hoarding. One Canadian online pharmacy advertised a 10-pill course of Tamiflu Wednesday for C$80, which translates to $68 or a total of $680,000 in the unlikely event Branson paid retail.
Branson was unapologetic about his stockpiling, saying there is no doubt in his mind that any pandemic would ground airlines all over the world, CNBC reported.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
$680,000 is a pretty cheap insurance policy for Branson.
Personally I think the virus is being way overhyped but Branson does have a point about being on the front lines.
This insanity is out of control. Thanks to all the hype over a THEORETICAL flu THAT DOESN'T EVEN EXIST YET, and may never exist, our staff at our hospital that has been exposed to a real case of laboratory confirmed influenza can not get Tamiflu and has substitued ramantidine (which is NOT a proven prophylatic) I guess in hopes that it at least might help reduce the spread.
Enough with the BS already.
I just saw a headline on FOX calling it the "Superflu". I believe that's what Stephen King called his civilization killing flu in "The stand".
There is a vaccine for the ordinary flu. Why has your staff not done that for the regular flu ?
That, and Captain Trips. Oh, and don't forget Flu Buddy from the mini series.
Somehow when the government does it, it's good, but when private citizens do it, it's bad - even though the latter case (1) avoids logistical distribution difficulties in the event of pandemic, and (2) doesn't rely on tax money.
Ahhhhhh - the over-hyped flu vaccine. They chose the wrong strain - yet again! The strain of this flu wasn't in this year's or last year's vaccine.
It's gotta be a whole lot cheaper than the loss of time and money due to sick employees.
I just saw Mike Levitt on H&C, he used the words 'preparation, not panic' as the governments advise.
If there are imported products that you like (coffee, tea, chocolate, spices, etc), I would suggest you get them now. The supply could get cut off or, there could be a buying panic that strips the store shelves.
If there is a vaccine that becomes available, airline crew ought to get immunized before anyone but maybe emergency health care responders.
I'm always prepared so I don't need to panic. A good sized portion of my family grew up in the same tiny town my great grandmother lived in.
She was born on new years eve 1900 and saw the worst the world has to offer. She was an invaluable well of knowledge and common sense. When she died I only wanted two things, her mission rockers and her pressure cookers.
Maybe I am wrong, but if a pandemic ever got bad, wouldn't the first thing you'd want to do is shut down all overseas travel into this country??
Just reading the headline I thought this was about Branson Missouri getting ready for all the incoming bus tourists.
You never know who sat in that seat at the Roy Clark Theatre before you did!
You don't remember swine flu do you?
Yes. But, it could 'land' here before anyone is aware.
GWB has already asked congress to advise him regarding using the US Military for quarantine enforcement in this country (By law, he can't use them for law enforcement internal to this country).
They may quarantine a town, city or state. It will take a force the size of the US Military to enforce the quarantine...and, I'm guessing, for moving supplies to those quarantined.
I would have at least 3-5 days of food and water on hand, just in case. They keep saying it's only a mater of when, not if.
Personally, I don't think we'll be affected this year...maybe next year.
Ditto.
And, being in a rural area that's in 'hurricane alley', we're usually sitting on 'ready' most of the time anyway.
What are mission rockers?
Maybe I am wrong, but if a pandemic ever got bad, wouldn't the first thing you'd want to do is shut down all overseas travel into this country??
Yes. But, it could 'land' here before anyone is aware.
Well yes, but it wouldn't be "bad" at that point. If it ever started getting bad, wouldn't it make sense to shut down all international travel into this country.
Or once it started getting "bad" would we want the airlines to continue to fly in thousands more daily that could be potentially infected or carriers?
Seems to me, if a pandemic ever started "breaking out" in this country, we would need to shut down all international travel into America immediately.
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