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Watson, Stephanie. "How Tamiflu® Works." 23 February 2006. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/tamiflu.htm> 13 May 2008.
How Tamiflu® Works
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 Photo courtesy Roche |
Unfortunately, there is no cure for either the flu or bird flu. A virus causes the flu, and antibiotics can only kill bacteria. There is a vaccine for the A and B strains of the human flu, but even that isn't a guarantee: sometimes the scientists who develop it get the strain wrong for a particular flu season. The current vaccine doesn't work against bird flu strains.
There are, however, a few antiviral prescription drugs that can lessen the severity and cut the duration of the flu as well as prevent infection if you've been exposed. Tamiflu is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs. In this article, we'll discuss how Tamiflu works, how you take it and whether it can really protect you from bird flu.
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Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this How Stuff Works article:
Watson, Stephanie. "How Tamiflu® Works." 23 February 2006. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/tamiflu.htm> 13 May 2008.
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