Deadly flu epidemics have periodically plagued humanity over the centuries, but scientific advances during recent decades have developed effective antibiotics and vaccinations to prevent and treat most flu strains. In addition to these treatments, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the antiviral drugs of Relenza and Tamiflu. Many pharmaceutical firms and industry groups hail these new drugs as breakthrough weapons in fighting the flu and have launched massive promotional campaigns. The pharmaceutical industry exaggerates and misrepresents flu-fighting powers of Relenza and Tamiflu. These antiviral drugs must be administered in the early stages of the flu to be effective and fail in combating bacterial infections leading to fatal complications.
Flu vaccinations are still the best available means for preventing influenza.
The drugs may also save money by reducing the number of workdays missed each year by flu sufferers and other possible medical costs. An estimated 20,000 Americans die each year due to influenza or related complications such as pneumonia. The average flu vaccination is 70 to 90 percent effective in preventing flu when administered to young, healthy adults. Tamiflu has reduced the severity of flu symptoms by 40 percent and shortened the length of illness by 30 percent in clinical studies. The 1918 influenza pandemic killed an estimated 500,000 Americans and 20 million people worldwide.