Major Flu Strain Found Resistant to Leading Drug, Puzzling Scientists

NY Times has reported that virtually all the dominant strain of flu in the United States this season is resistant to the leading antiviral drug Tamiflu, and scientists and health officials are trying to figure out why.

Western scientific breakthroughs in microbiology has led the scientific methods to become the core of medicine. Drs. Pasteur and Koch demonstrated how illness was caused by microorganisms. Then, the discovery of anti-biotics have changed the treatment options.

About one hundred years ago, people died of diseases related to infectious diseases. The whole society had to mount a comprehensive approaches including public health advances.

We have found with antibiotics we can benefit many people dying of infectious illness. Last century ended with HIV virus and Avian Flu virus reminding us of our vulnerabilities to infectious diseases.

Integrative approach to infection still have anti-biotic, anti-fungal, and anti-viral as central role. Many patients who develop Shingles receive anti-viral medication at Georgia Integrative Medicine. However, in addition, we also use Chinese herbs that support immune functions with scientific evidence. In addition, we also use anti-inflammatory nutrition to decrease possibility of post-herpetic neuralgia. Also, medicinal mushrooms can be helpful to shorten the duration of illness.

I believe that flu pandemic is just a matter of time and that most of our measures will not likely to be successful for treating a viral illness. Integrative medicine, I believe, can provide important tools for developing next generation of fighting microorganisms causing death & pestilence.