New Delhi: As the H1 N1 virus spreads rapidly across the world, the real challenge is how to come up with a vaccine, considering that this is a completely new virus. In India, the Serum Institute of India (SII), Pune is working on developing a vaccine and is confident that it will be available in four to six months.
"We have developed seasonal flu vaccines and avian flu vaccines before. The technology is the same and WHO has give us this strain - and we accept the challenge," said Executive Director, SII, Suresh Jadhav.
Until a vaccine is ready, what doctors are prescribing in case of infection are common anti-viral medications tamiflu and relenza, that are proving effective.
India is stock-piling tamiflu or oseltamivir. It's not a cure for the virus, but stops it from spreading, and can make the illness milder, making patients feel better faster.
The Central Government has made it an offense to sell tamiflu as an over the counter drug. It wouldn't help one if one isn't sick with this viral strain. But the real fear is over-use that would lead to the virus becoming resistant.
There are reports that the over-the-counter availability of tamiflu and relenza in some countries has led to a a shortage of the drug.
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