Virgin Buys 10,000 Tamiflu Doses for Staff
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Virgin Buys 10,000 Tamiflu Doses for Staff
SARS redux?
________________________________________
Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2005
Virgin Buys Tamiflu
Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Group Ltd. said today that his company is looking into machines and new technologies to put on aircrafts to kill germs in anticipation of a bird flu pandemic. He said his company has purchased 10,000 doses of the drug Tamiflu for his staff.
In response to questions about companies hording Tamiflu, Branson said, "We've
bought [Tamiflu] because our staff is on the front line."
Branson also said that despite Virgin's best efforts to protect staff and passengers, if the flu starts spreading person to person, "it will most certainly affect the airline industry."
http://time.blogs.com/global_health/...d_branson.html
________________________________________
Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2005
Virgin Buys Tamiflu
Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Group Ltd. said today that his company is looking into machines and new technologies to put on aircrafts to kill germs in anticipation of a bird flu pandemic. He said his company has purchased 10,000 doses of the drug Tamiflu for his staff.
In response to questions about companies hording Tamiflu, Branson said, "We've
bought [Tamiflu] because our staff is on the front line."
Branson also said that despite Virgin's best efforts to protect staff and passengers, if the flu starts spreading person to person, "it will most certainly affect the airline industry."
http://time.blogs.com/global_health/...d_branson.html
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silly man - bad enough that the world press winds things up with hysterical offerings about avian flu without him "helping".
I'm more interested in the comment about "machines and new technologies" though - is this more along the lines of putting swimming pools and sun loungers in his A380s, or is there harder information available? How much can you control the amount of recirculated air in the cabin, and what are the knock-on effects? I doubt things like HEPA filters or UV lamps would work given the air volumes involved, apart from cost and certification issues. UV sounds the most likely, although you'd probably need some filtration beforehand - has anyone in aviation ever done any research with it on cockpit air?
I'm more interested in the comment about "machines and new technologies" though - is this more along the lines of putting swimming pools and sun loungers in his A380s, or is there harder information available? How much can you control the amount of recirculated air in the cabin, and what are the knock-on effects? I doubt things like HEPA filters or UV lamps would work given the air volumes involved, apart from cost and certification issues. UV sounds the most likely, although you'd probably need some filtration beforehand - has anyone in aviation ever done any research with it on cockpit air?
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Bloody typical, a pair of 'experts' above who are shrugging off the threat of Bird Flu because some tabloids are freaking out. Well, those posters may be ignoring the information that the WHO is giving out about the threat of a pandemic but at least RB is doing what he does best, taking his employees welfare into consideration and at the same time getting some positive PR out of it.
I'd like to see the list of other airlines where their, oh so caring, bosses are doing anything positive about the threat of avian flu. At least RB is acknowledging that there is a possible threat and by taking sensible precautions means that if there is the forecast outbreak, at least there will be some aircraft flying.
Now, lets see if O'Leary will be as magnanimous.
I'd like to see the list of other airlines where their, oh so caring, bosses are doing anything positive about the threat of avian flu. At least RB is acknowledging that there is a possible threat and by taking sensible precautions means that if there is the forecast outbreak, at least there will be some aircraft flying.
Now, lets see if O'Leary will be as magnanimous.
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From what i've read on the bird flu issue any jab will be useless until the virus has mutated and they get a jab to sort that specific mutation.
Only wish Branson would think some of his hair brained schemes through first, last thing we need is more people put off flying
Only wish Branson would think some of his hair brained schemes through first, last thing we need is more people put off flying
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was in china right at the peak of sars, finaly some 350+ people died of it. every flu virus crossing europe causes much more deaths. same with bird flu now. my advice buy shares of the company producing anti birdflu vaccines!!!
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Vaccine Appears to ward off Bird Flu
Trial Bird Flu Jab Shows Promise
Some will no doubt sit back and wait for fate to take its course. Others will at least try and do something about it. No one said there was a guarantee but at least RB is seen to be doing something to try and protect his workers and he gets some valuable PR out of it. Is your airline making money?
Trial Bird Flu Jab Shows Promise
Some will no doubt sit back and wait for fate to take its course. Others will at least try and do something about it. No one said there was a guarantee but at least RB is seen to be doing something to try and protect his workers and he gets some valuable PR out of it. Is your airline making money?
For some people, Sir R B can never do anything right.
For those of us who have worked both for him and for his equivalents in the airline business, this latest is just another example of his interest in his staff's welfare. He may not be perfect (anyone out there who would like to claim to be so??) but between VS and (for instance) Birdseed, I know which I preferred as employer.
Good on yer! oh bearded one!!
For those of us who have worked both for him and for his equivalents in the airline business, this latest is just another example of his interest in his staff's welfare. He may not be perfect (anyone out there who would like to claim to be so??) but between VS and (for instance) Birdseed, I know which I preferred as employer.
Good on yer! oh bearded one!!
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hi mach
seems we met at the butchers shop a couple of years ago might have been along with luigi
the flu always starts with some headache and a runny nose later it turns out to be a major project able to raise lots of budget money otherwise left stranded in social channels
keep em going
yeah and dont cuff
seeya atthemoped:
the flu always starts with some headache and a runny nose later it turns out to be a major project able to raise lots of budget money otherwise left stranded in social channels
keep em going
yeah and dont cuff
seeya atthemoped:
Flu Jabs
Don't really see what is news about this.
My company has given us flu injections every winter for as long as I can remember.
However ... as had been said above, that is only protection against the specific flu strains that were known and cultured when the vaccine was produced.
Whether you succumb to anything which subsequently appears is very much at the grace of God and we have already been firmly told that our current flu jabs (and those available from my local GP) are unlikely to be protection against something which is continuously mutating.
My company has given us flu injections every winter for as long as I can remember.
However ... as had been said above, that is only protection against the specific flu strains that were known and cultured when the vaccine was produced.
Whether you succumb to anything which subsequently appears is very much at the grace of God and we have already been firmly told that our current flu jabs (and those available from my local GP) are unlikely to be protection against something which is continuously mutating.
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My understanding is that Tamiflu will not stop you getting bird flu, but will reduce the symptoms if you do catch it to the extent that it will probably not kill you.
Probably a smart move by VS given the number of lucrative Far East routes they have - if bird flu does start attacking humans then it will start out there first, and this reassurance may delay the point at which crews refuse to operate to such places.
It will be interesting to revisit this thread in 12 months time and see whether it did turn out to be a big deal or not!
Probably a smart move by VS given the number of lucrative Far East routes they have - if bird flu does start attacking humans then it will start out there first, and this reassurance may delay the point at which crews refuse to operate to such places.
It will be interesting to revisit this thread in 12 months time and see whether it did turn out to be a big deal or not!
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yeah, but you don't see RB doing interviews about giving flu jabs to his staff, do you? Hardly, because it'd never be published, even though it may be a good thing to do, as would stocking some Tamiflu (hoarding accusations excepted, of course).
It's one thing looking after your staff, and another to get some cheap publicity on the basis that any publicity you get is good. I'd prefer if he engaged his brain before he opened his mouth on this particular subject.
It's one thing looking after your staff, and another to get some cheap publicity on the basis that any publicity you get is good. I'd prefer if he engaged his brain before he opened his mouth on this particular subject.
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If I'd engage my brain as CEO of an enterprise like RB has, I would find publicity to be good no matter cheap or not...
Tamiflu facts
Tamiflu facts
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Curious Pax is working along very much the right lines.
But among the different types of H5N1 there are already some that are Tamiflu resistant. The marketing job being done on this product is quite remarkable. The general public might think that it was the one and only drug that offered a prospect of usefulness against the virus.
Nevertheless, anti-virals should lessen the impact of the disease, but there is little evidence to suggest that they are effective as a prophylactic against H5N1.
Another useful effect is that such drugs would be expected to make the patient less infectious - and so slow the spread of the disease.
Overall, a typically astute PR move. It should 'push the right buttons' with staff and customers. It could even help to keep the business running (but that might well be less important, if travel bans are imposed.) It can't do any harm, and it might well do some good...
But among the different types of H5N1 there are already some that are Tamiflu resistant. The marketing job being done on this product is quite remarkable. The general public might think that it was the one and only drug that offered a prospect of usefulness against the virus.
Nevertheless, anti-virals should lessen the impact of the disease, but there is little evidence to suggest that they are effective as a prophylactic against H5N1.
Another useful effect is that such drugs would be expected to make the patient less infectious - and so slow the spread of the disease.
Overall, a typically astute PR move. It should 'push the right buttons' with staff and customers. It could even help to keep the business running (but that might well be less important, if travel bans are imposed.) It can't do any harm, and it might well do some good...
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Mt Fargoo, you are probably correct in what you state about "bird flu" immunisation. Tamiflu, however is a treatment rather than a prevention.
Unfortunately, its all a bit of guesswork at the moment. Chaos theory and all that.
Most experts agree, however, that its a matter of "when" not "if"
Unfortunately, its all a bit of guesswork at the moment. Chaos theory and all that.
Most experts agree, however, that its a matter of "when" not "if"
Paxing All Over The World
Fargoo
When a pandemic arrives (be it 2006/7/etc.) you will not be able to pay people to get onto aeroplanes.
One announcement from one CEO in advance of a pandemic, will make zero differrence to the financial outcome when it arrives, one way or the other. The key is in pandemic, not epidemic.
Only wish Branson would think some of his hair brained schemes through first, last thing we need is more people put off flying
One announcement from one CEO in advance of a pandemic, will make zero differrence to the financial outcome when it arrives, one way or the other. The key is in pandemic, not epidemic.