Production issues have stalled flu treatment and flu prevention medicine Tamiflu liquid medicine's supply according to information from The United states Food and Drug Administration Heath Day reported Wednesday.
Tamiflu's maker, Genetech is delayed in making the medication, which many children use to fight the flu because many people need the product more than normal Health Day reported. Tamiflu's pill form in plastic containers are in regular supply Health Day reported.
"For those patients who cannot swallow capsules, the capsules can be opened and the contents may be mixed with chocolate syrup or some other thick, sweet liquid, as directed by a health care professional," The United States Food and Drug Administration said in a statement Clinical Advisor reported.
"We're not experiencing an unexpected amount of influenza this season," Dr. Robert Wergin, president-elect at the American Academy of Family Physicians told Health Day. "We anticipate increasing activity, but none of this is out of the ordinary for flu season in America. The sooner you start it, the better," he said. "It works on disrupting viral replication, and the longer you wait the more it will have spread."
The flu was reported throughout all areas of 25 United States according to information from Health Day as of Dec. 28, 2013. The states included Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming Health Day reported.
California, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wisconsin had flu cases throughout their states, and away from major cities Health Day reported.
The flu struck Arizona, Delaware, Vermont, and Puerto Rico domestically Health Day reported.
Hawaii, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia had occasional cases of the virus Health Day reported.
