The season of the flu is once again wreaking havoc, which means that rushing over to the pharmacy to get some pills just in case you need them is definitely a good idea. But what if the pharmacy doesn’t have the necessary meds for flu and cold at a time like this? Believe it or not, that’s what some Canadians are currently facing.
Global NEWS brings the annoying information regarding the huge shortage of meds for flu and cold that pharmacies from Toronto and other Canadian areas are facing.
A premiere for the last 20 years
Semah Salib, a pharmacist who works at the Woodgreen Discount Pharmacy, confirms the shortage. In a statement quoted by the same website mentioned above, he said:
Nothing is available,
It’s never happened before. Over the last 20 years, we always have supply and out of the supply we have some extra … but this is the first year we have none.
Roughly 3 million people currently live in Toronto, meaning the major Canadian city and also the capital of the Ontario province. Toronto covers an area of over 630 square kilometers.
There are several medications that can be used to treat the flu. The most common medications include Oseltamivir (Tamiflu), Zanamivir (Relenza), Amantadine (Symmetrel), Rimantadine (Flumadine), and Adamantane derivatives.
It’s important to note that these medications are most effective when taken within the first 48 hours of symptom onset. If you think you may have the flu, it’s important to speak with a healthcare provider as soon as possible to determine the best treatment plan for you.
In the early 20th century, a group of researchers at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research in New York City tried to infect themselves with the flu in order to study the disease and develop a vaccine. One of the researchers, Dr. Richard Shope, deliberately infected himself with the virus by inhaling droplets from the nostrils of a sick pig. Although he did develop flu symptoms, he eventually recovered and went on to help develop the first flu vaccine.
