Cancun Mexico Travel Safety: Relenza, Tamiflu
According to an Associated Press article, makes of the two main anti-flu drugs Relenza and Tamiflu has stated that these two drugs are indeed effective with the new swine flu strain. The makers GlaxoSmithKline and Roche are working closely with World Health Organization to ensure the flow of these drugs to areas that are affected.
CDC has stated that the Mexican and US strains of the swine flue are very similar.
So the big question is can you get Relenza and Tamiflu before going to Mexico. I am not a doctor and cannot tell if as a private individual, these drugs can be aquired. It may be worthwhile to check with doctors/clinics/drugstores to see if they can be aquired. The fact is that Mexico does not have enough medication in case you get sick (if there is a pandemic) so you should prepare before you go.
Note: To be effective, these drugs need to be taken in the first couple of days when symptoms of flu are observed.
The World Health Organization’s director-general, Margaret Chan, said the outbreak of the never-before-seen virus is very serious and has “pandemic potential.” But she said it is still too early to tell if it would become a worldwide outbreak.
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I live in Mexico and the drugs are available without a prescription, they cost around 500 pesos (40 USD). You can find them on any drugstore.
Thanks Isabelle for sharing that. I wonder how the supplies of that medication is holding up.
NOt entirely true Issabelle, I also live in Mexico (Tijuana) and I know for a fact that Tamiflu is not currently sold in Mexico but Relenza is. I went drug shopping today and was told this at every pharmacy I visited.
It depend on where you live, Mexico is very big. Here in Cancun you can find it in Paris Drugstore downtown.
Is there still availabilty now we are in august, I am staying in tulum for 3 weeks and have just recovered from a nasty throat infection, my immune system will be weakened from that. I still want to do all the touristy things and take it as a preventitive measure which it is apparently quite effective at in lower doses.