I did a computer contract for a company called "Gilead Sciences" and got
some inside scoop on a new drug currently known as GS4104.
 
It's an antiviral spinoff from AIDS drug research that targets the
reproductive cycle of the Flu virus.  It works on pretty much all strains
tested so far; it's gone through several tests and has passed with flying
colors and is now in the last test (Phase 3) prior to full approval and
release.
 
It was developed and tested on domestic ferrets, which can indeed catch
human flu bugs.
 
As part of the test, they tried to figure out the toxicity level by
deliberately giving ferts a factor of 100+ overdose.  With ZERO harmfull
results; this gunk is as close to "totally harmless to mammals" as you can
get and it seems to knock the bugs dead in about 12 hours in most cases.
 
Gilead is sending test samples of this stuff all over this winter,
especially in cold northern cities.  If you have a bad bug, you can call
Gilead at 1-800-gilead5 to request the nearest hospital/doctor that's got a
stash of it and get in on the tests...and given the extremely low toxicity,
spreading one crushed-up pill amoung your suffering ferts is highly unlikely
to cause harm and will probably cure them too.
 
Once Gilead releases it for humans, we should politely petition them to
release it to vets...but even if they don't, given the total inability to OD
I see no harm in sharing with sick weasels.
 
(Note: I'm not interested in debating animal testing.  GS has zero "problem
reports" in the PETA database (I checked before starting there) and has a
good rep in animal care in the biotech industry.)
 
Regarding the change in attitude by the LASPCA on their "Ask The Vet" web
page...somebody thanked me on the next FML - I should point out that a *lot*
of people must have complained so the change was a joint FML effort.  *I*
want to thank whoever pointed out the original disaster to the FML a few
months back.
 
Jim March
 
 ------------------
 For a wild true story of crooked cops, stolen guns, perjury, fraud
 and false criminal charges, see http://www.infinex.com/~jmarch
[Posted in FML issue 2201]