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Asia to Receive Tamiflu from U.S.

The stockpiled anti-viral drug known as Tamiflu will be shipped to Asia from the United States in an attempt to lessen chances of a pandemic. With the outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu throughout parts of the world, the US sees this possible pandemic as a serious problem concerning thousands of people.

Tamiflu, produced by the Swiss-based pharmaceutical company Roche, is believed to be the best first defense against a pandemic resulting from a possible mutation of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus into a strain easily passed between people.

Mike Leavitt, U.S. secretary of health and human services, announced on Monday the government shipped treatment courses of Tamiflu to a secure location in an unnamed Asian country.