Question

Tamiflu is

• A. A type of influenza originating in Tamil Nadu
• B. A contagious disease of animals
• C. A form of birdflu
• D. An effective medicine for birdflu

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understand the question
The question is: “Tamiflu is …?” and the correct option is that it is an effective medicine for bird flu. Let us carefully explain why this is correct.

Step 2: About Tamiflu
Tamiflu is the brand name of the antiviral drug Oseltamivir. It is used to treat and prevent influenza (flu) caused by influenza A and B viruses. It works by blocking the action of an enzyme (neuraminidase) that the flu virus needs to spread inside the human body.

Step 3: Connection to bird flu
When outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu, caused by H5N1 virus) occurred, Tamiflu was identified as one of the few effective medicines available to control the infection in humans. While it is not a vaccine and does not cure the disease completely, it reduces the severity of symptoms, shortens the duration of illness, and lowers the risk of complications if taken early.

Step 4: Importance of Tamiflu
Because bird flu was considered a major global health threat, many countries stockpiled Tamiflu as part of their pandemic preparedness plans. Its use in emergencies highlighted its role as a crucial defense against influenza outbreaks, including bird flu.

Step 5: Final justification
Thus, Tamiflu is correctly described as an effective medicine for bird flu, though it is generally an antiviral drug used against different strains of influenza.

Final Answer: The correct option is (D) An effective medicine for birdflu.