Avian flu: the kimchi option

With reports of growing Tamiflu resistance**, readily available alternatives become more attractive. One possibility is kimchi; Mark Thoma cites a Washington Post story that more people are buying it after reports it may help cure avian flu.

Blame it on the Internet ... publication of a minor study by a South Korean academic last spring has apparently triggered a minor run on kimchi, a daily staple of the Korean diet that the bland-of-palate are likely to avoid ... Which presents a potentially difficult choice given the work of Kang Sa-Ouk of Seoul National University, who took 13 chickens infected with avian flu virus and a couple of other diseases, fed them kimchi juice and found that 11 of the birds recovered.

That is not a surprise. But this quote was:

[T]he National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, where callers have turned seeking validation of the idea that kimchi may ward off avian flu... said. "Although it certainly sounds interesting, NIAID, unfortunately, can't comment on the dish's effectiveness as we have not studied it," ...

Why on earth not? Considering a major avian pandemic could easily kill millions, shouldn't someone be investigating this lead? Likewise other products based on fermented cabbage, such as  sauerkraut? I would have thought Korean and German health authorities would see it as a wonderful opportunity to promote their national cuisine.

** For a contrary view, see this post by Eclectic Economist.

Comments

[Femi Cole]

For those readers curious about the health benefits of sauerkraut, please check out www.krrrrispkraut.com, and click on the Sauerkraut News link (www.krrrrispkraut.com/news/index.htm). The web site contains news stories and releases about sauerkraut's ability to tackle bird flu, prevent cancer, ease irritable bowel syndrome and treat and prevent food poisoning.

[avian]

There are numerous strains of influenza virus that are present naturally in wild birds, yet only a few cause infections in domesticated birds and a lesser few in humans. Of all the subtypes of influenza virus, influenza A subtype H5N1 or simply H5N1 causes the most severe illness in both infected poultry and humans. This strain of highly pathogenic influenza virus has caused millions of dead poultry and the most severe cases of avian flu in humans. It is also responsible for the most number of deaths of avian flu patients