Breaking News English

5-speed listening (Level 4)

Doubts cast on influenza medication

Slowest

Slower

Medium

Faster

Fastest

Try Level 5 | Level 6

MY e-BOOK

See a sample

This useful resource has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for …

warm-ups

pre-reading and listening

while-reading and listening

post-reading and listening

using headlines

working with words

moving from text to speech

role plays,

task-based activities

discussions and debates

and a whole lot more.

More Listening

Spelling | Dictation

READING:

Experts are questioning why money was spent on developing and stocking up on influenza drugs. Tamiflu and Relenza are prescribed by doctors to treat the flu. Governments have stockpiled the drugs in case there is an influenza epidemic. New research that looked at many clinical trials casts doubt on the effectiveness of the drugs and their manufacturers' claims. The study questions whether governments should spend money on the drugs.

The research says the drugs shorten the symptoms of influenza but there isn't enough evidence that they reduce the chances of hospitalization. Researchers said Tamiflu increased the risk of nausea and depression. The makers said the research excluded "real-world data". The research said Relenza was the same as gargling with salt water or taking pain relievers. Its maker said: "In the right patient, it can reduce the duration of flu symptoms."