A new round of flu strikes! The shortage of flu medication in many parts of the United States is as severe as that of DDR memory modules.

According to a heavy-duty statistical data released by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) on Wednesday, as the number of hospital outpatient visits in the United States for influenza-like symptoms reaches the highest level in over twenty years, the flu drug Tamiflu (also known as oseltamivir phosphate) is currently in extreme shortage in multiple regions of the United States. Not only in the United States, but also globally, especially in areas facing cold winters, the shortage of oseltamivir is even more severe than that of DDR series memory modules. In some cold regions of North America and Europe, the urgency on the patient end, the difficulty in replenishing stock on the pharmacy end, and the palpable anxiety are even more exaggerated than buying DDR series DRAM memory products. In comparison, oseltamivir faces a seasonally severe shortage during the global winter flu season, while DDR memory modules face a "structural supply-demand mismatch" shortage, with longer cycles and more systematic impact. A research report from UBS Group AG shows that the shortage of DRAM supply is expected to continue until the first quarter of 2027, with demand for DDR4 and DDR5 memory modules likely to far exceed supply growth during this period. UBS Group AG estimates that by the fourth quarter of 2025, contract prices for popular DDR series products may increase by as much as 35% compared to the previous quarter, with NAND flash prices expected to rise by 20%, exceeding previous expectations; UBS Group AG estimates that by the first quarter of 2026, contract prices for popular DDR series products may further increase by 40%, with NAND prices expected to rise by 20%. In a disclosure report, ASHP pointed out that due to the sudden shortage of this antiviral drug, ASHP, responsible for monitoring drug supply, is currently conducting an emergency assessment of the extent of the shortage, and emphasized that cold regions with very frequent flu activity are facing the most severe supply shortage. Michael Ganio, Senior Director of Pharmacy Practice and Quality at ASHP, said in a statement that due to a more severe strain of the flu currently circulating globally, the spread of shortages is "just a matter of time." However, CVS Health, a leading chain pharmacy operator based in the United States, stated that although demand for oseltamivir at its stores continues to skyrocket, there is no widespread shortage nationwide, with shortages in some regions with severe flu outbreaks being much more severe than in others. Its strongest competitor, Walgreens, was fully privatized last year by New York private equity firm Sycamore Partners, and the pharmacy operator stated that its pharmacy network nationwide has "very high demand and extremely tight inventory". New variant strain - subclade K Tamiflu was initially developed exclusively by the American pharmaceutical giant Gilead and licensed to the Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche and Chugai Pharmaceutical in Japan, and it is a very common prescription flu treatment; pharmaceutical companies such as Amneal Pharma also offer their patented or non-patented versions after the patent has expired. CNN, quoting exclusive data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reported that simultaneous with the shortage of the flu treatment drug oseltamivir, the number of hospital visits in the United States for common flu symptoms (fever plus cough or sore throat) has reached the highest level since at least the 1997-98 flu season. Due to the fact that only 43% of Americans have received this type of antiviral vaccine, this year's record-breaking flu season is attributed to a significant genetic mutation in the common flu strain H3N2, which has led to the emergence of a new rapid spreading mutant strain, known as subclade K. During the last week of 2025, 8.2% of hospital visits were due to flu-like symptoms, compared to 6.7% a year earlier; during the 2025-2026 flu season, there were 9 cases of flu-related child deaths, as reported by the CDC earlier this week. Global patients urgently need the "miracle drug" oseltamivir for the flu Clinically and pharmacologically speaking, "Tamiflu = oseltamivir" can basically be equated. Tamiflu is the brand name for "oseltamivir phosphate"; oseltamivir is the generic name (ingredient name), which includes Tamiflu as well as generic versions from various pharmaceutical companies. Oseltamivir belongs to neuraminidase inhibitors (NAI): By inhibiting the neuraminidase activity on the surface of the flu virus, it reduces the virus's release from infected cells and spread to more cells, thus shortening the course of the disease and reducing the risk of some complications. The drug is mainly used in the treatment of influenza A/B; it is generally recommended to be given within 48 hours of symptom onset for the best effect. Oseltamivir is one of the most commonly used and well-studied antiviral drugs for the flu, especially in severe/inpatient cases, pregnant women, children, etc. The FDA approved label indicates that it can be used for treatment in patients aged 2 weeks and older (with separate age restrictions for prevention); in clinical practice, emphasis is placed on "early use" for high-risk populations (elderly, pregnant women, chronic diseases, immunosuppression, etc.). In addition to oseltamivir, the prescription antiviral drugs commonly used during the current season listed by the CDC include: zanamivir (inhaled); peramivir (intravenous); baloxavir (baloxavir, oral single dose administration) - with different mechanisms: cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitors.