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I'm an ER physician, and I built a way to get a real prescription through Claude Code - or any AI agent.
Benjamin Jack, MD
570 posts
Benjamin Jack, MD
@bjackmd
Founder & CEO at Appendix | Emergency Physician | Software Developer
- 🚨 In emergency medicine, certain outbreaks make me stop and pay attention. What's happening right now in Congo is one of them. A mysterious illness ("Disease X") is spreading, and here's why I'm concerned:
- Replying to @bjackmdHong Kong and Italy are ALREADY screening travelers from Africa. The U.S. hasn't even acknowledged the outbreak. There have been no new Travel Health Notices from CDC.
- Replying to @bjackmd1. The symptoms are frustratingly vague – fever, headache, cough, runny nose and body ache... and then death? This makes it nearly impossible to identify early, as it mirrors common flu symptoms.
- Replying to @bjackmdThe early days of major outbreaks often look exactly like this – vague symptoms, uncertain numbers, conflicting reports.
- Replying to @bjackmd2. We're seeing signs of respiratory transmission – like C19 or flu. This means it could spread rapidly if it reaches populated areas.
- Replying to @bjackmd3. Most concerning: Despite weeks of investigation, we still don't know what's causing it. Death counts are unclear, ranging from 30-140 depending on the source.
- Replying to @bjackmdDid you know all of these medications require a prescription? So you can't get them, right? Wrong. You can get an emergency supply prescribed in advance by a doctor through @DurationHealth. Look at the Flu-Ready Kit.
- Replying to @bjackmd1/ Tamiflu (oseltamivir) The first line of defense against influenza. Timing is critical—it’s most effective if started within 48 hours of symptoms. Supplies will vanish during a pandemic. Yes, it can be used for avian influenza (bird flu) including H5N1.
- Replying to @bjackmd2/ Albuterol An inhaler that opens airways during severe respiratory distress, like wheezing or asthma attacks. Useful for respiratory complications.
- Replying to @bjackmd5/ Doxycycline Secondary bacterial infections like pneumonia are a real threat in severe flu cases. Doxycycline is a key treatment for bacterial pneumonia.
- Replying to @bjackmd3/ Prednisone A steroid that reduces inflammation in the lungs, which can prevent serious respiratory distress. Also critical for managing conditions that worsen during respiratory illnesses.
- Replying to @bjackmd4/ Zofran (ondansetron) Nausea and vomiting are common flu symptoms. Ondansetron treats nausea and vomiting and can prevent dehydration.
- Spoiler alert: It's not just malaria 30 MILLION malaria cases yearly in the Congo (common as ear infections in the US) and you think THIS is normal? 🧵
