Posted on 02/01/2008 1:50:39 PM PST by neverdem
A small but significant percentage of the main influenza virus causing illness this winter in Europe, Canada and the United States has a mutation that makes it resistant to the anti-influenza drug Tamiflu, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.
Scientists said they were surprised by the finding because they had believed that mutations of this type generally made the virus less potent and less easily spread among people. The predominant influenza virus circulating this winter is influenza A/H1N1. The Tamiflu-resistant form of the virus, known as influenza A(H1N1 H274Y), has been found with varying frequency in various areas of four European countries, Canada and the United States.
There are no immediate plans to recommend changes in the use of Tamiflu, which is also known as oseltamivir, officials from the W.H.O. and the United States said in interviews, because the incidence of the mutant virus is still small. Tamiflu is one of the antiviral drugs used to treat influenza in its early stages.
Nevertheless, officials from the W.H.O., a United Nations agency in Geneva, said they were troubled by the discovery.
“Clearly, this is of global concern, but it is not a global problem now,” Dr. Frederick G. Hayden, an influenza expert at the organization, said in a telephone interview.
The standard influenza vaccine still protects against the mutant virus, said Dr. Hayden and Dr. Alicia Fry, an influenza epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
Norwegian epidemiologists first called attention to the problem last week when they reported that the mutation was present in 12 of 16, or 75 percent, of viruses isolated in that country from patients in the earliest part of the influenza season, in November and December.
The Norwegian rate was the highest among the four European countries — Britain, Denmark, France and...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
micro ping
I never knew Tamiflu was a popular drug. I would have guessed cocaine.
So is this the one that is going to kill us all? Or is that EEE, West Nile, SARS, bird flu, swine flu, Hanta, dengue, Asian flu, Type A, B, X, HPV? I have an awful time keeping track of what to be deathly afraid of. I survived chicken pox, measles and mumps as a youngster but I’m wicked scared now.
FDA Alerts Health Care Providers to Risk of Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior with Antiepileptics
Premature Births Lower in Women Taking Folic Acid
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.
No this is the drug that seasonal influenza A had not shown any appreciable resistance to prior to this flu season, IIRC.
Ruh Ro...
The Spanish flu was H1N1...
Watch THIS for a description of what is IN A FLU SHOT......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxkTGqYOEDQ
Achoo worried at all?
In case you missed this...ping (Thanks, neverdem!)
Boogie Fever.
I had a flu shot so am I safe?
drugs can not cure everything.....if we let our bodies have a little time, some nutrition, some rest, our bodies can actually take care of itself without endless antibiotics, antivirals, cough suppressants, decongestants, antihistamines, sleep aides, etc etc....
You kill off the non resistant bugs, the one that is resistant is left.
That, and India is having a lot of problems with bird flu right now.
I think I’d rather have Boogie Fever than Saturday Night Fever...
Mutant flu?
We know you are behind this one somewhere!
Are you saying it’s Darksheare’s fault?
..darn mutants gettin' loose on me. *grumble grumble*
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.