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US Flu Strain Growing Resistant To Anti-Viral Drugs

Posted on: Tuesday, 3 March 2009, 13:30 CST

A study released Monday found that a virulent strain of influenza spreading across the United States is proving resistant to what had been the most effective anti-viral drugs, the AFP reported.

Researchers found that the H1N1 subtype of influenza A viruses commonly proved resistant to the popular drug oseltamivir, according to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche produced Oseltamivir, which is sold commercially in the United States as the drug Tamiflu. It is currently the main antiviral remedy on the market.

However, the Tamiflu-resistant strain of the virus accounted for one in five cases of flu in the United States during the 2007-2008 flu season last year.

Data from the current 2008-2009 influenza season shows that the virus's resistance to Tamiflu continues to be high and that the drug-resistant strain of the flu continues to have a high incidence.

Some are worried about the virulence of this particular strain of flu, as 5 of the 99 individuals infected with oseltamivir-resistant influenza had to be hospitalized and four died from complications.

The data highlights the need for the development of new antiviral drugs and rapid diagnostic tests that determine viral subtype or resistance, the authors wrote.

David Weinstock of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, and Gianna Zuccotti of Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital said in an editorial accompanying the study that the findings also show that researchers can never become complacent when treating the scourge.

The authors wrote in the editorial: “New surprises await in the perpetual struggle with influenza. One thing is certain—the organism will continue to evolve.”

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On the Net:

• Journal of the American Medical Association
• Tamiflu

Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports

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