Sunday, June 21, 2009

New Zealand: Mutation fear as swine flu spreads

By RUTH HILL - The Dominion Post
Last updated 05:00 22/06/2009


Fears are growing that swine flu which has killed 180 people worldwide will become resistant to antiviral drugs after confirmation that winter flu strains here are no longer susceptible to Tamiflu.


As the number of confirmed cases jumped to 258 yesterday, plus 745 probable or suspected victims, Wellington Hospital confirmed more infections, including a seriously ill teenage cancer patient.

However, Health Ministry officials says the actual number infected was likely to be "in the thousands" as doctors had stopped testing every patient.

A 30-year-old woman one of six affected Wellington Hospital patients remained critical in intensive care last night. A teenage cancer patient in the oncology ward was isolated on Friday night after being diagnosed and another patient who shared her room was also being treated with Tamiflu, along with nursing staff.

Swine flu currently responds to the antiviral drug Tamiflu. But Environmental Science and Research virologist Sue Huang, head of the World Health Organisation national influenza centre in Upper Hutt, said scientists feared it could mutate with a Tamiflu-resistant strain. All 18 seasonal influenza type A strains tested so far this year have been Tamiflu-resistant.

"Viruses are notoriously unpredictable ... if there was mixing of the novel virus with other AH1N1 strains circulating, such as in a person infected with both strains, the novel virus could take on resistant characteristics."

The ministry is stockpiling another antiviral drug, Relenza.

The ESR laboratory, one of only five nationally equipped to test for swine flu, hoped to clear its backlog of about 200 samples last night.
hat-tip Chuck

No comments: