India: Update on Possible Case of Resistance H1N1: Man Tests Negative

Man on Tamiflu tests negative for H1N1, discharged from hospital

5 Jul 2009,

CHENNAI: Officials at the state health department heaved a sigh of relief on Saturday when they received a message from the National Institute of
Communicable Diseases, New Delhi, stating that a 29-year-old man who had remained positive for H1N1 virus despite being on Tamiflu treatment has tested negative.

He was discharged from the Communicable Diseases Hospital (CDS) here on Saturday.

Earlier, directorate of public health staff had expressed concerns when the man was discharged on Friday by CDH despite having remained positive for H1N1. He was brought back to the quarantine ward on Saturday and even his family members were instructed to start a course of anti-viral therapy to prevent infection.

Doctors were awaiting orders from the NICD on the further course of treatment for the patient - either another course of Tamiflu or another drug, Relenza.

"We are relieved that he is not a carrier anymore. He has been discharged. However, we have asked laboratories to investigate and let us know if there has been any mutation of the virus. We can't help the suspicion; it took him two courses of Tamiflu, against the normal one course, to recover," said director of public health Dr S Elango.

The man and his wife had arrived in Chennai airport on July 18. They were kept in quarantine at CDH after they showed symptoms of H1N1. Two days later, they were put on a course of Tamiflu treatment after laboratories confirmed they had tested positive for the viral infection.

They were given two 75 mg Tamiflu tablets, one in the morning and the other at night.

While the woman tested negative a week later, the man continued to be positive. He was then started on a second course of Tamiflu.

"We want to know why it took him so long to recover. It could be because of a mutation of the virus," Dr Elango said. The National Institute of Virology in Pune will now investigate why it took the patient almost a fortnight for recovery.
hat-tip Dutchy