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Tamiflu-resistant swine flu cluster reported in N.C.

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Friday, November 20, 2009

(Updated 3:01 pm)

By Mike Stobbe
Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — Health officials say four people in North Carolina have tested positive for a type of swine flu that's resistant to the drug Tamiflu.

It's the first cluster of that many cases seen in the U.S.

Health officials said Friday the four cases were reported at Duke University Medical Center in Durham over the past six weeks.

Tamiflu is one of two medicines that help against swine flu. Health officials have been closely watching for signs that the virus is mutating, making the drugs ineffective.

About 52 resistant cases have been reported in the world since April, including 15 in the U.S. so far. Officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say almost all the U.S. cases have been isolated.

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Interested

November 20, 2009 - 3:43 pm EST

How can this possibly be determined by a mere four cases? While drug-resistant H1N1 has been anticipated due to the nature of viruses, making a judgment based on four cases seems rather fast on the draw. (Though I suppose in situations concerning potential pandemics, that would be preferable.) First, Tamiflu must be given within forty-eight hours of the onset of the virus. How can anyone possibly determine with certainty that this occurred? Second, Tamiflu generally reduces the length of illness by one half day to one day. Of course, flu symptoms have an average span, meaning some people are ill for longer periods than others. Third, clinical trials in Vietnam had disappointing results in the treatment of H1N1. Possibly, these individuals are just having similar experiences.

carcrazy

November 20, 2009 - 4:17 pm EST

"About 52 resistant cases have been reported in the world since April, including 15 in the U.S. so far." Not just 4 cases.

Interested

November 20, 2009 - 5:03 pm EST

I'm referring to the four individuals in NC. But for that matter, with 525,000 confirmed cases worldwide, I again question even the 52 cases. How do they determine that it is drug-resistant?

Panacea

November 20, 2009 - 7:27 pm EST

Hopefully, it's by noting that the patients 1) tested positive for H1N1, and 2) took Tamiflu within 48 hours of 1st onset of symptoms as you noted.

Interested

November 20, 2009 - 8:01 pm EST

I suppose my question really is this: How do we know that the virus is becoming drug-resistant as opposed to just not responding in these individuals, as apparently happened with many patients in the Vietnam clinical trials?