Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (50): oseltamivir resistance
Date: Tue 15 Sep 2009
Source: The Tyee, Canadian Press report [edited]
<http://thetyee.ca/CanadianPress/2009/09/15/Flu-Drug-Resistant/>
Alberta Health Services is reporting Canada's 2nd drug-resistant case
of swine flu [pandemic (H1N1) 2009] virus infection, one of about 24
such cases around the world. Officials were busy Tuesday [15 Sep 2009]
trying to determine if anyone who came into contact with the Alberta
woman last month [August 2009] has been infected, but they were
optimistic that this was an isolated case. "The patient was not
hospitalized and has since recovered," said Dr. Gerry Predy, Alberta's
senior medical officer of health. "This is not unexpected. However, it
is important because oseltamivir is one of our main tools in dealing
with the pandemic. But we don't think this is going to change our
approach in any way because it is an isolated case as far as we know
at this time."
Health officials say any resistance to oseltamivir, also known as
Tamiflu, could possibly lead to further cases of resistant disease and
might affect how the disease spreads. Information about the Alberta
case has been forwarded to the federal government and the World Health
Organization. Predy said officials haven't determined if any people
who were in contact with the woman had taken antiviral medication.
Officials were not sure if she developed an infection with the
resistant strain from the outset or developed the resistance during
treatment.
About 24 cases of drug-resistant swine flu [influenza pandemic (H1N1)
2009 virus] have been reported around the world, including an earlier
case involving a 60-year-old man from Quebec who was given the drug
when he was exposed to swine flu because his son was ill. He recovered
and didn't appear to spread resistant virus to people around home.
Other resistant cases have been reported in the United States,
Denmark, Australia, China and Singapore [and Japan, see comment
below]. Most of the cases have been in people who have taken the drug,
either as treatment for swine flu or to prevent swine flu after they
were exposed to it.
People who are resistant to Tamiflu may also be treated with the
antiviral drug zanamivir. Predy said the drug-resistant case will not
affect Alberta's plan to roll out a swine flu vaccination program this
fall, probably in November 2009. "This is nothing that should cause
any kind of concern," Predy said. "It is something that means we will
just have to keep the monitoring process in place."
[Byline: John Cotter]
Source: The Tyee, Canadian Press report [edited]
<http://thetyee.ca/CanadianPress/2009/09/15/Flu-Drug-Resistant/>
Alberta Health Services is reporting Canada's 2nd drug-resistant case
of swine flu [pandemic (H1N1) 2009] virus infection, one of about 24
such cases around the world. Officials were busy Tuesday [15 Sep 2009]
trying to determine if anyone who came into contact with the Alberta
woman last month [August 2009] has been infected, but they were
optimistic that this was an isolated case. "The patient was not
hospitalized and has since recovered," said Dr. Gerry Predy, Alberta's
senior medical officer of health. "This is not unexpected. However, it
is important because oseltamivir is one of our main tools in dealing
with the pandemic. But we don't think this is going to change our
approach in any way because it is an isolated case as far as we know
at this time."
Health officials say any resistance to oseltamivir, also known as
Tamiflu, could possibly lead to further cases of resistant disease and
might affect how the disease spreads. Information about the Alberta
case has been forwarded to the federal government and the World Health
Organization. Predy said officials haven't determined if any people
who were in contact with the woman had taken antiviral medication.
Officials were not sure if she developed an infection with the
resistant strain from the outset or developed the resistance during
treatment.
About 24 cases of drug-resistant swine flu [influenza pandemic (H1N1)
2009 virus] have been reported around the world, including an earlier
case involving a 60-year-old man from Quebec who was given the drug
when he was exposed to swine flu because his son was ill. He recovered
and didn't appear to spread resistant virus to people around home.
Other resistant cases have been reported in the United States,
Denmark, Australia, China and Singapore [and Japan, see comment
below]. Most of the cases have been in people who have taken the drug,
either as treatment for swine flu or to prevent swine flu after they
were exposed to it.
People who are resistant to Tamiflu may also be treated with the
antiviral drug zanamivir. Predy said the drug-resistant case will not
affect Alberta's plan to roll out a swine flu vaccination program this
fall, probably in November 2009. "This is nothing that should cause
any kind of concern," Predy said. "It is something that means we will
just have to keep the monitoring process in place."
[Byline: John Cotter]
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