Could there be a new strain of H1N1? That's what health officials are investigating after several cases seem to be resistant to the treatment drug Tamiflu.
Four patients at Duke University Medical Centers in North Carolina and five in Wales have been diagnosed with a strain of flu too strong for Tamiflu to treat.
Health officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease COntrol and Prevention say this doesn't indicate a health emergency. But there is concern over what appears to be mutations of the virus.
"We are unable to say if their deaths were caused by influenza, they are influenza associated but they had medical issues that were compromising their health," said Megan Davies, a North Carolina state epidemiologist.
The virus is just as severe, but this new mutation of H1N1 has a different characteristic. It might not be treatable with medications currently available.
"This resistance is from a mutation but its doesn't mean H1N1 in general is mutating. It's a mutation that has occurred in a small number of patients," said Dr. Zack Moore, a medical epidemiologist.
Health officials with CDC are investigating the connection - if any - between the Duke and Wales patients.
Doctors at Duke were still treating one patient who appeared to have the mutated H1N1 strain with the drug Relenza. She appeared to be recovering.
"The vast majority of people with influenza do not even receive antivirus treatment. This mutation is a moot point to most of us. However, it's something we have to pay attention to when we see it," said Davies.
Dr. Frank Esper with Rainbow Babies Children's Hospital at University Hospital said over 1,000 H1N1 cases were screened at the hospital for resistance and only 10 were Tamiflu-resistant.
So, Tamiflu is still able to treat the vast majority of H1N1 flu cases. Esper says flu viruses are constantly changing so there was no surprise the H1N1 strain mutated to survive.
Vaccination against H1N1 still appears to be effective.
Four patients at Duke University Medical Centers in North Carolina and five in Wales have been diagnosed with a strain of flu too strong for Tamiflu to treat.
Health officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease COntrol and Prevention say this doesn't indicate a health emergency. But there is concern over what appears to be mutations of the virus.
"We are unable to say if their deaths were caused by influenza, they are influenza associated but they had medical issues that were compromising their health," said Megan Davies, a North Carolina state epidemiologist.
The virus is just as severe, but this new mutation of H1N1 has a different characteristic. It might not be treatable with medications currently available.
"This resistance is from a mutation but its doesn't mean H1N1 in general is mutating. It's a mutation that has occurred in a small number of patients," said Dr. Zack Moore, a medical epidemiologist.
Health officials with CDC are investigating the connection - if any - between the Duke and Wales patients.
Doctors at Duke were still treating one patient who appeared to have the mutated H1N1 strain with the drug Relenza. She appeared to be recovering.
"The vast majority of people with influenza do not even receive antivirus treatment. This mutation is a moot point to most of us. However, it's something we have to pay attention to when we see it," said Davies.
Dr. Frank Esper with Rainbow Babies Children's Hospital at University Hospital said over 1,000 H1N1 cases were screened at the hospital for resistance and only 10 were Tamiflu-resistant.
So, Tamiflu is still able to treat the vast majority of H1N1 flu cases. Esper says flu viruses are constantly changing so there was no surprise the H1N1 strain mutated to survive.
Vaccination against H1N1 still appears to be effective.
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