| ■ More Tamiflu-Resistant Flu Viruses Found in Europe | 2008.02.04 |
| Tamiflu-resistant seasonal flu viruses have now been found in nine European countries, indicating the resistant strains are more widespread than previously believed, Bloomberg news reported. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said Thursday that tests on 437 H1N1 flu strain specimens from patients in 18 countries found that 59 specimens from nine countries showed resistance to Tamiflu (oseltamivir). Nearly half the resistant specimens were from Norway. The viruses have a gene mutation that gives them "high-level" resistance to Tamiflu, Bloomberg reported. Experts are still analyzing data and will release an interim assessment of the situation in the coming days, the ECDC said. "At this stage, it is impossible to say what the level of resistance is in influenza across Europe," the health agency said. "However, from the limited data, the proportion of influenza viruses exhibiting resistance to oseltamivir must be significant, but not as high as in Norway." This emerging resistance to Tamiflu has led doctors in Europe to consider other anti-flu drugs such as Relenza, Bloomberg reported. |